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[Music] good morning to everyone and welcome back to free grace Baptist Church and to all visitors out there this morning we welcome you to our church it's a joy to have you with us before we begin worship just a few announcements first off we can congratulate the Roger and Melissa they're now married so praise God for that Jessica Kirkpatrick we can pray for her she is pregnant so let's keep her in our prayers her and Mike and baby of course and then as well Saturday May 19th is the church work day so that's begins at 9:00 a.m. a reminder for everyone who's able to do that and even if you're not able you can come and cheer everyone else on but Saturday May 19th church work day 9:00 a.m. start time you don't have to come then you can come at any time and leave at any time but if you'd like to stay the whole time and chip into to polish this this fellow up that would be great it's a things that can be done each and every year so anybody that's able to please come and help well let's turn in our Bibles then if you'll turn with me as we begin our worship to Psalm 145 Psalm 145 our call to worship this Lord's Day sabbath morning psalm 145 beginning in verse 1 this is the word of God a praise of David I will extol you my god o king and I will bless your name forever and ever every day I will bless you and I will praise your name forever and ever great is the Lord and greatly to be praised and his greatness is unsearchable one generation shall praise your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts I will meditate on the glorious splendor of your majesty and on your wondrous works men shall speak of the might of your awesome acts and I will declare your greatness they shall utter the memory of your great goodness and shall sing of Your righteousness the Lord is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and great in mercy the Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works all your works shall praise you O Lord and your Saints shall bless you they shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and talk of your power to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts and the glorious majesty of his kingdom your kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and your Dominion endures throughout all generations the Lord upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down the eyes of all look expectantly to you and you give them their food in due season you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing the Lord is righteous in all his ways gracious in all his works the Lord is near to all who call upon him to all who call upon him in truth he will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him he also will hear their cry and save them the Lord preserves all who love him but all the wicked he will destroy my mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord and all flesh shall bless His Holy Name forever and ever amen well let's stand together and sing our first hymn if you turn in your thinner red Trinity Salter we're going to sing Psalm 113 to a familiar tune that's Psalm 113 let's stand and sing together [Music] [Music] [Music] please be seated let's go to our God now in prayer let's pray Heavenly Father we come to you now in prayer as the gathered saints of the Lord Jesus Christ rejoicing in our great God Father Son and Holy Spirit and we would ask now that you would help us to worship you were right and we would pray God that you would give us your spirit that our souls might rise up to a proper worship of our triune God we pray that your name would be hallowed in this place that you would be honored and that you would be praised and we once again pray God that throughout the earth today your name would be praised that in your gathered churches tongues would would rehearse and hearts would rehearse the glories of their God and we do pray that Christ would be reflected upon with great joy that today Lord God throughout the ends of the earth in earnest and in great joy you would be worshiped by all your people we do know that you are worthy of that worship worthy of praise and worthy of honor and we do pray God that you would cause your people to worship you today in spirit and in truth we thank you that you have given us a new day we know Lord God that we do not deserve any new days given to us but in your condescension and your love and in your eternal kindness you have caused us to arise on a new day to draw breath to enjoy a multitude of benefits and we would pray Lord God that you would cause us now to reflect with a peculiar joy in Jesus Christ our Savior that we would rejoice in the gospel of amazing and victorious grace knowing that we are not saved by deeds of righteousness which we have done but much rather according to your mercy you saved us and we reflect with great joy upon the fact the Bible rehearses that faithful saying worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into this world sinners to save knowing that grave truth that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God and we rehearse with great joy the fact that Christ died for sinners and rose again and that all who looked to him in faith have everlasting life we do pray God that you would forgive us afresh of all of our transgressions knowing that we have a shoe or insert and forgiveness in Jesus Christ our precious Savior we do pray that you would cause us to arise to a reverent worship of you our God we do pray that you would be with those who need prayer for for many things Lord God we think of those who are unwell we pray that you would strengthen all your sick and diseased and injured saints those recovering from surgery we think of Karen and Dawn Neufeld we think of many Lord afflicted with illness with sickness and with in it with injury and we do just pray God that in the midst of affliction that you would give them healing you would give them strength we pray God that you would be near to them in their time of need and we pray Lord God that even as they suffer physical things we pray that you would strengthen them in the inner man you as you would cause them to reflect upon their great God and that they would rest upon your will and that they would rest in the truth that the God of all the earth does right for his saints and for his own glory we do pray God that you would be with those who are pregnant we pray that you would watch over each and everyone we thank you for this newest one added to our list Jessica Kirkpatrick we do pray that you'd watch over her and strengthen her and we pray Lord God that you would tend to the baby in the womb that you would daily nourish and daily strengthen and for all of these babies Lord and we pray and look looking forward and do time to that day when they're brought forth to much rejoicing we pray that you would just watch over them and strengthen them daily and the mothers as well we do pray Lord God that for each and every young one we pray that at a young age they would come to a knowledge of our God and that they would own our Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ we do pray God that you'd be with Roger and Melissa we thank you for this news we pray that you would continue to knit their hearts together and watch over them we pray Lord God for each and every one for all married couples in this church that you would watch over each and every one strengthen husband and wife that we would love each other that we would seek to glorify God within the marriage covenant and we pray Lord God for for all the young ones for all the children that all parents in our midst would raise up their children in the fear and in the admonition of the Lord we pray as has already been prayed Lord God that you would bring forth you sinners to life in Christ that at a young age they would own our blessed Redeemer we pray for young and old today God that whatever whatever or whomever came in these doors outside of Christ in unbelief that by the gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit you would bring them forth from the deadness and the darkness of sin to life in light in Christ Jesus the Lord we pray do save Lord God by your victorious and amazing grace that newly redeemed tongues this day would leave these two doors singing the praises of Father Son and Holy Spirit and rejoicing and so great a Christ we would ask God that you'd be with the persecuted Church throughout the world as we prayed this morning for many and nations where there is much persecution even unto death where the government and where