Evangelism series Pray to Choose Matthias

Written By Rev. Law Hui Seng
14th June, 2009
Posted By Teresa Han

Acts 1:12-26
Main Idea: To teach that we must involve God (Jesus) in decision making; all the more during crucial moment.
Objectives: a. To teach how the early disciples trust God to find a successor to replace; b. To teach that we must pray to seek God during crucial moments in life.

A. Introduction.- Most of us have not realized the power of prayer. I say this because we have not prayed as much.- Our problem is we try to get God to answer our prayers according to our ways and desires; and after we pray for a while , and it does not happen the way we want, we will stop praying. Furthemore, we see prayers like saying grace before meals, before a journey, before we go to sleep, after we wake up as something like a mundane, there is no use or power in it. We do not feel the difference and so we do not pray much. Are you like that? Not to mention praying constantly; prayer in decision making.
- Let us look at these quotes, they are very insipiring and they really encourage us to pray and not give up.
- Robert McCheyne says, “God will either give you what you ask, or something far better.”
- In October of 1996, Yankelovich Partners survey 269 doctors at a meeting of the American Academy of Family Physicians. The results showed that 99 percent were convinced religious belief can heal. That’s 20 percent higher than the figure gleaned from the general public. In response to the question, “ Why do doctors feel this way?” Dr Herbert Benson said, “ Because we’ve seen the power of belief. We see it all the time, and we can’t deny it.” He went on to note, “The real breakthrough is the acceptance of these approaches by modern medicine.”
- Names such as Martin Luther, John Wesley, David Brainerd, Geroge Fox, Adoniram Judson, and John Hyde are well known to those who have studied church history. The impact of these men has been very significant and can be traced to their practice of prayer. Martin Luther said, “I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” Wesley declared, “God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” His daily devotion of two hours in prayer demonnstrated the depth of this conviction. David Brainerd wrote in his journal, “I live be alone in my cottage, where I can spend much time in prayer.” William Penn said of George Fox, “Above all he excelled in prayer.” The most awful, living, reverent frame I ever felt or beheld, I must say was his in prayer.” Adoniram Judson withdrew from business and company seven times a day for the purpose of prayer. He began at dawn, then continued again at 9 o’clock, 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, 9 o’clock and mid night. John Hyde was so characterised by prayer that he was nicknamed, “Praying Hyde.” It is so small wonder that these prayer warriors wielded such powerful influence for the kingdom of God.
- Raymond McHenry says, “May we never experience success without prayer.”
- Oswald Chambers says, “Prayer does not equip us for greater works... prayer is he greater work.”
- I give you so many quotes on prayer in order to convince you that prayer is a very important part of our christian life. You miss a lot as a christian; as a diciple of Christ.
- The early disciples and all the apostles knew the value and power of prayers.

B. See how the early disciples spend time to pray constantly (verses 12-14).
- That is why after the commission of Jesus and the promise of the descendance of the Holy Spirit, 120 of them, including the 11 apostles who were used to be with Jesus; the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, the brothers of Jesus all joined together constantly in prayer in Jerusalem in the upper room.
- What is so important about praying constantly after Jesus’ commission to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth and to make disciples of all nations; and the promise of descending of the Holy Spirit? 120 of them meeting together to pray? Later on in chapter 2, you see the descending of the Holy Spirit.
- I would go to the extend of teaching you that the 120 disciples must have realized that if they did not pray constantly, the Holy Spirit might not have the channel to fill and empower them. Before the descending of the Holy Spirit, in verse 4, Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem. The disciples knew it could not be just waiting without praying.
- May we learn one precious lesson today? Watch out for the pattern here. If the Holy Spirit is the divine gift which empowers and guides the church, the corresponding disciples’ or christians’ attitude toward God is prayer. It is as the church prays that it receives the Spirit.
- Brothers and sisters, if we do not pray as a church, then, our church will not receive the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

C. The Critical Moment.
- Next, with the homework of prayer, and when the disciples were most sensitive to God, apostle Peter, the leader of the group, he claimed that David had prophesied for the betrayal of Judas. He must have quoted from Psalm 109:8, “May his days be few, may another take his place of leadership.
- He exerted his authority to choose a leader to replace based on the Old Testament scripture. Then,he expressed the need to choose another person to replace Judas.
- I call this the critical moment. The moment of decision to choose a new leader. Peter did his homework, he did not want to simply choose one person. God must have put in his mind the criteria of the candidate. He must have 3 qualifications (verses 21 and 22). It is found in verses 21 and 22. (1). The person must be with Jesus the whole time; (2). He must be one of those who was with the disciples all the time; and (3). He must be there from the beginning of John’s baptism and he witnessed the resurrection of Jesus with the disciples.

D. How the early disciples made decision to choose Matthias to replace Judas.- The critical moment came to choose a new leader, so they have to propose two names, Joseph called Barsabbas and Mathias, for the the purpose of election.
- You see how they elect their leader in this critical moment. The answer is found in verses 24 and 25. They prayed as a big group and told God what they wanted. Take note the prayer was speficic, to take over the apostolic ministry of Judas. This person is to become an apostle.
- After they prayed, they still had to make a decision on how to elect among the 2. They must have discussed and felt that the best way was to cast lots.
- I want you to take note everything was done in the context of prayer. When it came to important decision, the early disciples prayed.

D. Applications.
- (a). How can you pray constantly? For those of you who are in the ministry, like the early disciples, the 120 of them, you cannot afford not to pray constantly. This is because the devils are always on the look out to attack you and make sure you fall, and you do not become effective for Christ. Let me say this to you in the name of Jesus, when you serve God, the devils will make us of your bad temperaments, watching of pornorgraphy, pride, greed, selfishness, immorality, stubbornness, etc. Somehow, when you have the sins of your life, the devils know them and they make sure that people do not cooperate with you in ministry; people do not respect you; people feel uncomfortable with you. Mind you, the devils know what is the standard of holiness and purity of a disciple. Do you know? Also, mind you, God is very particular about whether you are living a holy life inside out or not.
- To sure that you are coming more and more alert of the devils’ attack, you need to pray constantly. Especially those who are in leadership position, you need to pray constantly by attending Thursday night prayer meeting. We also welcome you to come to pray constantly every Saturday morning at 6-7am.
- Those of you who are not leaders, but you are in ministry, you need to come also, you need to pray more in order to maintain a strong relationship in Christ.
- Those of you who are not in position of ministry, you must pray 5 times a day. You should at least match the muslims who pray 5 times a day. The 3 times are before meals; 2 times are before you to sleep at night and after you wake up in the morning.
- (b). The need to pray during the critical moments of your life. The early disciples prayed much in the critical moment of choosing an aposlte to replace Judas, you must do so in the critical moment. For those of you who single and plan to find a life partner, you have a critical moment; who are married and have no children; rebellious children at home; marital problems; financial problem; choosing where to go after Form 5; having illness; our chruch is choosing leaders again; recruitment for missionaries to do short term missions; evangelism rally, etc, you need to pray.

E. Conclusion.- Prayer is one most neglected means of grace to ask God for blessing by Christians. Not many put a lot of faith in prayer. Not many felt the need to pray for more because we do not believe God is powerful. Unless we spend more time in prayer and build up our faith, otherwise, our faith is weak and shallow.