Sermons

VACANCY IN THE MINISTRY
(Acts 1: 15-26)
Rev. Luis S. Notario

THE reason why the Roman soldiers during the Roman Empire were very successful in winning over their enemies was because of their “filling the vacancy military strategy” wherein the first 4 lines of soldiers for example were composed of archers. After the first row of soldiers had shot their arrows, they will step backward and the second row will step forward to fill in the vacancies created by the first row of soldiers, shoot their arrows, and so on and so forth. That was why the shooting of arrows was continues and their enemies were soon defeated.
Similarly in Christian churches, vacancies occur. In the text cited above, it refers to filling in of the vacancy created by Judas Iscariot, the church treasurer who sold the LORD JESUS for 30 pieces of silver. Vacant positions in the church must be filled up in order for the church to move forward.

LESSONS:

1. Vacancies or gaps will certainly happen in churches; it had happened, it is happening, and it will happen in all churches.
Reasons:
Faithful members will eventually die. Moses died, David, one of the greatest kings, died, everybody will die;
Some walk away and leave their positions vacant; Ex: Dimas loved the pleasures of the world more than God’s work.
Some just quit because of difficulties and pressures.
Some are disqualified because of their sins, just like Judas Iscariot. He let his sin overcome him.
2. That though there are vacancies, God knows everything and that He is in full control. People come and go in the church, vacancies happen. But God will provide replacement for those who left and the church will continue with CHRIST as the head.
3. God will call and raise up people to fill in the vacancies created. If God asks you to do something and you don’ do it, God will not wait for you, He will use others in your place.

In the text it was the vacancy left by Judas Iscariot that was to be filled in. There were 2 candidates: Joseph called Barsabas who was surnamed Justus and Matthias. It was Matthias who was chosen. According to some scholars, there was a blunder in choosing Matthias as a replacement for Judas as Treasurer of the early church, for the following reasons:
1. The disciples were in a hurry to fill in the vacancy;
2. The method used in choosing was thru casting lots, which is a questionable procedure;
3. They argue that the person chosen was the wrong man because his name was only mentioned once in the New Testament, it was only in this chapter when they were about to fill in the vacancy.

On the other hand, another view has this to say:
1. The disciples were not in a hurry to fill in the vacancy created by Judas Iscariot because they made a criteria for the candidates to be qualified, viz:
The replacement must have been together with the disciples and the Lord JESUS CHRIST during the time of His ministry on earth;
He must be one of the eye witnesses of the LORD’s baptism of John, His resurrection and ascension. (vv. 21-22) “Wherefore of these men which 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.”
They have spent time in prayer before choosing and it was God who showed them the right man.. (v. 24) (And they prayed and said, Thou LORD, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen.”
Regarding the method used, casting of lots, it has been the practice in the Old Testament times to cast lots in choosing.
For example, in offering a goat for the Lord as a sin offering, they would cast lots. In Leviticus 16: 7- 8 “And he shall take two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation
And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD and another lot for the scapegoat.”
1.4.2 It was the custom of the priest’s office to draw lots on who among them would burn incense into the Holy Place. (Luke 1: 9) “According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the LORD.”
1.4.3 Even in casting lots, the decision comes from God. (Proverbs 16:33) “The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.”
NOTE:

Casting of lots was used for the last time by the apostles of JESUS in filling in the vacancy of Judas I. After which, it was no longer used because the HOLY SPIRIT was already given to them on Pentecost Day and it is now the HOLY SPIRIT who guides us in making our decisions.

Will you be ready to fill in the vacancy when God calls you?