The Essential Ingredients of Prayer (March 14th 2021)
Good morning, and Welcome to our second week second sermon or 30 days and 4. Thank you, by the way so much for all of you that are in joining us in our 30-day surprise speaking to one of the organizers that this week and just said I'd really sense good things are happening at our church as a result of it. And she said so do I took a look at Acts chapter 1 and we saw the centrality of communal prayer in the life of the church. The church is experiencing disruption and the government is after them and Jesus is dead and we're lost in this in a room and we don't know what the upper ruin. We don't know what to do when things are being disrupted. That's the time to pray. And we also saw it not only does destruction call for prayer. But decisions come for prayer Judas has gone to his place and we need to find his replacement. And so we pray we do what we can do, but we pray this week. We're looking at Acts chapter 8 and we'll find two insential ingredients of Prayer. And because the Acts chapter 8 is like a vast chapter 1 in that it's a narrative that tells a story the preaching style will be the same as last week by the way, every preacher has his personality. But did you know that the preacher doesn't get to choose the style of preaching the text chooses the style of preaching and this is a narrative section of text is telling a story. So the style will be the same as last week. We're just going to work through the chapter. We're going to tell the story and we're going to stop at for specific points and learn. The breakdown for this morning is kind of this way. Nothing but problems versus 123 we find the church and it's got nothing but downside nothing's going right. Everything is the problems. The walls are closing in nothing but problems but the work goes on. I know we got problems. I'm not sure exactly how it's all going to turn out anyways, but we have a gospel work and we are going to accomplish. Gospel work because the real issue is not the death of Steven. The real issue was not the persecution. The real issue is not the Roman government and its new real issue is not this lot were that login issue is the thing that the church is concentrated on. The thing that fascinates us is where our human hearts before Jesus and our mission. No, I'm going to get to the universe 25 and you're going to say a prayer prayer is Central to this passage and just have a little bit of reflection on what we learn.
Install approved of his execution. I'm reading an Acts chapter 8 and because it's always good to have your Bible and follow along follow along. But when we're in a narrative section A Story section, it's really good cuz we're just walking through the bird says so follow along where in Acts chapter 8 verse 1 and Saul approved of his execution his execution of Steven. Steven has just been unjustly murdered by a mob at the end of chapter 7 and saw who will later become Paul is watching and he says good job well done. Install a prove to his execution. And I wrote a rose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the apostles. Devote men buried Stephen and made great lamentation. Great service. Great Sorel great pain over him. What's tall was ravaging the church and entering house after house. He dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Turn Center not good. There's nothing but problems. There's this guy. Steven great leader living for the Lord forget that he's dead. murdered under what law is no law just murdered. I don't sound good though. It gets better. You know, it's all the respected educated powerful guy in our community.
By the way, he's gone from observing to persecution to participating at observing it and verse 1 leading it in verse 3.
It doesn't sound good. Oh just better, you know how there's just been this tension between society and the church and nothing's really happened. But everyone kind of feel it is kind of palpable. Yeah, you can see it now somehow the murder of Steven just let loose everything and people are not doing what they were thinking to do one and now we're persecuted used to live in Jerusalem, not anymore and not safe. Can you just feel the walls closing in on the church or respected leader dead? A respected Community leader on the wrong side and persecuting you. The whole church under persecution to the point where you don't feel safe in your own homes anymore. Nothing, but problems.
But I will see these actually heart problems.
These are the seeds of Victory. These are problems. These are the seeds of victory. Steven is dead. But he died in a model of Grace and Truth the mob wanted to put an end to his ministry and instead they entered vertically created the best chapter in his ministry. He ended on a high note. He ended demonstrating the gospel down. That's a victory and by the way, so is being lined up for a gospel confrontation. He saw this brace. He saw this love he saw his truth from Steven said, he's only one chapter away from being confronted with Christ and Christ is going to work in his hand in his heart and the mop that the leader that thought he was putting it into the gospel is really being lined up to write a third of the New Testament. These are not problems. This is a very seeds of Victory while Worcester being persecuted. Yes, we are being persecuted but God is using this evil to promote his own Gospel. You know the story of Joseph the brothers were right to be angry with Joseph. The brothers weren't right to throw him into a pit. The brothers weren't rights to throw them into two to sell them into slavery. Potiphar's wife wasn't right to bring false accusations and have them sent to jail, but it was all used by God all use my God. That's why I said Genesis 50 Joseph can look at his brothers and say you meant it for evil. God meant it for good. It's happening right here. Look. Acts chapter 1 Acts chapter 8 verse 1 a great persecution against Jerusalem the church in Jerusalem and they were scattered. They were in Jerusalem, but they're scattered where to Judea and Samaria does this ringing a bell because Nan and acts 8:1 but in Acts 1:8 and Judea and Samaria end of the end of the world God is using this persecution to put the Christians where they're supposed to be the walls are closing in the doors are opening up. These are nothing but problems. These are the seeds of victory. And even with all the problems the work goes on.
