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[0:00] Hallelujah! We thank God you've tuned into this message by David Entry at Caris Church. No hand can help you with the fulfillment of your destiny but the Word of God. May God's hand align you further into your destiny through this Word.

[0:16] We see how Luke gives us the record of the early church, how the resurrected Jesus in his ascension was propagated by the Holy Spirit through his apostles for the producing of the church, the kingdom of God.

[0:37] We have seen in chapter 1 verse 1 to 14 how it was basically the introduction. The writer Luke tells us about how Jesus resurrected and gave them infallible proofs of his resurrection and he taught them a few things for 40 days.

[1:03] He spent time with them and then left for 10 days and he left them. In our last teaching we saw how Jesus ascended because his ascension was also a very important aspect of the foundation of Christian faith.

[1:20] His ascension points to the fact that he's coming back. His ascension points to the fact that he's alive. His ascension points to the fact that they can now preach the gospel because he's with them.

[1:36] His ascension points to the fact that his work on earth has been finished. His ascension mainly also pointed to the fact that there is a man in heaven.

[1:50] He didn't die or he conquered death and he went alive, went to heaven. They saw him go. The Bible says that he was received by a heavenly elevator, the cloud.

[2:03] And a cloud received him and took him out. But much more, this is also very important. His ascension points to the fact that he's in session.

[2:18] Or it points to the fact of his enthronement. So he just didn't ascend. In Ephesians chapter 1, the Bible says that, verse 19, The power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him.

[2:35] The power that raised Christ from the dead. Verse 20 says that, which worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead. And seated him at his last enthronement. He didn't just ascend.

[2:45] He was enthroned. Seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. Far above principalities and powers. And then they left with joy.

[2:57] But I want to point you to something very interesting. In verse 13, they went to the upper room, right? The Bible says that. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying.

[3:12] It seems to me that the upper room, they were staying there. But they were actually gathering in the temple to pray. Because, you know, look, Dr. Luke, his account, the first account ended with the ascension.

[3:34] I think he was about the only one out of the four gospel writers who spoke about his ascension. He ended with his ascension. And then he started his sequel or his volume two, Acts, with his ascension.

[3:53] So he ended the first aspect. And Luke chapter 24, verse 50.

[4:04] As he blessed them. Right. Luke 24, verse 50. And he led them out as far as Bethany. And he lifted up his ascension and blessed them.

[4:15] Verse 51. And as he blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried up into heaven. All right.

[4:25] So he was carried up into heaven before their eyes. Then they returned, verse 52. And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

[4:36] Look at the next verse. And they continued in the temple, praising and blessing. Where were they? In the temple. They went to the upper room where they were staying, but they continued in the temple.

[4:54] Because that's a lot of people staying in one place. So when the Holy Ghost came, there were 120 of them. They were in the temple. So they dealt business. The temple is an important place for Jewish believers.

[5:08] It's an interesting point. I've always known that he came to the upper room. But at least, like, they were in the temple. That's where, from Luke's finishing. So, now, Luke ends here and actually picks it up from chapter 1 of Acts, verse 15.

[5:24] So, that's, he was naming them. He mentioned those who were there in verse 14, including the women. Now, verse 15 says that. Verse 15 says that.

[5:35] Then, now, this is where it was. So the early part was the introduction. Now, so Peter was now about to talk to the guys. They were together in the temple. They were together.

[5:45] And then someone was about to, Peter was stood up to address them. So it looks like now they are about to leave there. Jesus has finished. He's gone. They've all returned. They've settled. Now what?

[5:56] So, really, the first bit we've been dealing with was actually the introduction. What happened and what happened and what happened and what happened. And they were all together with the women and Mary and Jesus' brothers.

[6:08] Jesus also had brothers, okay? James was one of them. So, there's two. James, his disciples, early one, he called James, the brother of John. It's different from James, another James, who is Jesus' brother.

[6:22] Now, Jesus' brother was the one who wrote the epistle of James. James chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 5. That's the brother of Jesus. All right? So, when you see James chapter 1, he talks about James.

[6:36] And then Jude also was one of his brothers. But they were not part of his 12. They were not part of his 12. Because when Jesus was alive, they really didn't believe in him.

[6:48] Like family members do. They really didn't believe in his Christ. They used to mock him. But there was a time they told him that, why don't you go to the feast so that your disciples can see?

[7:00] If you are the Messiah. Show yourself. Why are you hiding yourself? Show yourself. There was a time Jesus was teaching and then they told him. He was told that your mother and your brethren are coming to look for you. He said, who are my mother and brethren? Those who are doing the wedding.

[7:10] So, they were not part of their 12. So, James, the one who wrote the epistle of James, was natural brother, Mary's son. And Jude was also Mary's son.

[7:22] So, Mary was not an ever virgin. After... Now, that's an important theological fact. You have to understand.

[7:33] In fact, I think in Mark chapter 6, verse 3. Is it verse 3? And it's not happening that the son of Mary and his brother...

[7:44] Did you see that? Judas is the same as Jude. It's different from the one who betrayed him. Okay? Because, I mean, in the UK, we have a lot of Michael. We have a lot of Jones. We have the James.

