OUR SPIRITUAL CHECKUP
PROPOSITION: INWARD EXAMINATION PROMOTES OUTWARD GODLY INTENTION
Acts 8:9-25 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 the divine power known as the Great Power." 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached 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 them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into 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. Perhaps he will 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 When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
INTRODUCTION: AS WE CONTINUE IN OUR SERIES IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, WE ARE FIRMLY ENTRENCHED IN THE LIFE OF PHILIP. AS WE HAVE NOTED PREVIOUSLY THE ONSET OF THE MINISTRY OF PHILIP WAS THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH. PERSECUTION TO THE EXTENT THAT GENTILE BELIEVERS WERE FORCED FROM THE CITY DUE TO THEIR FAITH.
TRANSITION: THIS PORTION OF SCRIPTURE IS A CHALLENGE TO THE PRESENT DAY CHURCH. IT IS A CHALLENGE TO LOOK SOBERLY AT OURSELVES WITH REGARD TO THE VALIDITY OF OUR WALK, THE VERACITY OF OUR LOVE AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF OUR SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBILITY.
I. THE GENUINENESS OF OUR OWN SALVATION
a. THE MAN SIMON
i. HE IS ALREADY THERE WHEN PHILIP ARRIVES.
ii. HE IS SEEN AS A CELEBRITY.
1. AMAZES THE PEOPLE
2. RECEIVES THE ATTENTION OF THE PEOPLE
3. BOASTS OF HIMSELF TO THE PEOPLE
4. ACCEPTS THEIR PRAISE OF HIM AS “MESSIAH”
iii. HIS POWER IS MAGIC/SORCERY/DEMONIC
b. THE ENCOUNTER WITH PHILIP
i. PHILIP COMES PREACHING THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL
1. PEOPLE ARE AMAZED BY SIMON
2. PEOPLE ARE CONVERTED BY PHILIP
a. HEARD THE GOOD NEWS
b. BAPTIZED AFTER HEARING
ii. SIMON ALIGNS HIMSELF WITH PHILIP
1. SIMON BELIEVED AND WAS BAPTIZED
2. QUESTION AS TO THE VALIDITY OF HIS CONVERSION
3. REALITY OR ENTHUSIASM
iii. 7 REASON PHILIP WAS NOT CONVERTED
1. THE WORD BELIEVE DOES NOT ALWAYS REFER TO SAVING FAITH
2. A FAITH BASED ON OUTWARD SIGNS IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY (EVEN SATAN CAN APPEAR AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT).
3. NO EVIDENCE THAT SIMON RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT – IN FACT SIMON WANTS TO BUY THE ABILITY.
4. SIMON CONTINUES TO HAVE A SELF-CENTERED INTEREST AS OPPOSED TO A GOD-CENTERED INTEREST.
5. SIMON IS TOLD TO “REPENT”. A WORD NORMALLY USED OF THE LOST NOT THE SAVED.
6. THE WORD “PERISH” IS RELATED TO THE SAME WORD IN JOHN 3:16
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
7. THE DESCRIPTION OF SIMON IN 8:23 IS APPLICABLE TO SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW CHRIST AS SAVIOR AS OPPOSED TO SOMEONE WHO DOES KNOW CHRIST AS SAVIOR.
THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER:
· PROFESSION AND POSSESSION OF CHRIST ARE NOT THE SAME THING.
· GOING TO CHURCH MAKES YOU A CHRISTIAN ABOUT AS MUCH AS GOING TO MCDONALDS MAKES YOU A HAMBURGER.
· ARE YOU SURE YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR. SIMON DID NOT, YET ACTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT HE DID!
II. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS OTHERS.
a. ATTITUDE TOWARDS BELIEVERS
i. I HAVE OFTEN FOUND IT TRUE OF MYSELF AND OF OTHER BELIEVERS THAT WE HAVE A VARIETY OF ATTITUDES TOWARDS OTHERS WHO HAVE TRUSTED IN THE NAME OF CHRIST. MANY OF THEM NEGATIVE.
ii. I HAVE HEARD BELIEVERS REFER TO OTHER BELIEVERS AS LEECHES
iii. I HAVE SEEN AND PERSONALLY ACTED IN A PRIDEFUL WAY TOWARDS OTHER BELIEVERS, FALSELY BELIEVING THAT I OR OTHERS HAVE THE ANSWER TO THEIR ISSUES.
b. ATTITUDE TOWARDS UNBELIEVERS
i. REFUSAL TO ASSOCIATE WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST AS SAVIOR
1. VIOLATES THE GREAT COMMISSION
2. HOW CAN THEY HEAR WITHOUT US
ii. REFUSAL TO SHARE THE GOSPEL AT ALL.
