The falling of Judas Acts 1:15-18

 Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

Acts 1:16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
Acts 1:17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

Peter was a natural leader, bold in the flesh, but not yet having the permanence of the Holy Spirit. He had failed his Lord, yet was restored and looking forward to the promise of the Lord. He was with others in unity and one accord.

Even though Judas was the son of Perdition, he also partook of the ministries with the disciples. He was sent forth to preach repentance, and yet did not repent. He was sent forth to heal the sick and cast out demons, yet he was to be taken over by satan. Judas sought repentance, but none was to be found, he looked in the wrong place.

What went wrong? He was among them, treated the same, but it all never filled his heart...something else occupied his heart. Perhaps he was careless in his choices, I assume greed and wrong choices were made, he betrayed the Lord that was so close to him for thirty pieces of silver.

Mark 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
Mark 3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

At this time they were under the anointing of Jesus, yet later satan would enter Judas. Did he have satan when he ministered? No, Jesus said Satan cannot cast out satan, a house divided will fall. (Mat 12:26) Judas had serious strongholds, through the love of money satan entered in and he was destroyed, after doing the work of satan to put Jesus to death. Remember this was before the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

Judas tried to return the 30 pieces of silver he received for betraying Jesus. With these evil priests there was no repentance received or grace given. With the blood money they bought a field to bury the unwanted.

Mat 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Mat 27:6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
Mat 27:7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
Mat 27:8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
Mat 27:9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

Tradition

One of the few things my father told me before I was to marry was"now you can make your own traditions." I wondered about that statement, what are our family traditions? Was it stopping at a certain Foster's freeze for an ice cream? Was it stopping at a hamburger place that specialized in chili burgers? These things we did year after year when we made trips in our car. Was it our traditional Friday night gathering to play cards with my father and brothers? One tradition he passed down was to work hard and to be thankful for a job. My mother was a homemaker, always home and my father worked very hard, but was always home for dinner. They were faithful and our extended family was always together for thanksgiving and holidays. My family did not come to Jesus until I was nineteen. My affliction with cancer and being touched by God brought the family together to be baptized. After this God was in our traditions. My family loves the Lord Jesus Christ and the word of God. 

Mat 15:1  Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Mat 15:2  Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
Mat 15:3  But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

The dictionary defines a tradition as a way of thinking, behaving or doing something that has been used in a particular group, family or society for a long time.

The Strong's Concordance

Tradition, paradosis: of the body of precepts, esp. ritual, which in the opinion of the later Jews were orally delivered by Moses and orally transmitted in unbroken succession to subsequent generations, which precepts, both illustrating and expanding the written law, as they did were to be obeyed with equal reverence.

Bad thinking and sin can be passed down.

Exo 20:4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 

Exo 20:5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 

Exo 20:6  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 

There are good traditions that define the character of a nation. Godly laws that honor God, such as our motto, in God we trust.  Now these traditions are under attack to be replaced by lesser values and ungodly laws. Churches have traditions, ways of doing things, but our traditions are not to take away from God's truth. When a tradition goes against the commands of God, they will not prosper. A nation that turns from God is headed for destruction unless they repent. A church must teach and practice truth by faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ as savior or their traditions are a hindrance. Traditions can become habits, so be sure that your traditions are acceptable to God.

Prayer and Forgiveness

The Praying Mantis looks innocent, but he likes to sneak up on other insects to eat them. His praying hands are not so innocent. Like the praying Mantis we can appear to be praying in God's will and power, but we cannot let go of someones transgression. We must forgive in order to receive a response to our prayer. Pray in faith.

Mar 11:22  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Mar 11:23  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Mar 11:24  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mar 11:25  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mar 11:26  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 

What good is it to do great things and to be rejected by the Lord? Can't forgive someone? Then that is the mountain that the Lord can easily move from one place to another. Simply give the one you cannot forgive to Jesus and ask him to remove this mountain from your heart and mind. Believe and you will receive a new clear path and future in the Lord. Pray with a clear mind and heart and pray for others too.