[7:55] So, when you see Judas, it's not that you have to be sure with Judas. Now, this is... Jesus had a brother called Judas. The same as Judah. The same as Jude. So, they knew him. They said, I just know his brothers.

[8:07] We know him. So, later on, Jude and his brothers also believed. When did they believe? After the resurrection. So, Bible talks about it in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. That he appeared to James as well.

[8:20] So, when he resurrected, he showed him. Look at chapter 15, verse 6. Chapter 15. Let's go to verse 5 quickly. Verse 5. And he was seen of Cephas. Cephas is Peter.

[8:31] Okay? The Aramaic version of Peter is Cephas. So, Cephas. And then, by there, it looks like Peter was even separated from the 12. He was separated from the 12.

[8:44] Why was he separated from the 12? By Peter. And then, by the 12. Now, look at it. After that, he was seen by over 500. Greater of them are alive.

[8:57] And some are dead. Next verse. Verse 7. After that, he was seen by... Is he not part of the 12? No, no. This is his brother. He's his brother.

[9:08] And by all the apostles. So, it's like James was not part of them. James. Jesus has a brother called James. He wasn't the one Herod murdered. Herod, in Acts chapter 12, verse 1.

[9:20] When Herod killed James and he saw that he pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take Peter. James, the brother. You see, this brother of John. Zebedee. Brother Zebedee.

[9:30] Their mother was Mrs. Zebedee. Mrs. Zebedee. You remember? Mrs. Zebedee came to Jesus. He says, I can't mind. His son, one sits on your left and one sits on your right. Do you remember Mrs. Zebedee?

[9:42] And Jesus said, are they ready? Are they able to drink the cup that I'll drink? They said, yes. He said, even if you drink, it's not for me to appoint. The cup was a very dangerous cup. So, now, he said, yes, I'll be able to drink it.

[9:52] That's why he drank. They killed him. So, this is different from the writer of the Gospel of James. Sorry. The Epistle of James. So, these ones were his disciples.

[10:04] They're among the 12. They're among the 12. But James was not among the 12. He's his brother who also became his disciple.

[10:15] So, now, going back, Bible says that Peter stood up and addressed the congregation, the people. And Peter, in those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples.

[10:28] Say disciples. Disciples. Please say it again. Disciples. Altogether, they were about 120. And said, men and brethren, this scripture had to be fulfilled.

[10:43] Look at these people. Their mind was on scripture. They're not thinking, what are we to do? Now, I want you to understand. After they saw the resurrected Jesus and ascended Jesus, they would be so zealous to go and tell everybody.

[10:58] But why would they return to the upper room and then go to the temple of praying? Why didn't they start? Because Jesus told them to wait. The early church, the purity of the, the present purity of the early church was one, obedience.

[11:13] They had what it took to just go and start telling people. But how would that reach the world? How would they, 12 people, or let's even say 120, how would they cross and reach the whole world?

[11:26] How would they come to Germany? How would they come to UK? Some of them would die before they, even in Jerusalem, they were dying, let alone. So if Jesus said to the ends of the world, then they couldn't do it by their own natural strength.

[11:41] But first, obedience. Say obedience. Obedience. They returned and went into the upper room because they waited. Jesus said, wait. Don't just go.

[11:51] Wait. So wait in the city of Jerusalem. Wait in Jerusalem. He actually told them, wait in Jerusalem. When they had got, he told them to wait. I'm talking about Luke chapter 24, verse 49.

[12:05] So wait in the city until you are endued. I send you the promise of the Father. Tarry you in the city of Jerusalem. So they were not meant to go out. And so first of all, they were obedient.

[12:17] It prepared the room for the flow of God in their lives. You want the blessing of God with this acute level of disobedience. Or this mild level of disobedience.

[12:29] All most true is equally false and the most dangerous of all false. Slight disobedience is the same as disobedience. Or just a little disobedience is the same.

[12:43] See, so they went and waited in the upper room. That's one. And when they waited, what were they doing? We could tell from verse 14 of Acts 1 that they continued in prayer.

[12:59] So they waited. They were obedient. Okay. Number one, they were? Obedient. Let's all say that together. Number one, they were what? Obedient. Number two, Bible says that.

[13:11] Look at verse 14 again. The verse 14. And they continued in one accord. One accord. Right. So they were there in one accord.

[13:25] One accord suggests, connotes unity. They were unified. A divided church cannot see a move of God. Even if there's five of us who are united, the Holy Ghost can easily move than a thousand of us who are divided.

[13:42] The problem of the modern day church is the disunity. Disunity. So I'm talking about the purity, the present purity of the early church, the life of the church in this present purity.

[14:07] Number one, it was obedient. Number two, unified. Number three, they were praying. Number four, we can tell from what Peter said in the verse 16.

[14:19] Let's all read the verse 16 together, the first two sentences. Let's go. Men and brethren, the scripture has to be revealed. In the holy spirit, for the fall of my mouth, he gave him.

[14:32] Concerning Judas. All right. So he says that. What was his opening comment today? The brethren. What was his opening comment? Scripture.

[14:43] Oh, I can't hear you, please. Scripture. Louder. Scripture. You know, just before Jesus left, there are 40 days in and out. But there's one of the things the Bible was clear about he was doing with them is scripture.

