1 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:09,440 If you would turn to the the. Book of Acts chapter 8. 2 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:12,960 We're going to get right back into our study in the book of 3 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,440 Acts that we've entitled. The power of the Church. 4 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:18,560 And as you're turning there, this is a great time in our 5 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,800 study. To look at what we've. 6 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,200 Seen so far in the. History of the 1st. 7 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,120 Church you can think of the book of. 8 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:32,840 Acts as the book of firsts the the book of Acts records for us 9 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:36,640 all of these first. Time events that the church 10 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,320 experiences then that we still experience now. 11 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:42,000 Acts Chapter. One we saw our. 12 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:46,360 First disciple, apostle, leadership moment after the 13 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,560 ascension they take. On the leadership of the Church 14 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,440 by Acts Chapter 2, we see the 1st. 15 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,000 Pouring out of the Spirit on all flesh. 16 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:56,640 And our first evangelistic message. 17 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,920 Our first. Baptism of the Church The first 18 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:02,960 church service by Acts chapter 3 we see the 1st. 19 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,920 Miracle a lame man. Walks and by acts chapter 4 we 20 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,440 see some the first. Initial push back. 21 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:14,440 As the apostles are arrested in Acts chapter 5, you'll. 22 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,440 Remember Ananias and. Sapphire we saw the 1st. 23 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:20,320 Judgement, the cleansing of the church happening very early on. 24 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,960 And by Acts chapter 6 we saw the 1st. 25 00:01:23,960 --> 00:01:27,200 Complaint arise. The widows tables were divided. 26 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:29,000 And some of the widows were being neglected. 27 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,520 But in Acts chapter 6 we see. Our first church council meeting 28 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:36,000 come up with the the resolution and we we were introduced to the 29 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:40,600 first team of servants or deacons and last week one of 30 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:44,640 those deacons became the first martyr in Acts Chapter 7. 31 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:47,280 That we saw the the. Preaching in the power of 32 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,560 Stephen unto death. And now we will. 33 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,760 Pick up right where that left off. 34 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:56,680 And today in Acts chapter. 8. We're going to see the. 35 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:01,840 First, outsiders of Jerusalem. Come into the church, you'll 36 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,600 remember acts chapter one, verse 8 Jesus gave them the the 37 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,040 mission of the church they're going to be they're going to 38 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:12,000 receive power to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and 39 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,520 the ends of the earth and. Today Acts chapter 8 is the 40 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,840 picture of. Outsiders of this initial 41 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,160 movement coming in, and that's something that we should still 42 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,880 be experiencing. To this day, and so throughout 43 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:28,200 this chapter, it's one story of outsiders. 44 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,360 Coming in after the other and we're going to zoom in on one 45 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:36,520 specific outsider and he gives us a very important picture of 46 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:40,720 what may even be happening this morning, as some of you may be. 47 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:43,440 Outsiders that are. Visiting or you're coming in and 48 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:45,080 you're listening and you're interested and you're. 49 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:49,680 Close but Acts chapter. 8 is the story of an outsider that comes 50 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,120 in, and he's not all the way in. He's. 51 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,720 Close, but he's not in it. Reminds me. 52 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,320 Of a story. You've probably heard it. 53 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:01,240 It's a story. Of a man who's going to get 54 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,320 baptized and as he's approaching the baptismal waters. 55 00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:08,440 He realizes that he left. His wallet in his pocket and he 56 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,520 stops and the the pastor who's leading me says real quick, let 57 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,040 me put my wallet somewhere. And the pastor said to the man, 58 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:18,640 if I don't baptize you and your wallet, I won't baptize you at 59 00:03:18,640 --> 00:03:22,280 all because there's a temptation to leave certain parts. 60 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:24,320 Of our life. A lot of times it is the wallet. 61 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:28,600 Outside of the full. Immersion into following Jesus, 62 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:32,440 which baptism represents and there are some of you no doubt 63 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:35,200 in in an audience of. This size that are. 64 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,800 In, but not all the way in, and your version of that story might 65 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:40,640 be as you. Get close to the. 66 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,640 Baptismal waters, you realize your phone's in your pocket and 67 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:44,480 you think to. Yourself. 68 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,520 I just got to. Make sure that my phone and all 69 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,920 that it represents my social feeds and my my social networks 70 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:52,800 and all of the the things. That you just like to. 71 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,240 Hold onto on the side. Let's keep that out of the 72 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,320 water. Some of you may keep. 73 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,160 Your. Imagine you're going to the 74 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,480 water and then inside your pocket you remember your planner 75 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,200 is in there. You can't get the planner wet 76 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,960 because you got great plans for your life and it's got all your 77 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,920 hopes and your dreams and your five year vision for the next 10 78 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,760 years. And you think before I go under, 79 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:13,160 let me keep. That out of the water. 80 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,320 And here is the message that we're going to see in this one. 81 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:21,000 Specific outsider story unless you go all. 82 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:26,160 In you're not in and that's just true of life unless you go all 83 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:30,160 in in your academic studies, in your relationships that are most 84 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,960 important to you in the call of God on your life until. 