“Off to See the Wizard”
Acts 8:1-3 and 9-25
Last week we wrapped up chapter 7 as we saw the death of the first martyr in the local church. His name was Stephen. According to church history it would have happened something like this ... The criminal would be taken to a place where there was a cliff ... the individual would then be thrown down. Depending on the height of the cliff some were killed in the process, some broke their legs ...but most survived and then they would throw huge boulders down on them until they were dead. In our definition in America this was certainly cruel and unusual punishment. It is still done in Iran and other places today. I read accounts of this just this week.
There are some things we notice about Stephen that seem to get our attention here. (1) we see the secret of his power. He had a clear vision of Christ welcoming him into heaven. That vision kept him strong. (2) He followed the example of Jesus. Just as Jesus prayed Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing ... so did Stephen ... same prayer (3) In the midst of his persecution Stephen died at peace. This scripture teaches us that there is peace when we are doing the right thing no matter how difficult the circumstances.
All of this had a profound effect on the NT church. As a result a great persecution broke out against the early church. The Bible tells us then that everyone in the church with the exception of the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Saul then went on a rampage going from house to house taking any believers he could find and he drug them off ... men and women alike and placed them in prison.
But this even turns out for the good of the church because (v.4) those who were scattered went out and preached the word wherever they went. Many came to Christ. Those who were demon possessed were set free. Many were healed. So in the midst of this persecution the church is now stronger than ever. We pick up there with the story of a man named Simon. V. 9-25.
Here we encounter another one of the 7 men chosen to serve as deacons in the early church. His name is Philip. Philip is now out preaching the word in Samaria. And as he goes about preaching he encounters a man named Simon. But Simon does not want to receive God’s free gift ... instead he wants to buy it. What has happened is this ... now that the gospel is being preached Philip is encountering the world of the occult. Now if Philip had known what lied ahead of him he might have said, “I’m off to see the wizard.” Because that is exactly what this man Simon proclaimed to be.... a wizard, a sorcerer, a magician and all who saw him believed it as well.
Look with me at what Philip was up against. Philip is a preacher now ... in fact he is a powerful preacher. The Bible tells us that as he began preaching in Samaria some very powerful things happened. (1) he performed miracles/signs. And the result of these signs/miracles is that everyone paid close attention to what he said. (2) evil spirits were cast out. It says the people shrieked when this happened. (3) many were healed ... people who were paralyzed, cannot walk are suddenly running up and down the streets. The result of this is that the people were filled with joy.
This is when we encounter this man named Simon. Simon is a sorcerer, a wizard, a magician who has had a powerful influence on the people of Samaria. People high and low, all classes of people paid attention t the wizard. Now we don’t know what his focus was, whether his magic centered in astrology which was commonly practiced in those days ... still is ... probably not a person here this morning who doesn’t know what their astrological sign is. By the way, stay away from that section of the newspaper .. there is nothing good there. Perhaps he focused on some other form of witchcraft but we see later in the book of Acts that this magic comes from demonic sources. People laugh and scoff at this today but this is very serious business. Personally I do not try to tell parents that their children shouldn’t go out and go door to door to collect candy. Personally I would like to go myself but I’m too big. We offer a fall festival and we do it on Halloween to offer a healthy alternative because as you know it is not always safe for our children.
I am in fact amazed at the # of parents who allow their children to dress as ghosts and even as the devil himself. In Wal Mart this week these parents were driving their child around in the cart ...the child was misbehaving ... they were fussing at him and the child is wearing a red suit ...costume of the devil... Complete with the tail and a pitchfork. Obviously he couldn’t wait until he got home to put it on. I thought you know, if you don’t want your child to misbehave then don’t dress him up as the devil. This is an area where believers must be careful.
Now in the text Simon was called/referred to as The Great Power. He would have been claiming to be God himself or perhaps a spokesman for God ... we don’t know .. history tells us that he was known by some a high god, by many as a heretic who caused trouble for the church in Rome. We also know that this man was a great threat to the spread of the gospel.
