For All the Wrong Reasons

Introduction

Opener

Why was it that you became a Christian?

Was it because you enjoyed fellowship with other Christians?

Was it because your friends were doing it?

Was it because you saw great wonders and signs?

Was it because it gave you a place to release the pressure of sin?

Was it because you saw the church serving the community and you wanted to serve as well?

Was it because your father and mother forced you to come to church?

Was it because your father was your pastor, youth pastor, or teacher?

Why was it that you became a Christian?

Today, my hope is to help you answer that question and I’m hoping that it wasn’t for all the wrong reasons.

Main Point of the Text (MPT)

If you will, please open your Bibles to Acts 8.

For the past 27 sermons (I know what your’e thinking, it was only 27 because your’e long winded and give to many details...) we have explored the beginning of the early church and for the first 7 chapters of Acts we have seen the church face many trails, such as being arrested (Acts 4:3; Acts 5:17, 21), beaten (Acts 5:40), to even murdered (Acts 7:60) and be blessed with many triumphs, such as large amounts of people being added to the church (Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4), moments of great fellowship (Acts 2:42; Acts 4:32), and great signs and wonders being done in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:43; Acts 5:12; Acts 7:8).

Thus far, all of their trials and triumphs were confined to one place, Jerusalem, but the time had arrived for what Christ had promised the Apostles just before His ascension to come true, he promised them this: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

The first part of His promise would come true just 10 days later that they would receive that power on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) and the birth of early church would occur as Peter preached the first Christian sermon leading to about three thousand souls being added to the church that day (Acts 2:41).

And now, the second part of His promise was coming true as at the beginning of Acts 8 Luke informs us that a time of great persecution arose against the church which was ta Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (Acts 8:1).

Persecution would lead to the church scattering, but it would by no means end the spreading of the gospel as in Acts 8:4 we are told that those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

That is where we find ourselves today, the beginning of the early church living out the promise that Christ had made as they would be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).

It is here in this moment that the book of Acts shifts from being focused on the early church delivering the gospel message to Jerusalem to now being focused on the early church taking the gospel message outside of Jerusalem to the entire world and where would we read of the church going to spread the good new first?

Samaria of all places, a place full of people hated by the Jews. What happens when Jews turned Christians visit Samaria to spread the gospel to those they had always hated?

Let’s read to find out, if you are able, please stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Scripture Reading: Acts 8:5-25

Prayer

Body

Point 1: Joyful Power

Scripture: Acts 8:5–8

Explanation:

Acts 8:5 reintroduces yet another of the men we were of the seven chosen to serve tables in Acts 6, a.k.a. one of the first deacons, by the name Philip, otherwise known in Scripture as Philip the evangelist (Acts 21:8).

In Acts 7 we read the story of the first Christian martyr (Acts 7) and it will be in Acts 8 that we read the story of the first Christian evangelist, as he was one of the Christian who had been scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, preaching the word (Acts 8:1; 4).

Preaching, being euangelizō in Greek, being why he was referred to as an evangelist, someone who goes out and preaches, proclaiming Christ, something we should called to do.

As we read here, Philip’s role as an evangelist began as he went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.

If you were here for my sermon on the woman at the well, you may recall the division of the nation of Isreal in 1 Kings 12 that the result ended with Israel at the north, with Samaria being the capitol, and Judah at the south with Jerusalem being the capitol.

After the split, not only would both go to war, but past that the Assyrians, who were Gentiles, would come to Samaria and marry some of the Samaritans, at the time Jews, creating little Jew-Gentile babies.

It was for this reason that Jews would not intermingle with the Samaritans as their hatred of them led to the the Jews calling them “dogs’ or “half-breeds” (John 8:48).

This is why when you see that Samaria is the first mission field of the Christians it might be surprising as these Christians were Jews turned Christians who had a long history of hatred against each other. This would most certainly be an uncomfortable experience.

Despite their history, that wouldn’t stop the power of the Holy Spirit’s work through the Christians being put on display as verse 6 informs us that the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

What miracles were these Christians able to do with the power of the Holy Spirit?

Verse 7 tells us that they were casting out unclean spirits as they come out of those possessed crying out with a loud voice and that they were healing many who were paralyzed and lame.

We had seen the power of the Holy Spirit do these same miracles not only through Christ, think of the demons who possessed men in Matthew 8 that Jesus had cast into pigs and the think of the lame man who was let down from the roof by his friends so that Jesus could heals him, enabling him to walk in Luke 5.

These miracles are not foreign to the Holy Spirit, but familiar and we will see that this won’t be the last time that the Holy Spirit would work through Christians in the book of Acts so that the gospel might be spread and the power of God put on display (Acts 9; 14; 16; 19; 20; 28).

