The Waiting Commences - Acts 1:12-26

Main Point: Even while waiting, the disciples actively seek God’s Will.

Intro

Recap

Most prayed subject (Psalm 143:10 “Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” )

Read Acts 1:12-26

Jesus’s Disciples Unite In Prayer (12-14)

Prayer is Dialogue between God and people, especially His covenant partners. I like what the Baptist Catechism says 105 What is prayer? Prayer is an offering up our desires to God, by the assistance of the Holy Spirit, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, believing, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgments of his mercies.

God does indeed hear our prayers (Ps 4:1, 6:9, 17:1, 18:6, and many more!), but He answers on His time.

Don’t know how to pray? Read the scriptures and follow the examples.Sproul “One might pray and not be a Christian, but one cannot be a Christian and not pray.”

Prayer is a powerful weapon. (Eph 6:18), Jesus prayed and still prays “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.”-Robert Murray cf Heb 7:25

We are to Unite (Ps 133:1, 1 Cor 12:12-14) together and not be loners/separatists.

2. Jesus’ Disciples Follow The Scriptures (15-22).

To know the Will of God, you MUST know scripture.

Peter’s message isn’t a sympathy of destruction, but the unfolding of God’s divine plan to redeem His people!

MacArthur notes “Judas’s betrayal was, in fact, crucial to the plan of the Sovereign who predicted it in the Old Testament.”

Judas’s story sad but necessary >Ps 115:3, Is 45:7, Matt 27:1-10, Ps 69:25.

Judas had head knowledge of scripture, but not heart changing knowledge of scripture. He had remorse but never repented.

Scripture is our sword (Eph 6:17), it’s living and active (Heb 4:12), it is from God Himself (2 Tim 3:16), it’s everlasting (Ps 119:89), life-saving (John 8:51) and so much more!

3. Jesus’s Disciples Trust In God (23-26).

What is a Disciple? A follower of Christ, learner/pupil.

Picture for us to know God’s will…pray, read scripture, seek wise counsel, and ultimately do what you want.

We see God being Omniscient (All-Knowing). Know God thru prayer and reading scriptures.

The disciples trusted God and drew lots (an accepted OT method for determining God’s Will > Prov 16:33.)

Like with Prayer, God will reveal His plan for you in HIS time, His timing is perfect and always will bring Him Glory!

Ending

Pray

SG