their own countrymen persecute them violently and in much anger we do pray that you'd watch over our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that you would strengthen them that in the midst of hot trial you would protect them we pray that they would have that faith wherewithal to be casting their eyes of faith upon the risen Christ finding comfort in Jesus knowing that the God of all comfort is near unto them we do pray that you would deal with those who persecute them God we long to see those who are your enemies brought to be your friends through Amazing Grace and so we pray for those who are presently opposed to you that you would conquer their hearts that you would cause them to see their own sin the glory of the triune God and that salvation comes by Christ alone we pray that they would be found among those whom they formerly persecuted rejoicing in the triune God we do pray God that you would judge those who would oppose you unto their last dying breath that in this lower world you would cause those who oppose your Saints to be taken out of the way that they might no longer bring harm upon your church we pray as we're called to pray for those who govern over us we would ask Lord God that you'd be with those who rule they would no longer rule and wickedness that they would no longer sanction laws that are abominations in your sight but God that you would cause Kings and those who are in authority presidents prime ministers and all those in the political to rule according to righteousness according to truth and according to a proper justice we do pray that you would keep your people prayerful in all these things we would ask then God that you would now be with us in worship we know that we require your holy spirit that we might have our souls stirred to a reverent and a proper worship we pray that as we read the scriptures as we pray as we sing hymns that you would be with us that you would cheer our hearts that we would be focused and attentive in your worship and we pray for pastor Butler as he preaches your word as he comes up here in a number of minutes to grip the wood of this pulpit to open his Bible and preach your revelation to the sons of men we would ask that you'd strengthen him here you would give him what he needs said he might be resting solely and alone upon the strength that Father Son and Holy Spirit afford ministers of the gospel and we would pray God that you're gathered assembly would hear your word that each and every one of your people would be strengthened would be nourished would be encouraged would be well equipped God to praise you and to go into this week to live for your glory sake and we would ask once again for your amazing grace in this place that you would save sinners for the glory of your amazing grace and God that a multitude of tongues around the world today would reflect with great cheer upon Jesus Christ the King of Kings and the Lord of lords and it's in his name that we pray amen let's stand and sing again this time we're gonna sing for 32 if you'll stand with me for 32 we'll stand [Music] [Music] [Music] in turn in your Bibles with me to Luke chapter 10 our New Testament scripture reading is Luke 10 beginning in verse 25 Luke 10 beginning in verse 25 once again the Word of God and behold a certain lawyer stood up and tested him saying teacher what shall I do to inherit eternal life he said to him what is written in the law what is your reading of it so he answered and said you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself and he said to him you have answered rightly do this and you will live but he wanting to justify himself said to Jesus and who is my neighbor then jesus answered and said a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves who stripped him of his clothing wounded him and departed leaving him half dead now by chance a certain priest came down that road and when he saw him he passed by on the other side likewise a Levite when he arrived at the place came and looked and passed by on the other side but a certain Samaritan as he journeyed came where he was and when he saw him he had compassion so he went to him and bandaged his wounds pouring on oil and wine and he set him on his own animal brought him to an inn and took care of him on the next day when he departed he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said to him take care of him and whatever more you spend when I come again I will repay you so which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves and he said he who showed mercy on him and then jesus said to him go and do likewise now it happened as they went that he entered a certain village and a certain woman named Martha welcomed him into her house and she had a sister called Mary who also sat at Jesus feet and heard his word but Martha was distracted with much serving and she approached him and said Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone therefore tell her to help me and jesus answered and said to her Martha Martha you are worried and troubled about many things but one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her amen the account in this section that we just read at the the parable of the Good Samaritan very often it's a it's a normal practice to come to this passage and and only find and primarily find that we have some sort of model to be a good neighbor we need to understand although that's not the primary thrust of Christ's parable here it's not just to have a model in the Samaritan of how we ought to exercise mercy though by all means you can go there and gain that as as something perhaps tertiary from the reading the primary point here is that Jesus Christ is dealing with what we find in verse 29 but he wanting to justify himself said to Jesus and who is my neighbor you see just like that rich young man who was found to be covetous when Christ brought that sort of the law to him and said give all your stuff away and come follow me Christ is setting before this man the that sword of the law casting him upon the reality that he needs Jesus Christ for salvation you see Jesus isn't here actually saying that if this person is nice to a neighbor he will inherit everlasting life this one was trying to justify himself and so Christ gives this parable of the Good Samaritan and you and I are not the Good Samaritan in this parable but Christ Himself is the Good Samaritan who washes who cleans who restores who gives Christ is the Good Samaritan and what Christ wanted this one to know was that you cannot justify yourself sure go and do likewise but that word phrased by the Savior was the sword that was to drop that man upon knees to see the terror of the law the holiness of God his sinfulness in his pride and to flee to Jesus that's the point of the Good Samaritan by all means we ought to be good neighbors but let us see first Christ as the Good Samaritan in our need for Savior that not a one of us can justify ourselves but it is only God that justifies through the righteousness in the glory of Jesus Christ the Savior let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for your word we thank you for what it discloses concerning the glory of Jesus Christ we thank you Lord for this account and for this parable and we pray that none of us Lord God would be seeking to justify ourselves but rather that you would impress upon us the reality that justification is an act of your free grace wherein you pardon all our sins where you impute the righteousness of Jesus Christ to us we thank you for that we rejoice in the fact that our justification is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone and we do pray that we would rest upon your amazing grace and that as we continue in worship you would be the recipient of all our honor and of all our praise we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior amen let's stand and sing together our final hymn is 254 that's 254 and we'll sing that to a familiar tune [Music] well please turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Acts where in Acts chapter 1 last week we saw the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ after he had spent 40 days with his apostles he exhorted them to stay to tarry in Jerusalem until they receive power from on high specifically the Holy Spirit so that they could indeed engage on the mission that he had given unto them in Acts chapter one at verse eight he says you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem Judea Samaria and then to the ends of the earth so I want to read beginning in Acts chapter 1 at verse 12 