Verse 8 provides us with the Samaritan's response, as Luke tells us that there was great joy in that city.

Application:

The Holy Spirit’s power brought about joy in that city. What a joyful power is His? Amen.

That power still exists today and those who experience it still respond with joy.

It is because of Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension that we, Christians, are not just surrounded by the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit that lives in us (John 17:20-21) and so I want you to think of it this way, the Holy Spirit is the joy of God in us.

In a moment found in John 14, Jesus offers his disciples comfort as he tells them in verse 15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments (a simple yet challenging command that we must strive to keep). And I will pray the Father (as he did moments before His arrest), and He will give you another Helper (as He did on the day of Pentecost and to all who believe in Him), that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

What a powerful passage for a Christian as we can find comfort in knowing that we are not alone. Is this not enough to bring us joy?

Knowing that it is the Holy Spirit that dwells in us, the same power we read of here in Acts 8 has been given to us, Christ did not leave us as orphans, but sons and daughters of God.

And if the Holy Spirit dwells in us and the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and the Father as one then God’s Word tells us they all dwell within us, and as John 17 tells us, we in them. The power of the Trinity in us.

And as John 14 continues, Judas asks this question, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

His response, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

After speaking on the Holy Spirit, Jesus ends his words of comfort with this, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).

Even after we have sinned against God (Romans 3:23), for all have except Christ, He still chooses us to be the place His Spirit resides so that we might experience joy.

My hope is that you still remember the moment that you were filled with that joy that came from the filling of the Holy Spirit as you accepted Christ, believed in His name for the first time.

The joy of believing in Christ, the joy of receiving the Holy Spirit, the joy of that power you had recieved the moment the chains were broken and the weight of sin was removed, releasing you from the bondage of sin.

How amazing a feeling it was? Amen?

Point 2: Amazing Power

Scripture: Acts 8:9–13

Explanation:

Among those experiencing the miracles in the city was a certain man called Simon, who as Luke tells us had previously practiced sorcery in the city.

Through his sorcery he had accomplished the following:

Verse 9, astonished the people of Samaria, meaning he had had impressed them, similar to what Philip was doing with the power of the Holy Spirit through miracles.

Also verse 9, he claimed to be someone great, unlike Philip, who proclaimed Christ, Simon sought to bring glory to himself and his own abilities.

Verse 10, he had caused the Samaritans to give heed, from the least to the greatest, meaning that it wasn’t just the poor, but also the rich that took notice of his sorcery, what he was able to do.

Also verse 10, he caused those who gave heed to believe and proclaim saying, “This man is the great power of God.” He had convinced them that he was through his sorcery and deception that not only was he more than a man, that he was like that of God, being a god himself.

Verse 11, this had not been for a short while, no, they had heeded him and astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.

His deception had gone on way to long, but it would shortly come to an end as the power of the Holy Spirit would remove any power he had claimed during the time of his deception.

Verse 12 begins with one of the most powerful words in Scripture, “But”.

This “But” indicated change, this “But” indicated the moment that Simon’s deception came to an end and truth was brought forth.

Luke tells us, “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.”

Simon’s sorcery had no power, not only was his power a deception, but he, himself, was not who he said he was, he was no god, he was a mere man, but the man Philip proclaimed to the Samaritans that day, Jesus Christ, He wasn’t just a mere man, He was God in the flesh (John 14:14) and through faith in His name, man could obtain power like no other, the amazing transformative power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14).

Following their belief, Luke tells us that both men and women were baptized.

This baptism was the same we practice today, being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, an act of obedience symbolizing the new believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus (Baptist Faith & Message 2000).

What happens next has been defined two different ways by scholars and I do have my own thoughts I would like to share with you, let me first read the Scripture, verse 13, “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.”:

First way this has been defined by scholars is that this was a genuine moment of belief for Simon, that his baptism was legit, and all of this due to the amazement he had when seeing the seeing the miracles and sign that were done.

Second way this has been defined is the opposite, that he only believed and was baptized because he had lost his power, he had lost his influence, and so it would be better for him to join them by continuing with Philip than for him to be apart from them so that he might be able to get that back. Even with this viewpoint, scholars still believe that he was amazed by the miracles and signs, as anyone would be, but that his belief was for his own benefit and not because of what was being preached.

I am never one to question someones belief, but I am someone that will has a hard time believing someone has truly believed in Christ if the fruit they produce does not show it and for Simon, as you will see in our next point, his fruit indicates that it was through his own selfish desire that in front of others he proclaimed to be a believer and be baptized.

I believe this may be a moment that Jesus warned the disciples of during His sermon on the mount, in Matthew 7:15–19 He tells them, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Again, I ask you, why was it that you became a Christian?

Let’s take a look at Simon’s fruit.

Point 3: Seeking Power

Scripture: Acts 8:14–25

Explanation:

The narrative continues as in verse 14 Luke informs us that when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them...

Acts 8:2 had already told us that Jerusalem was where the Apostles remained.

Upon what would have been shocking news of a large group of Samaritans coming to faith in Christ, it makes sense that Apostles would be sent to aid Philip in his evangelistic efforts.

That would not be the only reason they would come down as it tells us in verse 15 that when they had come down, they 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. (I feel that I must pause here for a moment as I do not wish that anyone leave confused)

Now, I know what you thinking, did the Samaritans not receive the Holy Spirit upon salvation? Does this mean that salvation and the receiving of the Holy Spirit are separate events? The answer is no, although there are many who will argue that point because of this one specific instance in Scripture despite that argument speaking against Scripture such as Romans 8:9 where Paul tells us that believers are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

How can the Bible say that whoever believes in Jesus should not perish but have everlasting life if it wasn’t true?

Therefore, if it is our belief that saves us and if we are saved upon our belief and if someone who doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, isn’t God’s, then wouldn’t that mean that it is at belief that we receive the Spirit?

It seems difficult to understand, but it as simple as one single statement, that upon salvation one receives the Holy Spirit, which is our belief here at MCC as stated in our constitution.

So, then why would this Scripture seem to say otherwise?

Well again, scholars offer multiple viewpoints:

There is of course the one I just said couldn’t be true, that the Holy Spirit is recieved subsequent to salvation.

There is what many believe happened in this circumstance, that in this unique instance, due to the hatred between the Jews and the Samaritans, that God waited for the Jews to receive the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands by those who were once Jews, now Christians.

This is the way I lean here and the reason is simple, unity. In order to preserve unity amongst all believers, I believe that God allowed the receiving of the Holy Spirit to be delayed so that there would not be a rift between the Jews and the Samaritans, meaning that there was no way one group could be independent of the other, rather they would be one church, in one accord, in which “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

Moving forward, back to Simon, verse 18, “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.”

This is the first reason that it is hard for me to believe that Simon had made a true profession of faith, because I don’t believe it was salvation he was seeking, but power.

Before Philip had came along preaching Christ and performing miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:5-6), Simon had been using his sorcery skills to gain power, deceiving the Samaritans with his trickery, the sorceries he performed being nothing more than an illusion, but what he had witnessed from the work of the Holy Spirit through Philip, that was real and he was amazed, seeking that power.

He not only wanted the power himself, but he also wanted to be one who could give that power to others, as he most likely presumed Peter and John to be the only ones to be able to give that power, he wanted to be like them, to literally have the power in his hands and to be known for his ability to share that power, all he cared about was his name being great as it once was, not the fact that he had just been saved from his sins and that’s what leads to my second reason for finding it hard to believe that he had made a true profession of faith...

Continuing in verse 20, Peter immediately speaks to his sin by saying, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!”

This man thought that the Holy Spirit’s power was for sale, however, nothing God has to offer us is for sale, not even the power of the Holy Spirit.

That power was bought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and for the one who believes in Christ, it is priceless, it is free, as Scripture tells us, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).

The Holy Spirit is the free gift of God that no man can earn, but only one man could give, that man being Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

His sin was greed, selfishness, and most likely a slew of others, and because of this, Peter’s next words were a call to repentance, “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.”

Simon heart had not changed, he was still the power hungry sinner that he had always been and he needed to come to a true repentance for his wickedness through prayer to God asking for forgiveness as he had been poisoned by the bitterness of being replaced by the Holy Spirit of which he was bound.

He was a slave to his greed, his selfishness, and his bitterness and the only was out was repentance and the forgiveness of his sins. Only then would he be free, only then would he saved.

But even Peter’s call for Simon to repent of his sins on his own, verse 24 shows his refusal to do so as he answered them and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

He still wouldn’t take responsibility for his sins, but instead shove that responsibility off on someone else, but his sins were his to be repented of, not theirs.

While we know what was next for the Apostles, as after after they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Unfortunately, we do not know what became of Simon, but of course our prayer is that he eventually repented of his sins, experienced forgiveness, believed in Jesus Christ and was saved so that he would have finally be able to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, not to bring glory to his name, but so that he might use that power to bring glory to Christ.

As the worship team comes...

Application:

Is that not what we hope for all who become Christians? That they come to repent of their sins? That the recognize the weight sin has on their life? That they experience forgiveness? That they believe in Jesus Christ and the gospel message? That they receive the power of the Holy Spirit? That they use that power to bring glory to Christ? That they became Christians for all the right reasons, being Christ and what He did for us, and not all the wrong reasons?

Again, I ask you, why was it that you became a Christian?

If your answer isn’t Jesus Christ, then you did it for the wrong reason.

Altar Call