The main message of this sermon is that Christians should make decisions under the direction of God, not merely by impulse, preference, or convenience. Pastor Lester Jenkins uses Acts 1:12-26 to show believers returning to obedience, prayer, Scripture, and dependence on the Lord as Matthias is chosen to be numbered with the apostles.

In this sermon, sanctified common sense describes judgment that has been shaped by walking with God. As a believer grows in prayer, Bible reading, surrender, and obedience, the Word of God becomes part of how that person thinks and approaches life. Pastor Jenkins teaches that God can transform the heart and mind so that believers gain a stronger sense of what would please the Lord.

Pastor Jenkins points out that the disciples returned to Jerusalem because Jesus had told them to wait there for the promise of the Holy Spirit. Their obedience put them in the right place before the next decision was made. The sermon teaches that one of the best first steps in making decisions is to obey what God has already made clear.

Prayer matters because believers need the wisdom of the Lord, especially when they cannot see every heart, motive, consequence, or outcome. Acts 1 shows the disciples continuing in prayer before the decision and praying again before Matthias is chosen.

Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

Scripture should shape and govern the believer’s decisions. Pastor Jenkins emphasizes that Peter turned to the Psalms when addressing the vacancy left by Judas. He also warns against seeking an easier answer than the Bible gives. The right question is not simply what a person thinks, but what the Bible says.

Acts 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

Counselor shopping is looking for someone who will approve what we already want to do instead of seeking godly counsel and biblical truth. Pastor Jenkins warns that when people reject clear biblical counsel and search for an easier answer, they may make decisions that bring sorrow and damage. Wise counsel should help us submit to God’s Word, not escape it.

The sermon warns that poor decisions can affect more than the person making them. Pastor Jenkins uses Judas as a sobering example and also refers to Achan in Joshua 7 to show that sin and careless decision making can bring consequences upon families and others. The message urges believers to think carefully, pray sincerely, and consider the wider impact of their choices.

Pastor Jenkins closes the sermon by urging believers to walk in obedience, remain in fellowship with Scripture, be people of prayer, seek wise counsel, and ask God for wisdom to make the decision. The heart of the message is that every decision should be brought before the Father because the Christian life is about wanting what God wants.