then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called all of it which is near Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey and when they had entered they went up into the upper room where they were staying Peter James John and Andrew Philip and Thomas Bartholomew and Matthew James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the zealot and Judas the son of James these all continued with one Accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers and in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples altogether not the number of names was about a hundred and twenty and said men and brethren this scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out and it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem so that the field is called in their own language Akiyama that is field of blood for it 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 therefore of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us 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 and they proposed to Joseph called barsabbas who was surnamed Justus and Matthias and they prayed and said you O Lord who know the hearts of all show which of these two which of these two you have chosen to take part in this ministry and Apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell that he might go to his own place and they cast their Lots in the lot fell on Matthias and he was numbered with the eleven apostles amen well let us pray and ask God's help as we look to his word our Father we thank you for the written word we thank you for the fact that you have not left us in this dark world alone you have given us another helper namely the Holy Spirit and you have given us the written record of your revelation and how we thank you for these things and we pray now that the Spirit of gave it would indeed lead us and guide us and direct us as we consider this passage of Holy Scripture we ask that you would forgive us for our sins and our transgressions cleanse us afresh in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and may we see in this passage the greatness and the the mercy and the kindness and the graciousness of God when it comes to the saving of sinners and we pray through Christ our Lord amen well we'll take up this particular section we'll look first at verses 12 to 14 under the Upper Room and then secondly the replacement for Judas in verses 15 to 26 and I think both these sections show us something very important concerning both the Apostles and our Lord Jesus on the on the one hand the Apostles do what Jesus said Jesus said to Terry to wait to stand by in Jerusalem until they receive power from on high that's precisely what they do we ought to follow the apostle in this obedient spirit unto the head of the church but then as well with reference to this replacement for Judas it demonstrates to us what we've already observed in Acts chapter one go back for just a moment to verse 2 where Luke says the former account beginning in verse one o Theophilus of all that Jesus began both to do and teach until the day in which he was taken up so you see Luke records all that Jesus began both to do and teach acts continues to show us what Jesus does and teaches in other words the Ascension of Christ did not remove his presence from the life of the church we simply see that he now rules he now reigns he's over all things from the right hand of the Father here specifically answering prayer here specifically guiding the church here specifically guiding the Apostles to secure this replacement in Matthias it was essential at this juncture that the apostolic ministry be of 12 and so this drives the Apostles to seek Christ's involvement to provide for them a replacement for Judas well let's look first at the upper room in verses 12 to 14 they return to Jerusalem probably in the vicinity of Mount Olive the Mount of Olives near Bethany is where our Lord had ascended and so the disciples the Apostles specifically they returned to Jerusalem and they go into this Upper Room the names of the Apostles are given for us and given to us and they're similar to the lists that we find in Matthew Mark and Luke these are the ones that Christ had chosen to be his earthly representatives to go about to make disciples to baptize disciples and to found local churches and these men were crucial in this time of the of the early church and so the manner mentioned there told us the only ones that will be heard of again in the book of Acts are actually Peter James and John but it does indicate the men that were assembled there but it's not only the Apostles they're also with the women Calvin says these are probably their wives it's either their wives which we know some had believing wives or it's the women in general those who accompanied our Lord on his ministry but also notice the reference to Mary the mother of Jesus the last time in the historical record that we find a reference to Mary FF Bruce makes the good table servation it is worth noting that the latest occasion on which Mary figures in New Testament history or in any other narrative which can be regarded in any sense historical finds her joining in worship with Jesus disciples after his ascension the Lord's she's not an object of worship she doesn't lead the band of Roman Catholicism God and one who associates here with the Apostles there's no unique status afforded to her now certainly she is blessed among women which incidentally was said of Jael in the Old Testament who drove a tent peg through the head of cicero the king of the commander of an army but nevertheless she was a sinner saved by grace on one hand we don't denigrate her she served a great purpose in the hand of our God but on the other hand we don't develop a cult following her we don't have this idea that she's a mediate ryx or somehow that she was involved in the sacrifice of her son for the redemption of sinners those who are not for a knowledgeable of Roman Catholic theology as it touches on Mary really would be shocked to hear the sorts of things that are said concerning her but I think this is noteworthy the last historical record that we have concerning her she's with the disciples she is worshipping God she's attending a prayer meeting and that is a good thing for us to follow notice what they do in the Upper Room these all verse 14 continued with one Accord in prayer this idea of being with one Accord with one mind with one purpose with one impulse other words there was great unity among these men and women there was a common goal there was obedience to Christ the reason why churches suffer with reference to a lack of peace and a lack of unity is because we all want to do our own thing it's kind of like that time in the book of Judges and the in the the latter chapters which actually described the context of Israel prior to the judges it says that everyone did what was right in their own eyes there was no king in Israel so everybody does what's right in their own eyes that's what's happening when churches suffer in terms of disunity or a lack of peace the Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 to endeavor to keep the spirit of the bond of the bond of peace by the power of the Holy Spirit we - we're to endeavor to keep that which God has given us and this is what we find in this early church situation these all continued with one Accord they had one mind they had one purpose they weren't all doing their own thing they weren't all trying to find themselves they knew what their marching orders were and they were obedient to the risen Christ that ought to mark the people of God very often we get frayed very often we get disoriented very often we get taken off the path of what God has called us to do we exist for a very specific and a very limited focus we to bring glory to God see the salvation of sinners and the edification of God's people the mission of the church is it difficult to discern the mission of the church is delimited by Jesus in Matthew 28 go therefore make disciples baptize those disciples and teach those disciples whence the problem why do we need committees to try and figure out what the church is supposed to do I think the church Apes the federal government every step of the way we have to form committees I was talking to somebody about this recently or the group yesterday on Saturday morning instead of evangelizing we have to engage in a big long study on how to evangelize instead of actually praying we think we got to read aw Pink's book on the guide to effective prayer again it's not wrong to read aw pink on prayer but brethren might it