[14:58] Scripture. So when you read Luke chapter 24, Bible says that. Let's look at verse 43.

[15:10] I'm going to verse 45, but let's see 43 first. Verse 43 says that. And he took bread and ate in their presence. Verse 44. And he said to them, these words which I have spoken unto you whilst I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled.

[15:27] Say fulfilled. Fulfilled. Which were written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning me. He said they must be fulfilled. He pointed them to scripture.

[15:37] There are so many things written in the law of Moses, the prophets and Psalms. That is sometimes the way the Bible in the New Testament classified the Old Testament.

[15:50] The Old Testament classification, the New Testament sometimes called the law, the prophets and the Psalms. That's the totality of whatever the Old Testament was about. The law is the first five books of Moses.

[16:01] Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. And then the prophets. The prophets are the prophecies. Daniel prophesied, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos.

[16:15] All of them, that's the prophets. And then sometimes he says the writings of the Psalms. Including not only the Psalms, but all the history stories. Everything including first Psalm, second Psalm.

[16:29] All the stories. All the historical accounts can be classified together as the Psalms. Or some of it can be classified as the prophets. There are times it's only said the law and the prophets.

[16:40] Still talking about the totality of the Old Testament. So Jesus points it out to them that all the things that must be fulfilled concerning him, which were written in the law of Moses or in the Bible.

[16:55] Practically. Now, look at the next verse. I like the verse 45. Then he opened their understanding that they might do what? Come for them in the scriptures. The scriptures. He was dealing with them with scriptures.

[17:08] It's like their understanding was closed. But when he resurrected, he opened their understanding that they might comprehend the scripture. Suddenly, do you know what? So, I believe that all the time.

[17:19] Because when you read the same chapter, the verse 26, 27, 28, 29 particularly. It's like, let's go at verse 27. Verse 27 talks about beginning.

[17:30] Do you see the same thing? Beginning at Moses. It's the same as the law of Moses. Beginning at Moses and what? All the prophets. Now, this is the totality of the Old Testament.

[17:43] All right. So, this place, you can tell they didn't add the Psalms or the writings. But it's the same thing. Sometimes they use the law of the prophets or sometimes the law of the prophets and the Psalms.

[17:56] Other times, the law of the prophets and the writings. All right. So, this place, he said, from there, he began. Look. Bible studies with Jesus himself. Look at the next verse.

[18:09] Expounded in the scriptures. He expounded from Genesis to Malachi. He explained the things concerning him. He explained. And then they were saying that, did our hearts not burn when he was explaining the things to us?

[18:23] He showed them. You see, you never knew. But Bible talks about after he was resurrected, they understood. There are so many things that were written concerning the scripture.

[18:34] But they didn't know. They didn't know. After the resurrection, they began to understand. So, now, when he met them, he began to open their understanding that they might comprehend the scripture.

[18:46] This makes it clear that when someone tells you the Bible is contradicting himself, it's that their minds are closed. So, it's easy for anyone at all.

[18:58] Even, can you imagine? Listen, please. Scholars. It was biblical scholars and scribes who killed him. In fact, in the book of John, chapter 5, verse 39, he said, He searched the scriptures thinking that in them ye have eternal life.

[19:15] And these are, they're not testify of me. The scriptures you are testing. They are just pointing to me. They are testifying. And yet, you will not come to me that you have eternal life. So, the scriptures are about him, about Jesus.

[19:27] Yet, the experts of the scriptures saw him and they killed him. The experts of the scriptures fulfilled, in fact, in Acts, chapter 13, verse 27.

[19:37] This is Paul, when he was preaching. He's early, when he descends off and he was preaching. He was talking to the Jews. He said, for those who dwell in Jerusalem and they are rulers, because they did not know Jesus, nor even the voice of the prophets were, the text they've been reading, were always prophesied.

[19:58] They read the voice of the prophets, which they read every Sabbath. When you go to the synagogue, the Sabbath day, it was one of the primary things about the Sabbath, or their fellowship, was their scriptures.

[20:14] Yes. There, you remember, in John chapter, Luke chapter 4, verse 16, Jesus went to the synagogue, as his custom was, and he was given to read, he stood up to read, and he found what it was written, verse 17, and he found what it was written, then verse 18, the spirit of the law was upon me.

[20:31] They always were, that's a customary thing they did. And now, Paul is saying that, the rulers who dwell in Jerusalem, Bible says that, they did not know him, nor the voice of the prophets that were read, that one was the Old Testament.

[20:50] The prophets that were read every Sabbath, they actually ended up fulfilling their things. They said some, the prophets were saying, the Messiah will come, and when the Messiah came, people would kill him. And they said, how could someone do that?

[21:02] How could, meanwhile, they were plotting to kill Jesus. They didn't know that was the Messiah they were doing. Why? Because they didn't know him, and they actually also didn't know the voice of the prophet. Because if they had understood the prophet, it would have been very easy for them to identify that.

[21:14] He's the one. Now, when he resurrected from the dead, he began to explain to his disciples, and help them to see that he actually is the one.

