Choosing between two Christians in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:23-26

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“And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” Acts 1:23-26

The Apostles had it in their heart and spirit that the number of the Apostles had to be 12. Jesus chose twelve Apostles because that would represent the twelve tribes of Israel of the Old testament and the Twelve Apostles represents the New Testament. This represents moving from living for God through the laws of Judaism to living for God by faith in Jesus Christ. Also, the New Jerusalem of the new heaven and earth has the name of the Twelve Tribes of Israel written on the gates and has the name of the Twelve Apostles written on twelve foundations. “Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel…Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Revelations 21:12, 14

The Apostle Matthias is one of the Twelve whose name is written on the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem. The Apostles are the foundations on which the new Jerusalem is built, having the testimony of Jesus Christ, and building the family of Christ from ground zero. The Twelve Tribes of Israel are the gates of the New Jerusalem because they opened the door to the coming of Jesus Christ, Jesus being a Jewish person from the tribe of Judah. Every born-again believer will enter the eternal New Jerusalem through one of the twelve gates. From that, we can see how we are the “children of Israel” and the Jewish people are not, as quoted, “For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed will be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed…And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Romans 9:6-8, Galatians 3:29

“To cast lots…” was a common way of making decisions during the Old Testament, which is similar to “drawing straws” nowadays. Whoever was selected by “casting lots” would become the next Apostle of Jesus Christ. This process wasn’t as random as it sounds, because from all the multitudes of Believers, there were two chosen, Barsabas [Justus] and Matthias. Both of them were men “…who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 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.” Acts 1:21-22 The decision could have went either way, or both could have easily been chosen, but that would had made 13 instead of twelve Apostles. They prayed in the Spirit before casting lots and Mathias was chosen.

As followers of Jesus Christ, what would we do if someone said we could only invite one of two of our Christian friends to be with us during a period of time. Instead of having to make a choice of one over the other, we could very simply draw straws, and the matter would be settled. The straws would be drawn in the presence of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, in the will of God. Any Christian friend is acceptable over worldly “friends” because those of this world betray Jesus Christ.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1