be better to pray it's not wrong to study the biblical doctrine of evangelism but might it not be good to speak to your next-door neighbor about Jesus we ate the federal government we need committees we need focus groups we need all these sorts of things to tell us what make disciples baptized disciples and teach disciples I rejoice that God's Word is written for simpletons I rejoice that the law of Yahweh makes wise the simple I rejoice that God isn't like the federal government or the churches that are aping them forming committees forming focus groups forming everything and yet neglecting the main thing which is disciple making disciple baptizing and disciple teaching it's very simple isn't it this I would submit is what led to this these all continued with one Accord there was no what am I going to do what are we supposed to do they had one mind because Christ had informed their mind and then notice they continued in one Accord in prayer and supplication they were persistent they were busy they were busily engaged they were devoted to this you see brethren theirs was not a paused meeting theirs was a prayer meeting when we gathered to pray were supposed to pray when we gathered to pray were supposed to come to our Lord through his son by the Spirit acknowledging the glory of the triune God and laying out before him our supplications our prayers our intercessions and our givings of thanks brethren the church if she is to be obedient to Christ is a prayerful body it is a prayerful body I've always thought that when the prayer meeting is as well attended as every other meeting in the church then we can praise God that were on the right path may I just say that time is not now that time is not now we have a prayer meeting every other when a Sunday morning at 9:30 we pray every Wednesday night at 7:30 you're more than welcome to come and pray the church should be about prayer these all continued with one Accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers the brothers here probably James who goes on to be a leader in the church at Jerusalem and Jude who goes on to write the Epistle of Jude now James and Jude were not believers in Christ during his earthly ministry it probably wasn't until the resurrection that these men came out of Darkness by the power of God into marvelous light these men though were used by God for his glory in the early church they continued in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers now before we leave this I want to make one quick simple observation if we look at Luke's Gospel in Luke chapter 3 remember that Luke wrote Luke and Luke wrote acts in Luke chapter 3 prior to the spirit descending upon our Lord Jesus in a mighty way guess what Jesus was found to be doing praying a wonder if Luke is telling us something with reference to a spirit-filled Church a spirit-filled Church doesn't look like a bunch of people yammering on in unknown tongues a spirit-filled Church does not look like a bunch of people running in their own directions a spirit-filled Church looks like a group of people that come to the Father through the Sun by the power of the Holy Spirit fetching power from on high and receiving it prior to the spirits descent upon our Lord Jesus he prayed prior to the descent of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost the Apostles prayed what less or not we to take from this that when we read in acts 2:40 after two forty to forty two after they received the after they had been baptized to receive the word of been baptized they they can tenured stedfastly in what in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and the breaking of bread and in prayers again brethren we can never underestimate or undervalue the place of Prayer in our studies in the book of James James chapter 5 verses 13 to 18 James emphasizes prayer in verses 13 to 16 and then James provides an example of Prayer in verses 17 to 18 and in his emphasis to prayer he deals with the individual is anyone among you suffering let him wine let him grumble let him murmur let him wonder why does God do such things to somebody is so so wonderful this in though if you're suffering you're supposed to pray if anyone among you is cheerful what's he supposed to do forget God in his happy circumstance now he's supposed to sing psalms to God pray to God you see James and verse 13 deals with the entirety of the compass of emotion in the Christian life that's pretty much it we're either suffering or work cheerful now I guess there's some gray area in there where it's just a kind of okay some of us like that just kind of okay place but for the most part suffering or prayer a suffering or cheerfulness and what's James's point be prayerful sure I happen to find that yourself you're sick in the midst of the church call the elders of the church so they can come and pray for you confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another James says what's his point in that section his point in that section is all the stuff he's dealt with in the Epistle some of it having to be hidden very hard because of the sinfulness of his readership all of this needs to be overcome at the throne of grace see the people of God are to be a praying people and that's what this upper room demonstrates to us now note secondly the replacement for Judas in verses 15 to 26 I want to look at a few sub points here first the reason for the replacement secondly the qualifications for the replacement and then thirdly the prayer concerning the replacement but note first the reason in verses 15 to 20 why do they need to replace it's Judas because Judas wasn't wretch it's intriguing it's not because he's dead that there's a vacancy in the apostolic ministry it's because he was a betraying wretch that went to his own place James the Apostle will die in acts 12 there is no replacement there what we find here is that the wickedness of Judas having transgressed having gone to his own place is now responded to by the Apostles in terms of a replacement for him among the twelve but as we look at this we ought to appreciate the contrast here between Judas and Peter I'm sure I'd brought this out in our studies in the Gospel of Matthew but I think it's very conspicuous here also note those three blessed words in verse 15 Peter stood up now some of you might say that doesn't seem very blessed he probably had two functional legs and for a man to stand up that's not too noteworthy in those days Peter stood up what was Peter like in the gospel narratives he put had a bit of an impetuous nature to him he swears his fidelity and allegiance to the Lord he says Lord I will die I will be arrested I will I will do whatever it is to stay with you remember Jesus says you're gonna deny me and he says no I'm not I'm not gonna deny you Peter did deny the Lord Jesus Peter denied him three times Peter did it in a way that was most painful Peter did it in a way that was most shameful and yet our Lord's dealings with Peter in John chapter 21 show the extent of the grace and the mercy and the forgiveness of God toward sinners believer do you ever feel like you've sinned in such a way that it can't be forgiven have you ever thought wow I've done that again wow I can't believe I'm such a miserable wretch you know looking puzzle maybe you got different lives than I lead but for the most part brethren that should be the response of our heart quite frequently I can't believe that with the light that I have the gospel narrative that I've heard with the belief in Christ in his mind by the grace of God the open Word of God the amount of resources and books that the resources God has given yet I continue to sin against God and it might be the case where the devil gets in there and says you know he's not gonna forgive you on this occasion this might have been that step over the threshold of apostasy brethren Peter stood up that means that what Christ did with him in Matt John chapter 21 was real Peter do you love me Oh Lord yeah you know that I love you and then feed my sheep Peter do you love me Lord you know that I love you well then tend to my lambs Peter do you love me notice three times Lord you you know all things and you know that I love you you see some make a big deal out of the different verbs it's love back and forth there's no extra special it's love Jesus restored Peter and Peter stood up there's a contrast Judas didn't stand up Judas went to his own place notice in verse 25 that he might go to his own place that's not referring to Akiyama that's not referring to where his remains were interred that's referring to everlasting