To Pass As Someone Great

FROM: FEBRUARY 26 @ MARCH 4, 2019

TOPIC: "To Pass As Someone Great" Acts 8:9-24 Simon, the magician, was one who had long deceived the people of Samaria with the magic arts. (Vs. 9). Magic is the art or hidden science which is intended to produce results contrary to the natural laws using certain acts, spells or words. Magic is something diabolical, and for that reason false although it may seem good.

I. That was Simon!

A. A magician, a cheating deceiver forever! (Vs. 11)

1. Since long before this man had made a great impact on Samaria with his magic.

2. (Vs. 9) He pretended to be someone very important "...pretending to be someone great." And there were people who were truly convinced that the great power of God was in him (Vs. 10).

3. On his part, he led others to think that he was an envoy of God doing things by means of deception, magic.

4. It is harder to unlearn the wrongdoing than to learn the good!

5. Simon used satanic power to deceive the people of Samaria; with his sorcery he amazed them for quite some time.

6. Then, the Word of God came to Samaria (Vs. 5-8).

7. (Vs. 12-13) While many of the population believed in the preaching of Philip and were being baptized, Simon himself also made a profession of faith, and having been baptized, he followed Philip.

8. Simon was now fascinated (an irresistible attraction) by the great miracles that Philip performed.

9. But, it seems that Simon had not been sincere and had not been born again!

10. Baptized...but still in sin!

a. Let us see who is a true convert.

b. The kingdom of God is the sphere where God's government is recognized.

c. In this present time, the King of Heaven is absent.

d. Instead of a literal and earthly realm, we have a spiritual and invisible kingdom in the lives of ALL THOSE WHO ARE LOYAL TO HIM!

e. In the future, the King will return to earth to establish a literal kingdom with Jerusalem as His capital.

f. In order to truly enter the kingdom, in any of its forms, one must be born again!

g. To be born again, IT IS A TOTAL CHANGE!

h. If the person continues with his astuteness, deceit, envy and machinations, HE IS NOT IN THE KING'S KINGDOM. The person is not converted!

i. Look and see, in what kingdom are you, who rules in your life?

B. (Vs. 14-17) It is time to unmask the deceiver.

1. Now it is a matter of the Owner of the pure, of the holy: THE HOLY SPIRIT, as the great Watcher of the work! It seemed like nothing was happening! As if the Holy Spirit left anything unnoticed!

2. (Vs. 14) The apostles Peter and John were sent to Samaria from Jerusalem when they heard that God's Word had been received there.

3. SUPERVISION to God's Kingdom is for ORDER!

4. In Samaria, those who had believed were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, but had not yet received the Holy Spirit (Vs. 15-17).

5. The apostles, following the divine instructions. prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit and imposed their hands on them. By doing this, they received the Holy Spirit!

6. (Vs. 18) Simon the magician was deeply impressed by the fact that the Holy Spirit was given by the imposition of the hands of the apostles!

7. Simon did not have a deep sense of the spiritual implications of that, but rather he saw it as a supernatural power that could serve him well in his usual activities and continue "...to pass as someone great."

8. Since something natural in his ambitious nature was money, (as it is today),"...he offered them money..." to the apostles in an effort to buy that power"...give me also this power..." (Vs. 19).

9. To which Peter responded with the authority of an apostle:

a. (Vs. 20) "May your money perish WITH YOU..." If Simon had been saved (John 3:16) he would not have perished.

b. (Vs. 21) "You have no part or share in this matter..." So, he did not belong to that communion.

c. "...your heart is not right before God." Simon was an unbeliever with a heart that was not righteous.

d. "...for I see that you are full of bitterness and CAPTIVE TO SIN."

10. (Vs. 22-24) Simon preferred that Peter pray for him, rather than go to God himself.

11. He was a precursor of those who would prefer to go to a human mediator rather than to the Lord Himself.

12. It is indicated by his words that there was no true repentance on behalf of Simon: "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."

13. He was not sorry for his sin, but only for the consequences that could come upon him.

14. From Simon derives the modern term "simony" = doing business with what is sacred and all kinds of commercialism with what is divine.

15. Not everyone fears God nor are they genuine in a relationship with Him. God knows everything! Amen.