Making Godly Decisions

Acts 1:12-26

10x9x8x7x6x5x4x3x2x1 = 3,628,800 possibilities!

Acts 1:12-26

• 1:12 – “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

• 1:13 – “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.

Acts 1:12-26

• 1:14 – “All these were with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

• 1:15 – “In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,

• 1:16 – “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.”

Acts 1:12-26

• 1:17 – “For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”

• 1:18 – “(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.”

• 1:19 – “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.)”

Acts 1:12-26

• 1:20 – “For it is written in the book of Psalms, “May his camp become desolate, and let no one dwell in it”, and “Let another take his office.”

• 1:21 – “so one of the men who have accompanied us during all this time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

• 1:22 – “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.”

Acts 1:12-26• 1:23 – “And they put forward two, Joseph called

Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.”

• 1:24 – “And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen.”

• 1:25 – “to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

• 1:26 – “And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell of Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”

To Make Godly Decisions – Live a Life of Obedience

• V. 12 – “they returned to Jerusalem”• Acts 1:4 – the disciples had been commanded

to stay in Jerusalem• Check for areas of disobedience in your life–Disobedience and sin hinders fellowship

with God–Disobedience and sin are not God’s will– Turn from disobedience and sin

To Make Godly Decisions - Pray

• V. 14 – “all these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer.”

• Devoted – persist in doing something, stay busy doing something

• One accord – same purpose, same mind, same goal• Commit decisions you make in life to prayer–Devote the decision to prayer–Do you ask God for God’s direction and help in

making decisions?

To Make Godly Decisions – Know and Follow Scripture

• V. 15-20• Judas’ betrayal was prophesied in the OT– Psalm 41:9 Psalm 69:25

• The need to replace Judas was prophesied in the OT– Psalm 109:8

To Make Godly Decisions – Know and Follow Scripture

• Qualifications for office of apostleship–With Jesus from the beginning of His

ministry at the baptism of John–A witness to the resurrection of Jesus

• Apostle in the Bible– Formal – office of apostle, such as the 12– Informal – one sent out -• Acts 14:14 Phil 2:25 2 Cor 8:23

• Know your Bible – godly decisions CANNOT contradict the Bible

To Make Godly Decisions – Trust God

• V. 24-25 – “ know the hearts of all men” , “show us”

• Sometimes there will be more than one “good” choice? Trust God

• Pray asking God for His will – not our wants–We can pray selfishly – that is not trusting

God• Trust God completely with the decisions in your

life – get rid of self

To Make Godly Decisions – Submit to God

• V. 26 – “he was numbered with the eleven apostles”

• Casting lots – – Lev 16:8 Numbers 26:55 Joshua 7:14

• Always guided by God – Proverbs 16:33• Casting of lots not mentioned again after the

giving of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2

To Make Godly Decisions – Submit to God

• The apostles submitted to God’s choice and will

• Final step in making godly decisions – submission –Most of the time, we know the correct and

godly thing to do but are unwilling to submit to it

Making Godly Decisions

• Living obediently • Devoting the decision to prayer• In line with the Bible• Trusting God• Submitting

SEEKYe FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness