The Power of United Prayer

The Beginning of New Beginning  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Acts 1:12–14 CSB
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Acts 1:15–26 CSB
In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters—the number of people who were together was about a hundred twenty—and said, “Brothers and sisters, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David foretold about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”
Acts 1:15–26 CSB
Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst, his body burst open and his intestines spilled out. This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, Field of Blood). “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: Let his dwelling become desolate; let no one live in it; and Let someone else take his position.
Peter quotes Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8
Both of these Psalms are about those who
Acts 1:15–26 CSB
“Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
Acts 1:15–26 CSB
So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
Joseph - Called Barsabbas and also Justus - 3 names! That has to be exhausting.
Matthias.
Acts 1:15–26 CSB
Then they prayed, “You, Lord, know everyone’s hearts; show which of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry that Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Then they did what? THEY PRAYED!
They clearly had 2 people who they thought were really good choices. Think about it. The Bible just said that their number was over 100. There was probably some other good choices, then there were these 2. The cream of the crop.
So how did they make the decision as to who it would be?
THEY PRAYED!
AND through the power of United prayer they received an answer.
The answer came when they cast the lots.
We have never cast lots before, but you may be familiar with the idea of casting lots. It is kind of like throwing dice. Maybe you have done that, maybe you haven’t.
BUT in the old days, when a decision was to be made, casting lots was acceptable in forms to know what God would will. It is the same method that was used to select the priest that would be allowed to go into the Holy of Holies.
Proverbs 16:33 CSB
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
So this method was commonly used, and they knew that this method would reveal whom God would allow to become an official member of the Apostolic Ministry as a WITNESS from the beginning.
Now I don’t want you to get any ideas that maybe you should start throwing dice. This is the last time that anyone in the Body of Christ ever does this in the Bible. When the Holy Spirit comes down at Pentecost it changed everything for the Apostles and the church.
You and I have the benefit that the church didn’t have at this time: The Holy Spirit living within us, guiding us. And powerful prayer directly to the Lord.
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