That Explains It
“That Explains It”
Text: Acts 1:15–26 NIV
- Sometimes God Makes You Pause Before He Sends Power
The disciples had to sit with what happened.
Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem.
Not preach yet.
Not move yet.
Not build yet.
Just wait.
Before power comes, reflection has to happen.
They needed time to process:
- the crucifixion,
- the betrayal,
- the fear,
- the denial,
- the grief,
- the disappointment,
- and even their own failures.
Some people want Pentecost power without upper room healing.
- What’s happening on the inside eventually affects the outside.
Acts 1:18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
Pressure that is never dealt with will cause an explosion.
Judas had greed inside.
Bitterness inside.
Isolation inside.
Conviction without repentance inside.
You can heal before you explode
- God will use our situations to get our attention
– If God were a man, it would be pretty jacked up to use a death, a disappointment or a bad decision, as a moment to get our attention, but God’s ways are not ours. Its important for us to realize that the stuff that happens around us, although God is not the cause- He can work with it. Judas made a decision and in the grand scheme it was necessary that the scripture be fulfilled, but what cant be minimized was the decision made by Judas. I say that because sometimes we find ourselves in situations because of a choice, but sometimes, situations find us and we have no control.
Invite God in to your situation
Daniel 3:16- 25 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king’s command was [c]urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his [d]counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”
They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the[e] Son of God.”
Beyond the Literal Meaning
- God Still Has a NEXT After Your “THAT”
Acts 1:20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:
“‘May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,’[e]
and,
“‘May another take his place of leadership.’[f]
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Because God’s purpose did not die with Judas.
God’s plan for your life did not die with what died.
But purpose still exists after THAT.
- Before the Power Comes, Preparation Must Happen
Pentecost is coming in Acts 2.
Power is on the way.
But before power comes:
- They had to reflect.
- They had to understand what happened.
- They had to prepare for what was next.
You are not waiting because God forgot you.
You are waiting because God is preparing you.
John 16: 33 NIV “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”