There has been some debate among Biblical scholars about who should have been the 12th disciple to replace Judas Iscariot and some say it should have been Paul.  I don’t recall ever hearing a message about Matthias, the 12th disciple.  Jesus had just spent 40 days with the disciples as recorded in Acts chapter 1:

after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Surely during that 40 day period, the issue of the 12th disciple must have been covered.  Think about spending nearly six weeks with anybody you know.  There would have been a multitude of discussion topics and the disciples would have taken every opportunity to have any and all questions answered.  Soon after Jesus’ Ascension Peter spoke to the others about this very issue:

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples(altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,

16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”

Peter quoted portions of Psalms as justification for replacing Judas:

20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms:

​​‘​Let his dwelling place be desolate,

​​And let no one live in it’; (Psalm 69:25)

​and,

​​‘​Let another take his office.’  (Psalm 109:8)

Where and when did Peter get understanding about applying these two verses to Judas?  I believe Jesus had to reveal this to him for Peter had been a fisherman, not an Old Testament scholar.  What led the disciples to narrow the choices from nearly 120 down to 2?  Peter then gave a specific requirement to be included as a possible candidate:

21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

The candidate must have been with them throughout the last 3 1/2 years of Jesus’ ministry which began at Jesus’ baptism by John and was continuous to the day of Ascension.  Yet we never heard any mention of either Barsabas or Matthias:

23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

Both of these men met the qualifications yet neither were mentioned anywhere in the Gospels.  Both had effectively been hidden in plain sight.  Finally, the selection is made:

24 And they prayed and said,

“You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”

26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Notice that Peter found it necessary to conclude this business before the Day of Pentecost.  A new treasurer had to be selected to replace the previous one.  Greed was found in Judas and he was disqualified to be counted among the twelve disciples.  The office of Treasurer had to be filled with a righteous man who had been hidden among them for the last 3 1/2 years.  The name Matthias means “Gift of GOD”.  It is derived from the Hebrew name”  Mattathias or Mattithiah = "gift of Jehovah".

Is there a confirmation that Matthias was the right one to replace Judas?  I believe so.  In 1 Chronicles chapter 9:

31 Mattithiah of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the trusted office over the things that were baked in the pans (was entrusted with baking the bread used in the offerings).

He was trusted with the bread offerings and we now coincidentally use the slang term “bread” for money.

Today’s Application

People are looking for FATHER’S Divine Government to be set up and I would suggest the last phase of Divine Government required to be in place is the Treasury and those who can be trusted to oversee it.  Peter found it necessary to fill the office of treasurer before the fullness of Pentecost.   Must it also be filled before the fullness of Tabernacles will occur?  Mystery Babylon is funded by the unrighteous mammon and their source of income must be dried up and replaced with the true riches of Heaven.  Only those who are motivated by Love can be fully trusted with the wealth of Heaven in whatever form it manifests.

Matthias quietly fulfilled the office of Treasurer without any fanfare.  I am sure he was there when Ananias and Sapphira gave a diluted portion of their assets to the disciples.  There are some offices called to be at the forefront and others do a hidden work in the background.  Both are equally important to FATHER.  It’s okay to be one of the “hidden” disciples.

My Beloved Wife and I will be celebrating our 43rd Anniversary this coming week and I will be gone for a few days.  She has met all the qualifications for “Sainthood” by being married to me.

Each of us must ask this question and critically assess what the true priority is in our life.  Where do you place your focus, your time, and your resources?  Some spend all their time just to make ends meet.  Others are constantly looking for the next “big” thing.  Some spend all their time “surfing” the Internet searching for revelation.  Others are looking for a prophetic event that may hold the key to their future.  What did the Apostle Paul pray on our behalf?  He wrote in Ephesians chapter 3:

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—

19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Paul prayed to FATHER for us to be filled with all the fullness of FATHER.  Is that your deepest desire?  If so, then quit chasing after everything else and be led by THE SPIRIT.  In order to be filled with HIS fullness, Paul explicitly tells us to be rooted and grounded in Love.  If that is not your first and foremost priority, it is my belief that you cannot be filled with HIS fullness.  It is that simple.  Love must be your foundation by which you observe,  say, and do everything.

