The Great Power
Acts 8:9-25
May 5, 2002
Intro:
A. Today, we come to a couple of stories about a man whom the people in the city called "The Great Power."
B. As we come to the teaching of the Word, I want to ask us to bow very meditatively and sing the first two verses #278 "Open My Eyes, that I May See" as a prayer to God that He would prepare, open, and soften our hearts to hear what He has to say to us this morning.
I. The Preliminary Story
A. Simon, "the divine power"
Acts 8:9-11, 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.
1. Simon was a magician. He boasted about himself and his abilities.
2. Simon thought he was someone great.
3. Now I need to make it clear that this is NOT the kind of magic that we think of when we think of magic; this is the real kind of magic.
a. When we see magicians today, it is usually slight of hand; the-hand-is-quicker-than-the-eye sort of thing.
b. But Simon practiced sorcery, magic, witchcraft.
5. The Bible does indeed teach that this sort of thing is real.
a. But God made it clear that believers in Christ are to stay away from those things.
b. Believers are supposed to stay away from witches, sorcerers, astrologers, mediums, horoscopes and the like.
c. Why? Not because it is not real, but because it is real.
d. And because the realness of that power is not from God, but from the other side.
e. THAT’S why we are to stay away from those kinds of things.
6. Now the truth is that many of those who practice such things today don’t really have any special power, but some do.
7. But even those who don’t, are still evil.
a. Why? Because they get us to put our faith and trust in something other than God.
b. Why do people consult horoscopes?
c. Probably not because there is some magical power, but because they don’t pray about the future and simply leave the future in His hands, trusting Him to work it out for the best.
8. Simon was a real sorcerer who practiced real magic.
a. He had real powers.
b. That is why the people were amazed and bewitched by him and they called him "the divine power" or "The Great Power."
c. The very real power that Simon had was the reason the people gave him their attention.
9. However, we know and understand that that is exactly what Satan wanted the people to think.
10. Satan wanted the people to think that Simon had power from God; but the truth is that he had power from Satan.
11. Simon was full of Satan and he was full of himself, and they called him the great power.
B. Philip, "the divine servant"
Acts 8:12-13, 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.
1. Now Philip comes to town.
2. Philip is an interesting contrast to Simon.
a. Philip has divine power, but there is no mentioning of anyone calling him the divine power.
b. Philip has great power, but no one is calling him the great power.
c. There is no mentioning of Philip boasting about himself or thinking he was great.
d. Philip did not come to town to draw attention to himself, he came to preach the name of Jesus.
e. Philip was one of the seven chosen to take care of the widows and was known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.
f. Philip had divine power: the Holy Spirit. Philip had great power: the HS.
g. But Philip was not drawing attention to himself, but to God.
h. Philip did not see himself as someone great; he saw God as someone great.
i. Philip did not boast about himself; he boasted about God.
j. Philip was not the divine power, but a divine servant.
k. Philip was there to bring glory to God, not to himself.
3. And look at what happened: SIMON got saved.
a. Philip preached the good news of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus.
b. Simon was astonished by the great signs and miracles that Philip preformed.
c. Philip baptized SIMON—the "divine power" was baptized by the divine servant.
d. Simon knew that what he had was nothing compared to what Philip had.
e. Simon knew that his magic was nothing compared to the power Philip had.
f. Simon knew that he was nothing compared to Christ.
g. Simon believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and was baptized.
II. The Primary Story
A. Holy Spirit initiated indwelling
Acts 8:14-17, 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.
1. You’ll recall that when the persecution started after the stoning of Stephen, the 15000+ member church scattered to the surrounding cities and regions while the apostles remained in Jerusalem.
2. Philip went to a city in the area of Samaria.
3. The apostles in Jerusalem heard about what was going on with the preaching of Philip in Samaria and they decided to send Peter and John to see what was happening first hand.
