FOLLOW THE LORD; DON'T GET AHEAD OF HIM!

JESUS CHOSE TWELVE DISCIPLES, 

ELEVEN OF WHOM WOULD BECOME APOSTLES!

Matthew 10:1-4 - 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.

John 13:18-27 - I speak not of you all:  I know whom I have chosen: but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.  Now I tell you before it comes, that when it is comes to pass, you may believe that I AM.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receives whomsoever I send receives Me; and he that receives Me receives Him that sent Me.  When Jesus had thus said, He was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me.  Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting (not knowing) of whom He spoke.  Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.  Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom He spoke.  He then lying on Jesus' breast said unto Him, Lord, who is it?  Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.  And when He had dipped the sop, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.  And after the sop Satan entered into him.  Then said Jesus unto him, That which you do, do quickly.

John 17:12 - While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name:  those that Thou gave Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

JUST BEFORE HE ASCENDED, JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES,

TO GO TO JERUSALEM AND WAIT FORTHE PROMISE OF THE FATHER:  

YOU SHALL BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY GHOST!

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, He said, you have heard of Me.  For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

BUT PETER, BEING PETER, DECIDED TO HOLD A "BUSINESS MEETING!"

Acts 1:15-16, 26 - And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty),  Men and brethren, this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, who was guide to them that took Jesus. - - - And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

 [Note:  See Psalm 69:25 - Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.  Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office.]  

JESUS CHOSE JUDAS' REPLACEMENT, HIS TWELFTH DISCIPLE!

Acts 9:1-6, 13-15 - And Saul, yet breathing out threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.  And as he 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 you to kick against the pricks (sting of guilt).  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 thou must do. - - - Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem:  and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Your name.  But the Lord said unto him, Go your way:  for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.

[Note:  Paul identified himself as an Apostle at the beginning of eight of his epistles.  Peter said that Paul's writings were like the rest of the Scriptures (2 Pet. 3:15-16).  And according to Revelation 21:14, Jesus only had twelve Apostles!]

THE MORAL OF THE STORY?  

WHEN JESUS TELLS YOU TO WAIT, WAIT!