The Book of Acts
Chapter 8
“We Have Jesus”
Simon the Sorcerer
1 “And Saul approved of their killing him.
The Church Persecuted and Scattered
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Philip in Samaria
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.
The question is, what was the “basis” of his faith.
His faith was NOT in the Word of God.
His faith WAS in the miracles he saw Phillip.
“Simon himself believed and was baptized.” (v. 13)
15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not YET come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought [Gk = Plot or scheme] in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” 24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
Q: Is the Devil FOR religion or AGAINST it?
I’ll help you be like God.
1. Beware of the Satanic power behind false religion.
“… how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends [allows Satan] them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”
-2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
“… demonic spirits that perform signs…”
-Revelation 16:14
“…people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
-2 Corinthians 11:13-15
“…ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
-Revelation 12:9
“… the devil…was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
-John 8:44
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
-1 Peter 5:8,9
How to Stay Strong as a Christian
1. Look to God.
“be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
-Ephesians 6:10-12
2. Be aware of Satan.
“For we are not unaware of his schemes.”
-2 Corinthians 2:11
Read God’s Word every day.
3. Beware of the Pride in false religions
“Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.”
-Acts 8:9
4. Beware of the selfishness in false religions
[Rooted in what I can “GET”.]
“When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
(v. 12)
“Genuine Faith” is demonstrated by:
Its Object [faith in What?]
&
Its Objective
5. Beware of the poison of false religions
[Rooted in what I can “GET”.]
23 For I see that you are full of bitterness [Poison] and captive to sin.” 24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
What we have in Jesus
1. A love that can never be fully understood.
2. A life that can never die.
3. A righteousness that can never be tarnished.
4. A peace that can never be fully understood.
5. A rest that can never be disturbed.
6. A joy that can never be diminished.
7. A hope that can never be disappointed.
8. A glory that can never be clouded.
9. A light that can never be darkened.
10. A happiness that can never be interrupted.
11. A strength that can never be weakened.
12. A purity that can never be defiled.
13. A beauty that can never be marred.
14. A wisdom that can never be baffled.
15. Resources that can never be exhausted.
16. We have Jesus.
King of kings!
Lord of lords!!
Our Savior!!!