85 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:34,840 You're all the way. Immersed. 86 00:04:35,840 --> 00:04:40,160 You're not all the way in and I I find the entire book. 87 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,560 Of acts to be very. Helpful for understanding the 88 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,280 times we live in and. Especially this story. 89 00:04:45,280 --> 00:04:48,000 So start. With me in our journey. 90 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,960 Through Acts Chapter 8. And I'm going to, we're going to 91 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:55,680 get through a lot. I'm going to cover this in a, in 92 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:58,480 a bit of a fly over again. And I want to pick up in verse 93 00:04:58,480 --> 00:04:59,920 4. And I'll just tell you the first 94 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:03,920 3 verses are essentially right. Where we left off last week says 95 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:08,000 that Saul has the the. First Martyr Stephen has died 96 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:09,880 and the whole church is just mourning his death. 97 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,960 And they don't have much time to to mourn because immediately 98 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:17,160 there's a man named Saul. Hold on to that name. 99 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:19,640 We're in for a surprise next week of who he becomes. 100 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,600 There's a man named Saul who's wreaking havoc on the church. 101 00:05:22,840 --> 00:05:25,880 So they literally go. From the funeral of Stephen to 102 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,200 fleeing Jerusalem for their safety and in verse. 103 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:32,080 Four, it says, therefore those who were scattered. 104 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,800 Went everywhere preaching and I just, we're not going to 105 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,520 emphasize what this is saying this morning, but just think 106 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:44,560 about this moment. Saul is wreaking havoc on these 107 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:48,640 early believers. He's trying to persecute them so 108 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:50,680 that the message would stop and what happens? 109 00:05:51,280 --> 00:05:56,400 As they're scattered, they go. Preaching as the mission is is 110 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,360 being met with opposition, the opposition turns into 111 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:01,640 opportunity. And isn't that just? 112 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,880 True of your life, you. Don't know how God is going to 113 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:09,160 get his way in your life, but often times it comes very 114 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,480 unexpected. And now we're going to meet 115 00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:14,040 someone we were introduced to in the serving of the table. 116 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,080 He's on the Deacon team, it says in verse 5. 117 00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:19,760 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached 118 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:23,800 Christ to them, and verse 6 and the multitudes with one. 119 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,600 Accord heeded. This thing spoken by Philip, 120 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,160 hearing and seeing the miracles. Which he did. 121 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,600 This whole chapter is a story of outsiders. 122 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,600 Coming in, but also insiders going out. 123 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:38,640 Those who were. Persecuted flee Jerusalem and 124 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,560 everywhere they go they have one mission to preach the gospel, 125 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,400 and so much so that one of the. The table. 126 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,560 Servants Philip, who was working the Ministry of Jerusalem. 127 00:06:47,840 --> 00:06:49,920 He decides to. Go on the first ever regional 128 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,920 mission trip and goes into Samaria and preaches the gospel 129 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,720 to tell them of the Messiah. The resurrected Jesus has come 130 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,920 and is alive and is forgiving sins and giving newness of life. 131 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,280 And as he's preaching that it is in a very important detail. 132 00:07:04,280 --> 00:07:08,480 It's in Samaria, Samaria, just so we know the backdrop. 133 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:10,240 This is. Why we can, rightfully. 134 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:13,000 Say this is our first. Moment in the. 135 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,120 Story of the first church where outsiders. 136 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,800 Are coming in because Samaritans are outsiders now. 137 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:20,160 They're still. Jewish people. 138 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,880 And this is not the full extent of. 139 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:24,680 The Lord's. Promise that they're going to go 140 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,760 to the end of the earth, but Samaritans were not considered. 141 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,120 Fully Jewish. You remember that after 142 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:34,320 Solomon's reign, the Kingdom of Israel got split into a north 143 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:37,640 and the South, and the north gets ransacked by the Assyrians, 144 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,440 and the Assyrians essentially go in and intermarry with all the 145 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:45,040 people living there, and Samaria becomes kind of a mixed. 146 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:49,960 Culture, it's still part. Jewish, but now it's part Pagan 147 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:52,960 and they have a different temple that they worshipped at. 148 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:56,040 They had a different Canon of scripture, only adhering to the 149 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,040 first five books of Moses. They had different customs and 150 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,200 they were thought of as second class. 151 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:06,000 And this is a reminder to us. That the gospel is. 152 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,520 Going out with no regard. For our social orders. 153 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:14,080 This is the same Samaria that as Jesus approached the Samaritan 154 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:15,840 woman at the well, she said, Why are you talking to me? 155 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,240 I'm a Samaritan. This is the same Samaria. 156 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,760 That as they they rejected the disciples. 157 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:22,720 Preparing the way for. Jesus, they asked. 158 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:24,200 Jesus. Do you want us to send fire on 159 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:26,000 these people and just annihilate them? 160 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:27,760 Jesus said. No, that's not the mission. 161 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,280 And now that the resurrection has happened, the gospel is 162 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,200 going out to bring even the Samaritans in. 163 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,320 Not a. Big deal for you, probably. 164 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,039 But a big. Deal for the Jewish people. 165 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:42,200 And as they're doing that, Philip is just the chosen 166 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:47,280 evangelist. And it says in verse 9, or 167 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:49,760 excuse me, as we go through that, we're going to. 168 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:52,600 Get like a a little. Mini revival. 169 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,240 It's not really a revival because they never had the 170 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,720 gospel, but they're going to have an outbreak. 171 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,480 Where all sorts of people. Are going to receive. 172 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:01,600 The words of Philip. And it's going to end by saying 173 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,280 and there is great joy in Samaria leading to our 174 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:08,720 introduction of. The specific outsider that the 175 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:10,480 the. The book of Acts wants us to 176 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:12,600 meet. His name is Simon, it says in 177 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:14,240 verse 9. But there was a. 178 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:20,120 Certain man called Simon who? Previously practiced sorcery in 179 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:22,520 the. City and astonished the people 180 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:27,600 of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great verse 10 to whom? 181 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:32,520 They all gave heed from the. Least to the greatest saying 182 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,960 this man is the. Great power of God. 183 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:41,440 And once again, it says they heeded him, Simon, because he'd 184 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:44,600 astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 185 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:48,280 This in a sense as far as 1st century history. 186 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:51,440 Goes is the closest. You're going to get to a local 187 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,680 regional. Celebrity says everybody loved 188 00:09:54,680 --> 00:09:57,320 this guy they loved. Him because he had some sort. 189 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:01,280 Of sorcery, that was. In effect, winning their hearts 190 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,720 and minds. To the power that he possessed. 191 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,560 Other translations say that he he had magic and I want you to 192 00:10:07,560 --> 00:10:12,240 think less, you know, America's Got Talent card show and more 193 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:15,120 Harry Potter. This is the the the power of 194 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:19,360 potentially the dark forces astronomy, some sort of of of 195 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,840 magic display that helps people understand. 196 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:29,360 That this guy had power. And as Philip comes in and 197 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,280 preaches. The power of the Gospel. 198 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,120 You'll find what happens in Samaria and what happens 199 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,400 anywhere where Christ is preached and accepted. 200 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,680 That the real power displaces the old power. 201 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,080 That the real movement of God when it and it. 202 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:47,480 Captures the. Hearts and minds of. 203 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,640 People will lay to waste. Any of the previous. 204 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,600 Spirituality. And that is what's happening in 205 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:58,480 Samaria that the people who loved Simon the Sorcerer have 206 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:02,400 now committed to Philip and and have essentially traded 207 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,160 allegiance from Simon to Jesus, it says in verse 12. 208 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,120 But when they believe Philip. As he preached. 209 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,520 The things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of 210 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:15,040 Jesus Christ, both men and women. 211 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,680 Were baptized if acts chapter 8 is a story of. 212 00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:22,800 Outsiders coming in it's. The story is told through. 213 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,560 Baptism. Just like Acts chapter 2. 214 00:11:25,560 --> 00:11:27,840 Pentecost falls, Peter says. You got to get baptized. 215 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:34,720 Baptism is the very clearest and oldest historical way for. 216 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:39,320 Christians to declare that they're in and these people once 217 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:41,640 they heard the things concerning the Kingdom. 218 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:44,320 Of God, they heard Philip preach. 219 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:46,880 They get baptized as a way to shift. 220 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,680 Allegiance into the Kingdom of God. 221 00:11:49,680 --> 00:11:52,640 And I'll say this today, the very best way. 222 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:57,320 For you to know that you're on the inside is not raising your 223 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:00,160 hand or coming to an altar call or having a quiet moment where 224 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:01,920 someone prays. Over you, all of those. 225 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:04,480 Things are. Good, but the best way. 226 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:09,600 Is for you to identify with the symbolism of baptism. 227 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,600 Baptism is you going into the water identifying. 228 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,920 Death to your old self. Coming out of the water, 229 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,440 identifying, walking in the newness of life if you've never 230 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,200 been. Baptized, but you're here today. 231 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,800 You need to go all in. You need to go all in with the 232 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:29,840 representation of being completely submerged in water 233 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:31,880 and now. As all of this is. 234 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:33,720 Happening Acts is giving us this. 235 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:35,120 Beautiful story. The Gospels. 236 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,520 Gone out to Samaria people are trading allegiance from. 237 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,360 The old sorcery. To the new power of God and. 238 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,560 We hear the story of. Simon once again, then Simon 239 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:50,040 himself, even Simon the Great. That the. 240 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:54,120 Celebrity of Samaria also believed and when he was 241 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:58,400 baptized he continued with Philip and was amazed seeing the 242 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:01,040 miracles and signs which were done. 243 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:04,800 If the story ended here, we would think to ourselves. 244 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:09,000 Wow, the gospel is. Spreading the movement is moving 245 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,600 from Jerusalem to beyond, and even celebrities are coming in. 246 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:14,720 I mean, who doesn't love? A good celebrity got saved 247 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,120 story. I remember when I was a kid, I 248 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,320 was, you know, I thought celebrities were in a world of 249 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:20,800 their own and Christians were over here. 250 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:24,160 And then I found out Mike Seaver from Growing Pains was a 251 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,760 Christian I couldn't believe Kirk Cameron gave his life to. 252 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,880 Jesus, I thought. We're winning, you know, and I'm 253 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,440 sure you've all. Had your favorite athlete or. 254 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:34,520 Favorite you know, you know. Movie. 255 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,400 Celebrity speech and and you. Realize they were a celebrity. 256 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,160 That loved Jesus and you're like, we're winning. 257 00:13:40,680 --> 00:13:44,160 That's not where the story ends. The story is actually. 258 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,880 Giving us a picture of someone who is so. 259 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:48,800 Close look at what he has described. 260 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:52,000 It says that even Simon. Believed. 261 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:56,080 He's got belief. In what is being preached, it 262 00:13:56,080 --> 00:14:01,160 says that Simon was baptized, he has made the public declaration 263 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:04,880 of his belief, and then it says he continued with Philip. 264 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:07,160 And if we're looking for modern day parallels? 265 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:09,800 Of where this story would. Would reach our time. 266 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,320 Philip is like, you know, if you ever. 267 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:15,320 Heard about those churches who just have on fire pastors that 268 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:16,760 are just. Doing great things, they said. 269 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,720 Philip was working miracles and he was preaching and people were 270 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:20,920 saved and people were falling around. 271 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,400 He's fallen. A great Christian leader. 272 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:26,640 I mean, who wouldn't put that in their list of things that you 273 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:27,440 should? Probably. 274 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:31,160 Do once you get in and he's even amazed at. 275 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:35,000 What he saw, he saw. Mighty miracles at Philip and he 276 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:38,360 says he's amazed by them it's almost with reverence he's 277 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:43,080 looking at all this and yet the story doesn't stop there and 278 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:44,760 the. Story is so worth our. 279 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:47,480 Time, because the story doesn't stop here. 280 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:51,200 Wouldn't we say today would? Be a great thing of the list of 281 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:53,760 accomplishments that the Christians in this room have 282 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,200 presented before the public viewing. 283 00:14:56,520 --> 00:15:00,320 You came and listened to a sermon, although a little late, 284 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:02,320 you came and you. Worship Jesus. 285 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:05,840 You came and you've heard. Of a guy. 286 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,000 Preach and you're like. OK, I like this guy. 287 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:10,640 You're singing songs. You may even take communion. 288 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:15,240 And yet there's something that is being presented us in this 289 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:19,040 story that is given to us not as a celebration, but as a warning 290 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:22,480 that he was in all of the. Ways that are visible. 291 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:26,120 To man he looked like an insider, and yet he's not we 292 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:30,480 continue now when the apostles verse 14 who are at Jerusalem, 293 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:32,920 heard that that Samaria had received the. 294 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:34,280 Word of God, they're like. What? 295 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,360 This is great news. They sent Peter and John to 296 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:40,320 them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they 297 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:41,960 might. Receive the Holy Spirit. 298 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,320 For as yet he had fallen upon none of them. 299 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,000 They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 300 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:50,160 Then they laid hands on them and. 301 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,600 Received the Holy Spirit. We're going to pause. 302 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:56,120 Here this is about to. Transition into a moment between 303 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:58,480 Simon and the apostles that are coming from Jerusalem. 304 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:00,880 But you'll notice. That this is a very. 305 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:03,120 Unique pouring out of the. Spirit. 306 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,480 This is different than how? It is. 307 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:07,760 You would expect it to. Happen now if you believe in the 308 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:09,080 Lord Jesus. Christ if you are. 309 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,280 Born again, you've got the spirit, and yet these people 310 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,480 don't. And the reason for that we can 311 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:16,320 see in the big picture. Of the book of Acts, there are 312 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:18,400 at least three. Times where the Spirit is. 313 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:21,320 Poured out for the. Outsiders in such a unique way 314 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:24,760 that the apostles are there to confirm it You'll. 315 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,040 You saw that the whole. Point of Pentecost was that 316 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,800 everyone would be there. The Spirit was delayed until 317 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:34,120 Pentecost so that everyone was there to see it and confirm it. 318 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:36,880 We'll see in just a couple chapters. 319 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:39,320 Another great outsider coming in, representing the untold 320 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,760 Gentile world. Cornelius and once again. 321 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,280 Peter has to be there. Peter is sent on special 322 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,240 marching orders into the House of Cornelius, the first Gentile 323 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:53,000 convert, so that Peter can witness the spirit being poured 324 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,000 out and once again the. Spirit is delayed for the. 325 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:58,960 Samaritan so that Peter and John can come and play. 326 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,880 Witness literally lay hands. This is not prescriptive of our 327 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:04,720 time. This is descriptive of their 328 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,520 time because something very important is happening. 329 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:11,920 Had the apostles not been there, what most likely would have 330 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,319 happened? Was that you have the. 331 00:17:14,319 --> 00:17:18,640 Samaritan Christian Church and the Jerusalem Christian Church. 332 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,280 You have the holy. Spirit being poured out in 333 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,560 Jerusalem on Pentecost, and then sometime later it happened in 334 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:26,520 Samaria and the divide still continues. 335 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:29,080 And that is not the way of the Kingdom. 336 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:34,040 There is one Holy Spirit, there is one baptism, there is one 337 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:36,200 global. Church with lots of different. 338 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:40,480 You know, tribes and family living rooms, and it starts with 339 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:43,160 this theological moment. That the Holy Spirit was. 340 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:47,400 Poured out upon the arrival of Peter and John so they could 341 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,520 give report. They're one of us as this 342 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:54,320 happens, as they're laying hands on people to receive the the 343 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:57,400 Holy Spirit. Uniquely to that time, Simon is 344 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:01,080 watching. Imagine what Simon is thinking 345 00:18:01,360 --> 00:18:03,280 as someone who. Used to have great crowds. 346 00:18:03,360 --> 00:18:07,360 See his power on display now he's watching Peter lay hands 347 00:18:07,360 --> 00:18:11,960 and see the power given out to people and this turns into a 348 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:15,520 moment of revelation for this person of Simon Says in verse 349 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:17,080 18. And when Simon saw that through 350 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,600 the lane on the on the apostles hands the holy. 351 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,240 Spirit was. Given he offered them money 352 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:24,680 saying give me this. Power also that. 353 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:28,440 Anyone whom I lay hands on May. Receive the Holy Spirit. 354 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:35,440 He has the Holy Spirit. Is a means to an alternative 355 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:39,160 gain for his life. He also doesn't have great 356 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:41,840 discernment because he asked the wrong apostle. 357 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:45,840 He asked Peter this, and if you know the person of Peter, you 358 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:47,320 know he's pretty bold and courageous. 359 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:49,240 Look at. Peter's response and Peter said 360 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,080 to him, Your money perish with you. 361 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:55,160 Because you thought that the gift of God could be. 362 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:58,560 Purchased with money, some translators say, and cover your 363 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:00,800 ears. For the light of heart. 364 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:03,960 Some people equate that word. Perish to. 365 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:07,120 Everlasting perishing. And they say Peter is 366 00:19:07,120 --> 00:19:09,640 essentially saying you can take your money and go to hell. 367 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,400 You're perishing and so is your money. 368 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:17,760 You are not born again if you think that you have some sort of 369 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,560 transactional buying power that you can offer me or God. 370 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:25,040 To receive the power of God. You're in a dead state of mind, 371 00:19:27,360 --> 00:19:29,800 he says in verse 21. You have neither part nor 372 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:31,400 portion in this matter. For your. 373 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:35,120 Heart is not right in the sight of God. 374 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,640 Verse 22 Peter says repent. Therefore of of this your. 375 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:44,160 Wickedness and. Pray God if perhaps the thought 376 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:45,560 of your. Heart may be forgiven you. 377 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:48,520 For I. See that you were poisoned by 378 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:51,920 bitterness and bound by iniquity. 379 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:56,640 An outsider is coming in, and yet he's not in. 380 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:02,960 An outsider is showing all the signs and the Marks and the 381 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:08,520 checklist of someone who's in. And yet it says his heart is 382 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:12,040 completely off. So I want to share with you for 383 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:15,160 our time because no doubt. This is a. 384 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:20,200 Story that I can't help but see all of the cultural Christianity 385 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:22,960 people. That like the idea of God and 386 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:25,440 like the idea. Of receiving and yet have not 387 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:29,560 fully been immersed into the. Discipleship of Jesus. 388 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,600 I I preached to myself for some of this. 389 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:34,800 And I share this with. Some of you. 390 00:20:35,120 --> 00:20:38,360 That are here at church. But you're not. 391 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:43,240 Here with God 3. Things that Simon is showing in 392 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:45,240 his. Heart that have. 393 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:48,400 A competing power with the power. 394 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:53,440 Of the Holy Spirit, the 1st is the power of the praise of 395 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:55,480 people. I mean the praise of. 396 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:57,400 People, if you just look. Around at what? 397 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:01,000 Fuels. Our world and our culture and 398 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:04,800 human history. There is something so empowering 399 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:08,200 about the praise that you can receive. 400 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:10,320 From people. So I read it to you. 401 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:11,600 Again, what? What? 402 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,280 The. Author of Acts wants us to know 403 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:15,160 he. Says that. 404 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:20,560 Simon in verse 9 was claiming that he was someone great that 405 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:24,600 his whole trick, his whole sorcery magic book. 406 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:26,680 Was. So that he could proclaim his 407 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:30,480 own greatness to people. And then it says in the next 408 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:32,840 verse, verse 10, the. People. 409 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:37,360 Responded by saying this man. As they watched him perform all 410 00:21:37,360 --> 00:21:39,640 of his tricks, they said this man. 411 00:21:40,120 --> 00:21:44,520 Is the great power of God. They didn't say he had. 412 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:47,480 The power of God, they said. He is the power of God. 413 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:51,800 Not only did he consider himself great, but he got the acclaim of 414 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:55,960 people and everything shifts in the next verse when it said when 415 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:57,920 Philip. Showed up, the people believed. 416 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:02,800 And his entire audience, it seems, changed the channel and 417 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:06,320 no Doubt and I and I think the best way to. 418 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,320 Start the the. Danger and the temptation that 419 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:13,120 somehow journeying into the Kingdom, coming very close, but 420 00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:15,640 not all the way in that there's a temptation. 421 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:17,920 To have this whole. Operation be the praise of. 422 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:20,960 Of of people. I can't help but start with the 423 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,560 temptation that befalls pastors and worship leaders and those 424 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:26,760 serving from this. Elevated. 425 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:31,680 Platform of a stage. It is one of the cancers of our 426 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:36,680 time that we have mixed up the praise and the. 427 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:39,240 Worship of Jesus with the praise and the worship of. 428 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,280 Man, and it is. As old as the first. 