Now those who were scattered of went about preaching the word.
They're not distracted with Stevens death is tragic as that is they're not distracted by the Injustice of the situation is tragic is that is they are focused on the gospel. The world will do what it will do, but I'm going to preach the word says Philip. And you know what for the church the issue was is and always will be the word. lots of things happen in society But the issue is always the world. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. This is always the issue. This is always the issue that concerns the church. Are we preaching the word and we presenting Christ, by the way, this would have been bold and courageous.
Preaching Christ is not a popular thing right now. Does that sound familiar? And Philip isn't looking for a fight. He's not trying to be in conflict with anybody. But I am going to present Christ and come what may This would have been boiled. This would have been courageous. This would have been dangerous. But the message for Philip and the message for the church was and is and always will be Christ and him crucified.
Philip was taking a great risk.
What was concerning to him was not the risk? What was concerning to him that he wanted above and below him before and beneath him and every eye that sees him Christ would be all around him. That's what he was after.
And the crowds with one Accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip. Do you know what when we focus on the word and Focus On Christ, there is something inherently beautiful about truth. The human heart is born looking for truth and when it hears it, it is attracted to it. That's exactly what still look found. He's taking a risk. He's not doing something that socially paw Spa popular. He doesn't have a message that is or that is blessed by the masses and yet the crowds pay attention. Because truth appeals to the human heart. By the way, this is one of the reasons that the laws in Western societies are going against us. Because when truth is taught it is inherently attractive to the human heart. So the answer is don't allow the truth to be taught. Start devising rules and laws in lands that say you can't say that anymore. That's the purpose because when you see truth, you can't unsee it.
For unclean spirits crying out with a loud voice came out of many who had have them. And many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. Do you see what's happening here? Do you see what's happening? Society in the government itself is a RAID against the church. They do a bunch of things in it all backfires. I'm going to kill Steven backfire major Ministry beautiful into a life and Paul saw it all and he's going to oppose you will see how that turns out. We're going to persecute you. Yeah, we're going to hit you where we're going to end up Judy and Samaria to the ends of the Earth exactly where God called us to be Society is opposing the church and is backfiring all over the place. God is using that to further the gospel and the satanic powers are arrayed again, we will oppose as we will possess people and they inadvertently create the perfect opportunity to show that light Trump's Darkness.
They create the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the power of the gospel of Christ the demons don't argue when they're told to leave they leave. There is no opposition to God that is successful. Even when you think you're winning you're losing. He uses all opposition flips it around and glorifies his name and blesses his people with it. And the result is that there is much joy in the city. Will of course the very thing the government cannot provide Joy the very thing the mob cannot find Joy the very thing satanic Powers have no dealings in is Joyce. That's what the Holy Spirit brings. That's what the gospel of Christ brings. I'm not just here everywhere. We're just taking a look at the first half of chapter 8 if you read the next half when you get home tonight today, I won't be that long when you get home and fill up Lee's Summit and then he's transported to an Ethiopian eunuch presents the gospel there. And then Philip is gone unit doesn't care because he saw him no more, but he went on his way rejoicing the gospel brings Joy.
Friends the work goes on because they were committed to the word. This is what our mission is because they were bold and courageous were not looking for a fight without looking to be Rebels, but we will not stop preaching the gospel. We will not be muzzled because the gospel is what people looking for when when they see the truth they will respond.
The gospel is powerful.