4. These believers were all saved and baptized back in verse 12.
5. However, they had not received the HS, so Peter and John laid hands upon them and they received the HS.
6. Peter and John laid hands on the people and they received the HS.
7. The people received the indwelling of the HS.
B. Holy Spirit missed misunderstanding
Acts 8:18-19, 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."
1. Simon was one of the believers who had been baptized in the name of Jesus, but missed receiving the HS.
2. And because Simon had missed receiving the HS, he misunderstood what he saw.
3. Simon was basing what he saw on his former life.
4. Simon was a magician.
5. Simon was probably also a business man.
6. Simon was probably getting pretty rich at being a magician.
7. Simon was probably the only form of entertainment in those days.
8. Simon saw what was happening when the apostles laid hands on people to receive the HS, and he offered them money to purchase that ability for himself.
9. He was impressed with what he saw and thought it would be worth something to be able to have that kind of ability.
10. He had made money with the powers that he had to perform magic and he probably thought he could make more money if he had this HS power.
11. Simon missed receiving the HS when he was saved and baptized and he misunderstood the apostles’ ability to pass on the HS.
C. Holy Spirit roused rebuking
Acts 8:20-23, 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."
1. Because Simon thought he could purchase HS power, Peter rebuked Simon.
2. Simon was a baptized believer in Jesus Christ who misunderstood the HS and Peter rebuked him.
3. Peter said that both Simon and his money would perish because of what he thought.
4. Peter was not saying that Simon was actually going to die, but that’s what should happen.
5. Peter was rebuking Simon and telling him to repent and God would forgive him.
6. And Simon did just that…
D. Holy Spirit redirected repenting
Acts 8:24, Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."
1. Simon asked Peter to pray for him.
2. Simon asked Peter to pray that he wouldn’t actually die.
3. Simon asked Peter to pray that God would forgive him.
4. Simon had his sin pointed out to him and he repented.
5. No doubt the HS was present during this.
6. And thankfully, Simon did not resist the Spirit of God and asked for prayer.
E. Holy Spirit powered preaching
Acts 8:25, When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
1. The last thing this passage says is that Peter and John went back to Jerusalem.
2. And on their way back to Jerusalem, they preached in many other Samaritan villages along the way.
3. They testified and preached in that city and then they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel along the way.
III. The Principles of the Stories
A. The Spirit of God is more powerful than magic.
1. Simon had magical powers from the other side.
2. Simon had real magical powers from Satan and was astonished by the power of the HS!
3. Simon was called the great power, but he soon encountered the real Great Power!
4. The Spirit of God is more powerful than magic!
5. We have no need to fear Satan!
6. We have no need to fear those who practice magic!
7. We have no need to fear those who practice sorcery!
8. We have no need to fear those who practice witchcraft!
9. If we have the HS, we have THE Great Power!
10. There is no power on earth greater than the HS!
11. And we also must believe that the same HS that made a believer out of Simon can make a believer out of witches and mediums and magicians today!
12. I don’t care what kind of power Satan may have given to your loved ones, the HS is greater!
13. I don’t care what kind of spell Satan may have them under, the HS is greater!
14. I don’t care what kind power is binding your loved ones, the HS is greater!
15. The same HS that astonished Simon can astound anyone today!
16. Do you believe that? Do you believe that the HS can convict ANYONE?!
17. Do you believe that the power of the HS can free anyone from any power that is swaying control over them?!! Then don’t ever give up on anyone!
18. Don’t ever give up praying for the HS to astonish them!
19. Don’t ever give up – because the HS is the real GREAT POWER!
B. The Spirit of God is more powerful than ego.
1. Simon was full of himself. Simon boasted about himself.
2. Simon boasted that he was someone great.
3. But the HS came to town in Philip and the HS drove the ego right out of Simon.
4. The HS came to town and "Simon himself believed."
5. The HS came to town, "he followed Philip everywhere."
6. The HS came to town, and he "was ASTONISHED."
7. Simon was a man who was full of himself but finally was filled with the Spirit.
8. The Spirit of God is more powerful than ego! Do you believe that?!
9. Then don’t ever give up on your loved ones who are full of themselves!
10. Don’t ever give up on your loved ones that are full of selfishness!
11. Don’t ever give up on your loved ones who are only concerned with themselves!
12. Don’t ever give up praying that your loved ones who are now filled with self, will one day be filled with the Spirit!
13. Because the HS is more powerful than ego!
C. The Spirit of God is more powerful than public opinion.
1. [Simon] boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This is the divine power known as the Great Power." They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. (9-11)
2. 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. (12)
3. The tide of public opinion can change from one day to the next!
4. One day Simon’s approval rating was soaring.
5. The next day Simon himself was following someone else.
6. And now Philip’s approval rating is soaring.
7. The HS can turn public opinion.
8. When people see the works of the Spirit of God, public opinion can change.
9. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city. (6-8)
10. When people see the works of the Spirit of God, there will be great joy.
11. When people see the works of the Spirit of God, public opinion will change.
12. Do you believe that?!
13. Then don’t ever give up on the public in the US!
14. Don’t ever stop believing that Christ’s approval rates will soar again!
15. Don’t ever stop praying that public opinion with change in the US!
16. Don’t ever give up that they will get their head out of the sand and start believing again!
17. But I must say that that won’t happen until Christians get their heads out of the sand and start believing in the HS again!
18. When the HS comes back into the church, things will change!
19. God said that when HIS PEOPLE start seeking His face and turning from their sin, then He will heal their land!
20. So many Christians are quick to ask: "Well what sin do we need to repent of?"
21. We need to repent of quenching the Spirit!
22. We need to repent of not believing that the HS of Acts is still the same!
23. We need to repent of not believing that God WANTS to heal this land!
24. We need to repent of not believing that WE Christians are the ones who are preventing God from healing our land!
25. Do you believe that God wants to heal our land?
26. Do you believe that God wants to turn public opinion around?
27. Well God says that the healing of a nation is dependent upon HIS people!
28. So don’t ever stop repenting!
29. Don’t ever stop seeking God’s face!
30. Don’t ever stop believing that the HS can do in America what He did in Samaria!
E. The Spirit of God is received in various ways.
1. Now many people have trouble hearing and believing this.
2. We have made a doctrine out of one verse in the Bible.
3. That verse is Acts 2:38, Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
4. Many have said that this means that everyone who is baptized in water in the name of the Father, Son, and the HS, receive the Holy Spirit.
5. But I must say today that that is not totally true!
6. I studied 255 references to the HS in the NT this week.
7. I then looked very carefully at those who received the HS.
8. Following Acts 2:38, there are several references to people receiving or being baptized in the HS.
9. One of them is our text this morning.
a. Reading our text this morning should raise the dander of those of us in the Restoration Movement.
b. These people were baptized correctly; they received the baptism of Christ and not John’s baptism.
c. Verse 16 tells us that Philip baptized them in the name of Jesus back in verse 12.
d. But verse 16 also tells us that even though they had been baptized in the name of Jesus in verse 12, NONE of them received the HS.
e. Verses 15 & 17 tell us that they didn’t receive the HS until they were prayed for and had hands laid on them.
f. None of them received the HS at baptism; they didn’t receive the HS until they had been prayed for and had hands laid on them.
10. Then we need to look at the apostle Paul’s conversion as well.
a. Acts 9:17-18, Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
b. Paul did not receive the HS at baptism.
c. Paul received the HS when he had hands laid on him—BEFORE he was baptized in water.
11. Then we come to Cornelius’ household…
a. Acts 10:44-48, While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
b. Then Peter was criticized for this by other believers in Christ and had to explain his actions in Jerusalem.
c. In his defense Peter said in Acts 11:15-17, "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ’John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"
d. So we see in these two accounts of the conversion Cornelius and his household that they were baptized in the HS while Peter was teaching them about Christ.
e. They received the HS (began speaking in tongues) and then they were baptized in water.
f. They received the HS before they were baptized.