[21:25] And now, it was so unambiguous to them. Why? Number one, because of the experience of the resurrection. But number two, he had also opened their understanding. So, you can imagine, after Jesus left, because Jesus was always not resident in the 40 days, he vanished and disappeared.

[21:44] So, when he was not there, guess what they would be doing? Ah! I just, oh! Oh, oh! I didn't even understand. Ah! Ah! Ah!

[21:54] So, they were seeing things in Scripture. And they were, so one of the things they were doing was searching the Scriptures. Ah! Ah! They kept searching the Scriptures.

[22:05] After the resurrection, they developed this insatiable appetite, because suddenly, because that's why he couldn't have come to people who were not Jews. Yeah. Because how can you understand Pentacles without understanding the Jewish tradition?

[22:21] If you are not Jewish, how can you expect a Messiah? So, he had to come to Jews who were committed, God had committed to whom were committed the oracles of God.

[22:37] Hallelujah! The oracles, he says that, chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God to the Jews. So, he had to come to them. Bible said he came to his own.

[22:49] His own, he don't receive him. He came to them. Salvation is of the Jews. So, Jesus Christ, now, suddenly, these Jewish boys, they've always been reading this text in the synagogue.

[23:03] Now, it's come alive. So, you can imagine the research they've been doing. They're excited. And then Peter will say, James, James, come and see what I just saw. And then Bartholomew will come and say, John, John, look at what that.

[23:15] Oh, Isaiah wrote about that. Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos. Amos said it because all the prophets were talking about him. But because they didn't know the natural Jews, they didn't know the voice of the prophet, and they didn't know him, they missed it.

[23:31] Now, so that's leading us to the point of what they will be doing besides praying. They will be just searching the scriptures. Searching the scriptures. So then, Peter stood among, hallelujah.

[23:46] He stood amongst the brethren. And he said, brethren, many brethren. The scripture had to be fulfilled. Why? Because these guys were just munching scriptures.

[23:59] They were seeing revelations. Then Peter saw in Psalm 69 verse. He saw Psalm 69. Verse 25, I'm sorry. Verse 25. And he says, let his dwelling place be desolate.

[24:11] Let no man live in their tent. Who is this? Because now they understand. They knew that this is Judas. Judas said his dwelling place, let it be desolate.

[24:23] Look at Psalm 109 verse 8. Psalm 109 verse 8. He says that, let his days be few. And let another take his, oh.

[24:35] Another take his office. So suddenly, they realize that, actually, Judas was in the text already. Judas has been in the text. And there are quite a few texts that you will see.

[24:46] David spoke about. Psalm spoke about Judas. But did you realize on the day of Pentecost, Peter just kept quoting scriptures? Yeah. Why? Because when Jesus had left them, all they were doing was praying.

[24:58] Number one, obeying. Obedience. Number two, unified. Number three, praying. Number four, searching the scriptures. So Peter gets up and tells them, guys, I've searched.

[25:11] We've searched now. What John saw? What Bartholomew saw? What others saw? Guys, the scriptures must be fulfilled. Because if the Bible says that, let another take his office, we need to appoint someone to take their office.

[25:24] Because it's already been said. So let's get the scriptures fulfilled. Hallelujah. So Peter gets up among the verse 16. Peter gets up and said, men and brethren, the scriptures, the scripture has to be fulfilled.

[25:40] Which the Holy Spirit spoke. Before all these things happen.

[25:52] Has already been spoken. By the mouth of David. David? Who spoke? Was it? So it was the mouth of David who was doing the speaking.

[26:03] Thank God I'm called David. The mouth of David. The mouth of David who was speaking. But it's actually the Holy Spirit speaking through the mouth.

[26:15] The Holy Spirit spoke through the mouth or by the mouth of David concerning Judas. Really? David spoke about it. How do you find out? They've been studying the scriptures.

[26:26] With an open eye. And knowing him. They could see everything. They could see it so easily. And remember, before all this, Jesus had met them and breathed upon them.

[26:39] He breathed upon them. Received them. So there was the oppressions of the Holy Spirit in a certain dimension in their inner man. And so now, no wonder they could stay together unified for 10 days.

[26:52] Because something supernatural has already come upon them after the resurrection. So he said that the scriptures might be fulfilled. Which the Holy Spirit spoke concerning the mouth of David.

[27:04] Through the mouth of David. Concerning Judas. Who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus? What? A guide. He said, pass here. Come, I will show you. Come here. He became a guide.

[27:17] He was so in. It's always been part of the story. It takes inner people to destroy any move of God, man of God, or people of God.

[27:33] It takes insiders. He just puts it this way. A man's enemy shall be those of his own house. Matthew chapter 36. Matthew chapter 36.

[27:45] Matthew chapter, not 36, sorry. Chapter 10 verse 36. A man's enemies will be those of his own household. Mm-hmm.

[27:58] Please, don't tell me it's your husband. Don't tell me it's your wife. My wife is my enemy.

[28:14] A man's enemy. So what destroys the church is what goes on inside. Because Jesus said the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church.

[28:25] If you see any Christian organization having slowing down or caving in or breaking down, the problem starts from inside.

[28:37] Starts from inside. If there is purity on the inside and commitment to scripture on the inside, the boat will rock, but it will remain stable.

