"When Things Get Cloudy"

Friends, Fellowship and Support

Sometimes we get to places in our lives when we feel as though we might be walking into a cloud of confusion, we ought to follow the example of the believers following the death and resurrection of Jesus. We find them in the first chapter of Acts staring up into the heavens as Jesus ascends into the sky until He is no longer visible. In verse ten and eleven it says that there were men standing there with them in white apparel that asked them why they were staring at the sky.

The funny thing is that there isn't any record of anyone answering, but instead it says that the men in white told them, that the same way that Jesus went, he will also return. So they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet which was about a days journey away.

I would imagine that it was a pretty quiet walk back to Jerusalem as these people thought about the things that they had just experienced. They probably stopped every so often and took a look back up into the sky just make sure that Jesus wasn't still there following them. I would imagine that they were going through feelings of loss and loneliness. Their leader was no longer with them and suddenly, like a bird pushed out of a nest to fly alone for the first time, they were to survive without the physical presence of Jesus.

Let's look at what happened when they returned to Jerusalem. The went back to the place where the Lord had spent his final days with them before and after His resurrection! Yes, they had to go on but it was a time to think about how they would do this and what changes would need attention. Would they hold a meeting and vote everyone into their proper positions or would they begin to argue over who was going to take the place of Jesus? What about Judas? Who would take his place? I can see the first major church split coming as soon as they get their energy back and have their case ready to present before the board! Let's see what the Word says,

Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Wow! Look at that! They went back and began to pray together in one accord all together along with the women. This is a clear sign that the followers of Jesus were in agreement on the things that Jesus had taught them and they weren't bitter or disappointed in the fact that they were without Jesus now! The men and their wives, the mother of Jesus and his brothers were all continuing in prayer and in supplication.

This means that that they had already been praying on their journey home from the mount and now that they arrived, were continuing to pray. If I had been alive and there, I would have been praying too! This was the blessing that had been given to them through the crucifixion of Jesus, the blessing that allows us to pray and fellowship with Jesus and believers through our prayers and our requests.

First we see that they followed the example of Jesus in prayer. Secondly we see that they followed His example in fellowship with one another at this time; a time that was not very easy to accept. Let's see how many fellow disciples were meeting.

Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty),

One hundred and twenty gathered together to find fellowship and strength in prayer. Peter talked to them about how Judas had died in the field that he bought with the money received for leading the rulers to Jesus. Then Peter told them that they needed to decide on someone to take the place of Judas. Someone who had been with them from the time of the baptism of John until the day that Jesus ascended must be ordained to be a witness with them of his resurrection.

It was following this that there were two men appointed; Joseph called Barsabas, surnamed Justus and Matthias. Thia passage then says that they prayed,

Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knows the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

This is so unlike many churches today! We feel that we have to look at their credentials and the experience that they have, compare how long they have been in the church and what position they hold in the community before someone is decided upon by elders and sometimes the people in the church! Many times God is totally left out of the occasion. You might say that there is prayer before voting, but what you are praying for is very important.

That might just explain the lukewarm attitude in many churches today! Decided by the people for the people! No need for the intervention of the Holy Spirit; we're just fine, thank you.
The next thing that took place really took faith in God rather than using their own logic, wisdom, discernment, gifts of the Holy Spirit or whatever you want to call it. In verse twenty-six it says that they all took lots to see who had the short stick. Wow, that takes allot of education, doesn't it?

I wonder how many pastors learned how to cast lots in college or seminary?

The thing that really struck me folks, is what is recorded in verse twenty-four! Here it is one more time,

Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knows the hearts of all men, shew which of these two you have chosen,

These were the chosen followers of God who Jesus left behind to do the work of His Father in heaven and they aren't even going to figure out who is going to fill the position of Bishop that Judas had left behind. Why do you think this was/ Why wouldn't they make this decision on their own? Could it be that they had proven themselves capable of making really silly mistakes way too many times in the past? Was it possible that Jesus had taught them through their own wisdom that they needed to seek His will and not their own. They may have come to realize through experience that when they had struck out on their own accord in confidence, they would soon find themselves surrounded by the critical eyes of those who had been waiting for them to stumble and they had just landed flat on their face so to speak. I have found myself in this place in years past, trying to show God how useful and able I was to serve Him all on my own. I wanted to prove to God that I had gotten strong enough to do it on my own. That was my pride and God wanted me humble, not proud.

But I'm learning and in recent years God makes His will known to me, if I will just do as His followers have done in this passage, pray and trust God. They trusted God to do what? They trusted God to know the hearts of the men that they had picked out.

When I first read this verse, I remember wondering at first, "why did they pick out two men to fill the place of one?".

Then I read on to see that they chosen two men that had been witnesses, but they were going to submit to the choice of God in prayer over which would fill the spot left behind by Judas. They used a method that was a no brainer when it comes to who gets the position and who doesn't.

That's right. They were sure that it wasn't their minds at work, but it was in their hearts and God knows our hearts!

Have a great day and remember, it's not up to you to make every decision all on your own! All you really must do is pray and trust in your Lord; He will guide you each step of the way.

Remember also the example of those who Jesus had spent His final moment on earth with. When times are difficult seek out true friends, fellowship together and receive support in prayer.