punishment in hell that's referring to his alienation from all that is good concerning God notice I didn't say from God because God makes hell hell itch that may rock your world you may not like to hear it but hell is punishment because God is sovereign over it it's not the absence of God in hell but rather it's the absence of the goodness of God in hell you see the worst sinner on the face of the earth today enjoys good things from God do you eat you drank you breathe you see the Sun you feel the rain that is the goodness of God hell is going to be the deprivation of all the goodness of God but who is it it is sovereignty that keeps hell in place it's God now brethren look at specifically Luke chapter 22 with me Luke 22 just to see this contrast concerning Peter and Judas I think these three words that Peter stood up underscore for us the grace the mercy the kindness and the goodness of our God to notice in verse 3 of Luke 22 then Satan entered Judas surnamed Iscariot who was numbered among the twelve so he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captain's how he might betray him to them and they were glad and agreed to give him money so he promised and sought opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of the multitude notice specifically our Lord highlights the fact that there is indeed a betrayer among them he says specifically in verse 22 and truly the Son of man goes at it as it has been determined but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed he knew what was going on with reference to Judas he knew what was happening with reference to Judas Satan enters into Judas and we see nothing concerning Jesus praying for Judas but notice in verse 31 it says in the Lord said Simon Simon indeed Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat but I have prayed for you you see the contrast she see the difference Judas was not praying for Judas was ultimately reprobate Peter however is the elect of God one predestined unto eternal life and therefore enjoys the safety of God Almighty indeed Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat but I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail and when you have returned to me strengthen your brethren now some might be bothered here that I'm emphasizing God's sovereignty destination and election don't you know if you do that then sinners will be hopeless Sooners will feel like they're exasperated they'll never think that they can come to the Lord Jesus Christ sinners shouldn't think that at all sinners should hear the free offer of the gospel wherein God says all those who believe will have everlasting life they ought to hear the words of the Lord Jesus Christ who said just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so also must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever looks to him will live how do we reconcile God's sovereignty and man's responsibility we don't have to the Bible tells us they're friends the Bible tells us that God is absolutely sovereign that the one who preserved Peter that judged Judas is the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is calling you right now to come to Christ in faith you don't have to figure it all out before you come you know it's intriguing you teach a child how to tell time they don't have to learn how to build the clock to tell time that's what people want to do though before they'll come to Jesus I got a reconcile everything about sovereignty I got to know everything about predestination I got to know everything about election no you need to look under Jesus and live it's by faith we understand Hebrews eleven by faith you will by grace sort out predestination election but you need to come first to Christ and faith got to figure everything out before I'll believe no believe and then you'll figure everything out God is that good God is that merciful and God is that kind there's a contrast here Peter stood up now notice as well the specific offense of Judas is highlighted back in Acts chapter 1 he he became a guide to those who arrested Jesus and as I mentioned earlier the vacancy with reference to the apostolic ministry was created because of his treachery and not because of his death and y12 well I think it's significant for this reason Luke is going to show us in acts three to five and then it's going to be a parent all throughout the rest of act something concerning the failure of Israel's leadership see with reference to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ all the promises of God are yin day men in Christ that means all the promises made to Abraham to Isaac to Jacob when we come to the book of Acts the problem children are not the Apostles the ones rejecting the Old Testament are not the Apostles the ones rejecting the Old Testament are the religious leaders in Israel and so what we have in the twelve are the leaders of Israel the Israel of God the Covenant people of God the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ fact F F Bruce makes that observation concerning the number twelve he says the total of 12 was significant it correspond to the number of the tribes of Israel and may have marked the Apostles out as leaders of he says the new Israel I just say Israel or true Israel or spiritual Israel the point is the Apostles are emerging as the leaders of the covenant people of God they are in this formative stage necessary in order to promote the glory of God the salvation of sinners and the establishment of local churches it was crucial Judas had a lawful part in the ministry Judas had been chosen specifically by our Lord Jesus Judas was not serving as an unlawful agent but he was recognized he was appointed and he had been placed there by Jesus and so Peter says we have a vacancy and we need to fill it now notice he appeals to scripture here in verses 16 17 and 20 he appeals to scripture to show essentially what I just said God's absolutely sovereign Judas his treachery didn't take God unawares God didn't seal mine what's happened now I've got to get in order so I can fix this situation this is where you have to appreciate what scripture says concerning God's absolute sovereignty and the responsibility of man Peter appeals to Scripture and no the way that he doesn't talk about a nod to the aura tea and inspiration of the scripture notice in verse 16 men and brethren the scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke concerns for by the mouth of David concerning Judas oh you just follow that book that you think is the Word of God well it tells us it's the Word of God the Holy Spirit spoke by the mouth of David concerning Judas so David back in the Psalms is writing Psalms or is writing under the inspiration of power the Holy Spirit concerning this man Judas that will ultimately betray Jesus psalm 41 verse 9 the one who eats with me betrays me the Psalter as a whole holds forth the reality that Jesus will come Jesus will suffer Jesus will die and Jesus will be raised David writes all those things in the Psalter the prophets are filled with it as well but note the authority and the inspiration of Scripture the Holy Spirit spoke by the mouth of David when you're reading the songs you're reading David but you're reading the Holy Spirit you're reading what David panned under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit you see that's why we often say you ought to read the Bible you ought to read scripture you ought to be in the word because you come into contact with the living and the true God you know and you hear his voice how is it that we have such a rich resource and we neglect it how is it that we have such a rich resource and we pick it up one day on the of the week and we bring it we schlep it with us to church how is it that that's a item in our lives brethren we value or we spend time in the midst of or with things that we value in prize don't we I like to think we all value our spouses and we want to be with that if you don't repent for sake deal with whatever issues are keeping you at bay and and and be with one another you can see this with sports fans you you know what they value in prize because they'll sit glued to a TV for three hours never having to get up to go to the bathroom but man we come to church and we gotta go trot off to the bathroom every two minutes what's with us kids can be given an activity and sit and do that activity for an hour but man an hour of preaching pastor you don't want that that's like yeah I do we raised five kids and they were always in the services I'm not suggesting there the Apostle Paul but they're decent