A New Team

I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was playing with Corliss Williamson. Now for those of you who do not know who Corliss Williamson is he may be one of the most famous people in Arkansas, right below Bill Clinton. You see in Arkansas there are no professional sports teams so the Hogs are the pro teams. In the 90’s Williamson who is known as the big nasty is a legend after leading the hogs to a title in the 90’s. Then he went on to have a successful NBA career. By the time I met him he was coaching the University of Central Arkansas. I was about 8 years removed from playing but he let me come in and play with the team and Corliss was on my team. We are on defense and this player comes down and just has a spectacular dunk. You see up to this point Coach Corliss, the Big Nasty, is kind of taking it easy. But after this dunk it was like a switch went off and he comes down backs up to the goal and dunks on three players. You see in this game Corliss was an unstoppable force.

As unstoppable as Corliss was that day the Church of Jesus Christ is an unstoppable. As a matter of fact, in -Jesus says the gates of hell cannot stop it. In this book, we see thousands place their faith in Jesus Christ, we will see Gentiles come to faith in Christ, we will see the Roman empire have the gospel go through the whole known world at the time. Would you not want to be a part of that? Well the great news is you can.

The reality is that most people do not think of the church as being an unstoppable force. Many of us look at it as something we have to do to check off our checklist. If we are honest many churches look just like the world. Churches are dying quickly: maybe you know of a dead church or have been a part of a dead church. In the book of Acts this unstoppable force called the church begins Today we are going to see what ingredients were involved that took the church from being nothing to a force that could not be stopped. These ingredients are the same ingredients that God wants us to have in our church today.

Acts 1:12–13 NASB95

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.

Acts 1:12–14 NASB95

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

Explanation

A couple of notes the resurrection of Jesus led to his brothers coming to faith in Christ.

3/4th of a mile walk.

Probably the roof of a big roof

Prayer is not part of the ministry it is the ministry. (Find this quote)

But what I have seen in most churches is prayer is secondary. We will invest in the service, in the building projects, in food and many other things and they are good thing. But they are not better than prayer. If we want to be an unstoppable force we have to prioritize prayer.

Prayer was a hallmark of the early church

1:24- 24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25

Acts 1:24 NASB95

And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen

Acts 2:42 NASB95

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

2:42- 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

- Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2

3:1- Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2

Acts 3:1 NASB95

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.

Acts 4:24 NASB95

And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

4:24- 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—25

- 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—25

6:6- 6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

Acts 6:6 NASB95

And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

Illustration=Layman’s prayer revival

The first startling feature was the dominance of lay leadership and the absence of the famous itinerant evangelists of previous eras. Even Charles G. Finney confessed that the revival put him in the shadows. A second feature was the almost universal lack of emotional excesses that so deeply characterized the Second Great Awakening and Finney’s era of revival technology. No cases of emotional convulsions were reported in the Layman’s Prayer Revival. Third was the use of large prayer meetings in the major cities, with hundreds of businessmen desiring to pray. A fourth feature was the mobilization of laity for house-to-house visitation and tract distribution. While intense revival became evident in New York City, it was preceded by the visitation of every home by the church. A fifth characteristic was the intensity of the revival. Though the revival began in the large metropolitan areas, it penetrated the smallest hamlet throughout the countryside. And sixth, the impact of the revival was not limited to the United States but became a worldwide event, as reports from America occasioned deep stirrings in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, and beyond. The influence of the revival circled the globe.[1]

Bibliotheca Sacra Volume 134 The Layman’s Prayer Revival of 1858

The first startling feature was the dominance of lay leadership and the absence of the famous itinerant evangelists of previous eras. Even Charles G. Finney confessed that the revival put him in the shadows. A second feature was the almost universal lack of emotional excesses that so deeply characterized the Second Great Awakening and Finney’s era of revival technology. No cases of emotional convulsions were reported in the Layman’s Prayer Revival. Third was the use of large prayer meetings in the major cities, with hundreds of businessmen desiring to pray. A fourth feature was the mobilization of laity for house-to-house visitation and tract distribution. While intense revival became evident in New York City, it was preceded by the visitation of every home by the church. A fifth characteristic was the intensity of the revival. Though the revival began in the large metropolitan areas, it penetrated the smallest hamlet throughout the countryside. And sixth, the impact of the revival was not limited to the United States but became a worldwide event, as reports from America occasioned deep stirrings in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, and beyond. The influence of the revival circled the globe.

Must have been more prayer than several hours a day or else the author would not have mentioned Did the disciples want another witness so they would be ready for the kingdom or so they could be witnesses

Divine promises should stimulate prayer, not lead to abandonment of it.[2]

“Brethren” is literally “disciples” (Gr. matheton). The group of 120 that Peter addressed on this occasion (cf. vv. 13–14) was only a segment of the believers living in Jerusalem at this time (cf. , which refers to more than 500 brethren). Nonetheless this was a tiny group from which the church grew. God can take a small number of people, multiply them, and eventually fill the earth with their witness.[3]

15 During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. 16 “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”

18 (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. 19 The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”)

20 Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’

The number is also significant. In rabbinic tradition 120 was the minimum requirement for constituting a local Sanhedrin.[4]

Jesus started small and it multiplied big

Peter said this Scripture “had” (Gr. dei, by divine necessity) to be fulfilled.

“The understanding [of Peter] here is . . . (1) that God is doing something necessarily involved in his divine plan; (2) that the disciples’ lack of comprehension of God’s plan is profound, especially with respect to Judas who ‘was one of our number and shared in this ministry’ yet also ‘served as guide for those who arrested Jesus’; and (3) that an explicit way of understanding what has been going on under divine direction is through a Christian understanding of two psalms that speak of false companions and wicked men generally, and which by means of the then widely common exegetical rule qal wahomer (‘light to heavy,’ or a minore ad majorem) can also be applied to the false disciple and wicked man par excellence, Judas Iscariot.”[5]

1:18–19. Though Judas himself did not personally buy a field, he did so indirectly. The priests used the betrayal money Judas flung into the temple to make this purchase in Judas’ name ().[6]

Acts 1:21–26 NASB95

“Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

21 “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus—22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Distinguish between the original apostles but then how apostle means sent out one and how all believers are sent

When the probably Essene community of the Dead Sea Scrolls chose a group of leaders which included twelve special officials, it was meant to symbolize that this community was the true remnant of Israel, faithful to God even though the rest of the nation was apostate. Jesus had chosen twelve special disciples to make the same point, so the number had to be restored to twelve official leaders at least until the point of having twelve had been effectively communicated. Judas had forfeited his place by apostasy.[7]

1:21–22 Why did Peter believe it was “necessary” to choose someone to take Judas’ place? Evidently he remembered Jesus’ promise that the 12 disciples would sit on 12 thrones in the messianic kingdom judging the 12 tribes of Israel (; ; cf. ). To be as qualified for this ministry as the other 11 disciples the twelfth had to have met the conditions Peter specified.

“In 1:21 Peter speaks not of being with Jesus but of going with him on his journeys. . . . This emphasis on journeying with Jesus, particularly on his final journey to the cross, suggests that the apostolic witnesses are qualified not simply because they happened to be present when something happened and so could report it, like witnesses to an accident. Rather they have been taught and trained by Jesus for their work. They[8]

“. . . it was not enough to possess the qualifications other apostles had. Judas’s successor must also be appointed by the same Lord who appointed the Eleven.”[9]

Christians do not need to cast lots to determine God’s will since now the indwelling Holy Spirit provides that guidance. He does so objectively through Scripture and subjectively through impressing His will on yielded believers.[10]

“. . . the pericope suggests that a Christian decision regarding vocation entails (1) evaluating personal qualifications, (2) earnest prayer, and (3) appointment by Christ himself—an appointment that may come in some culturally related fashion, but in a way clear to those who seek guidance.”

“Matthew concludes with the Resurrection, Mark with the Ascension, Luke with the promise of the Holy Spirit, and John with the promise of the Second Coming. brings all four records together and mentions each of them. The four Gospels funnel into Acts, and Acts is the bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles.”[11]

[1] Hannah, J. D. (1977). The Layman’s Prayer Revival of 1858. Bibliotheca Sacra, 134, 59–60.

[2] Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.

[3] Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.

[4] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 91). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[5] Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.

[6] Toussaint, S. D. (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 356). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[7] Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

[8] Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.

[9] Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.

[10] Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.

[11] Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.

A New Team

1. 1:12-14-A great Church must be rooted in prayer.

2. A great Church must be centered in scripture

3. A great Church must have Godly leadership.