Well Meaning Interference (Part C)

Get in line.

Find out what loyalty means you can count can challenge some Christians only if they approve of what you're doing. That is not boiled. This needs to be said again is to be repeated, self appointed exceptions are almost always a problem for somebody else while you know I'm the exception I know you got this policy, but you know this, that self exultation, cut it out. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of acts. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick will continue his message called well-meaning interference as he teaches verse by verse through the book of acts the privilege the height privilege.

It is, it is the church's duty to offer positions to serve so much action takes place there anyway.

Judas ran out of confidence in Christ.

Why is because he did not enthrone Christ on his heart. Christ really wasn't the master. The Lord he was, as you know this Messiah. Figure will something other, but the others. The other 11 course they enthrone Christ on their heart and that was the downfall of Judas in verse 18. Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity and the money he got from betraying Christ and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all of his entrails gushed out gasp, that's there for you. Teams keep you awake maybe but whose interest tell us about the entrails. Well that was Judas was. As I mentioned, chosen by Christ and yet that's what he did with the choice he got close to him and he betrayed him well. He gives the money back, but they take that money that they paid him and they could not keep it because they considered blood money so that they purchased a burial plot for Jews. Judas after his death, Romans chapter 623. The wages of sin is death, and that is pronounced here falling headlong okay sleep goes to hang himself.

And if he falls headfirst likely would have another rope broke the branch broke or the knot slipped you know if you are going to talk car with a some sort of a rope you want to get a little strain on that rope make it type just pull off when it's loose is going to snap the rope more than likely well if he doesn't know what he's doing and he just jumps and there's a lot of slack in that line into going up jerk and either break the branch or the rope. Anyway, that's just the mechanics of of him falling going to hang himself and falling any lands on the rocks. Evidently he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out so Peter is a very articulate about this very detailed what a waste of an invested three years with Jesus all gone just like that. Verse 19 and it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem so that field is called in their own language. A killed drama that is healed of blood. This was headline news about the apostate who walk with Jesus for three years and then goes out and kills himself and his glory. Death and so everybody talk of the town became known says in their own language to everyone dwelling in Jerusalem, so that field is called in their own language killed drama out Aramaic words, the vernacular of the first century Jews writing to Gentiles about these events. 30 years later, in the Greek language which was more widespread. The Greek language was used in all throughout the Roman Empire.

Thanks to Alexander the great law and that's the language God would use to spread the gospel and it was very effective. That is the field of blood part of the verse 19 Judas should have been associated with the blood of the Lamb and instead is to steal the blood that he ends up with one.

One pastor says in one of the sermon is the one trader in the inner circle of Christ's kingdom became his own executioner is not how it was supposed to be and it only happened that way because he betrayed Christ. He turned against him. He became an apostate and a traitor. Verse 24 is written in the book of Psalms let his dwelling place, be desolate, and let no one live in it, and let another take his office. Now, would we have known that those Psalms were prophetic of Judas and can in connection to the Messiah. Had it not been for Peter's interpretation would we have connected.

We will if we did not have Peter telling us this would we have read the solvents at Judas. Well, maybe. But listen, this is what I meant earlier about.

I hope you been listening the whole time. When I say listen, doesn't mean okay now start listening when I mentioned Peter's knowledge of Scripture skyrocketed one Highway. What is was the was the evidence of that bullet 24/25 and he, Jesus opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

You can't do it on your own need Jesus to comprehend the Scriptures, but still that's not enough. According to Christ. There has to be the Holy Spirit to bring even more life to it.

God's judgment upon Judas. According to Peter Psalm 6925 that is dwelling place, be desolate, and the need for replacement. Psalm 109 verse eight. Been in the word and he comes across this. These are imprecatory Psalms is a Psalms that invoke evil or curse on the enemies of the unrighteous.

The Nutro testament church is not function this way with that was before been changes major changes since Pentecost that is dwelling B dwelling place be desolate, barrenness.

Let no one live in it for Fitch forfeiture. He forfeited let another take his office. Banishment three condemning let statements that is dwelling that no one live in it. Let another take his office.

Very sad. Peter felt something had to be done. The Scripture says another one is supposed to take his office. That's what the Bible says Peter would've said or Peter, always well-meaning always but impetuous. Nonetheless, in other words the feelings rose up and began to dominate Capt. the ship. Let's just review three of them you can go to the cross Jesus even though you said you going to the cross. You know be far from you as Jesus said, get behind me Satan.

I have pretty serious about let's build three shrines, one for you, one for Elijah one for Moses and the father rebuked them and they are very scared and then how about you know what now because I never liked you anyway. And agent you are resisting the arrest of Christ with the sword.

So this is Peter.

And here he is saying, hey, the Scripture says we gotta be careful.

Yet, the Bible can say something that doesn't give us right right to misapply it. That's what I strongly believe Peter is doing here and I'll make my case and the minute I read all the other guys the good guys to that don't agree with me but you know what I gotta do about I don't agree with them and I'm not the only one, but the majority of take the position that Peter was right. Matthias was one of the 12 on about the writ that apart. Hopefully, I will say that with pride. Okay a little bit verse 21 therefore of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in out among us, so case is now setting the standards we can find a replacement and so EE has to have been with us the whole time we were with Christ.

