BEFORE YOU TRY TO SERVE GOD, ALLOW HIM TO FILL YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT!

JESUS CHOSE TWELVE DISCIPLES TO BE APOSTLES!

Matthew 10:1-5 - And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.  These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:  but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Luke 6:13-16 - And when it was day, He called unto Him His disciples:  and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also was the traitor.

JUDAS COMMITTED SUICIDE!

Matthew 27:3-5 - Then Judas, who had betrayed Him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.  And they said, What is that to us?  See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.  [Note:  "The rope broke!" (Acts 1:18)!]

THE ELEVEN WERE TO WAIT FOR THE SPIRIT!

Acts 1:4-5 - And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which ye have heard of me.  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence.

INSTEAD, THEY CHOSE JUDAS' REPLACEMENT!

Acts 1:20-26 - For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.  Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that He was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His Resurrection.  And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.  And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, Who knows the hearts of all men, show whether of these two You have chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.  And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.  [Note:  They erred in three ways:  1) they didn't wait! 2) they assumed the replacement had to be with them "from the beginning," which we will see is wrong! 3) they "rolled the dice" to choose!]

JESUS CHOSE JUDAS' REPLACEMENT!

Acts 9:3-6, 15 - And as Saul journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?  And he said, Who are You, Lord?  And the Lord said, I am Jesus Whom you persecute:  it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will You have me to do?  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what you must do. - - - But the Lord said unto Ananias, Go thy way:  for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.  [Notes:  Matthias is never mentioned again in the Bible; the Apostle Paul's name appears 156 times, and he is credited for writing about half of the New Testament books!  Also note that the New Jerusalem is said to have twelve foundations:  Revelation 21:14 reads:  "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."]  

THE MORAL OF THE STORY:  

MAKE SURE YOU ARE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT BEFORE YOU ACT OR SPEAK FOR GOD!