40 DAYS VIGIL WITH PRAYER AND FASTING FROM 29TH APRIL OVER 7TH JUNE, 2020 TITLE “MY GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE” HEBREWS 12:29.
Day 35: Tuesday 2nd June, 2020.
Scripture: Matthew 27:1-10
Topic: God the Consuming Fire Versus Judas Iscariot [2]
Text: John 6:71
Why Judas Iscariot was such a man chosen to be one of the twelve?
There was needed among the disciples, as in the Church now, a man of just such talents as Judas possessed, the talent for managing business affairs.
Though he probably followed Christ at first from mixed motives, as did the other disciples, he had the opportunity of becoming a good and useful man.
It doubtless was included in Gods plans that there should be thus a standing argument for the truth and honesty of the gospel; for if any wrong or trickery had been concealed, it would have been revealed by the traitor in self-defence.
Perhaps to teach the Church that God can bless and the gospel can succeed even though some bad men may creep into the fold.
What was Judas motive in betraying Christ?
Anger at the public rebuke given him by Christ at the supper in the house of Simon the leper. See Matthew 26:6-14.
Avarice, covetousness, the thirty pieces of silver. See John 12:6.
The reaction of feeling in a bad soul against the Holy One whose words and character were a continual rebuke, and who knew the traitors heart.
A much larger covetousness, –an ambition to be the treasurer, not merely of a few poor disciples, but of a great and splendid temporal kingdom of the Messiah. He would hasten on the coming kingdom by compelling Jesus to defend himself.
Perhaps disappointment because Christ insisted on foretelling his death instead of receiving his kingdom. He began to fear that there was to be no kingdom, after all.
Perhaps, also, Judas “abandoned what seemed to him a failing cause, and hoped by his treachery to gain a position of honor and influence in the Pharisaic party.”
The end of Judas:
Judas, when he saw the results of his betrayal, “repented himself.” (Matthew 27:3-10). He saw his sin in a new light, and “his conscience bounded into fury.”
He made ineffectual struggles to escape, by attempting to return the reward to the Pharisees, and when they would not receive it, he cast it down at their feet and left it. See Matthew 27:5.
Restitution of the silver did not undo the wrong.
It was restored in a wrong spirit, –a desire for relief rather than hatred of sin.
He confessed to the wrong party, or rather to those who should have been secondary, and who could not grand forgiveness.
Compunction is not conversion.
The money was used to buy a burial-field for poor strangers, Matthew 27:6-10.
Judas himself, in his despair, went out and hanged himself, (Matthew 27:5) at Aceldama, on the southern slope of the valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, and in the act he fell down a precipice and was dashed into pieces, (Acts 1:18, 25). “A guilty conscience must find neither hell or pardon.”
Judas repentance may be compared to that of Esau. It is contrasted with that of Peter. Judas proved his repentance to be false by immediately committing another sin, suicide. Peter proved his to be true by serving the Lord faithfully ever after. See Genesis 27:32-38; Hebrews 12:16-17.
- Prayer Points:
- I pray, that God’s grace and glory will pave way for me to His eternal kingdom henceforth, in the name of Jesus Christ.
- I turned my suffering around so as to establish, strengthen, settle and perfect everything concerning me now by God’s consuming fire, in the name of Jesus Christ.
- I command all the spirits of Judas Iscariot in my life, jump out now by God’s consuming fire, in the name of Jesus Christ.
- I command attitude and character of Judas Iscariot in my life, catch God’s consuming fire now, in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Oh Lord God, grant me the grace and power to discern every Judas Iscariot in my life so as not to fall into his sin, in the name of Jesus Christ.
- As I have started well o Lord, let me finish well, in the name of Jesus Christ.
- O Lord God, do not allow me to misuse my present position, in the name of Jesus Christ.
