BE SECURE IN YOUR FAITH
Pray – (1/2 minute)
Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “ ‘I baptize with water,’ John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day Joann saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ ” (John 1:26-29)
Passage: 2 Timothy 1:8-14
The key criteria for the man who would take Judas’ place in the group of Apostles was that he had to have been a follower of Jesus from the time John the Baptist pointed out Jesus to the time of Jesus’ ascension. Matthias fit that requirement. His name means, “gift of God”, which indicates the commitment of his parents to Jehovah and to raise him in the Jewish faith. He grew up hearing about the promise of a Messiah, but also in a religion that had become oppressive with ritualistic over relationship. Then John the Baptist began to preach, Matthias was drawn to his preaching, but when John pointed to Jesus as the Messiah, Matthias believed and began following Jesus.
Matthias followed Jesus with as much faith as anyone else. He was devastated by seeing Jesus crucified, but elated and blessed to see Jesus alive and to hear Jesus give the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. Matthias could tell the story of how religion did not fill the void in his life or provide forgiveness for sin. He could tell of how he met Jesus and how Jesus changed his life. He was committed to being present and available because he was secure and settled in his faith. As Paul later wrote, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”
Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)