human beings so I trust it can be done we spend time with that which we value and if the mouth or the the Holy Spirit speaks to the mouth of David why are we ignorant concerning the Psalms why do we not have a clue concerning Paul's letters why is it that we scratch our heads and say I think it's in the Bible somewhere shame on us if that's ever our response shame on us if a jehovah's witness bests us in an argument because we're too lazy to read our Bibles the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas the betrayal of Jesus by Judas was according to the plan of God Mark 1417 one of you who eats with me will betray me psalm 41:9 even my own familiar friend and whom I trusted who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me I referenced that text in Luke 22 22 the son of man goes as it has been determined but never forget that Judas by his transgression fell john calvin says neither was judas therefore excusable because that which befell him was foretold seeing that he fell away not being compelled by the prophecy but only by the malice of his own heart now the specific passage is that that peter is referring to you gotta understand something about this structure if you look for a moment at verses 18 and 19 that is rightly marked off with parenthesis in my translation that's not Peters words Peters hearers wouldn't need to be minded about the treachery of Judas they wouldn't need Akal dama translated for them verses 18 and 19 or a parenthetical statement by Luke to highlight for us the miserable end of this miserable sinner Judas and we'll look at that in just a moment but the two texts that Peter highlights that the Holy Spirit spoke by the mouth of David concerning Judas are found in Psalm 69 and Psalm 109 if you look at verse 24 it is written in the Book of Psalms let his dwelling place be desolate and let no one live in it a commentator named Marshall said Psalm 69 is an individual lament in which the psalmist describes his plight of deep suffering prays to God for deliverance and calls upon God to exercise his wrath against the sufferers foes it was interpreted by early Christians as typifying Jesus in his suffering and death and also as applying to those who rejected him or it's Peter says that what happened with Judas was written off long before Psalm 169 highlights that and then in verse the end of verse 20 let another take his office Psalm 109 here he prays that a certain enemy may die and that someone else may take his office we used to sing Psalm 109 didn't we from the Psalter in family worship and we would devote it to abortionists because it's an imprecatory song and God there tells or the pro psalmist there prays to God to you know deal severely with his enemies now mind you I think we always prayed that God would save them but if they're not saved then God deal with them the way David prays here in Psalm 109 pastor you can't pray that why not it's intriguing to me that the Psalms that speak of Jesus Christ that are cited by the Apostles in the New Testament do we think it's just bits of those Psalms just as the debates that that speak about the the Ministry of Jesus no the whole psalm is for us and for our children now as I've often reminded our congregation we don't pray in bracket ory Psalms driving down while we don't pray them when we come to that intersection at core bald and somebody runs the stop sign we don't call down God's wrath and ask him to smash the teeth of our enemies who caught us and lying it at superstore that's not what the imprecatory psalms are to be utilized for but to say that they are no use in the life of the Christian I think is an evidence of the sort of anemic state that the church finds itself in today brethren the imprecatory psalms are sanctioned to pray by God now this commentary by Luke in verses 18 to 19 again it's a parenthetical statement some have seen here in comparison with Matthew 27 a discrepancy or rather a contradiction in the account concerning Judas if you're interested in a more detailed look at that go back to the sermon on Matthew 27 where I dealt with Judas his hand and the religious leaders suffice it to say Matthew tells us that he hanged himself there's no contradiction between what we find here and what we find there most are agreed most sensible interpreters are agreed he hanged himself in either the Rope broke or the branch broke and when he fell to the earth his body opened up and his entrails gushed out again not happy reading prior to lunch but it is the case with reference to this man Judas who was a treacherous wretched miserable sinner and then and Peter is telling us or rather Luke is telling us what his end was notice the purpose is to highlight for us what Peter is doing we need a replacement because of Judas treachery and Luke fills in for us what happens in terms of Judas treachery now notice secondly the qualifications concerning the replacement it wasn't just any old person that could do this and I think if you reflect on this passage you will see that anybody claiming the title apostle today is nuts nuts in the best possible interpretation anti scriptural in the worst there are no apostles today oh but I happen to know this charismatic church that has an apostle they might but he was never appointed by God there are specific qualifications but notice in the first place the Apostles say to the hundred and twenty to find a man I think that's intriguing we often read that and say well there's only 120 disciples in Jerusalem there were others in Galilee to be sure probably it was Galilee where Jesus appeared to the 500 it's not the case that there were only 120 but notice as well with reference to the requirements he says of these man who have accompanied us all the time before we actually look at the three qualifications I want us to notice that he asks for a man ladies I don't want to offend you I don't want to hurt you I don't want you to leave here today saying Butler's a male chauvinist pig but the early church used men in leadership first Timothy chapter 3 it's conspicuous let him be the husband of one wife not the wife of one husband let her be able to teach let her be a bob of know it's it's it's men God's not anti woman God is Pro order God is Pro structure and God has determined that men lead with reference to the home and the church it's not to be tyranny it's not to be dictatorial it's not to be Paul Pott ish or Hitler Ian or Stalin ask but it is to be leadership the husband is the head of the wife there's no command there in Ephesians 5 it's an indicative this is true the idea is is you're either a good one at it or you're a terrible one at it because it's always the case that a man is the head of his wife of his wife the same is true in the church 1st Corinthians chapter 11 first Timothy chapter 2 the Apostle Paul says therefore I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man you'd think that's a tough one to wriggle out of with reference to we've got to have women in the ministry but they do it valiant attempts are launched to try and say well Paul's arguing based in a potential particular cultural milieu where women were you know uppity and and this was the problem nopal are cues from creation Adam was formed first and the woman transgressed he goes back to Genesis chapters 1 2 3 for his ethics to drive leadership in the church so don't mean to hurt you I don't mean to offend you but I do hope to instruct you that God has purpose and we need to follow it but she's so much better at it it doesn't matter and don't say well I'm unqualified because I'm a woman you're qualified for a whole host of things as a woman it's a pretty it's a beautiful thing why don't we just embrace how God made things I think the church should take leadership in this too probably not accidental we've got the confusion in society because we've got confusion in the church somewhere along the line churches thought well we can ordain women somewhere along the line Society said well there's no such thing as women there's no such thing as men there's no such thing as gender it's all whatever it is we want the the society has become self determinant self determining of what it is they want the church has done the same in light of 1st Timothy 2 where the Apostle invested with the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ the ascended king who has absolute authority that Paul says I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man and we say he doesn't matter sister so-and-so we want you to be our new pastor brethren God is not mocked probably not incidental or accidental