His beliefs are now about to be challenged by preacher Philip and I want to make this point very clear. When the power of Jesus Christ encounters the power of Satan there is no contest. Look what happens in vv. 12-13. This is surprising to those in Samaria and to us as well. We have to stop and ask, is this genuine? Was Simon the wizard truly saved .. truly changed that day. The Bible says he believed and was baptized. I think this answer is no and here is why.
Remember that the word believe is not the same as saving faith. Faith is much more than emotion, it is real conviction and follow through.
John 2:23-25
James 2:19
Simon was apparently caught up in the emotion of the moment. Philip’s miracles were greater than his. So he follows him around to try and learn some new tricks. It gives us every appearance that his faith was centered in man, not in God. He had no understanding of the faith he claimed to have. The big question here I think is whether or not Simon truly believed. Obviously he believed something but we are not sure what. I think he believed (1) that it is Jesus who is really the Great Power and that he wasn’t (2) I think he realized that the miracles done by Philip in the name of Jesus were genuine and that his were fake. (3) He was determined to get this new power but he had no real need of Jesus as Savior for his sins. So he submits to baptism and this is clear proof that baptism does not convey ..deliver ..transfer salvation in any way. Any time we try to earn God’s grace we actually deny God’s grace.
Look at vv. 18-19. We struggle with this. How can something so wonderful be free? How can God forgive the terrible things we have done? Why would God leave heaven and come to earth to suffer for us? Actually the answer is easy. Because He loves you. And when you really love someone they don’t have to earn it. In fact you cannot earn it. If you could then it would not be grace. We know from church history that in the 1500’s the church was teaching that you could buy forgiveness. Martin Luther rebelled against this because many of the churches were selling what they called indulgences. If you paid enough money. then your sins were forgiven. When Luther rebelled all of this greatly changed. But there are still those who try to make a buck off of selling God’s grace and clearly God’s grace is not for sell. Simon no doubt thought that this new power if he could get it would be very profitable for him.
V. 14. So now it’s time to bring in the first string, the A team. The church is Jerusalem had now heard of what was happening in Samaria... so they sent the apostles. Then they called in the big guys.. Peter and John. I think the reason for this is obvious. Here is what we get from this. As a growing believer in Christ all of us have the privilege and the responsibility to listen to those who are more mature in the faith. Philip was new at this preaching thing. People were listening to him but he had very little experience. So Philip submits to the leadership of Peter and John. This is a great model for us today. Listen to those who are more mature in the faith.
v. 20-23 is a strong rebuke that Peter gives to Simon. Then Simon responds apparently realizing what he had done.
Every one of us should have at least 3 relationships in the faith. We should be like Paul to someone. There should be someone who you are helping to grow in the faith. Then you should have someone who does the same for you. That is called being a PAUL when you help someone. When you on the receiving end you are like TIMOTHY. Then we need a Barnabas in our lives. Someone who will encourage us and then we need to do the same for someone else.
You see we cannot make it alone in this. We desperately need one another. I recently read the story of a man who had just brought a boat and kept it in the harbor on the coast of Florida. A hurricane warning went into effect, the storm was brewing just off the coast and was about to hit land. He didn’t know what to do. He have made a sizable investment in this boat and he didn’t want to loose it so he asked for advice. A friend, who had experience with both boats and hurricanes gave him this advice. “Don’t attempt to tie the boat to the dock or anything on land. It will be torn to pieces. Here’s what you need to do. Your only hope is to anchor deep. Take four anchors, and drop them deep and the boat will ride out the storm.” That’s good advice spiritually as well. If you don’t want to drift away, if you want your life to mean something, if you want to leave your children an example of what it means to be a Christian, anchor deep in your fellowship with Christ.
Dr. Robert Moorehead said ..“I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals. I no longer need prosperity, position, promotion or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My face is set, my step is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me… because I belong to Him. “