[28:49] Because what stabilizes the Christian life is the word of God. That word is a lamp onto my feet and a light to my path. It's food for the soul.

[29:02] But internal people will rise. And they will shake their skin. That is why it is necessary for every pastor, every Christian leader, to be very sensitive about people around them.

[29:20] The only thing is sometimes you won't even know. But there will be signs. Oh yes. There will be signs. There will be signs.

[29:31] You will notice that this particular person, every time there is some appearance, appearing of crisis, he or she is at the base.

[29:43] Part of the core is at the center of it all. Any crisis. Once, maybe by chance.

[29:55] Twice. That's interesting. Three times is a confirmation. It's a confirmation that I have to keep at. It is detrimental for the entire organization to give certain people certain access to certain places.

[30:08] You can have the purest, DBS check. DBS check. You can have the most purest history.

[30:18] It doesn't mean you'll be admitted to be working in certain places. It takes insiders. It takes insiders. So, enemies always want to appeal to insiders.

[30:31] They look for disgruntled insiders. Disgruntled insiders. And then they say, what do you think about this whole thing? They say, all this control.

[30:46] In the UK, they use the word control. We use the word control. The control is too much. No church ever comes down when there are loyal people surrounding, the call is surrounded with loyal people or is saturated with loyal people.

[31:02] Betrayal. It's part of everything. Ahitophel. Ahitophel. Ahitophel. Ahitophel. There will always be an Ahitophel.

[31:14] There will always be a Judas. But Judas is normal-like. Like everybody. But when they are home, the comments, they pass. When you go close to a Judas, you begin to realize that you can't even break the alabaster box.

[31:32] Because his interest is more important to him than the direction of the mission. The mission can collapse. His interest must be sustained.

[31:44] He used to complain when people bring offering. When he starts to take offering, he says, well, if you can, just give.

[31:56] Hey. His heart is not there. His heart is not there. Be a blessing that when people get closer to you, they end up becoming more committed.

[32:12] I'm describing some of you. Who has gotten deeper since they got close to you? You have three associations who were your closest, or you were the closest to them in the organization just before they left.

[32:30] They didn't live together. Three separate instances. A pastor has to look into it. Or let me put it this way. A wise pastor shouldn't take that for granted.

[32:44] It does not mean you are bad, but it means that you have to look, be observed very carefully. So, it says that somebody must take his place.

[32:55] Judas. So, there will always be Judas's, but we don't have one here yet. So, Peter said, Judas became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

[33:08] What? But, the story is, when we go to the Gospels, we will go into details how he came and kissed him and all that, but, he will betray him with a kiss.

[33:19] Verse 17 says that, for he was numbered with us and obtained a part of or a part in this ministry. It's not like he was a, for he was with us.

[33:33] He obtained a part in this ministry. Judas obtained a part in this, the Greek word translated ministry is the same Greek word we get deacon from.

[33:46] Diakoniah. Diakoniah. He had a part, he was a diakoniah, diakonate. I said it on purpose, so don't forget that.

[33:56] So, really, he was in the office of a deacon. So, Judas had this deaconship amongst us, but, verse 18 says that, because he loved, now, this man, this is where, it's going to get interesting.

[34:15] This man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity. And falling headlong, he best opened, he went into details.

[34:28] It's quite gory. He best opened it and his entrails gushed out. Did Peter have to go that deep? He purchased a land, Judas, with what money?

[34:42] Wages of iniquity. When did he purchase the land? And Bible says that he died on the land. Look at the text. Go to the next verse. The next verse. And he became known to all those who dwelt in Jerusalem.

[34:56] So, the field is called, in their tongue, their language, Akel Dama. That is the field of blood. Verse 20. Verse 20. For it is written in the book of, then he quoted the psalm. Let his, see, he quoted the psalm.

[35:08] First said, David said, and then now he quoted the psalm. Let his place be dusilied, let another man take his office. That's Psalm 109, verse 8. Let another one take his office.

[35:19] But, going back to the 17 and 18, I want to show you something. That's, that's very interesting. Because, verse 18 in particular, those who have been saying, the Bible is contracted itself. Now, this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity and falling headlong, he burst open in his middle and all his entrance.

[35:36] How did Judas die? But, he fell headlong. Matthew, let's look at Matthew.

[35:47] Matthew, chapter 27, verse 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. We will, we will focus more on 5.

[35:58] But look, he says that, then Judas, then Judas, Jesus' betrayer, see that he had, he had been, Jesus had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.

[36:15] Where did he get the 30 pieces of silver from? Chapter 26, verse 14, 15 and 16. Chapter 26 of Matthew, verse 14, it says that, verse 14, then one of the 12, called Judas his carrot, went to the chief priests, verse 15, and what did he do?

[36:33] He went and got a deal with them and said, what are you willing to give me? If I deliver him to you, and they counted out to him 30 pieces of, why 30 pieces of silver?

[36:45] Exodus 21, 32, is the price for a slave. If an ox calls a male or a female servant, he shall give their master.

[36:59] So if you have a female servant, an ox has killed a person, and you have to pay the price of the slave, 30 shekels of silver. You have to pay it back.

