Acts 8:9-24 CSB
A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and amazed the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least of them to the greatest, and they said, “This man is called the Great Power of God.” They were attentive to him because he had amazed them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip, as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptized, he followed Philip everywhere and was amazed as he observed the signs and great miracles that were being performed. When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. After they went down there, they prayed for them so that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit because he had not yet come down on any of them. (They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit[c] was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter told him, “May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart’s intent may be forgiven. For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by wickedness.”
“Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon replied, “so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
Part 1 of looking at Walking the Walk, was about deacon Phillip and the positive example he made in his life and with the Ethiopian Eunuch. Today we will see a contrast with Simon the Samaritan. Deacon Phillip was the positive example of walking the walk. Simon the Samaritan is the negative example of walking the walk.
I. REVIEW PHILLIPS EXAMPLE OF “WALKING THE WALK”
A. Phillip was busy obeying the Lord and actively doing the Lord’s work
B. Phillip obeyed simply new directions God gave in a divine interruption Remember the definition of obedience:
1. Doing what your told
2. When your told
3. With the right heart attitude
C. Phillip boldly obeyed even when it was dangerous:
II Timothy 1:7 CSB “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”
D. Phillip obeyed God not tradition—Jesus said in Matthew 28;18- 20 CSB “Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The Ethiopian Eunuch requested baptism and Phillip baptized him based on his desire and profession of Faith in Jesus
E. Phillip obeyed God continually—when the divine interruption was finished Phillip went back to the previous work God had given him.
II. LOOK AT SIMON THE SAMARITAN
A. Before deacon Phillip’s witness, Simon was lost, without salvation
1. Simon practiced sorcery
a. Sorcery could have been of 2 types:
1). Eastern magic—a mixture of science and religion
2). Demonic—Satanic powered work—I believe in demons and Satan’s imitation of God’s work because he Bible says so and gives illustrations of demonic work and teaches that Satan imitates God’s work
3). Could even be a combination of the two
b. Sorcery is not God’s will or work
1). Not astrology, Ouija or spirit board, Seances
2). At best they are a distraction from listening to the Spirit and walking in God’s leadership
3). At worst they are dangerous and are participating in Satanic work and associating with the demonic
2. Simon attempted to control others
a. He assumed a position of authority (called the Great power of God)
b. He used sorcery to impress people
3. Simon gained for himself
a. Position
b. Influence
c. Wealth
B. Simon was impacted by the ministry of Deacon Phillip
1. Phillip, fleeing the persecution in Jerusalem went up into Samaria and preached and there was a revival
a. Acts 8:6—Phillip preached the good news that Jesus is the Messiah
b. People listened and saw signs
1). Phillip preached Jesus
2). Phillip, through the Holy Spirit, exorcised demons and healed the paralyzed and lame.
3). Phillip baptized those who believed
4). The people were joyful and put their faith in Jesus, not Phillip
5.). Phillip baptized believers in Jesus
2. Simon believed also
a. The Bible words it almost as a surprising or shocking thing
b. Then, when everyone else was believing, even Simon did. Did Simon truly believer or was he just joining the crowd?
3. Simon followed Phillip everywhere
a. He was amazed at the signs and miracles
b. What Simon saw was either beyond what Simon could accomplish as a Sorcerer or was of a greater magnitude than Simon could perform
C. Simon was even more impressed by the Apostles and the Holy Spirit
1. The disciples came and they believers received the Holy Spirit
a. The Bible does not say what was different, but apparently with the Spirit on them there was a transforming impact upon lives
1). It could have been that they received tongues as was given at Jerusalem
2). It could have been miracles or transformed lives
3). The Bible does not say, just that there was a noticeable difference
b. We do not know if Simon received the Holy Spirit, but he wanted to be able to lay hands on people to receive it
2. Simon tried to buy from Peter the ability to lay hands on people and for them to receive the Holy Spirit
D. Simon was corrected by Peter
1. Peter told Simon “may your money be destroyed along with you” 2. Peter told Simon that Simon had no part in the Spirit’s work
3. Peter told Simon that the problem was that Simon’s heart was not right with God
4. Peter told Simon to repent and pray that if possible he could be forgiven
5. Peter told Simon that he was poisoned by bitterness and bound by wickedness
E. Simon asked Peter to pray for him so that he would not be judged
1. We have no record that Simon prayed or repented himself
2. We have no record of Simon living a Holy Spirit filled transformed life
III. WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT WALKING THE WALK FROM SIMON
A. People come to Jesus from different environments and experiences
1. Not everyone comes from a church or Bible background
2. Some have religious experience that have not connection with Jesus or the Bible B Profession does not necessarily mean Salvation
1. We need to make a faith profession, that we trust Jesus as Savior
2. It needs to be more than an intellectual belief Jesus is Messiah or Savior
3. Profession needs to be accompanied by faith and transformation
C. Being amazed or astonished does not mean Salvation
1. The Samaritans had been amazed by Simon’s sorcery, but they were not saved, transformed, delivered from their sins.
2. Simon was amazed by Peter’s miracles, but apparently was not saved, transformed, delivered from his sins
3. Emotions do not mean transformation, which only Jesus can accomplish (both words for amazed are the same in Greek)
D. Being baptized does not mean Salvation
1. Simon had been baptized
2. Peter told Simon of a terrible judgment if he did not repent
E. God expects us to life holy lives
1. It is a sign or indication of our salvation
a. It does not make us saved—Works do not equal salvation
b. It does not mean that we never sin or struggle with sin
b. Works do accompany salvation however—
Ephesians 2:10 CSB “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”
2. Bitterness and wickedness are not acceptable for a Christian
a. Simon was poisoned by bitterness (perhaps envy)
b. Simon was in bondage, captive to sin, iniquity (perhaps love of money and position)
F. We must repent
1. There has to be a turning from our old lives, there must be a transformation
2. There needs to be a public repentance
a. It does not have to be words or a speech
b. It does have to be seen and lived in view of all
F. We need to have Godly practices
1. Realize flesh or money cannot accomplish or gain the Spiritual
2. We need to confess our own sins. Ask people to pray with us, but we need to repent and pray ourselves