12. Then there are the Corinthians…
a. Acts 19:1-6, While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John’s baptism," they replied. 4 Paul said, "John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
b. The people in Corinth had received the wrong baptism; they had received John’s baptism and not Christ’s.
c. So Paul baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus.
d. But even when they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, they still didn’t receive the HS.
e. Not until after the water baptism, did Paul lay hands on them and then they received the HS.
13. Would you like to know how many references there are to people receiving the HS at the time of baptism? ZERO!--There are no references to anyone receiving the gift of the HS at baptism.
14. But there are several places that say that people DID NOT receive the HS at baptism.
15. So what about Acts 2:38?
a. Well let’s look at it again…
b. Acts 2:38, Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
c. Now look at Acts 2:41, Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
d. Did they receive the HS? It doesn’t say they did; it only says they were baptized.
e. So what about "And you will receive the gift of the HS"?
f. Could it be that we misunderstood what Peter said?
g. In light of the evidence of the rest of the NT, could it be that we have misunderstood what Peter said?
h. What does the Greek say? Well for one thing I can tell you that the words "And you will" are not in the Greek.
i. I propose that we have misunderstood this text.
j. I propose that there are clearly various ways to receive or be baptized in the HS.
k. We’ve seen evidence that some people received the HS or were baptized in the HS when they were prayed for, some when they had hands laid on them, some when they were hearing the gospel proclaimed, and maybe some when they were baptized (if that is what happen in Acts 2:38).
17. But I think no matter what Acts 2:38 means, it is clear that the HS is not just received at baptism; there are some who are baptized and never receive the HS at all.
a. Our text today makes that abundantly clear.
b. In fact there is a word there that I want to show you.
c. In Acts 8:16, notice the word "simply" in the NIV.
d. Acts 8:16, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
e. "Simply" been baptized into the name of Jesus.
f. How can the Scripture speak so lightly of being baptized in water in the name of the Lord Jesus?
g. they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
h. The Greek word is, "monon."
i. The KJV is actually closer to the Greek, it says: Acts 8:16, (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
j. They were ONLY (?) baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus?
k. You mean there is something more than just being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus? The Scripture says there is!
l. The Scripture says there is more than being baptized in the name of Jesus.
m. The Scripture says there is baptism in the HS beyond baptism in Jesus.
Conclusion:
A. Sadly there are too many churches today that do not have the HS.
1. There are too many Christians who have simply been baptized in the name of Jesus.
2. There are too many churches that do not have the HS.
3. There are too many Christians that do not have the HS.
4. They believe, were baptized, and are saved – but do not have the HS.
5. Scripture says this and it is absolutely correct.
6. The result is churches that have no life; no enthusiasm.
7. The result is churches that consist of people who are still trying to live under their own power and wisdom.
8. The result is people left to trying to be a good person.
9. The result is people who are still living by their own power and wisdom instead of by the Great Power.
10. The result is an environment of negativity and criticism.
11. The result is nothing but pharisaical legalism—trying to live by the letter of the law.
12. But where the Spirit of the Lord is there is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
B. Where the Spirit of God is there is hope and victory!
1. Where the Spirit of God is there is hope because they believe and have seen God save egotistical people.
2. Where the Spirit of God is there is hope because they believe and have seen God save people that have been under the influence and power of Satan.
3. Where the Spirit of God is there is hope because they believe and have seen God change public opinion in their city.
C. So the question for us today is, Are we willing to let go of what ever we are holding on to and open our hands and our hearts to receive the HS?
1. Some of you may need to give up your preconceived ideas about how you thought you received the HS and confess that you don’t have it and you need it!
2. Some of you may need to give up your unbelief and ask God to fill you with the HS and give you the supernatural ability to believe that God can still do anything!
3. Some of you may need to let go of your pride and admit that no matter who you’ve thought you were, you’ve just simply been baptized and you need the HS!
4. Some of you need to be saved and baptized in water.
5. Some of you need to be baptized in the HS.
6. Whatever you need, you come and let Him have His way.