1. JUDGE OUR “PRESENTATION” BASED ON THEIR “WORTH”.
2. FORGET THAT CHRIST DIED FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST THE ONES WE THINK SHOULD HEAR!
c. NOTICE WHO IS CHOSEN TO VALIDATE THE WORK OF PHILIP WITH THE SAMARITANS – PETER, AND MORE NOTICEABLY, JOHN!
i. JOHN WAS NOT ALWAYS SO “POSITIVE” TOWARDS SAMARITANS!
Luke 9:52-54 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.
54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?"
ii. JOHN HAD A VERY NEGATIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE VERY PEOPLE JESUS HAD A DESIRE TO SEE
iii. JOHN WAS SAYING THAT THEY WERE NOT WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL.
iv. THIS ATTITUDE CAME FROM A DEEP SEATED PREJUDICE AGAINST THE SAMARITANS.
d. JOHN IS A CHANGED MAN AS A RESULT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE WORK OF CHRIST IN HIS LIFE.
i. NOT ONLY DOES JOHN GO TO THE SAMARITANS, HE IS PART OF THE PROCESS OF SHOWING THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH AND THE FACT THAT SAMARITANS WERE TO RECEIVE THE GOSPEL – THE GIVING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
ii. JOHN WOULD PREACH IN THE VILLAGES OF THE SAMARITANS AS HE AND PETER RETURNED TO JERUSALEM.
e. WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE A GREATER PREJUDICE IN OUR OWN LIVE THAT WOULD HINDER US FROM EVER PRESENTING THE GOSPEL TO SOMEONE ELSE. ROMANS 6
THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER
· WE HAVE A SIN NATURE THAT STILL DESIRE TO EXERCISE CONTROL OF EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.
· OUR REFUSAL TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE TRULY FREE FROM OUR SIN NATURE THROUGH OUR FAITH IN CHRIST IS A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO PRESENTING THE GOSPEL.
· THAT IS WHY WE ARE CHALLENGED TO GIVE OURSELVES OVER TO RIGHTEOUSNESS
III. OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR SPIRITUAL WELLNESS
a. ONCE AGAIN WE RETURN TO SIMON
b. SIMON HAS SHOWN HIS TRUE COLORS IN OFFERING TO PAY FOR THE ABILITY TO “GIFT” THE HOLY SPIRIT.
i. THIS THEN ASSUMES THAT WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVEN IN THIS INSTANCE THAT THERE WAS A VISIBLE MANIFESTATION THAT MARKED THE EVENT.
c. SIMON RECEIVES CONDEMNATION FOR HIS ACTIONS AND DESIRES.
i. SALVATION IS FREE, NOT BOUGHT.
ii. GOD DOES NOT GIVE US GIFTS AND ABILITIES FOR PERSONAL GAIN, BUT TO BRING GLORY TO GOD AND ASSIST OTHERS
d. SIMONS SPIRITUAL CONDITION IS REVEALED
i. NO PART IN THE MINISTRY
ii. HEART IS NOT RIGHT BEFORE GOD – 1 JOHN
iii. REPENT OF THIS WICKEDNESS
iv. FULL OF BITTERNESS
v. CAPTIVE TO SIN – ROMANS 6
e. SIMON IS GIVEN COUNSEL AS TO THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION.
i. TOLD TO REPENT AND PRAY
ii. ASKS THE APOSTLES TO PRAY FOR HIM
1. NOTHING WRONG WITH PRAYING FOR SOMEONE, BUT THAT DOES NOT ABSOLVE THEM FROM THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN SPIRITUAL WELFARE.
THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER
· WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DO NOT PASS OUR “SPIRITUAL BUCK” TO OTHERS
· IT IS GOOD TO PRAY FOR PEOPLE, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF PEOPLE PRAYING FOR THEIR OWN NEEDS.
· Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
o OUR INIQUITIES – SINS KEEP GOD FROM HEARING OUR PRAYERS
o THE REMEDY IS CONFESSION – 1 JOHN 1:9, NOT A SURROGATE
SO, THIS MORNING, AS WE PREPARE FOR COMMUNION, THE SCRIPTURE CHALLENGES US IN THREE AREAS:
· THE ASSURANCE OF OUR SALVATION
· OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS OTHERS BOTH BELIEVERS AND UNBELIEVERS
· AND OUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR OWN SPIRITUAL WELL BEING.
AS WE PREPARE OUR HEARTS FOR COMMUNION, MAY WE SEEK THE MIND OF THE LORD IN THESE AREAS.
LET US PRAYER, ….
