Changing the Mind Isn't Changing the Heart

Sunday, August 6, 2023

Introductory information

After fleeing persecution in Jerusalem, Philip had gone to Samaria to preach the Gospel

The Samaritans were the blended descendants of Israelites and outside people groups who had moved in to the Northern Kingdom when Assyria conquered it 700+ years earlier. They served the God of Israel, but had significant disagreements with the Jews about worship, the Temple location, and other doctrines.

Philip reaching Samaria with the Gospel was a big deal (1)

The land of Israel had not been united under one king since Solomon - almost 1000 years earlier

Jesus was a descendant of David and his son Solomon (Luke 1:32)

Samaria receiving the Gospel was symbolic of Israel being united under one King again

Philip had been healing the people and delivering them from demonic bondage

Throughout the book of Acts, the Gospel is always communicated and then demonstrated by healing and deliverance

READ

Question to consider as we read:

Why should we want the power of God?

Acts 8:9–25 CSB

9 A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and amazed the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great. 10 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.” 11 They were attentive to him because he had amazed them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 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. 13 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. 14 When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 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. 16 (They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter told him, “May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart’s intent may be forgiven. 23 For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by wickedness.” 24 “Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon replied, “so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” 25 So, after they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they traveled back to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

EXAMINE

What are some key points in this passage?

#1 | Philip displays power greater than Simon’s

Simon had been amazing people for years with his magic

Acts 8:9 “A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and amazed the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great.”

Luke doesn’t say Simon was tricking the people. He probably was performing real signs through the power of demons and occult practices.

Philip demonstrated power over the very things that were probably giving Simon his power

Acts 8:7 “For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.”

Philip had power to command the demons - whereas Simon was probably under the command of demons

This was probably a big reason people followed Philip - even Simon (Acts 8:12-13)

#2 | Simon has a change of mind, but not a change of heart

There was a change in what He believed, but not a change in what he wanted

Acts 8:18-19 “When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.””

Simon still wanted power and influence

Simon saw the power of God as a means to his own ends

He believed in Jesus, but he was still following his own desires

Luke 9:23 [Jesus] said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

[Think about the phrase “deny yourself” - What do we mean when we say things like, “I won’t deny myself the opportunity.” or “I won’t deny myself the enjoyment.” But Jesus is saying we must deny ourselves in order to follow Him.]

#3 | Peter rebukes Simon and calls him to a change of heart

Simon’s desires had been corrupted

Acts 8:23 [Peter said] “I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by wickedness.”

Bitterness was connected with demonic influence and idolatry (Deuteronomy 29:18)

It is possible that bitterness is what had opened the door for demonic activity in Simon’s life in the first place (Ephesians 4:26-27)

Bitterness makes people selfish and creates a desire to control others - which is actually a demonic desire

Perhaps because of his bitterness and its bondage, Simon didn’t want God - he wanted power

Acts 8:20 “...Peter told him, “May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!”

Simon only understood relationship as transactional - “I give you something to get what I want”

Simon was interested in God only for what he thought God could do for him

Simon needed to repent with his heart - not just apologize for his words

Acts 8:21-22 “You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart’s intent may be forgiven.”

Simon’s words were just the symptom of his heart’s desires

Repentance is not an a apology - it is a change of heart, desire, and direction

Simon had given his mind to Jesus, but not his heart - this was the true repentance he still needed

APPLY

[Pose the following questions for group discussion, offering the suggested answers below only if the group has nothing to say or drifts too far off topic]

What are the “big ideas” you see in this passage?

Following Jesus isn’t just changing what you believe - it’s changing what you want

If we are serving God because He is useful to us then we are not serving Him - we are serving ourselves

Bitterness leaves an open door for demonic activity in our hearts and minds

This is one of the most urgent reasons why we must forgive others

How can you apply these ideas in your life? What may be your next steps?

I need to examine my desires - what do I want, why do I want it, and am I aligned with God’s desires?

I need to change my perspective. Anger, resentment, and unforgiveness are not things I have a right to - they are invitations to demonic activity in my life

REFLECT

Prayer Point

Ask the Lord for His examination of our heart - is our heart aligned with His?

Devotional Question

It’s actually easier to change what you believe, than to change what you want, because changing what you want costs you more. How might God be challenging the desires in your heart during this season of your life?

FOOTNOTES

Luke presents the Samaritan mission as the first important advance in the Christian mission. The record of a Samaritan “Pentecost” implies that a new nucleus of the expanding community has been established, so that the gospel could now “radiate outwards from this new centre of the Spirit’s mission.”42 Moreover, “the new Israel of the Church of Jesus Christ had succeeded in bringing the whole kingdom of David under the sway of his Son’s sceptre, something the Jews had tried, with much less success, by force of arms during the last five hundred years.”43 42 Lampe, The Seal of the Spirit, p. 72. 43 A. Ehrhardt, The Acts of the Apostles (Manchester, 1969), p. 47. F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988), 170.