Choosing Matthias

Difficult Decision

One of the most stressful things that a manager or a company owner has to do is hire an employee. You have to think about so many different things…what are their qualifications, can we afford this person, do they have good character, how will their presence affect the team. And if things aren’t working out, then it get’s really uncomfortable as you have to decide whether to try and work things out or fire someone.

I’m so thankful that we have a great team here at WestPointe! Being on a dysfunctional is frustrating on every level. Maybe you have that one person at work that makes life miserable for everyone else. Maybe you are that person. haha

When Judas committed suicide shortly after Christ’s crucifixion, there was a hole left on that team. He had been the dysfunctional member of that team for some time and they wanted to make sure that they did it right this time.

I want us to learn a few lessons from this passage about what God wants to do in your life and how he wants us to make decisions. We are going to learn from the disciples, and from Matthias himself.

Let’s take a look at this passage

English Standard Version Chapter 1

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, 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. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

“ ‘May his camp become desolate,

and let there be no one to dwell in it’;

and

“ ‘Let another take his office.’

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

So here is the ENTIRE church 120 people. This is everyone! That is less than the number of people that are in this parking lot and watching online this morning. The hundreds of million member Christian Church began with a group of people smaller than WestPointe. Think about that.

It says that the disciples were in one accord. They were on the same page why because they were devoted to prayer! This is the foundation for what they were about to do! They were in agreement because they were listening to the voice of God!

Peter, the emerging leader speaks up and says, if we are going to do what Jesus called us to, we need to replace Judas. Jesus thought there should be 12 of us. So we should honor that.

Now here’s what is incredible. It says they were devoted to prayer together and were in one accord, but they still didn’t have clarity on something as important as who would fill the role of the 12th apostle. They said, we have two names, Matthias and Justus. So they essentially drew straws to see which one would become one of the 12.

Sounds like a real scientific process right. They had 2 godly men and they decided whoever God chooses, we are good with that.

Three things I want us to learn from the disciples.

Use the gift of wisdom that God gave you

Leave room for God’s intervention in the process.

Don’t let a lack of perfect understanding prevent you from moving forward.

Things to learn from Matthias and Justus

Sometimes even when you do everything right, God chooses someone else.

From what we can tell from this passage, this Justus guy was a good guy. He had been faithfully following Jesus, he was considered to be qualified by the 11. His story from a biblical perspective ends here, but Church history suggests that he was a great leader and ultimately gave his life for his faith in Christ as a martyr.

God knows the plans he has for you. Don’t get discouraged when things don’t work out the way you anticipated they would. I’m sure that Justus would have much preferred to be one of the 12. I’m sure he was excited when his name went into the hat. That being said, his position doesn’t affect his standing with God. God had other plans for him and he was faithful to that calling.

Be ready whenever God calls you

History shows us the potential of a leader who is ready to enter the game