Magic to Messiah

Acts 8:4-25

We live in a world that has glamorized darkness. Look at movies that come out. Listen to some of the music that's out there. Go pick up a book in the bestseller rack and scan the pages. Everywhere we turn, it seems like darkness is winning. One darkness that seems to have taken hold not only in the world but also in the church is magic. Magic is built up as harmless, but is that not how Satan has presented sin since the beginning? Think about some of the blockbuster movies or sitcoms. Twilight, highlighting vampires and werewolves. Lucifer, is Satan really that bad? Fifty Shades of Grey is a sexually immoral movie. These are just a few, or how about Nickelodeon and their divot shows of magic?

We read how God used Saul to persecute the Church and scatter them. One of those who were scattered is a deacon named Philip. Remember last week we talked about, in persecution, God’s plan is revealed? God’s plan was for the Church to take His Word, the Good News of Jesus Christ, to the nations. A man named Philip will be used by the Holy Spirit to bring some people to Jesus Christ. Philip uses one tool to bring a group of people to Christ: he preaches TRUTH!

When we preach truth (The Good News of Jesus Christ), we allow Him to do the work instead of us. His Truth contrast lies in three areas: Truth moves where lies won’t. Second, truth corrects where lies can’t. Third, truth builds where lies destroy.

Truth Moves:

We read where Philip arrives in Samaria and is preaching, not proclaiming the Good News. Verse four starts with those who were scattered were proclaiming (euangelizo), which means to announce the Good News, to tell the Good News. The Greek word that is used where Philip was preaching is (kerysso), which means to preach or explain, teach, and talk about the Good News.

When we proclaim the Good News, we are evangelizing, we are sowing seeds. I preach the Good News to you. I am explaining the scriptures and Jesus. Is there a time when you are proclaiming and will go into preaching? Absolutely! Someone receives the seed and asks, “Hey, what is this Good News you’re talking about?” You move from proclaiming to preaching. Philip is preaching, and they are giving him attention.

Philip is preaching, and demons are being rebuked out of people. When we preach the Truth, it not only moves hearts, but it moves demons out of people and areas. Remember what Jesus said in Mark 16:17? Philip believed the Words hold power to move, Luke 10:17-19.

Mark 16:17 LSB

“And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;

Luke 10:17–19 LSB

Now the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.

The demons are departing; however, there exists an individual who has been manipulated by them. Simon is a practitioner of magic. The Greek term (mageuo) originates from (magos), signifying a wise man or magician. These people would use trickery to manipulate people. It could be magic tricks or even word trickery. They used these to benefit themselves by scamming or conning (Acts 13:6).

Acts 13:6 LSB

And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus,

Can I be brutally honest? We have some mageuo leading churches today. Paul warned us about these, and there would be people who sought them (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The only thing that will change people is the GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST! Look what happens to Simon when he hears the absolute truth.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 LSB

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Simon was astounding people with his magic. He hears Philip preach the truth, and it moves him from receiving astonishment to being astonished. Preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ is the only thing that moves people from death to life. Why? Because truth corrects errors.

Truth Corrects:

Simon is baptized and follows Philip. The apostles receive notification of what is happening in Samaria, and so they send John and Peter. They laid hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit. The Spirit relates to becoming a Christian. Sometimes the Spirit relates to the laying on of hands, sometimes not. Sometimes, coming of the Spirit precedes baptism. Sometimes the Spirit is bestowed on a person the moment they confess. I believe we have the Spirit the moment we call on His name. I also believe that we need to receive His power by laying on hands.

Simon sees the miracles, and now he is witnessing the Spirit coming on the believers. I want us to understand something. When we proclaim or preach the Good News of Jesus Christ, it will inevitably produce both genuine faith and false faith. One of the most fearful realities in all of Scripture is that some who think they are saved will be eternally lost. Thinking they are on the narrow way of saving truth that leads to heaven, they are on the broad way of religion that leads to destruction (Matt 7:13-14). They will one day hear from the Lord Jesus Christ the most shocking, terrifying words any human can ever hear (Matt 7:23). Simon is one of these, and the rebuke Peter gives to him is to correct him from a false doctrine to a sound doctrine of salvation. Truth builds from correction.

Matthew 7:13–14 LSB

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:23 LSB

“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

Truth Builds:

I love to build things. I believe it is in every one of God’s creations that we have this desire to build. Our father is a builder, our Lord and Savior is a carpenter, and the Holy Spirit is building us. The Word of God builds and equips us (2 Tim 3:16-17). The Good News builds the bride of Jesus. Peter speaking truth to Simon was not to belittle him or even to break him, but was to build him up.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 LSB

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Truth builds brokenness to priceless. It takes weakness and builds it into power. It builds outcast into masterpiece. Truth is not the enemy of growth; it is the only thing that can produce perpetual growth. Are there times when it hurts? Absolutely! When I was in rehab after surgeries, I had to endure pain to heal. The old cliché “No pain, no gain” is true. God is building us out of His Truth, and there are times it is painful. Praise God! This means we are His children. Amen! God is using us to build the Kingdom, which is only built on Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8).

Acts 1:8 LSB

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the end of the earth.”

We want to preach only His truth, especially to those who are living in a false faith. Why? Because it is the only thing that can truly save them.