As you allow Love to permeate every aspect of your being, your faith will fully develop and trust in FATHER and you will begin to understand HIS motive in every Word HE speaks to you.  Your intent will align with HIS Intent and you will begin to fully understand what is the width and length and depth and height of the Love of Christ which is beyond knowledge.

There are “prophecy chasers” who go here and there always looking for a Word.  I will tell you today that if you focus on being rooted and grounded in Love and based on that foundation develop and exercise your faith, any prophetic Word meant for you will find you.  FATHER knows how to find you and knows when you need a prophecy or other utterance.

A mature Son will be chosen based on his or her fullness of GOD.  This fullness will have at its foundation- Love.  With this in mind, you will be strengthened with might through HIS SPIRIT internally… the inner man.  We must focus on the internal which will result in a change of the external.

Moses knew the “ways” of FATHER whereas the people knew HIS “acts”.  What do you seek?  HIM or what HE can provide you?  Are you a giver or a taker?  Are you imparting life into others or are you constantly focused on issues of scarcity?  What or who do you seek?

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Everyone serves someone thus the question is “Who do you obey?”  The CREATOR or the created?  There are many who would exalt themselves and place the focus on some aspect of their life for others to lift up.  Others are enamored with entertainment or sports personalities.  Man’s ego is a harsh taskmaster and will ultimately  lead him to death and destruction.  The bands of slavery to sin were broken by Our Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone were you made free.  His Blood was, is, and will continue to be sufficient in all cases on your behalf but you must present yourself as a Holy and acceptable living sacrifice as Paul wrote in chapter 12:

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

It is our choice to which path we take and once on the path, we can decide to depart that narrow path at any time.  This is why our mind must be renewed and we must daily prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of FATHER.  You will recall that Hezekiah did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God.  Because of the path he took, FATHER blessed and prospered him.

You obey who you trust.  Do you trust yourself more than FATHER?  Do you trust some man’s word more than the CREATOR?  It is critically important that each of us become sensitive to FATHER’S Voice and HIS SPIRIT.  We have been set free from sin that we become slaves of righteousness.

Each path has its reward, payoff, or “wages”.  Paul wrote in Romans chapter 6:

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus Himself reassured us that FATHER is looking out for our best interest as He shared in Matthew chapter 6:

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

You only need to look out the window at the birds to see a simple example of FATHER’S provision.  The birds do not have to hoard in order to be sustained throughout the seasons.  Obedience to FATHER will put you on the path to provision whereas any other path will place you in a state of scarcity.

What does the word “obey” mean?  To comply with the command, direction, or request of (a person or a law); submit to the authority of.  This definition denotes the reality that we have a choice in the matter.  Some would say that we have no choice because FATHER is sovereign.  HE sovereignly had Paul write to the Romans that indeed they were sovereignly given a choice in that path they took.  Those words apply to us as well.  Love demands a choice and the Author of unconditional Love has sovereignly given us the decision of which path we take.  As for me, I pursue FATHER’S path of life.

FATHER created all and knows the intricacies of every aspect of my life.  I have my being IN HIM and Who better to lead me and guide me than the ONE who created me.  I set aside my own understanding and obey HIM even though it may not make sense to me at the time.  HE instructs us to be of good courage as we walk in faith this walk of Love knowing that HIS provision is at hand.  Who will you obey?  It is your choice!

​​“There is none righteous, no, not one;

​​There is none who understands;

​​There is none who seeks after God.

​​They have all turned aside;

​​They have together become unprofitable;

​​There is none who does good, no, not one.”

​​“Their throat is an open tomb;

​​With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;

​​“The poison of asps is under their lips”;

​​“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

​​“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

​​Destruction and misery are in their ways;

​​And the way of peace they have not known.”

​​“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

This warning goes out to all who have chosen the path of destruction and war, to those who have forsaken the wisdom of the forefathers.  Their destruction is at hand.

The carnal man would have us believe that physical blessing and prosperity is separate from Spiritual blessing and prosperity.  One can cite warnings of how difficult it is for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom and other such examples.  However the key to the issue is your heart and what is your intent.  Being poor and broke doesn’t allow you to be a blessing to others but can be a hindrance to walking out the fullness of your calling.  FATHER has no issue in blessing you in any area as long as your intent lines up with HIS- the Divine Intent of Love.

