Growing Church: to Samaria
Witness to the world: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 57:51
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Conversion of Samaritans
Conversion of Samaritans
Oftentimes growth happens in the midst of, or as a result of, difficult times. From a local church to a persecuted church in which God uses to disburse the believers to carry the message out.
Controversy brought persecution (Act4:1-3)
Persecution increased and got personal (Act4:21; Act8:1-3)
Controversy between Jews and Samaritans (history)
8th Century BC - Assyrians take Northern Kingdom
God orchestated this and used Assyria to take a rebellious people into captivity.
This captivity lasted for 120 years when then in:
6th century BC - Babylon takes Judah including Jerusalem.
There were actually three exportations that happen here
605 The best of the best taken (Daniel in this group)
597 second group, including Ezekiel
586 third group, temple destroyed
From the 3rd group, there were many who were left behind and they intermixed, intermarried with the people brought in from other countries, especially Samaria and Judah who had tried to stay “Jewish” was infiltrated with a mixed people Jew/Samaritans and started the hate, division problems between Jews/Samaritans.
5th Century BC Cyrus decree issued and Jews were allowed to return to land - the people of Judah returned to rebuild and restore while the northern kingdom was already mixed and the people of Judah would not allow them to help with the rebuilding and restoring, you can read much on this in Ezra and in Nehemiah.
All of this needed to be said so we may see the significance of Philip bringing the Word to Samaria. Evidence to the fact that the Good News was for all, not just for the Jewish people .
As we look at our passage tonight may we see some notable things.
This scattered church with Philip brings the story of Jesus and the love of God through Jesus Christ.
It brings healing, a spiritual and a physical
It brought joy! Christianity is to be joy filled, joy lived, joy shared.
So Christians were scattered abroad (8:4) and they went preaching the Word, with Philip one of the seven chosen (Act6:5). This scattered church impacted not just the Samaritans but also the Ethiopians too (8:26-40)
Our focus tonight is on the Samaritans and their conversion, just one scripture reference (2Kng17:24-41) and you can read about the division, distaste between the people of Judah and the innermarried people of Israel (Northern Kingdom) those who were known as Samaritans, but John noted this too in his gospel recording.
9 Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
So may we look at the passage and then will look at
Ministry of Philip in Samaria
The impact of the ministry in Samaria
Intro to a deceived believer
4 Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. 7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 So there was much rejoicing in that city. 9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;
10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” 11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. 13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Time to be reminded of a good habit, pull from the scripture, what sticks out to you for next week we will be meeting virtually and interactively, watch your mail for details and instructions if you did not already receive them.
so some facts to pull from the scripture.
The scattered church was purposed, they were preaching the word (v.4)
Philip went down and preached Jesus (v.5)
People heeded the Word preached (v.6)
Miracles were being done at the hearing of the word (vv.6-7)
it brought great joy (v.8)
We see the introduction of Simon the sorcerer (vv.9-10)
Simon had lots of influence and people had previously heeded him (vv.11-12)
But Philip preached truth and people believed and were baptized, including Simon (vv.12-13)
(Transition): Now may we look at the ministry by Philip in Samaria
Philips ministry in Samaria
Philips ministry in Samaria
God and God’s word will accomplish its good work (Isa55:11). Philip a Hellenistic believer was God’s instrument with the scattered believers to bring the good news to Samaria.
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
In (v.4) you see the word “preaching” and in the context here it is preaching the gospel, the good news, the good news in which they were being persecuted for and then scattered.
In (v.5) the word “preached” is the word proclaim, to announce, to herald. Philip was Gods commissioned herald to deliver His message about His Son to the people of Samaria- when you reject the messenger that means you are rejecting the message and in this case you are rejecting God.
Be sure not to reject the messenger or the message (Lk10:16)
16 “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
This is serious business here!
The scattered persecuted church brought the gospel
Philip brought and preached Jesus (v.5)
The Word has power and impacts in this case they heeded to the preached word to them (v.6) - this is not because of the miracles, but because of the Word that was backed up by miracles because of faith (vv.6-7)
The preached word should bring great joy (v.8)
What was the results? Great joy in the city (v.8). The gospel should bring great joy when it is believed and obeyed. Does your life exhibit great joy? You want to increase your joy, be like the scattered persecuted church and preach, proclaim the Word.
Be careful who you heed (Act8:9-12; Act1:8)
The people had previously been astonished (v.9, 11) by Simon who practiced sorcery by his acts and claimed to be someone great by his words.