Peter is setting the standard for apostleship but is not his place to do so. There's a fine line between initiative and impulse and we all better watch it you get your hands burned. If your public ministry you get burned a few times you begin a slowdown, but maybe you get away with it. No one you know catches your or your whatever we have to be careful to you know what we say and do. Peter, the leader blundered.

That's what I am saying it is not the first time. That's why read some of the other ones.

If you are looking for a church without fault and you will be looking for a church forever.

You will find one if you looking for a pastor exception of me that has no false you not going to find him. And if you do and you find the pastor and he's a menace guys great and then he messes up this something that you don't care for that crash is going to be pretty hard. You may even resent him now we better be careful thank God for loyal Christians who do not take cheap shots at their pastors and their church and other Christians career critics. They have a fundamental disrespect for ordained leadership and for the local church and it is because they have a fundamental disrespect for God's word you get. I said this all the time because it needs to be said all the time. In Hebrews 13, Paul says, you better watch these men rule over you natural lives and go to your home to Wakulla car by and things like that when it comes to the house of God.

There the master and commander of the ship under the Lord does not give them license to be immoral doesn't give them license to be arrogant puffed up all those other things it does give them the authority and it is a reflection of the lack of understanding of Scripture and submission. When you take cheap shots at them and I know again I know they're going to be people that live in other states. Listening to this message and this may be struggling with this to maybe say you know you right I'm upset at the pastor because he didn't allow something is nothing to do with the Bible nothing to do with the preaching of the gospel. I need to fix myself and login in line.

Find out when loyalty means you can count. You can count on. Some Christians only if they approve of what you're doing. That is not loyalty. This needs to be said again it needs to be repeated, self appointed exceptions are almost always a problem for somebody else. Well, you know, I'm the exception you know, I know you got this policy, but you know this, that self exultation, cut it out. Why am I saying this because here we have a picture of Peter, the leader making a mistake. What I doesn't give license for people to abandon Peter as a no longer possibly going on. Not all the church is going to keep moving forward with Peter. These are lessons for us and not just here for us to just read them and they will that warmed my heart was that's good that not enough. The Lord he's going to withhold a verbal rebuke and appoint Paul about 23 years later, that and will see that anyway. Incidentally, is Peter trying to appoint a replacement for Judas.

Jesus had time to do that himself there at the lid at the Last Supper, when he said God would do what you do quickly.

Jesus could send Allison voice. I need you to appoint Matthias because Judy know he doesn't do any good of done it during the day after the resurrection. He does not wait until after he baptized his followers with the Holy Spirit and he waited some time after Christ is in no hurry.

He's got eternity on his side. It is interesting that no replacement was sought for James when they wanted him. I mean granted, you can say well he didn't forfeit his position but wasn't that important to have 12 apostles of Christ thinks it was but it wasn't Peter's place to do it.

And so, Jesus of course personally chose the original apostles.

Subsequent history shows the Lord choosing only one other man, Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul. Now John, in his revelation he saw in heaven 12 foundations with the names of 12 apostles on those foundations are you going to tell me Matthias name is on there, not Paul's. When Paul was picked by Christ personally and Matthias was not see there are apostles of the church and there are apostles of Christ.

This is made clear in second Corinthians 823 there apostles of the church still sent out by the church. Barnabas would've been one of those and then there are the ones for instance, Jude 17, he talks about the apostles of Jesus Christ. That's why when Paul wrote the book Peter because here every time Paul wrote a letter he had to say Paul and apostle of Jesus Christ, the only two times he doesn't have to be doesn't do that was Philemon in Hebrews other that is constantly defending and biting me. I believe that may have been the thorn in his flesh. It may just them so much that he had to do this all the time so had overzealous Peter waited for the promise.

There would've been no oversight, but God is not going to humiliate the church nor Peter nor Matthias by outright rejection.

He's going to just tolerate Paul's appointment will settle the matter.

God knew Matthias was a good man man faithful just wasn't his choice. And so we have no evidence that God chose Matthias will come to that more.

I hope you all are agreeing with me because I told you so important to me because who doesn't want everyone to agree with them is just not realistic to expect verse 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when he was taken up from us.

One of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection. So says Peter Peter when you get that. Maybe he got it. John 1527, which in that context speaks about the Holy Spirit coming to them.

John 1527 Jesus speaking to his disciples, that you also wish bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning. Maybe that stood out with Peter John's gospel is not written by that at this time in history, not yet, so that you can say well maybe that was his basis anyway. Still should've waited for the promise. John 1613.

However, when he the spirit of truth is, he will guide you into all truth John 1426 but the helper again. The Greek is the Paraclete, the one that comes beside comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you while you have a gun. Maybe Peter might remember the way for the promise but does not he will empower them to witness to convict the world of sin to discern to see the guide in all things is like he does us any of you here think you can witness without the Holy Spirit just as you know, Jesus Christ. You think you know what I got this school sit down and relax. I'll take it from here.

Is it anybody that bad off in their theology know it's the other way is it not Lord is Moses that if you don't go with us.