429 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:44,320 Century that someone from the outside. 430 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:45,840 Looked at what was. Happening and said if I. 431 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:51,640 Get to the right source. I can reposition my brand from 432 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:54,640 Simon the sorcerer to Simon the preacher. 433 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:59,760 I can reposition my esteem for people from Simon, the person 434 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:03,240 who had esteem as a Samaritan, to Simon, a person who had 435 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:07,440 esteem as a Christian. And no doubt the church, 436 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,680 starting with the household of God in leadership. 437 00:23:11,120 --> 00:23:15,760 We need to be cleansed from people looking so close, being 438 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:19,480 on the inside and actually being here as some sort of transfer 439 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:24,400 from popularity of the world. To popularity of the church to 440 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:28,200 grow a crowd. To build a brand, to find some 441 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:31,440 esteem in how people. Respect you for your Bible. 442 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:33,560 Knowledge and your your your righteous. 443 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:35,240 Pursuits. There is such. 444 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:40,080 A danger that any of. This is about. 445 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:44,080 Making a name for ourselves and not a name for God. 446 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:48,160 When I was in Italy. So if you didn't know, I was 447 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:50,400 just in Italy with our missions. Pastor Noah. 448 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:52,200 It was such a great. Trip and if you want to know 449 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:55,080 more about it come Wednesday we're going to talk all about it 450 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:58,040 we're going to talk about missions and I was. 451 00:23:58,040 --> 00:24:01,880 Just so blessed to. Be there and just to be sitting 452 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,120 in some of the greatest art rooms that the world has ever 453 00:24:06,120 --> 00:24:09,560 known and they're all essentially pointing to Jesus as 454 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:11,520 I walked into the Sistine Chapel that. 455 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:13,360 The tour guide said. You're about to walk in. 456 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:15,800 To the greatest illustrated Bible. 457 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:17,440 Ever. And it really is you. 458 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:19,040 Just see all. These Bible scenes and my 459 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:23,160 favorite scene. Was the very the very back wall 460 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:25,040 is the last. Judgment. 461 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:29,720 It's the scene that we're all getting ready for when we meet. 462 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:33,080 Christ face to face. And he separates the saved from 463 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,680 the damned. And my favorite little tiny 464 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:42,520 moment of theology was in this moment, Christ is receiving all 465 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:46,480 of those who gave their life to him and and Peter is there and 466 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,680 he's handing back the keys to the Kingdom. 467 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,160 There's this thought that. Especially in their tradition 468 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:55,560 that. That Peter the Church holds the 469 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:57,880 authority of. God on earth to welcome people 470 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,920 in and forgive sins and and to lead and to preach, and you have 471 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:01,960 the power. Of the Holy Spirit to. 472 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:03,960 Be his witness, which comes with authority. 473 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:07,480 But there's coming a day when we get to give. 474 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:11,720 All of the authority. And say, Lord, you'd entrusted 475 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:14,440 me to stand before people and preach. 476 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:16,160 You entrusted me. To be a. 477 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:19,080 Father and a husband to lead a family. 478 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:22,240 You entrusted me to have ministry and to have any kind of 479 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:26,280 influence. He's entrusted you, and someday 480 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:28,960 you get to say. Lord, it was always all yours. 481 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:35,160 And that requires a baptism of your heart and mind from this 482 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:38,800 cultures #1 economic. Resource which is. 483 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:41,400 Popularity and esteem of people in the church. 484 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:43,480 We esteem Christ and Christ alone. 485 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:46,760 I love this verse. In First Corinthians chapter. 486 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:48,840 Three, Paul says. Who is? 487 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:50,720 Paul who's Apollos but ministers? 488 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:53,240 Through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to. 489 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:56,680 Each one I planted. Apollos water, but God, God. 490 00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:00,200 Gave the increase so that neither he who plants is 491 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,800 anything, nor he who waters anything. 492 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:08,120 But God gives the increase. If you've ever come and been 493 00:26:08,120 --> 00:26:09,480 blessed. By a preacher. 494 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:13,080 Or a worship song. Or a fellow brother or sister 495 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,600 that prayed for you? How good is God? 496 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:21,680 Amen. The second competing power. 497 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:26,400 Is the idea. That Simon could. 498 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:30,880 Purchase the power. Simon Saul in verse 18 the lane 499 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:35,560 on hands and the Holy Spirit was given and he offered them money. 500 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:40,520 This is where he gets his rebuke from Peter. 501 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,040 You know the. The the easiest ways to. 502 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:50,920 See, this is the danger of any kind of transactional economic 503 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:54,600 offering to God that he would then somehow give you something 504 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:57,600 in return. Simon is representing literal a 505 00:26:57,600 --> 00:26:59,520 money exchange so that he could have. 506 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:01,400 The power. That was on display through the 507 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:05,880 laying on his hands, and church history views this moment as 508 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:09,760 something that comes into. The threat of church history. 509 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:12,640 All the time. It's actually a verb in church 510 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:19,960 history called Simon Re when there was an opportunity to take 511 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:24,880 a a a new church, a new a new pulpit, a new place for. 512 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:29,440 You to pastor or Bishop? In the medieval days, they would 513 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:32,040 raise money and they would offer money to the Pope to get the. 514 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:34,360 Preferred spots which was called. 