Simon was believed to operate under the great power of God (v.10)
Stop, do you know people who proclaim God, but act outside of what His scripture says? can they influence people? Do people heed them?
Simon had a history of astonishing them (v.11)
But when the Word was preached by Philip, they heeded that (v.12)
They heeded and were baptized (v.12)
Even Simon believed and heeded (v.13)
(Transition) Remember that the first church was a Jewish heritage church. It was a local church born in Jerusalem and was radiating out, to all of Judah, now to Samaria (as noted in the promise and instructions given in (Act1:8)
8 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 remotest part of the earth.”
So, this Jewish heritage church has been scattered and now the word is going out to more than just the Jews, or those who were fully Jews, it is coming to the mixed breed known as the Samaritans so may we took a closer look at their conversion now.
Conversion of Samaritans
Conversion of Samaritans
Scattered church brings good news, brings conversion and conversions bring great joy. So, what can we learn together about the conversion of the Samaritans?
We know that the gospel was preached (v.5) and that was preaching Jesus
We can assume it was the same preaching (death, burial and resurrection that Peter preached Act2-3)
Preached the kingdom of God and name of Jesus (v.12)
We know that it was preaching of things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus (Act8:12; Mt3:1, 4:17; Col1:13)
We can assume it was preached the name, authority, rule, reign of God in the person Jesus Christ (Mt28:18, Act2:36)
The name of Jesus that one must be saved (Act4:12)
You can also safely assume it included repentance as Jesus and Peter stated (Lk24:47; Mk16:15-16; Act2:38)
Response of the Samaritans (Act8:6; Heb5:9; Act8:12)
They heeded Philip, which implies obedience
9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
The heeding included baptism (v.12)
Philip a great example of fulfilling the great commission!
Philip like Peter took the commission serious and did it and God added to the numbers daily those being saved!
(Transition): May we be a people that know the importance of the great commission, the power of the great commission and how to apply the great commission if we too want to continue to be a growing church.
This now leads us to introduction and some thoughts about Simon, we will cover more on him next week.
Simon: the deceived believer
Simon: the deceived believer
Simon was an influential person with a long history in Samaria (Act8:9-11). Simon was a believer too after having heard the word and seeing the miracles performed by Philip (Act8:13)
Simon’s conversion (Act8:13)
13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
There is nothing to lead us to believe that Simon is anything but genuine in his belief
There is clear evidence he was baptized and he continued on with Philip.
It states he watched, observed everything that was going on at the hands of Philip
(Transition): Simon is now deceived and thinks he can buy, do the things that Philip can do and that leads to his sin, we will get more into that next week.
Simon’s sin (Act8:14-19)
Instructions to Simon and an example for us (Act8:22; Gal6:1; Jm5:19-20)
I do want to touch on the instructions though just for a minute. For this is great instructions given that are for any fallen brother
22 “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
and I would really be remiss not to bring in a couple of other scriptures here.
1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
And one more
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
we have these examples, and when we get there next week will get more into the sin and the instructions, but we need to know there is hope for the fallen as long as they have today. A few more things I want to point out about Simon.
Simon believed, just as the Samaritans did, and he was baptized, just like they were. His faith was as real as theirs
Simon is an example of how someone once saved can be deceived and become a deceiver (Simon’s sin)
There is nothing about him falling and having to be baptized again in the passage, there are instructions on what to do if you are a believer and you fall, do that
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(Transition) Again, more to follow on that next week so tune in, if you want to prepare than pray, read, read again Act8:14-25, until then consider this.
From Jewish territory (Jerusalem and all of Judea) now to Samaria (the next part of the promise and the instructions) God built a bridge using Philip between two estranged groups.
May we be bridge builders too, men and women who carry the message, the gospel and be willing to stand up against ancient philosophies and prejudices that are contrary to the Word of God. May we be willing to take the gospel into all the world, our world, our world of influence.
We have seen when Christ is preached, people heeded (Act8:5-6)
The heeding people were being baptized because of their faith (Act8:12-13)
Philip was fulfilling the great commission (Mk16:15-16; Act8:12-13)
(Encouragement slide-Ready set grow picture) encouragement; are you doing your part, do you believe? Have you obeyed? Are you sharing the gospel? Are you fulfilling the great commission?
(Prayer slide) prayer (exit slide)