2 Chronicles 31:20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God.

21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.

What a simple reality!  Do what is good, right, and true before FATHER and you will prosper.  Your prosperity will overtake your need and it may come in many forms.  Yes it may arrive as money but it also may come forth as peace, deep sleep, health, as well as other areas in need.  You may have a loved one who finally has his or her need met and is no longer a daily focus in your life.

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria. came against Hezekiah and blasphemed THE LORD.  You too will have those who would challenge your walk with FATHER.  This type of challenge will expose what is in your heart and whether your are truly faithful to THE WORD of FATHER in your life.  Do you really trust in FATHER to provide and sustain you?   Do you really trust HIM to deliver you from your enemies?

FATHER’S response to Sennacherib by the mouth of Isaiah in 2nd Kings chapter 19:

29 ‘This shall be a sign to you:

​​​You shall eat this year such as grows of itself,

​​And in the second year what springs from the same;

​​Also in the third year sow and reap,

​​Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them.

30 ​​And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah

​​Shall again take root downward,

​​And bear fruit upward.

31 ​​For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant,

​​And those who escape from Mount Zion.

​​The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.’

32 “Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria:

​‘​He shall not come into this city,

​​Nor shoot an arrow there,

​​Nor come before it with shield,

​​Nor build a siege mound against it.

33 ​​By the way that he came,

​​By the same shall he return;

​​And he shall not come into this city,’

​​Says the LORD.

34 ​‘​For I will defend this city, to save it

​​For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’ ”

FATHER sent an angel who killed 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians.  When the enemy stands in the way of blessing and prosperity, the enemy will be removed from those who are fully trusting in FATHER.  I have seen this reality over the years.  We must walk in a constant state of reverence and gratitude toward Our Heavenly FATHER.  We must not be moved by men who would try to intimidate us by their “derivative” power.  Derivative power is temporarily given for a season but can be removed at any time without notice.  However, FATHER in HIS longsuffering will provide notice according to HIS Way.  Those who don’t heed HIS notice due to their blindness will be left wondering.  Blessings and prosperity belong to those who do what is good and right and true before FATHER.

When I was a young man my pastor once told us, “I take action unless GOD stops me.”  He was part of the “faith” movement and took pride that he constantly walked in faith.  It sounded good at the time.  Since then I have learned to do just the opposite and simply wait on FATHER to give me instruction to move forth in a certain area.  Paul referred to Isaiah chapter 64 when he was instructing the church at Corinth:

4  For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him. (NASB)

In the 2nd chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul wrote:

4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

In whom do you have faith?  Who or what causes you to take action?  It is my deepest desire to to the Will of FATHER by hearing and responding to HIS Word and not be moved by man’s wisdom, knowledge, and/or understanding.  Everyone has an opinion and there are some who can be very convincing who will tickle your ears and stroke your ego.

After we were told to depart a particular church in 1996, FATHER opened up much revelation of HIS Word.  In addition to the revelation, I saw many signs that began to influence my decisions.  Those signs seemed to be beyond coincidence and probability so I took them seriously.  I began to be moved by signs and would take action accordingly… to my sorrow.  I learned a valuable lesson then- wait on HIM and do not be moved by signs.  HE finally explained to me “All signs are of ME but not all signs are relevant to you.  I will show you which signs are relevant.”

1 Kings 19 makes this point.  Elijah had done mighty miracles under FATHER’S direction but had become fearful of Jezebel and retreated, waiting to die:

11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;

12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

There was an earthquake and a fire but neither sign was a communication from FATHER.  Only HIS Still Small Voice was to be listened to.  In the days, weeks, and months ahead we must focus on hearing HIM, and only pay attention to signs as HE uses them to confirm what HE tells you and me.  The signs should not cause you to initiate action.  I believe that an “activation” is at hand but there also must be an “authentication” as well.  Paul spoke of this authentication when he wrote “that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of GOD.”

FATHER is powerful enough to authenticate those called and chosen for such a time as this.  We must wait on HIM and not get ahead of HIM.  When Paul quoted Isaiah 64, he reveled a mystery:

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written:

​​​“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

​​Nor have entered into the heart of man

​​The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Paul included the revelation of Love to the Isaiah 64 passage, the key to waiting on HIM.