Guided and United: Wisdom from the Early Church

Imagine being part of a small, seemingly insignificant group of people who, against all odds, manage to transform the entire world around them.

This isn't a story from a blockbuster movie or a gripping novel – this is the real-life account of the early church, fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit.

They faced persecution, ridicule, and numerous challenges, yet their steadfast faith and Spirit-filled lives led to the birth of a movement that has continued to impact lives for over two millennia.

Today, as we delve into Acts 1:15-26, we will uncover the principles that guided these early believers and learn how we, too, can experience the power of the Holy Spirit, shake the foundations of our world, and leave a lasting legacy for Christ.

In the book of Acts, we see the birth and growth of the early church, a group of believers who turned their world upside down for Christ.

Their secret? The power of the Holy Spirit. As we unpack Acts 1:15-26, we'll learn how to apply the principles of the early church to our lives, relying on the Word of God, prayer, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s read...

Acts 1:15–26 NKJV

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ 21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Let’s look first at verses 15-16...

Acts 1:15–16 NKJV

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;

Peter has been criticized for taking charge, but I believe he was doing the will of God. Jesus had made it clear that Peter was to be their leader (Matt. 16:19; Luke 22:31–32; John 21:15–17). Peter was “first among equals,” but he was their recognized leader. His name is mentioned first in each listing of the Apostles, including Acts 1:13.

How did Peter approach the situation? He quoted Scripture. Specifically Psalm 69:25, and Psalm 109:8.

Acts 1:20 NKJV

20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’

If we are to make a difference, we must rely on the Word of God. We should always...

Dive Deep Into the Word of God

A. Study and apply God’s Word to our lives, recognizing their divine inspiration and relevance to our walk with God.

To grow in our relationship with God, we need to study and apply God’s Word to our lives.

Through reading, reflecting, and understanding the historical and cultural context, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the valuable lessons found within the Bible.

B. Embrace the entirety of the Bible and let it shape our understanding of God's character, plan of redemption, and will for our lives.

By engaging with both the Old and New Testaments, we gain a comprehensive view of God's story and His unchanging nature. This holistic approach to Scripture enables us to get a grasp the depth of God's love, mercy, and grace throughout history and in our lives today.

C. Seek the mind of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth to us.

We should rely on the Holy Spirit to guide our understanding and reveal His truth to us. When we do this, we can grow in our knowledge of God and be better equipped to live out our faith in a way that honors Him.

The second thing we learn from the early church is...

Pray for God’s Guidance in All Decisions

Acts 1:21–24 NKJV

21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen

A. Approach decision-making by humbly submitting to God's will and seeking His guidance through prayer.

B. Be willing to obey God and trust that He will reveal His will to us as we earnestly seek Him (John 7:17).

C. Cultivate a consistent prayer life to align our hearts with God's purposes and experience His power in our lives.

Cultivating a consistent prayer life is vital for aligning our hearts with God's purposes and experiencing His power in our lives.

Prayer is not just a one-way conversation; it is an ongoing dialogue with our Creator, through which we can express our gratitude, present our needs, and seek His guidance.

By regularly engaging in prayer, we create space for God to speak into our lives, transforming our thoughts and desires to align with His will.

In turn, this alignment opens up channels for God's power to flow through us, empowering us to live out our faith boldly and effectively.

Thirdly...

Embrace Our Roles and Responsibilities Within the Church

Acts 1:15 NKJV

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,

Acts 1:21–26 NKJV

21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

A. Recognize and respect the leadership God has placed in the church, supporting and cooperating with them as they seek to carry out God's mission.

As we’ve already mentioned, Jesus made it clear that Peter was to be their leader. He was to be “first among equals.”

Jesus left the local church pastor as the “Under Shepherd” under himself as the “Chief Shepherd.”

Just as Paul told Timothy to choose elders and appoint them, the elders work alongside the lead elder (pastor) to support and provide mutual accountability. Just as the church universal has one head, the local church has one head. In the NT, it was one elder, especially the one supported to preach and teach (1 Tim. 5:17-18) will be looked to as the leader among the elders, just like Peter was among the apostles and as James was the leader among the elders in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:2-21; 21:18; Gal. 2:9). Also, the pastor’s role is to equip the believers to do the work of the ministry.

Deacons were chosen by the early church to take care of the physical needs of the members within the body.

And then we need to...

B. Understand the importance of each member's role within the body of Christ, knowing that we are all empowered by the Holy Spirit for service (Acts 2:1-4, 14).

Nothing in Scripture even remotely hints that there are any inactive observers within the local church. We’ve all been given spiritual gifts, and we’re all expected to be actively using them. The Bible is very clear that it should always be every member serving. It may be small for some...

And we should be...

C. Working for unity within the church as we minister to one another as well as carrying out the church’s mission of spreading the Gospel and making disciples, demonstrating the love and power of Christ to the world.

And lastly, we need to...

Rely on the Power of the Holy Spirit

A. Embrace the reality that we, like the early church, can turn our world upside down for Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

B. Pursue a Spirit-filled life by seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance and power in our daily walk with God.

C. Trust in the Holy Spirit to enable us to fulfill our calling and make an impact in our world for the glory of Christ.

Conclusion:

As we apply the principles from Acts 1:15-26 to our lives, let us dive deep into the Word of God, pray for His guidance, embrace our roles within the church, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. May we live our lives in alignment with God's will, trusting in the Holy Spirit's power to enable us to fulfill our calling and impact the world for Christ.