Listen Here: “Anticipation“
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; John 17:6-19
- The apostolic board had twelve members, twelve positions, and with Judas’ death, there was an opening. They were short a man.
- They needed a replacement. And they were not wrong in this assessment. They cited Psalm 109:8 to justify their action: “may another take his office!”
- But there was a problem: the Psalm did not say: “elect a replacement.”
- prayed that His people would not be taken out of this world, but that God would keep His people from the clutches of the evil one.
- Jesus prayed that His people would not be taken out of this world, but that God would keep His people from the clutches of the evil one.
- The action of the gospel is not escape from this world into heaven. The action of the gospel is struggle in this world, “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:12).
- This struggle is not optional, it is necessary. God’s plan is to bring heaven to earth, to bring the kingdom of God to earth.
- The action of the gospel is not escape from this world into heaven. The action of the gospel is struggle in this world, “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:12).
- This struggle is not optional, it is necessary. God’s plan is to bring heaven to earth, to bring the kingdom of God to earth.
Sunday morning messages are available on the website (www.stpaulsmarietta.org/audio). Tell your friends.