Simon the Sorcerer
Verse by Verse Study of the Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted
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HOOK
HOOK
DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE
It’s the 22nd day of October— Thursday
Yesterday right here at the “The Message” we saw what happened after Stephen was stoned to death— the church was persecuted and scattered— while the apostles stayed in Jerusalem, some of them were drove up to Samaria, and others are pushed down to Judea— from what happened we learned a couple of things:
GOD USES PERSECUTION TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL
PREACH THE WORD WHEREVER THE LORD WILL TAKE YOU
One of the hellenistic Jewish disciple that was chosen to be among the seven to do ministry was Philip— because of the persecution in Jerusalem, he ended up in Samaria where he preached the gospel and performed many signs, miracles and wonders— the Samaritan believed and was baptized— in Samaria, there was a man named Simon who had practiced sorcery— let’s take a loot at what happened
Open your Bible to ACTS 8:9-25— once you get to the right page in your Bible, type “let’s see who Simon is!”
When reading in advance, whenever you’re studying God’s Word— look for words that defines that CHARACTER of God, COMMANDS to obey, PROMISES to claim, good EXAMPLES to follow and bad examples to avoid, ENCOURAGEMENTS & CHALLENGES to keep you going, reasons to be THANK GOD for, PRAYERS to pray
READ ACTS 8:9-25
BOOK
BOOK
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. 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 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.
WHAT: Simon offered money to Peter and John to buy the gift of God
WHEN: After the church was scattered because of the intense persecution in Jerusalem
WHERE: In Samaria [North of Jerusalem]
WHO: Philip, Peter and John, Simon the Sorcerer and Samaritans
WHY: Peter andJohn went to Samaria to baptize in the Holy Spirit the new believers in Samaria
LOOK
LOOK
THEY FOLLOWED HIM BECAUSE HE HAD AMAZED THEM FOR A LONG TIME WITH HIS SORCERY
Sorcery— the ability to foretell the future, summon the spirits through charms and magical spells— Sorcerers were present in the high court— EXODUS 7:11
But, as Philip preached about our Lord Jesus, they believed and was baptized— the truth of the gospel and the power of His Spirit overcome the Samaritans’ enchantment with Simon and his sorcery
SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED AND WAS BAPTIZED
Even Simon was convinced of Jesus’ lordship by the power of Philip’s message and miracles— Simon believed though he was ignorant of its true significance
When the apostles heard that Samaria had accepted the Word of God...
THEY SENT PETER AND JOHN TO SAMARIA
Upon arriving Samaria— they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit— because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them— what they receive was the water baptism in the name of our Lord Jesus
Indwelling and Infilling of the Holy Spirit— it’s worthy to note that Jesus did not start His ministry here on earth until after the Holy Spirit came on Him— the apostles and disciples had to wait for the baptism in the Holy Spirit during the pentecost before they started their ministry— the infilling of the Holy Spirit is the empowering of the believers to do ministry
THEN PETER AND JOHN PLACED THEIR HANDS ON THEM, AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT
And when Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying of hands of the apostles...
HE OFFERED THEM MONEY AND SAID, GIVE ME THIS ABILITY
Simon believed in the gospel but he did not truly understand— a lot of Christians are like Simon, they believed but they did not quite fully understand— they need guidance
But Peter replied, may you perish with your money because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money— first of all, it’s a gift— the moment you paid for it, it’s no longer a gift— besides, you cannot buy God’s gift with your wealth— ACTS 2:38
Peter further said...
YOU HAVE NO PART OR SHARE IN THIS MINISTRY BECAUSE YOUR HEART IS NOT RIGHT BEFORE GOD
You can only be part of the Lord’s ministry if your heart is right before Him— how do you know when your heart is not right before God?
YOU ARE FULL OF BITTERNESS AND CAPTIVE TO SIN
Check your heart before you getting involve with ministry
Simon asked the apostles to pray for him— Luke [the author] did not report whether Simon every truly repented
PETER AND JOHN RETURNED TO JERUSALEM, PREACHING THE GOSPEL IN MANY SAMARITAN VILLAGES
This shows that the apostles are based in the church in Jerusalem— from this encounter, we learn a couple of things
TOOK
TOOK
I CANNOT BUY THE GIFTS OF GOD WITH MONEY
MY HEART MUST BE RIGHT BEFORE GOD TO BECOME PART OF THE MINISTRY
SING
SING
AGAPE WORSHIP TEAM— Still