[37:13] And the ox must be killed. That's the price of a slave. So Judas went and sold, they paid him, Jesus is a slave. So what will pay you is worth.

[37:26] They valued him as 30 pieces of silver. Jesus! Oh, Judas. How did you get me some more money for that?

[37:39] Such, you scooped down so low, and brought Jesus that low? So they paid him 30 pieces of, verse 16. They said, okay, take 30 pieces of silver.

[37:51] So from that time, he sought opportunity to betray him. Why? Because money was talking. Money! Do you know why? Listen to me, brothers and sisters, in the United Kingdom, and beyond.

[38:04] I know you want to buy a house. I know you want to do your wedding. At your age, you haven't bought a house yet. And so now you are taking three jobs.

[38:17] Because of the need for their money. And compromising on certain core principles of life. Because you are in desperate need of money.

[38:30] Don't put yourself in a place where you should be so desperate need of money. Because you are likely to enter into compromise. And move yourself away from coverage area.

[38:42] God's coverage area. God covers us. But there are times you will take a step. You will go farther than God can cover you. Judas had need of money.

[38:54] In the book of John, when Mary came to break the alabaster box, Judas, they complained. And Bible said, Judas, because he used to help himself, he was a thief.

[39:04] Bible said he was a thief. He was the treasure and a thief. That's a bad combination. This said he, Judas, not that he cared about the poor.

[39:15] Sometimes, oh, these are poor people's money. Some of it, it's not because they care about the poor. Not because they care about black people. Not because they care about some good Christians. Not because they care, sometimes just a political stand.

[39:31] Not because they care about the poor, but because he was a thief. And he had the money box. Can you imagine? And what was he doing? He used to take, he was helping himself.

[39:42] What was he using the money for? Because he also believed that, if Jesus is the Messiah, very soon, they will kick out the Romans, and the Jews, the authority of Israel. So he has to secure a land.

[39:54] Yes, so he can build a house. Yes. He wanted a mortgage. He wanted to buy another house. He wanted to invest into crypto.

[40:06] Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Because of that, he started compromising on his values. He was stealing money.

[40:18] And he started, he went, down payment, he didn't start today. It started with Judas. He went and put down, every now and then, we'll add somebody. So he needed 30 pieces of silver.

[40:29] Pastor, what does this say in the Bible? Read between the lines. He needed, I'll show you. He needed 30 pieces of silver to complete the deal because completion was due. Yes. Oh, I know I'm talking to somebody.

[40:47] The job you are trying to take on will be at the expense of your spiritual life. Definitely. That trip, that holiday, it's not worth it because the team of people you are going with, you will come back contaminated and compromised.

[41:04] Yes. It's always been your dream and then it has presented itself. Auntie said, I'll back, I'll just pay half for you. But you know what is going to happen when you normally go for those kind of holidays.

[41:18] You know you will come back working on your head. Anyway, Judas wanted to close the deal. So he asked them, how much will you give me?

[41:30] He went to them, he said, listen, I know you are looking for the guy. I can help you out here. I'm also looking for money. I've been stealing, but now it's not enough. I need to close this deal. So I believe he must have told them that there's a land or something and the land owner also knew about it.

[41:47] So how? So now, when he betrayed him and they killed him, look at Matthew chapter 27, what we were reading earlier on. chapter 27, verse 4, quickly. Then Judas, his betrayer, verse 4, let's go to the verse 4, please.

[42:01] Verse 4. Saying, I have sinned by betraying an innocent, betraying an innocent. Even the one betrayer knew Jesus was innocent. And he said, and they said, what is that to us?

[42:14] Sort yourself. You want the money? And he said, you want the money? We give it. Sort yourself. We have got the man. You've got the money. And he said, no, I don't need this money. He threw it.

[42:25] Then Jesus threw down the piece of silver in the temple and departed. Judas threw and departed and went, take it and go. He couldn't handle it and went and hung himself.

[42:38] So why is the Bible saying that he bought a piece of land? They used it to finish the deal. They said, no, we can't keep this money here because it's blood money.

[42:48] They knew he was doing wrong, but they did it with him. They said, verse 6, please. Remember Judas hung himself. He was the second person who hung himself in the Bible.

[42:59] The first person was Ahitophel. Second Samuel, chapter 17, verse 23. Ahitophel went and hung himself when he realized that David didn't prefer him. Yeah.

[43:11] He went and hung himself. So Judas went to hang himself. Verse 6 of Matthew of 20. Are you learning something? The 6? So they said, it is not lawful to put them into the treasury because they are the price of blood.

[43:31] So what would they do? Look at what they did. And they concerted together. They started, and that one said, oh, he is actually trying to buy a land. So they concerted together and bought with them their potter's field to bury strange...

[43:47] So it's already said in Zechariah chapter 1, verse 11, verse 12 and 13 that they bought, they sold me for a piece of silver and then bought a field from the porter. Look at Zechariah.

[43:58] Zechariah, quickly. Chapter 11, verse 12. Zechariah chapter 11, verse 12. It says that, and he said unto them, if it is agreeable to you, give me my wages.

[44:11] And if not, refrain. So they weighed out for my wages, 30 pieces of silver. The next verse. The next verse. And the Lord said to me, throw it to the porter.

