Money is powerful. Yet money can’t fix your biggest problem. It cannot purchase you a place in heaven. It cannot make anyone truly great.
acts eight continues to show us what the risen savior does through the work of God’s spirit through the church
the risen Lord Jesus brings the kingdom of God not through purchase but preaching!
1. when you’re suffering, proclaim (1-4) 2. when you’re proclaiming, persuade (5-13) 3. when you’re persuading, discern. (14-25)
persecution is suffering but not all suffering is persecution; persecution is when you are suffering because of your religion. persecution can take many forms, it is not always one being physically murdered for their faith. it’s when church meeting places are bombed, gatherings are raided, members are attacked, etc.
suffering and persecution cause the christians in this text to scatter; those who were scattered went about preaching the word. it sent these christians out on the mission of Christ to the world.
acts 1:8 -> acts 8:1
persecution is God’s church growth “program”.
the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.
when you’re suffering, proclaim Christ!
samaria is hugely significant in this text because jews HAAATE samaritans. (john 4:1-26) Luke references them as strangers in his gospel account. the northern kingdom of israel’s capital was samaria; historically they were rebelling against david’s rule. this is a hatred that has lasted THOUSANDS of years. the blessings of the new covenant include the reunion of judea and samaria under a new davidic king (Jesus).
you can (and should!) proclaim Christ promiscuously to everyone in your life; Jesus is able to save ANYONE.
if you want to get the gospel out you have to 1. get the gospel right 2. get the gospel across.
God -> man -> Christ -> response = the Gospel !!!!!
the signs and wonders of philip prepare you for the sorcery of simon; this is a case of competing spectacles. (a spectacle controls your affections by capturing your attention. what we give our attention to shapes our affections.) not every think piece or tiktok are to help us love God better. we live in a world of competing spectacles. this is why we must labor to both get the gospel right and across.
take every thought captive to obey Christ!
Christ used arguments (persuasion) when He could have used physical power. it was persuasion which characterized Christ’s first coming. we must be prepared to give an argument and persuasion for our Lord.
the samaritans amazement with the sorcery of simon should remind us to be PATIENT. it takes time to minister the truth and we must patiently persuade others.
to teach (display, educate, guide), to delight (invite, fascinate, woo) and to sway (influence, convince, entice).
the book of acts describes something without prescribing them for us today. we must discern what is prescriptive vs descriptive.
the apostles come to confirm the work of god in uniting the jews and samaritans under the new covenant - this is as significant as it is unrepeatable.
acts eight (samaritan pentecost) is like acts two (jerusalem pentecost)
jesus bears the spirit without measure so he bestows the spirit among all of his followers; everyone who believes in christ receives the spirit too.
verses 20-23 (deut 29:18) simon is still shackled in sin.
we should baptize discerningly; thinking wisely about who we baptize and why.
the ordinances can only grow faith but not create it. only the word of God being used by the spirit of God can create faith.
credible profession of faith - demonstrate by your life that you believe the Gospel. if Jesus is your savior then he is also your Lord which shows up in your life based off of repentance.
simony (acts eight musings) - the way of speaking of the sin of trying to purchase the church’s power. you can’t put a tariff on church membership or leadership. the christian religion should NEVER serve a tool for a grasp at power. magic and money are both used as a tool in trying to control God.
let us never think that simon’s way is not that sinister; simony in all of its forms is a great evil for power, control or greatness. greatness in God’s kingdom doesn’t accrue to your glory or come by gold; greatness in God’s kingdom comes from making much of Christ, especially at great cost to yourself.
God’s work done in God’s ways will never lack God’s supplies