515 00:27:34,360 --> 00:27:38,080 Simonry, it's actually. Part of what? 516 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:42,440 Martin Luther would protest against in his great 95 theses 517 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:48,720 that people were paying to have position and that of. 518 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:52,800 Course is also. Just dragged into the church 519 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:54,680 from the world. That's just how the world works. 520 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:58,760 You pay to play you. Exchange what you have. 521 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:03,840 For the goods. That you want, and we obviously 522 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:08,520 have a temptation to make this whole thing transactional in the 523 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:11,400 the list of good and righteous things you have done today, 524 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:14,960 there may be a temptation in your heart to be presenting them 525 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:18,320 before. God so that he would bless you. 526 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:21,920 That you're offering would somehow equal a blessing, and 527 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:23,360 there's horrible evils. Of our day that. 528 00:28:23,360 --> 00:28:27,160 Preach that that you're offering of time and listening ears and 529 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,440 service to the church and sacrifice of your life. 530 00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:31,240 That all. Of that would be given in a 531 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:33,880 sense transactionally. That God. 532 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:40,600 Would owe you and Peter says it's it's a perishing thought. 533 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:44,720 This is the great. Gospel moment in Samaria and 534 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:47,080 now. That the Holy Spirit is poured 535 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:51,000 out. Freely on anyone who asks. 536 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:55,520 That God gives his blessing. And God gives his provision, and 537 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:58,160 God gives salvation and redemption and forgiveness of 538 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:00,640 sins. And the entire gospel message is 539 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:05,240 not for sale, and you can't buy it 'cause you could never afford 540 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:09,240 it. Mindful of the importance of 541 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,240 this one little teaching moment by Jesus. 542 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:14,120 He says as you go. Preach saying the Kingdom of 543 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:16,920 heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, Cleanse the. 544 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:19,640 Lepers Raise the Dead cast. Out demons. 545 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:23,600 Freely you receive. All of those things Jesus came 546 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:25,680 onto the scene and did all of those things. 547 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:28,760 He preached, he cast out demons, he healed. 548 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:30,520 He never charged a dollar and he said if you've. 549 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:32,520 Received it freely, Give it freely. 550 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:36,680 This is why it's more than just a theological point. 551 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:39,440 If you think you're here transactionally, you will leave 552 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:41,080 and treat others transactionally. 553 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:48,400 You receive the goodness. Of God today as a gift, because 554 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:52,440 He loves you. And the bigger issue in Simon's 555 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:55,280 heart is that he was treating the holy. 556 00:29:55,280 --> 00:30:01,000 Spirit as a power. Instead of a person, he said 557 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:04,760 give me this. Power the Holy Spirit. 558 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:07,960 Is not a. Force the Holy Spirit. 559 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:11,360 Is not an electrical outlet that you need to plug your soul into. 560 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,880 The Holy Spirit. Is not the ticket to a healed 561 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:19,120 marriage and you know, free from addiction, the Holy Spirit 562 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:23,560 empowers you. As the third. 563 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:28,080 Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is God himself who wants 564 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:31,160 to animate your life to become more like Christ. 565 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:35,520 So it's not about what you can do to get the power, it's about 566 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:38,520 how much the person of the Holy Spirit can get a hold of. 567 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:41,960 You. The Holy Spirit is not a 568 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:44,640 commodity. The Holy Spirit is God. 569 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:49,480 Indwelling your heart in your life in the final competing 570 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:52,200 power. It says an 8IN in Acts 8 verse 571 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:53,400 20. Three, Peter says. 572 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:57,800 I see that you are. Poisoned by bitterness and bound 573 00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:01,480 by iniquity. I love this biblical moment 574 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:05,440 where where bitterness is directly equated to poison, 575 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:08,640 because that is my favorite quote for bitterness I've ever 576 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:10,120 heard. It's the best way I can ever 577 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:14,720 warn you against it. Bitterness is like drinking 578 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:18,040 poison and expecting someone else to die. 579 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:25,640 Simon has something inside of his. 580 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:28,840 Heart that has yet to. Have been cleansed. 581 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:35,120 By the power of God. In James he describes bitterness 582 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:35,560 this way. He. 583 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:40,040 Says if you have bitter. And envy and self seeking in 584 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:45,240 your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 585 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:49,120 There's all sorts of. Ways that you can grow bitter 586 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:53,920 against the power of God and the plan of God and going all in for 587 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:57,880 trusting God with your life. But in Simon's case, directed or 588 00:31:57,880 --> 00:32:01,160 or completely parallel to James, it says that bitter and envy and 589 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:03,640 self seeking are all in the same heart condition. 590 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:08,120 There's a lot of things that Simon could be envious of. 591 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:13,560 Philip showed up on the scene and he lost his his identity and 592 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:17,120 his income seemingly overnight. He might be very bitter at 593 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:18,640 Philip. He might be. 594 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:20,880 Bitter at the people. Who once praised him and are now 595 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:23,560 praising Jesus. He might be bitter at Peter who 596 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:27,520 wasn't willing to sell him the new power on the block. 