And the reason to work has to go on is because the issue is not this law or that law. I'm not saying that's not important I'm saying the main issue is the gospel is Christ. The farts are responding to Christ in his gospel. That was the issue. That is the issue that will always be the issue. first 9 there was a man named Simon who had previously practice Magic by the way, there are dark powers are evil. There are always people in society who are trying to summons and harness and learn about dark powers. And they try to preserve this information so that they can spoil the next generation is matter fact, we're not going to talk about it today. But if you go to Acts chapter 19 people come to Christ and they burned their magic books books that they had learned about this real Dark World. It does have law and order it does have rules and they discovered some of them and they wrote them when they came to Christ. They burn those books. Simon hasn't burned his books. He's doing magic. What's the purpose of the magic? He Amaze the people of Samaria saying that he he himself was somebody great the purpose of Simon's magic. Does it glorify Simon? This is the picture of his heart before he hears the gospel.
They all paid attention to him or course they did they didn't have access to the truth when you don't have access to the truth account or foot fit looks real.
and they all paid attention to him because for a long time he had Amaze them with his magic, but oh something's happening. Something's happening. All that look pretty convincing it look pretty persuasive. It look pretty amazing. I think you're something great. But but when they believed Philip as he preach the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. They were baptized both men and women.
Counterfeit only look real until you see the real thing. Which is exactly why Bill C6 is before the Canadian government.
It is an act to prevent the truth from being revealed because when the truth is seen counterfeits can obviously be seen.
They were amazed with Simon. Wow. I've never seen anything like this and then throw up a size hole until now, I believe and notice how they responded to the belief baptism. We are planning a baptismal service. It will be soon.
If you would like to participate reach out to me.
Play some of the truth and the counterfeit suddenly looked very suspect by the way. Did you know that there's an agency in the American government that is charged with the role of spotting counterfeits in removing them from circulation agency in the government is responsible for that in the US. It's surprising.
the secret server who said that Rob you're right. It's the Secret Service. Everyone thinks of the Secret Service is protecting the president and they do but for historical reasons, I won't go into they are also responsible for spotting counterfeit of American Crime Scene taking them out of circulation and Prosecuting the manufacturers of the counterfeit. Do you know how they prepare for their job?
They don't spend a ton of time looking at the counterfeits. Because the counterfeits keep changing, you know what they spend their time doing. Studying the real thing. Because when you are familiar with the real thing the counterfeit, sorry easy to spot that's what these people are experiencing.
Does Simon have a saving Faith even Simon himself believed and he was baptized. But what's he saved?
The text doesn't say and I can't be dogmatic, but I don't think Simon ever was saved. I think he believed I think he went through the act of baptism. I don't think ever accepted the Lord the the text doesn't say that but there are several Clues. The first one is right here. Everyone else was converted. He was amazed. There's a difference. There's a difference.
now when the apostles at Jerusalem Heard that Samaria had received the word of God. They sent to them Peter and John. So Philip goes to Samaria. Preaches the word of God and the people receive it. And the apostles hear about this in Jerusalem say, oh my goodness. There's a little church for want to support this. So they send Peter and John. I just want to remind you.
About the tension between Jews and Samaritans.
At the time of this text is written. There is a long Generations long bitter dispute. That's based on race. Is based on ethnicity is based on religion and it has created and abiding hatred. between Jews and Samaritans long-standing ethnic hatred
And yep, the apostles send Peter and John? Why?
This is Samaritan's we hate these guys. You know what? The reason is right in the text because they received the word of God. That's all the matters there Samaritans. Yeah, but they received the word of God. Our team hates that team. Yeah, but they received the word of God. That's the only issue now. So we're sending Peter and John. And they're going to come down and they're going to pray for them. They will receive the Holy Spirit, we certainly want the very best for these people why there are enemy not no more the gospel overcomes all that racial tension, they receive the word of God
For the Holy Spirit. He had not fallen on any of them sidenote noticed. The holy spirit is not a force. He is a person. For he had not fallen on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus then they laid their hands on them and they the Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit think this friends. Tickets for the two warring groups based on ethnicity based on religion based on geography that have hated each other for Generations are reconciled. No new laws. No new policies the gospel. The gospel did the work.
By the way, they they laid hands who is who is this? Remember it was in the first and the first just before this is Peter. And John but these are super loving guys. They've always loved the Samaritans. They've always wanted the best for the Samaritans.
They were in the same hatred mode is everybody else is a matter of fact when you read through the Gospel of Luke there's a time when Jesus is going to go into a Samaritan Village and he sends an advance team to prepare. Hey, the savior's coming Sumerians want nothing to do with them. Don't bring your religious man here. Thank you very much. We don't want to live at so John and James go to Jesus and says should we pray that the Holy Spirit falls on these Samaritans?