we got confusion out there we got confusion in here and if this hurts your feelings sisters even take it to the Lord and repent we shouldn't ever get upset about the way God defines things for us it's akin to the gender converter like being a woman I don't like being a man who asked you why do you think it's up to you to be able to what you are well last time I checked God's creator and he makes creatures according to his plan and purpose same thing with end of life well it should be my right to destroy myself if I so choose and die with dignity you're not your own God made you came with a more shape we ought to be able to murder that lump of cells because it's inconvenient because we don't think it's a person because we don't we don't have that right what happened to the god of creation the studies in Genesis on on Wednesday night I think are uniquely important for the church at this time you'll find more often than not when the Apostles do redemptive ethics they are not doing new things they are reaching back into the creation account and saying what God intended at the beginning is what is normative for you as a blood-bought child of God there's not this wow I can't believe Paul wants us to act this way it's always been that way but man came and distorted it and twisted it and plunged it into to ruin and and and and and did a disintegration God in Christ is reconciling the world to himself and the redemptive ethic for the new covenant believer more often than not is what was true for Adam and Eve we don't like that either so Adam and Eve weren't real people and it just never stops you you give away a little ground with reference to the Bible you might as well hand it all over you might as well just say forget it I guess it is a collection of fairy tales it should just start off in a land far far away in a land filled with Pixies and angels and dust or fairies and angel dust and whatever it is that there is brethren we need to hold fast to the word of truth and men work men were the men or men were the ones that Peter said are to be the replacements the first qualification is they needed to be taught by the Lord they needed to have been present in the Lord's ministry beginning with the baptism of John and the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ what me they needed to have been present under our Lord's tutelage so that they learned doctrine so that they learned the truth so that they knew something of his person and of his work had to be taught of God when we look for in pastors today just that they're good guys just that they know how to drink coffee with people they're good on the golf course they're winsome they're one know we looked at they've spent time with Jesus they've been taught by Jesus and they are committed to the truth of God's Word the same sort of thing though we aren't physically present with Jesus the second thing they need to have witnessed is the resurrection of Jesus the resurrection of Jesus I love what Alexander says here with reference to the resurrection he says a witness of his resurrection the great keystone of the Christian system presupposing his life and death and not as necessary antecedents and implying his ascension and exaltation as necessary consequence in many respects that that reference to resurrection becomes a theological bit of shorthand to identify for us all that's true concerning Jesus so these men had to have been present to hear the teaching of Jesus they had to have witnessed the resurrection of Jesus you see why I say there's not apostles today they can't fulfill that the Apostle whoever and whatever church is not an apostle and any man that would take that title to himself is a man you want to cover your wallet around and certainly cover your checkbook because bad things are coming your way they typically want what you've got their profits of profit and should be avoided and the third qualification is that Jesus select him again you see no apostles today now they propose to men you might say well if they could have figured out - they certainly could have figured out one and why not just pick one and and wouldn't it be true of the hanan 20 that they had been there no not necessarily not all these hundred and twenty would have been there from the baptism of John all the way to the Ascension of Jesus Christ not all hundred want then witnesses of his resurrection so they proposed these two men bar sabes and Mathias later church history tells us that bar sabes was well known for having swallowed snake venom and not dying interesting that's what Mark's Gospel tells us in mark 16 Matthias was ultimately martyred he had become a missionary again this is church history to Ethiopia so these men went on to do great and glorious things but we only hear Peter James and John again in the narrative in the book of Acts so now notice what they do in terms of their prayer verse 24 and they prayed and said you O Lord who know the hearts of all literally you O Lord heart knower now some say that they are addressing the father here because in acts 15 8 they call upon God the Father as the one who knows all the hearts I submit their praying to Jesus here acts 1 2 is conspicuous that Jesus chose the apostles who better to call upon for a replacement when there's a vacancy in the Apostleship they pray to Christ the heart nowhere that he would make it clear which of these two men having been proposed ought to fill Judas's spot now notice the prayer is accompanied by lots verse 25 to take part in this ministry and Apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell that he might go to his own place and they cast their Lots and the lot fell on Matthias now we read that and we go that's not the way to do things will they use the lot in the Old Testament in several places I think behind this particular action is what we find in proverbs 1633 we read there from Solomon the lot is cast into the lap but it's every decision is from the Lord so when they select bar Sabbath and Matthias it's not an election but rather a nominee because there were two they want to leave the ultimate decision to the one who initially chose the other apostles so they pray to Christ as the heart no where to make his will known they cast a lot and a lot falls upon Matthias again they interpret this properly they cast a lot but its decision was from the Lord specifically Christ to whom they had prayed and so Matthias is chosen and he was numbered with the eleven apostles now in conclusion we ought to observe in the first place the uniqueness of the apostolic ministry the Apostles were chosen by Christ to be the leaders of the church again not leaders like popes some have observed that Peter stood up Peter stands up for the first half of the book of that and therefore Peter was the first pope no based on a bad reading of Matthew 16 a bad interpretation of what Jesus is talking about there they see us confirmatory that Peter takes the lead at least in the first half of the book of Acts and has proof of his papal Authority no in stand-up as the first pope he may have stood up as the first among equals but nevertheless we ought to appreciate the unique role of the Apostles with reference to the founding of the early churches as well the apostles were qualified by having been with Christ in his ministry and by having witnessed his resurrection now some get a little wonky with this passage and they say well wait a minute what about Paul what about Paul listen Paul the twelfth apostle wasn't Paul the one that completes that band some have said that these apostles were wrong to do what they did in the selection of barsabbas and Matthias they should have waited for Paul to see the tact the text gives us no hint whatsoever that they did anything wrong it doesn't indicate one bit that they did anything that violated the will in the mind of God secondly it lays emphasis upon the fact they were orderly they were prayerful they were scriptural they were mindful of their position under Jesus they they call upon Jesus to select the replacement for Judas they cast a lot not because they're throwing dice for money but they cast their lot trusting in the power and the presence and the provision of Jesus to make clear who it is that's going to replace him Paul himself would have been shocked at the thought that he himself was one of the twelve he was a unique addition Galatians 1 he says I wasn't chosen by men I was chosen by Christ Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles and we are certainly not minimizing that but when we get to the book of Revelation and we see