[44:24] So you see, the one who got the money said, throw it to the porter. And they used it to buy, they said to buy. So you see, Judas is in the picture. He was dealing with the porter.

[44:37] Who was selling a land. So when they consulted, they realized, let's buy the field. We can't use the field. We only bury strangers there. So then, it seems like, Judas got that because he loved the wages of iniquity.

[44:53] Is there, Acts chapter 1, verse 18. Bible says that, now this man purchased a field. Judas, yes, he was closing the deal, but he died. And then he purchased, so they used the money to purchase a field.

[45:05] How about how he died? Because Bible says he hangs himself. But Peter said that he fell. What's wrong with that? He hanged himself so brutally, when he hanged himself, the branch gave way and he fell and the other branch caught his leg.

[45:19] Read your Bible. Look at Peter again. What Peter said, he purchased a field and falling how? When you hang yourself, how do you fall headlong? You don't fall headlong when you hang yourself and even that branch breaks, you come with your feet.

[45:36] So when he was coming, another branch, another branch held the feet and he fell, and he fell headlong and it's best. See the Bible? The Bible doesn't contrast itself.

[45:47] Read between the lines. Judas bought a field. He'd already been making payments, so they used it to complete the purchase. So that, in that case, he actually bought a field.

[45:59] He fell headlong, but the Bible said he hung himself. When he hung himself, how would someone hang himself and fall headlong? Only if the tree gives way and fell headlong, if another branch hold the legs. Because it was true that he hung himself, it was true that he fell headlong.

[46:13] So I have to find out how can one hang himself and fall headlong. And that's the thing. Hallelujah! Is someone learning something? There are a lot of nice movies in the Bible.

[46:28] Let's go back to Peter. He said, verse 8, verse 19. The verse 19 says that, it became known to all those who dwell in Jerusalem. So the field is called in their own language, Akel Demar.

[46:42] That is the field of blood. God, that's the field of blood. It's a cursed field. Up to this day, called Akel Demar. Because Judas betrayed Jesus and used the money, that money.

[46:57] Meanwhile, he's been stealing some money to do the down payment already. And he was sealing the deal. And everything he used to buy the money is stolen money. To buy the stolen money. He used to steal.

[47:08] Jesus' disciple was stealing. Was stealing. So people who are church treasurers must be careful. Yeah. So, Judas bought it.

[47:24] And it was known and the place was called Akel. Look at verse 20. I might have to continue this. Verse 20. For it is written in the book of Sam, let his dwelling place be desolate and let another, let no one live in it and let another man take his office.

[47:40] I've quoted this from the Psalms. Why did they get it? Because they are studying the scripture. Let's go. Let's go to the next. Let's go to the next. That's the, therefore, of, what?

[47:52] Of, of these men, all the men who have accompanied us all the time that Jesus went in and out amongst us.

[48:03] So, Jesus didn't only have, he had, the disciples were not 12. The apostles were 12. So he had a lot more disciples. Peter stood up and said to the disciples, not the apostles.

[48:17] Verse 15. Peter stood up and said, verse 15, and Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples. So, listen, when we say the disciples of Jesus, it doesn't necessarily mean the same as the apostles.

[48:31] Or sometimes, he was one of the 12. There is this special 12 who, out of the disciples, he handpicked. He handpicked to be his special apostles.

[48:42] apostles. There is a difference between an apostle and a disciple. And Judas was an apostle. He was, that's the highest level. He was an apostle.

[48:53] So, he just chose them out of the many and he says that, now let's find someone to replace. Why should we find someone? Because we just saw in the Psalms that someone must take his place because he's already been spoken about and the Psalms says another person must take his place.

[49:09] So, let's fulfill the scripture. Now, but why 12? Because 12 is a very interesting number. 12 tribes of Israel in Revelation, it talks about the foundation of the city, Revelation chapter 21.

[49:21] The foundation of the city or the city had gates and the 12 gates and the 12 gates were the 12 tribes of Israel and it said had foundation and it says that and now the wall of the city had 12 foundations and on there were the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.

[49:39] So, if one had gone, we need to replace it. There are 12 days, 12 hours in a day and 12 hours in a night. 12 months in a year. The number 12 is not accidental.

[49:52] So, Jesus chose 12 and the scriptures are spoken about a 12 person who went so his place must be replaced. That's why they had to fulfill the scriptures by replacing him.

[50:03] So, who did they choose and how did they find a person? Bible says that they prayed. So, they said, you guys choose. It says, what did they say? Let's go back. Let's go to verse 22.

[50:14] Verse 22, quickly please. It says that, beginning from the baptism of, let's go to verse 21. Therefore, out of these men who have accompanied us all these times, when, all these times that Jesus went in and out amongst us.

[50:29] Watch this. When did it, what was the beginning point? From the baptism of John. That's ministry actually started from the baptism. Before then, anyone who knew it's not necessary. When he got baptized, the Holy Ghost came out.

[50:40] From the baptism of John to that day when he was taken up, from that period, there are people who are always there. That's why when sometimes, when it comes to choosing leadership in church, you can't just choose anybody.

