Called by God

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Acts 1:12-26

Acts 1:21-22

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.”

(ESV)

This past weekend was one of great joy, accomplishment, and chaos in the United States.  The nation is experiencing great joy as things shut down begin to open up.  For me and my wife, this meant returning to Church and sitting down for breakfast at a restaurant for the first time in over two months.  The great accomplishment for the nation was the successful launch of two American astronauts from American soil in an American built rocket, potentially freeing the nation from the need to depend on the Russians to launch American astronauts to the International Space Station.  The chaos of riots indicates the nation needs revival as people believe they can end evil with evil (Romans 12:17-21). 

In obedience to the Lord (Acts 1:4), the disciples stay in Jerusalem and enter the upper room, devoting themselves to prayer (Acts 1:12-14).  While the primary reason for entering the upper room was to receive the promised Holy Spirit, the Disciples believe they have some unfinished business to tend to, replacing Judas.  The question is was Matthias God’s choice or the choice of the disciples.  While his choice came after prayer (Acts 1:14), the choice of Mattias came after they cast lots, or as we might say today, flipped a coin to determine which of the two men chosen would replace Judas.  This is unlike the selection of the Twelve by Jesus (Mark 3:13-14), as Matthias was the choice of the remaining eleven Disciples and with no mention of Matthias after his selection, indicating he was not God’s choice. 

God’s choice to replace Judas would come later on the road to Damascus when Saul had an encounter with Jesus (Acts 9:1-9).  Not only did Saul’s encounter with Jesus indicate He was the replacement of Judas, but it also illustrates the change one can experience in their lives when they encounter Jesus.  After the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54-60), Saul whose name would later become Paul was on a mission to bring Christians from Damascus to Jerusalem as prisoners (Acts 9:1-2).  However, after encountering Jesus, Paul went into the synagogues and proclaimed Jesus instead of gathering up Christians as prisoners (Acts 9:19-22).  Such is the change one experiences when they meet the Lord. 

The Apostle Paul also illustrates that one does not need to have a physical encounter with Christ to experience a life-changing experience in his or her life for Paul’s encounter occurred after Jesus had ascended to be with the Father.  This gives everyone hope for while we will not physically encounter Jesus and become one of the twelve Apostles because God has filled these positions, we can have a life-changing experience.  This is the mission of the Church and what a world in chaos from Covid19 and now riots and civil unrest needs but is the Church ready to courageously stand up for the truth of the Gospel.  Sadly, in many ways, the answer is no.  To prepare for revival, the church must do more than address administrative issues as the Disciples did when selecting Matthias and have a renewed encounter with God through the Holy Spirit, empowering the church to spread the Gospel to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). 

Jesus told the woman at the well that true worshippers worship in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23).  While well-organized programs and operations can help the Church function more efficiently as an organization in declaring the truths contained in the Bible, it is powerless without the power of the Holy Spirit in each individual in the Church.  A Church declaring truth with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is a Church where people can experience a life-changing encounter with God. 

The Church must move beyond just a social club where people gather weekly, to a triage center where hurting people have an encounter with God.  While encountering God begins with one making a public declaration of their faith in Jesus as his or her savior, it continues as the church disciples them by equipping them with knowledge of the truth in the Bible, encouraging them to be courageous when facing adversity, and empowering them with the Holy Spirit to resist evil and declare the truth in an evil world.  The world must see the church combat evil with the truth of the Gospel.  Revival will occur in the world as the Church ministers with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in declaring the truth of the Gospel not through dependence on efficient and entertaining programs. 

I encourage everyone reading this to wear the belt of truth through diligent study and meditation on the Bible (Ephesians 6:14) and seek the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to skillfully and powerfully use the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).  For those reading this who may have never made a public declaration of faith in Jesus as his or her savior, I invite you to do so by praying with me now,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

A world in chaos needs an encounter with Jesus but cannot have one unless the Church points them to Jesus.  When I speak of the Church, I am not speaking of a building pointing people to Jesus for the Church is not the building but the people in the building who follow Jesus.  The question all followers of Christ must ask is will they be active and Spirit-filled participants in spreading the Gospel or spectators.  The call of God in each believer's life is to be active participants (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) so do not be a spectator but be active disciples of Christ.