those 12 names on that that foundation its Matthias Lords don't diss Matthias he had nothing wrong he's not the bad guy here and neither were the 11 and certainly neither is Paul they had a need they call upon Christ Christ calls the flosses the lot to fall in the favor of Matthias and he takes the role and goes and preaches FF Bruce says Paul did not possess the qualifications set out in verses 21 and 22 he himself would certainly have dismissed his brought up preposterous the idea that he was rightfully the 12th apostle on the same footing as Peter and the rest of the 11 there's nothing wrong with that again before we leave this point the the apostles that are living today are typically connected to her heretical cults or you know zany expressions of Christianity there's two abiding offices in the church they elders and deacons that's it no apostles no prophets we're gonna see that as we move through the book of Acts if you come to the book of Acts thinking that maybe the charismatic Tsar right I hope to convince you there not remember there's a big difference between what is described and what is necessarily prescribed and not everything described for us means it abides for us in the church today and that's okay God is good and he guides us still by word and spirit we have seen as well this contrast between Judas and Peter which will visit in just a moment but the rule of Christ in the church the rule of Christ in the church this ought to encourage us that what Luke says in Luke 1 1 & 2 or X 1 1 & 2 is true he continues to do into each from his position of authority at the right hand of his father Christ is present with his church Christ makes known his will with reference to Matthias it's why when we have a vote for elders or deacons we can trust Christ he's not absent he's not defaulting he's not saying well you know I only did that initially but you can't call on me today again it's not in the same sort of way in terms of fulfilling you know the vacancy left by a treacherous man named Judas and we want another apostle the Brethren when we come to vote as the people of God there's a sense where we have to trust the Spirit of God so sense where we have to realize his active agency among us and that he is guiding us and directing us to accomplish the purpose that he has that he is purposed it's a beautiful thing Thompson says Luke shows then that Jesus not only has such authority that he may be prayed to but Jesus is also continued continuing to direct affairs from heaven the Lord Jesus is still ruling over his people choosing which disciple will join the ranks of the other eleven apostles who he's chosen and controlling the outcome of the law to bring about his appointment it is the acts of the risen Lord Jesus and that's the title of Thompson's book on Acts I'm going to borrow it over and over again because the emphasis in the book of Acts isn't upon the Apostles so much as it is upon the ascended Lord Jesus ruling and reigning from the right hand guiding his apostles by his Spirit and by his word to accomplish the purpose of making disciples baptizing disciples and teaching disciples in the three Ray regions specified in acts 1:8 Jerusalem first Judea Samaria and then to the end of the earth that's the trajectory of the book of Acts and we ought to praise God not only for the presence of Christ though absent physically present spiritually and for the obedience of the Apostles praise God that these men did what they did and you know why they did it because God wants sinners saved and that beautiful isn't that great I don't know if God wants to save me or not the book of Acts tells us he does because he took 12 men and he sent them out to turn the world upside down that is their purpose that was their function that was their role you will find little to nothing in terms of their their their their politics though arguably we can construct political theory from Scripture you will see little in terms of them boycotting or then theirs or them that what you will see is their constant emphasis on witnessing to Jesus in his life death and resurrection in the three regions specified Jerusalem Judea Samaria and to the end of the earth that's what move these men that's what move their hearts that's what made them tick what is it that makes you go on because Jesus commanded that we go preach the gospel so that God could save sinners in each of these regions see if you're a sinner here this morning you've not come to the Lord Jesus Christ look at the book of Acts God is about saving sinners look at Peter stood up I address my brothers my sisters believers earlier and said don't doesn't it ever perplex you that you see in it and you feel like there's a sin that perhaps God can't forgive or he won't forgive be encouraged that Peter stood up if you're an unbeliever I'll give you the same encouragement you can never say well my sin is too much my sin is too big my sin is too nasty for God to ever forgive me you can't say that you cannot ever say that you will never ever be able to say that in light of the Apostle Paul you know what Paul says in first chapter one this is a trust a we're a trustworthy statement worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came right this is a faithful saying that Christ Jesus came into this world sinners to save you'll hear pastor Porter and myself say it that way it says to save sinners but we throw the sinners at the front of the statement because that's where Paul throws the statement the statement is sinners to save yeah there's a certain sense where you get that and save sinners but the emphasis in the passage on what Jesus does is sinners to save and then Paul says of whom I am chief let that stir in your hearts this morning you think your sins are too much you think you're too black you think you're too soaked in in the scum and the wretchedness and the wickedness of this world you've compromised yourself sexually you've compromised yourself financially you've compromised yourself ethically you compromised yourself in terms of the way you speak or the way you think and the way you move or the way you have your being you think that you are undone in the sense that God can't put you back together again you don't know the God of the Bible the God of the Bible says that he takes our sins and he cast them into the depths of the sea it's in the prophet Micah Micah the name means who is a god like you Micah uses his name in the context of God's pardoning mercies who is a God like you who takes our transgressions and cast them into the depths of the sea I love what Spurgeon says on that tax God doesn't throw them into the shallow part of the sea because they'll bob up and down and continue to stay in front of us he throws them into the depths of the sea you don't see stuff in the depths of the sea once it's in Daviess locker it's gone so I don't want to hear this morning if I could hear the inner machinations of your heart saying but I'm so sinful I'm so wretched that's like a thirsty man saying I'm so thirsty I can't take a drink of water I so hungry I can't eat that sandwich we would say you're nuts you're crazy it's because you're hungry and it's because you're Thursday that you ought to take and eat it's because you're so sinful you ought to come you ought to look you ought to believe and you ought to realize that this Christ is the one as a result of that Peter stood up there's forgiveness to be had with our Lord and I would encourage you today not to lay your head on your pillow tonight until you know you have that peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord well let us pray our Father we thank you for your word we thank you for the order and the decency that we see in an early church life here in the book of Acts we thank you for the presence of Christ though physically absent locally present at the right hand of the Father nevertheless always present with his church by the spirit and word how we are encouraged by this how we are thankful for this we know that that hasn't changed that you are still our Lord still working in the midst of your people here and we would pray even now that you would open hearts of sinners caused them to see that Christ alone is the way of salvation and may they come to know him as their Lord and may you encourage your people we do get downcast and sorrowful and and overwhelmed by our remaining corruption but may those three words Peter stood up be a great reminder to us of your mercy your grace and the extent of your forgiveness go with us now we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen