In A Pickle

TEXT: ACTS 1:12-26

SERMON OBJECTIVE: To equip people with biblical guidelines they can use to help them to make right choices when life places them in difficult situations.

INTRODUCTION: Have you ever been in that situation where you just didn’t understand what was happening or how you needed to handle a situation that life has put you in the middle of? Have you ever just found yourself in a pickle, scratching your head and saying “where in the world do I go from here?” This is exactly where the apostles had found themselves in

Jerusalem. They had just witnessed the betrayal of Judas their friend and comrade. They were told to return to

Jerusalem the most dangerous place they could be at that time. To top it all off they had the task of finding a replacement for Judas. Feeling insecure, threatened, betrayed and confused they found themselves in a pickle. Did they panic, get mad, blame God or Judas; did they sit and do nothing hoping God would fix things? Absolutely not; let’s look and see how they handled this difficult time. I. THEY CAME TOGETHER IN PRAYER (VS.14)Throughout scripture we are continually reminded of the truth that ……1. Prayer is the foundation for unity in ministrya) Another example is found in Acts 4:23-24· Peter and John came straight to the church and shared their experience · The church was already praying · They were not depressed, discouraged, down cast or even fearful, they simply recognized the importance and power of prayer. When trying to decide whether or not to change pastorates and where to go, I found that uniting in prayer with the church was crucial. II. THEY SOUGHT THE COUNSEL OF SCRIPTURE (VS. 15,16,20)This seemingly difficult decision of what to do and how to do it became very simple in light of scripture.

• The question of being witnesses, going to Jerusalem and replacing Judas was actually no question at all.
• The decision had already been made by God.

I remember when God revealed to me it was time to leave my first pastorate, their wasn’t any question of leaving, God had already answered that. The only question was when and where.

III. THEY TRUSTED IN THE SOVERIENGTY OF GOD (VS. 23-26)SOVERIENGTY: Simply means that God knows what He is doing and is doing it.

• They put forth the two qualified candidates and trusted in Gods ability to reveal to them which one He had already chosen.
• Another great example of Acts 4:24-31

I remember trusting Gods sovereignty in the process of leaving Southside.

CLOSE: Are you confused, not sure the direction you need to go? Has life put you in a Pickle? When is the last time you came together with the church in prayer? Have you searched the scriptures for the answer? Do you believe God knows what He is doing and is doing it?