[50:52] Don't let someone just join the church from somewhere and then you appoint the person as a leader. You don't just appoint someone. Excuse me, I know you finished Bible school, but allow the pastor not to appoint you.

[51:03] Because the office is not someone who just showed up. It must be someone who has served a certain time. There must be a period. You must have been around for a while.

[51:15] Before you get into a certain level, you must have been around for a certain period of time. It's necessary. So don't just show up because you have always been in church and you have always been a church leader somewhere.

[51:27] You join another church and you think they have the responsibility of making you a reverend immediately. that's your side of our mission. That's wrong.

[51:38] You are not used to even the church culture. You don't know so many things. You can be celebrated, you can be accepted, but in leadership, take it easy. Take it easy.

[51:49] You get what I'm talking about? Take it easy. How many days it would be wrong to appoint you as a choir leader? You just joined. But even though you are good, you are not a novice.

[52:01] Still, in this organization, we have to take it easy. We have to take it easy. That's how a lot of organizations have been wounded by being quick to appoint people in positions who they have not tested.

[52:15] A palace must be tested and tried. Romans chapter 16, verse 8 and 9. A palace tested and tried. It takes time. Great a palace.

[52:26] Approved a palace. NIV. I like the NIV. It says, great a palace. Salute a palace. Tested and approved. You got to be tested. It's the same.

[52:37] We can't just choose anybody who is so excited. Excitement doesn't guarantee longevity. Is it not what is happening in Romans? People are always excited about Romans.

[52:50] Why does it last? Ask a lot of women where they've been wounded by this guy was so nice. This guy would do anything, cancel his job, cancel an appointment and he would do anything for me. Oh, he's amazing until he has finished with you.

[53:04] And now you want him to die. I cast this guy. I cast this guy. You were so excited. You thought you'd seen an angel. So we cannot empower you in an organization based on your, just purely your excitement.

[53:19] The excitement is important but let it be translated to longevity with excitement. So he said even in companies you have to pass probation.

[53:34] What's wrong? You're a wonderful musician. When you sing, chandeliers are shaking. We will enjoy your singing. We will enjoy it.

[53:45] We will let you do it. But leadership is different. Leadership is different. So he said, let's choose someone who has been all the time.

[53:56] And that means there were quite a few of them and they chose only two out of them. Even though there are quite a few of them. And out of the two, now we need one but you've chosen two. Now let's find out who.

[54:07] So they had to resort to prayer. They prayed in verse 24. They prayed and said, no, no. You who know the heart. We know what Judas was like. You know the heart.

[54:17] We just judge from the outside but you know the heart. Someone is doing drama on the stage but you know the heart. Someone is busy playing instrument but you know the heart. Someone is busy doing sound but you know the heart.

[54:30] Someone is busy singing. What's the song they just sung? I lift my voice. Is it my voice? Sorry.

[54:40] I lift my eyes in total praise to you. A lot of churches have been wounded by singers.

[54:59] God, you know the heart. Don't tell me, Pastor, you know my heart. I don't. It's God who knows the heart. It's God who knows the heart. It's God who knows the heart.

[55:13] It's God who knows the heart. God, you know the heart of all, not only some, all including our prime minister, all including the mayor of London.

[55:24] You know the heart. all, including Pastor David. He says, show which of these two, you, not we, have chosen.

[55:38] Show which of these two. And do you know what? They cast lots. Leviticus chapter 16 verse 8. That was the way in the Old Testament to, when you have a choice of two, they have you and twin.

[55:49] Sometimes when you are not sure and you can't hear the voice of God, they have to cast lots and to the lots, the outcome will always be. Because Proverbs chapter 16 verse 33, Proverbs 16, 33, it shows that God can use lots.

[56:02] Proverbs 16, the lot is cast in the lap, but every decision is from the Lord. So in the Old Testament, not New Testament, please. In the Old New Testament, we have the Holy Spirit now.

[56:13] In the Old Testament, they used to use lots. But now, Jesus has breathed upon these guys. They could have maybe resorted to trying to depend on their inner man, but they used, they were still, they were not fully there yet, so they still applied Old Testament system, which was not wrong anyway.

[56:32] They used an Old Testament system to show which of these two, and the lot fell on Matthias. Basabbas, not Barnabas, there's a difference between Barnabas. Basabbas, and he was numbered with the 11 of us.

[56:46] He didn't, that's 20, 23, yes. They chose Joseph, called Basabbas, whose name was Justice. Basabbas didn't say, no, we have to re-vote.

[56:59] We have to, we have to, which, recount, or which. I won't accept the outcome. And he didn't say, okay, since I wasn't voted, I have to find another ministry.

[57:12] I have to find another ministry to join somewhere else. No, he didn't say that. He stayed with them. Because no wonder they chose Basabbas, because he had a good heart, genuine heart.

[57:27] There's a reason why some people are not chosen. That's why if you look at the tantrums they are throwing, it validates the fact that it's good you are not chosen. It shows why you shouldn't have been chosen. You have actually validated the decision of those who were appointed.

[57:42] So they appointed him as part of the 11. Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry. We pray you have been strengthened and enlightened.

[57:54] You can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms, including Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also hear more messages from David Entry on all relevant streaming platforms and the Caris Church app.

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