The Great Power of God

(Philip and Simon the Magician)

Read: Acts 8:4-24, Romans 1:16

Introduction:

Great Power of God…

Counterfeited

There are and have always been counterfeits of the power of God - people who by trickery or demonic influence claim to have a touch of the divine and use it for their own benefit.

Simon, the magician of Samaria v.9-11

Man of great influence - 2x - “paid attention/gave heed/listened eagerly”

Why? They believed him to be a man with the Power of God.

He was good at promoting himself - “He claimed to be someone great”, someone worth following and listening to. No doubt someone worth paying for their divination services. v.9

By his own efforts to astonish and gain renown for himself (v.9, 11)

μαγος - magos (wise man, magus, magician)

to practice sorcery v. — to perform magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world.

Simon not the first, or the last Counterfeit Diviner

People have always used trickery and even occultic or demonic influence to deceive others, gain influence and power and make a place and name for themselves.

Jannes and Jambres - Exodus 7:11-12

Peter Popoff, exposed by James Randi (“The Amazing Randi”) in 1986.

Be careful who you follow!

1 Thessalonians 3:5, 2 Corinthians 11:3

2 Corinthians 11:12-15

Two ways to Identify a counterfeit Man of God:

Ex. Counterfeit Pen Test

They use God as a way to promote themselves. (The opposite of John the Baptist) They gain power and influence by claiming they are someone great.

Ex. google search of books by Osteen vs MacArthur

They emphasize performance over truth. They aim for astonishment and admiration so they can gain influence, a following and fortune, working to build their Name instead of His. To do this, they neglect and misuse the Word of God.

Take many forms: From “Man of God” / Shaman in Africa, to the Joel Osteens or Benny Hinns of the world.

Some churches that use massive musical performances to draw people in? (Ex. Hillsong Bethel, Elevation worship). Often promoting a half-gospel that neglects the truths about sin, the need for repentance and and the penalty of rebellion against the Holy God.

Sadly, we often choose to follow celebrity rather than Godly men speaking God’s truth. Be careful, that the labor of those who came and preached the truth of God was not in vain - that we be not led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ!

Simon was not The Power of God, nor did he have the Power of God, but was a charlatan taking advantage of the people for his own personal gain. And while counterfeits have always existing, casting doubt and dishonor to God and His witness on this earth - there is a true power of God - a True Prophet and His name is Jesus!

Manifested

Suddenly something changed in the city of Samaria and all Simon the magician could do was stand in awe of what was happening.

Power of God manifested in the Gospel - v.4-6

Their primary work was to tell people about Jesus, who He is, and what He’s done. To call men, women, boys and girls to abandon their wicked ways and to turn to Him in repentance and faith for the forgiveness of sins, escape from judgment and the inheritance of a child of God.

Power of God is first and foremost manifest in the preaching of the message of Christ, who is the Power of God Manifest to Us!

He is the Savior come down from Heaven. He is the King who gave His life for us. He is the sacrificial lamb who was slain and is yet raised from the dead!

The true power is manifest when a sinful person realizes that they are dead in sin and helpless to attain the goodness they know they are called to! When they finally surrender to Christ, realizing he has already done what they cannot ever do, and that He Himself has taken the penalty for their sinful acts, thoughts and intentions. When the Spirit of God communicates that truth to your Spirit a miracle happens! The soul is awakened and responsive, reaching out in faith and turning from sinful ways, freed and forgiven, with a newfound devotion to follow the One who has delivered them from the bondage they were in!

Romans 1:16 NASB95

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Power of God manifested in the signs and wonders - v.6-7

Potency: no parlor tricks or slight of hand. No meager counterfeit of satan, but full on healing of the paralyzed and lame, and the dramatic deliverance of many from unclean spirits that held them in bondage.

Power was so great that even Simon was astonished and “believed.” He was so impressed, he made a profession of faith and was baptised, spending time following Philip as he preached and worked these mighty works of God. (v.13)

Purpose: this power served to show 1) the validity of the message of Christ, and 2) the Compassion and love of God for these people. It wasn’t about Philip, but about the Glory of God in mercifully saving these long-time outcasts of the Jewish people.

Power of God manifested in the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans

finally the Apostles heard what God was doing in Samaria and rejoiced. They sent Peter and John to see and support the work that God was doing there.

When they came they affirmed the church in Samaria by the laying on of hands and conferring of the Holy Spirit gifts to them.

This affirmed that this was indeed the work of God in Christ and served to unify the church in Samaria with the church of Jerusalem. (Amazing!!! - Galatians 3:28)

While counterfeit diviners cast a shadow on the witness of God in our day, we can trust that God’s Power exists in Christ who is working mightily through His Gospel and His church. We may not always see the miraculous healings or tongues of the early church, but we know the miracle of the new birth! The greatest miracle demonstrated every time a believer is baptized and professes Christ. Lives changed. Souls saved from hell, through the message and power of the One who died for them and rose from the grave.

Desired

Simon’s desire reveals his true need - v.18-24

Wrong Power for the Wrong Purpose

He didn’t humbly ask, nor go to God and pray but instead offered a bribe, assuming the Apostles were like him - in it for acclaim and money.

He didn’t want to submit to the Apostles, he wanted to be one! He desired authority that He may exercise it over others!

You cannot buy eternal blessing with temporary treasure. You cannot gain favor by giving, nor forgiveness by an work of your hands.

Neither will God permit you to use His name and power for your own selfish gain and get away with it. He will expose it in the end, and will judge if there is no repentance.

2 Timothy 3:8–9 NASB95

Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 - Simon showed himself to be a false convert, in a state of bitter envy and still in the bondage of his sinful iniquity. He had not yet repented and truly believed, for there is no true belief without repentance. The intentions of his heart was the same as before - more influence, power, money and the esteem of men.

The power of God that Simon needed was in the truth of the gospel. He said he agreed with what Philip said, but his heart and actions showed that he didn’t truly understand what Christ had done for Him. He hadn’t experienced the transforming grace of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 13:19 NASB95

“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.

Matthew 22:29 NASB95

But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.

Peter mercifully calls him to repent. I don’t know if he ever did. He desired power from God, but was missing the true Power of God in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion:

Do you know the power of God in Jesus Christ?

Do you need the power of God in your heart, in your life?

If so, we can do what the Apostle said (v.22). Do it for yourself. Do it until He answers. He will.

Friend don’t trade your birthright for a bowl of stew. Don’t waste the truth and the offer that is before us today. Don’t miss the truly miraculous for a counterfeit or some lesser gift.

Ignatius

Prayer: