The Sign of the Gospel

Intro

No clever intro - just relational welcome - week 2

Is the demonic realm real? If so - how can we live protected from it?

Acts 8:9–13 NIV

9 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 rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed 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.

Last week we talked about Phillip, waiter for widows, begins casting out demons in Samaria

As Philip finds himself in Samaria, he starts to preach and tell people about Jesus.

The cultural landscape of Samaria at the time is one of syncretism.

Syncretism is the blending of different worldviews and different faith beliefs, and it is as common here today as it was there then.

Their syncretism involved sorcery, and while we don’t call it sorcery, it is just as common in our society today. If you read your horoscope, or do palm reading, or talk with fortune tellers, that is 100% sorcery. It has no place for a follower of Jesus. Some people will tell you that is harmless and just a bit of fun, but that isn’t true. Horoscopes aren’t harmless, cute or funny. It comes from dark spiritual forces that are very much alive, powerful, and prominent in this world. The danger of this is it causes our faith to not be in God alone, but in other forces or powers.

There are secular artists who cast spells in their songs - so you need to be careful what songs you’re listening to

2. Story of demonic realm -

3. Witchcraft stats

Power of God is greater than the power of darkness

Acts 8:12–13 NIV

12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed 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.

No one is beyond the power of the gospel // Power of Satan Broken

Acts 8:14 NIV

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.

Now everyone is able to recieve the Holy Spirit

Contrast HS and demonic spirits

Acts 8:15–18 NIV

15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in 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

The diff now vs then is that we don’t have to have a pastor lay hands on you for you to recieve the holy spirit

diff than pentecostal church

3 Things that happen

Adopted

Justified

Indwelled

1. We are justified by Christ’s atoning death. God now sees us as if we have never sinned and the righteousness of Jesus is imputed to us. We don’t earn this, we don’t deserve this, but we receive it when we say yes to Jesus.

2. We are adopted into God the Father’s family and we now are children of God. We have the promise of heaven and we will live forever with God.

3. We are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of God within us that changes us, convicts us of sin, corrects us, leads us and makes us more like Jesus. That happens when you say yes to Jesus. You don’t need me to lay my hands on you, or the Elders or anything of the sort to receive all of these blessings from God.

Not based on earning

Acts 8:18–20 NIV

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!

Simon thought he could manipulate God to gain his own prestige and advancement

Acts 8:21–25 NIV

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 in the hope that he may 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 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.

The next step was for Simon to be freed from the bondage of sin

Acts 8:23 NIV

23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Gospel frees us from Sin’s bondage

Galatians 5:1 NIV

1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Maybe you don’t struggle with demonic spirits

Are yo bitter toward someone?

Do you think you can use God to your advantage?

If so Repent & Be forgiven