597 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:34,480 And whatever it is, he's got issues in his heart that are 598 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:39,800 looking at people and he's holding A hardness of heart 599 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:44,960 against them that is preventing him to becoming a free born 600 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:46,960 again. Power of the Holy Spirit 601 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:50,640 believer. And no doubt these are. 602 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:55,040 The. 3 great dangers of any one of our lives When we get so 603 00:32:55,040 --> 00:32:59,280 close but we're not willing to get immersed we can be worried 604 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:04,640 about our reputation, our popularity, we can be hungry for 605 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:08,400 power and not God, and no doubt we can go into the baptismal 606 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:11,000 waters and our whole body can get wet, but it has nothing to 607 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:14,360 do with our hearts and we come into. 608 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:16,080 Church with hearts that are full. 609 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:20,040 Of bitter from a past life and past hurt and past pain. 610 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:24,680 It's for this reason I think that from Acts Chapter 7 to Acts 611 00:33:24,680 --> 00:33:27,440 chapter 8 we can rightfully quote Stephen when he says you 612 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:31,200 stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears. 613 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:37,080 You resist the Holy Spirit. When you go all in for Jesus, 614 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:40,880 you are going all in with the pain and the hurt and the broken 615 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:44,720 relationships of your heart. And God wants to baptize your 616 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:51,760 heart, not just your body. And For these reasons, we now 617 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:55,480 come to Peter's great solution, that is for. 618 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:58,280 All of the outsiders to. Come all the way in. 619 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:03,320 It is for any outsider here that maybe is in love. 620 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:07,320 With the old life you liked, your old reputation you liked. 621 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:09,560 Your influence and power and you're holding on to some of the 622 00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:10,880 stuff in your heart. And here's. 623 00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:15,760 What Peter will say to you. Repent verse 22, therefore, of 624 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:19,320 this wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thoughts of your 625 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:25,280 heart may be forgiven you. This is a refrain, a common 626 00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:27,920 scene throughout. Our study of this first. 627 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:30,840 Movement of the First Church. The gospel goes out with. 628 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:35,920 Power and people who are going to get in, have one job. 629 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:41,280 Repent. Stop being stiff necked. 630 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:43,960 Stop living life how you want to live it. 631 00:34:44,360 --> 00:34:46,159 Stop trying to build your own identity. 632 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:50,400 Stop trying to get in for the the sake of some alternative 633 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:52,520 ends. That is not the end of worship 634 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:55,679 and praise of God. Stop holding on to your hurt and 635 00:34:55,679 --> 00:34:58,720 your pain. Repent. 636 00:34:59,880 --> 00:35:04,080 Turn from those things and come to God and say, Lord, you can 637 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:08,800 now have all of me, from my identity to my influence to the 638 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:10,960 inner parts of my heart. You have. 639 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:13,400 All of me. If you're an outsider, you come 640 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:19,120 all the way in. We don't know what happened to 641 00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:23,080 Simon, but I can give all of you a warning for this morning, it 642 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:25,880 says in verse 25. Then Simon answered and said. 643 00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:29,880 Pray to the Lord. For me, that none of these 644 00:35:29,880 --> 00:35:31,920 things which you have spoken have come upon me. 645 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:34,720 And so when they testified? And preached the word of the. 646 00:35:34,720 --> 00:35:36,800 Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel 647 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:38,960 in million villages of the Samaritans. 648 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:43,000 Church history says. Simon became someone that 649 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:44,480 eventually. Would drift fully. 650 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:48,920 Away. And I think the warning to all 651 00:35:48,920 --> 00:35:51,640 of us is that you can be. Very. 652 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:55,480 Close and not all the way in. You can have all of the marks, 653 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:58,320 but you can laugh, you can miss the main mark which is 654 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:00,960 repentance before God to give him your whole life. 655 00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:04,120 And what Simon said was pray for me. 656 00:36:06,960 --> 00:36:13,800 Here's what I'll say. To you I can't repent for you I 657 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:16,080 can pray that God would soften your heart and open. 658 00:36:16,080 --> 00:36:20,040 Your ears, but you have. One job to go all in for. 659 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:26,400 Jesus, you pray, you ask God to take all of these. 660 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:30,800 Temptations and to put them under the water for good to hold 661 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:35,840 nothing back from full immersion for Christ and have a moment 662 00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:39,760 which we're going to afford to you right now or you realize 663 00:36:40,240 --> 00:36:45,920 that any outsider can come in. Simon's great failure was not. 664 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:48,120 That he was a sorcerer. It was not that he was once 665 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:50,000 popular. It was not that he. 666 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:52,240 Had. All sorts of mixed ideas about 667 00:36:52,240 --> 00:36:54,160 the whole operation work his only. 668 00:36:54,160 --> 00:36:56,400 Failure was his failure to. Repent. 669 00:37:00,680 --> 00:37:03,200 Anybody can come in. Nobody. 670 00:37:03,200 --> 00:37:07,040 'S too far. Nobody in this room right now is 671 00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:08,880 not being welcomed by the power. Of the Holy. 672 00:37:08,880 --> 00:37:14,760 Spirit to have a real relationship with God and the 673 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:20,120 promise of all of that. Is that it's a gift it's. 674 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:23,200 A free gift that we remember that was unlocked on the cross 675 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:25,480 of. Christ that it was declared the. 676 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:30,040 Resurrection of Christ and it was freely given on Pentecost. 677 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:31,840 As the Spirit poured out for those of you. 678 00:37:31,840 --> 00:37:35,000 Who are in this is story of insiders going out. 679 00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:38,800 Go all the way out. Find your neighbors and your 680 00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:43,040 friends and the people in your life that need to hear a message 681 00:37:44,960 --> 00:37:48,760 of repentance and remember where the gift comes from, the cross 682 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:51,840 of Christ. Thanks for joining us today. 683 00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:54,840 If you would like to watch the full service, check out the link 684 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:57,680 in the description. For next steps and to learn 685 00:37:57,680 --> 00:37:59,960 more, visit calvaryboise.com.