Don't send me we we must have him. It is an imperative in here. We don't see Peter standards disallow Peter, Stan, what is gotta be with us on the baptism of John. All the years witness of the resurrected lead disqualifies James the brother of the Lord all the brothers of the Lord ended disqualifies Paul that standard. What is Jesus doing responsive that he dismisses Peter's criteria and restrictions any appoint Paul anyway.

Why does he wait a couple years, probably to let it just all this, like go for other reasons.

To ensure one of them would've been to just little the dust settle. It would be kinda rude. The next day you go points. The apostle Paul would have been rough anyway continuing in verse 22 and am I the only one excited about all the stuff I don't I don't know if you catching this vision here.

One of these must become a witness with us of the resurrection. Paul would mention Chapman first 2015 that he too is a witness of the risen Lord and so of his resurrection, a critical factor acceptor for the first church. Those first Christian. They were all over the resurrection and with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. We should be doing that West while reading this, we want to find out what is effective preaching and evangelism keeping in front of lost souls that Christ was killed and got up three days later and really was never never died anyway.

He just left this world he gave up the spirit so these are not poor standards that Peter gives the very important and well-thought-out. They simply lack the spirit and will be sidestepped by God as Jesus said, wisdom is justified by her children will see the outcome. Whether it's wise or not. So if you take somebody if you do, you yourself you say I think it's wise to club myself in the head with a stick and you do so and you'll stop doing it and then you can say, wisdom is justified is the outcome anyway. Verse 23 and they propose to Joseph call Barstow bus who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias nice of them to narrow down to two for the Lord another flag think they give God two choices okay Lord is your choice.

Could you imagine praying that the.got you either give me $1 million or billion dollars.

So if you can skin you see the problems with this.

I understand why my brothers who I think you have to say it little smarter than me. I don't see why you miss this, I would get going here so another proof is that this is another proof they should've waited limiting God do you do that do are we. Is it okay to limit God like this. I don't think so.

Joseph called Barabbas this bar service Barbie was surnamed Justus.

Nothing else is known of he or Matthias well that you could say that of Bartholomew also so that's that's not a slight on their character, but that we won't read of these men again. Verse 24 when they prayed and said you oh Lord, who know the hearts of all show which one of these two you have chosen mean you know they got a 50-50 chance I may have 100% chance of getting a replacement. The replacements who are nominated have a 50-50 chance of being nominated and so you know Joseph is saying. Hope it's me, Elvis, me this wonderful yet is defective that they would pray. They prayed and said, oh Lord, you know the horse that's wonderful, but the key ingredient is Mr. baking a cake and forgetting to put the sugar in his not a cake anymore. It's something to get to somebody who can't taste anything anyway. Verse 20 that they prayed together simply asking God is not a guarantee that your right even what you pray as well with humility. Humility said just because I'm praying that God doesn't mean I'm right and that's where humility comes in. You will Lord know the hearts of all the hearts were right in Peter, no question, but his actions were wrong show which of these two you have chosen not to sing Peter send just goofing up wondering God is not the author of confusion. In this case, the apostles are if I was there I would've backed up Peter. I would've thought this was the right thing to do.

I wouldn't of had acts chapter 2. I'm sure I would've stayed.

Peter maybe remember he said wait for the promise basically doing this. I probably would've been just right along with everybody else and verse 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place self-rule and supernatural opportunity. He had that supernatural opportunity of being with Christ and he ruined it.

Catastrophic is that tragedy Judas by transgression progression fell no one else to blame but himself that he might go to his own place. He is one of few in Scripture whom we are told is in hell is called the son of hell, the son of perdition, and other verses death brought no relief is a man of miscalculations because he did not in front Christ on his heart. Verse 26 were still considering this interference and they cast lots and the lot fell on Matthias and he was numbered with the 11 apostles. They probably put two names in a container, wrote the names on something port analogy. Could you do it monopoly with the dice is something, and the name that fell out. First was the one they picked that's probably how they did it doesn't matter first choice doesn't mean it was God's choice.

This is an Old Testament tactic we never read of the Christians doing it ever again. After Pentecost, because the now led by the spirit.

What if God did not like either of these two men is a choice.

Kinda presumptuous of them say a one of these, of got to be the guy and what of Gus is no what was he supposed to do again been a heavy blow on the church. You know these leaders of yours are prone to make mistakes and I have to keep overruling them is not how God handled in his grace and mercy and the lot fell on Matthias. As I read, we never even hear of Jesus teaching of such a method in consequence to this initial blunder fallen constantly. As I mentioned to defend his right to be an apostle, but if Peter had never done this might undergone that way. Verse I finally, finally, the bottom of verse 26 and he was numbered with the 11 so the Lord tolerates the choice for the sake of the church, the apostles, will you come to this. He read to Satan. If you've ever done things for Christ.

You say Lord, thank you for being so merciful to them because I've made my share mistakes also. Jesus did not interfere. May we know when not to interfere, and I'm telling you, as believers filled with the Holy Spirit still interfere with what's going on lives of others because you're just so passionate about something and it's not your place.

May we be led by the spirit move you've been listening to cross reference radio daily radio ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website.

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