A Deep Relationship With Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Secular -
Secular -
A young boy asked his mother why she talks to God when she prays. She replied that it’s like having a conversation with the best friend she can always rely on. The boy, eager to understand, asked if God talks back. Mom chuckled and said sometimes He whispers in our hearts or nudges us to do good deeds. Just like any friendship, it grows through communication, and that’s how our relationship with Jesus should be: talking, listening, and responding, bringing joy into both lives every day.
Historical/Cultural Context -
Historical/Cultural Context -
Luke was a physician and a travel companion of the apostle Paul. He wrote the book of Acts. The earliest possible date of Acts is immediately after the events that Luke recorded in, which would have been c. A.D. 62. Acts is addressed to “Theophilus,” about whom nothing more is known. Luke’s broader audience consisted primarily of Gentile Christians like Theophilus who had already “been taught” about Jesus.
Biblical Text -
Biblical Text -
But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,
to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”
And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
-[Prayer]-
-[Prayer]-
Life Principle - Christianity Is About Having A Deep Relationship With Jesus. No One Can Do It For You. Beware The Charlatans That Tell You Otherwise.
Life Principle - Christianity Is About Having A Deep Relationship With Jesus. No One Can Do It For You. Beware The Charlatans That Tell You Otherwise.
Life Point- Christianity Is Not About Charlatans Who Seek To Control You
Life Point- Christianity Is Not About Charlatans Who Seek To Control You
Exegetical -
Exegetical -
Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,
and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.”
They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.
Homiletical -
Homiletical -
So Phillip comes to this city in Samaria and finds this village/town completely in the grasp of a charlatan.
Now there is two possibilities here.
1) He used magic tricks like today’s magicians to accomplish his sorcery or
2) He was empowered by demonic power.
There is no mention of casting out demons and the demeanor of this passage seems to suggest the guy was employing tricks and doing his work that way.
Nevertheless he had the people under his control entirely.
You ever met someone who is into the occult? There are people who won’t go outside if the have a bad horoscope. These people are enslaved to their ideas.
Grant it sometimes there could be some demonic influence behind the occult. For example, right outside of DeLand there is a spiritualist city called Cassadaga. Every time I ride through the place I get on oppressive feeling from it. My body never feels like it’s free. There is just something about the place that is wrong.
Yet here is where the Gospel is needed most.
These type of cities are never to be avoided but should be entered into with the express purpose of sharing Jesus with people.
Into this backdrop Phillip comes into the place preaching and teaching the Gospel accompanied by great signs and miracles.
What happens?
Many people believe and are baptized.
It says that even Simon the Sorcerer believed and was baptized. He then followed Phillip closely.
There are people in this world that don’t have a true love for Jesus Christ, they follow Him out of what they think they can get from Him. For Simon he coveted power. For others it is usually fame, riches, and/or power. You can find it across all dimensions of Christianity. From the Charismatic to the Orthodox. These are false believers
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’
They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.
You will find false converts just about everywhere you go. People who claim to be Christians, but are not. They don’t display the fruit of the Spirit, but the fruit of the flesh. Don’t be deceived by this, but pray for them that they may come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and be the light that they need in their lives.
Illustration -
Illustration -
One day, a man found himself at a carnival, full of flashy games and loud aromas of popcorn and cotton candy. Among the chaos was a magician promising 'instant wealth' if he just paid a small fee. He laughed, realizing how easily we can be lured by shiny things, much like the charlatans of scripture. Just as God warned, we must keep our eyes open to the tricks of the devil, even when they come dressed in sparkly hats and capes!
Life Point - Christianity Is About Having A Deep Relationship With Jesus
Life Point - Christianity Is About Having A Deep Relationship With Jesus
Exegetical -
Exegetical -
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into 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 was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
“Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Homiletical -
Homiletical -
This is an interesting passage isn’t it. These people were believers and were baptized but it says that none of them had received som kind of empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We know that from other scriptures we receive the Holy Spirit upon salvation. So what is going on here?
1) Notice that Phillip didn’t do this. He called in the Apostles for this. This shows that Apostles were uniquely gifted to empower early believers in the church with the ability to do signs and wonders, as well as to receive sign and wonders.
2) By the Apostles coming in it connects the Jewish believers with the Samaritans. It shows that there is not many movements of Christ, but one. There is not some hidden knowledge for certain believers that others do not get to have. There is one Christ to which we all have access.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
What would this have looked like? It would have looked like something very similar to what we found in Acts 2. Namely, speaking in other languages as the Spirit gave utterance and prophecy. The telling forth of the kingdom of God.
What can we learn about this for us today?
Christianity is more than conversion, it is about a relationship with Jesus Christ which is far deeper that just conversion. Anyone who does not grow deeper in Christ may not truly be saved. Some people have walked the isle 30 years ago, but where are they today? We never see them again. Was their conversion genuine? I submit the answer is no. Any conversion without the long-term fruit of the Spirit becoming evident in the life of someone is evidence that they are not actually a Christian.
Notice that Simon the Sorcerer is so enamored by what he is seeing that he wants this power to lay on hands to give people this special empowerment of the Holy Spirit in the early church. It was common for magicians then, and today, to pay for magic tricks. So he offers them money for this ability.
By this alone it shows that he doesn’t truly understand what is going on.
Kind of like basketball. Suppose you have never seen a game before and don’t know the rules. Someone can ask you what is going on in the gymnasium and you may answer.
One gets a ball and he try to keep it away from all the others and there is crowd in there and every this happens they go wild.
Another will say There is a crowd in there and when they go wild it is because someone has put a ball through the net. I don’t know why they do that, but that is what they do
Another may say one man has the ball and he bounces that ball while other people gather around him.
The events happen but not everyone understands what is truly happening in its’ entirety. This is Simon, he sees the events but he just can’t put together what is going on. He has made a false connection thinking that Jesus is all about power instead of all about redeeming mankind through His sacrifice on the cross. He sees that redemption not as important as being able to perform signs and wonders so that he can keep his hold on the people.
Please don’t be the one that sees and goes to church but doesn’t understand what is going on in its’ entirety. Understand it’s all about a deep relationship with Jesus Christ.
Illustration -
Illustration -
A young man once felt distant from God, despite his church attendance and prayer routines. One day, he decided to spend time in nature, alone with his thoughts. As he sat beside a serene lake, he began to reflect on his life and faith. It was in that quiet moment that he realized that a deep relationship with Jesus wasn’t about rituals but intimacy. He began to pray sincerely, connecting with God like never before, feeling His presence wash over him like the gentle ripples on the water.
Christianity is not about just some ascent of knowledge either, but it is about being experiencing God.
Life Point - You Must Go To God For Yourself
Life Point - You Must Go To God For Yourself
Exegetical -
Exegetical -
But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.
Homiletical -
Homiletical -
Peter always the tell-it-like-it-is guy tells him that he has no part in the ministry that they teach and preach not because he tried to buy the ability to impart the Holy Spirit but because his heart is not right with God. Peter then tells him he is still in his sin and to go to God and repent before him. He says that Simon has bitterness and sin to which he is captive.
What does Simon do? Does he go to God like Peter told him to?
Nope. He asks Peter to pray for him rather than praying for himself. Intercessory prayer is important,
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
but no one can pray for you to be saved. No one can make you have a relationship with Jesus through their prayers. This is something you must do for yourself. You are accountable for you in your relationship with Jesus.
Illustration -
Illustration -
Picture a garden that thrives not because of luck, but due to the gardener’s attention. He prunes, waters, and nurtures until beautiful flowers bloom. Just like that gardener, our relationship with Christ requires our participation. We can’t expect a beautiful walk with Him if we’re not willing to tend to it regularly. What are we doing to cultivate that connection today?
Life Principle– Christianity Is About Having A Deep Relationship With Jesus. No One Can Do It For You. Beware The Charlatans That Tell You Otherwise.
Life Principle– Christianity Is About Having A Deep Relationship With Jesus. No One Can Do It For You. Beware The Charlatans That Tell You Otherwise.
Call to Action – altar call….
Call to Action – altar call….