Take Your Place

Matthew 18:21-35

20 “Let another take his place of leadership.”

Acts 1:20 [NIV]

16 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ 17 For this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not see wind or rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.’”

2 Kings 3:16–17 [NIV]

43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Matthew 12:43-45 [NIV]

3 Ways To Take Your Place.

1. Don’t Miss the Opportunity Because You Weren’t in the Room.

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time…

Acts 1:21 [NIV]

10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much…

Luke 16:10 [NKJV]

2. God's Choices Are Determined By Our Heart.

24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all…”

Acts 1:24 [NKJV]   

2 “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”

1 Corinthians 4:2 [NIV]

6 No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves. 7 It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.

Psalm 75:6-7 [NIV]

33 “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”

Proverbs 16:33 [NKJV]

1 Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days…3 And if a tree falls to the south or the north, In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.

Ecclesiastes 11:1,3 [NKJV]

7 For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7 [NKJV]

23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Proverbs 4:23 [NLT]

3. Don't Just Take The Space. Take The Assignment.

24 Then they prayed, “Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry…”

Acts 1:24-25 [NIV]

26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:26 [NIV]

5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Isaiah 6:5-8 [NIV]

1 He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” 2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 He said: “Son of man, I am sending you…”

Ezekiel 2:1-3 [NIV]

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord…

Jonah 1:1-3 [NIV]

14 “For many are [called or] invited, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:14 [NIV]

3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

1 TImothy 2:3-4 [NIV]