Should we pray that their hearts are opened up to the gospel? That's not what they said. What they said is Lord. Do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them? This is the same John who is now leaving from Jerusalem going to their Town praying for them that the holy spirit will fall on them because they received the word of God. They're not warring factions anymore. There's not two camps anymore. There's just one. There's just one and what did that? The gospel the central message the central power of the church.
Know when Simon saw the Spirit was given to the laying on of the Apostles hands. He offered the money saying give me this power. So that anyone who I Lay My Hands On will receive the Holy Spirit what we seen the gospel come to the Samaritans and we've seen what happened. They obeyed they were baptized in the Holy Spirit fell by the way noticed that the Holy Spirit fell on the Samaritans know where in the text is it say the Holy Spirit fell on signman clue number to that he was this was not saving Faith clue number 3 is what he says the Samaritans wanted to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. Simon wants to control the Holy Spirit. So that he will be dispensed at my command. Why because of my former magic cuz people be amazed at me think of what this role do. It's all about him. This is not about the glory of God. This is about the glory of Simon. John the Baptist said he must increase and I must decrease Simon says I must increase even more. What's the price?
Peter said to him may your silver perish with you because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money. You have neither partner a lot in this matter, you are not part of this ministry. You have nothing to do with this Peter Simons rich? He's influential. This town is a maze with him. He could be a really important Ally in the gospel. No, no part. No part that for the Bible says so this word for is a connecting word because you have no part of this ministry because of a very particular reason. What is the reason your heart is not right before God.
Your wealth your status. It does not matter. You cannot participate because your heart is not before. Do you see friends? It was and is and always will be about the condition of the human heart. That is the driving motivation of the church.
Everything else is a distraction.
What do you do when your heart is not right before God repent? Repent of this wicked wickedness of yours. That's not all that popular. Can't we just have a more friendly gospel like the whole repent thing?
You going to turn people off? Can we just say that will be sold with life in peace can't we just say that our conflict our relationship problems with going with can't we just said no, we can't just say that the gospel starts with repentance everywhere. Acts 238 and Peter said to them repent and be baptized. Repent therefore and turn back that your sins may be blotted out in times of ignorance God overlooked but now he commands all people everywhere repent. This is the very thing that Simon did not want to do. I want to be have people amazed with me. I want to have this new. Holy spirit Power. I do not want to repent.
Computer says for I see in you the gall of bitterness in the bond of iniquity. Here's the ironic thing. God's all Simon's heart.
Simon didn't
Peter C's go and iniquity Simon doesn't the heart is deceitful above all things. That's why our 30 days of prayer started off with self-reflection. The human heart has its PhD in self-deception. That's why the Bible says the deceitfulness of sin.
Soon we'll have you chasing after all sorts of distractions and make you feel holy for doing it.
God could see Simon's heart. Simon could not. The gold and bitterness was an Open Secret everybody knew except Simon. He did not know the condition of his own heart. So he says pray for me to the Lord that nothing of what you have said may come to me. You know, you know who I thought of when I read verse 24.
Kane he never repented. He had remorse. He never repented. Remember the story of Cain. You're angry with your brother sin is crouching at the door be very careful. Don't give in. What did Cain do. when killed his brother To God comes to Cain says where's your brother? So what does Kane do why is the Godmother? Am I My Brother's Keeper for my supposed to know these things? It's a busy world, you know. Chicago confronts him with the sin and Kane says, oh my goodness. My heart is so dark. Please forgive me know he didn't what Kane said was my punishments too much for me. Kane was very concerned with the consequences of his sin that God minimize that he was not concerned with the condition of his heart. That's fine.
He doesn't fall on his knees and say oh my goodness. How could I ever have wanted to control the Holy Spirit? He says, please pray that God goes easy on me. This is not repentance. This is remorse.
Wait a minute. What's that supposed to be about prayer? Well friends. I haven't explicitly mentioned it, but prayer is Central to this passage. Let me draw it out for you. I want to draw your attention to four major characters in the story. We just heard saw Simon Theatre at Phillip Luke rights at this way as an invitation for us to compare and contrast these characters won't do the mall. But let me just give you three pairs one pair number one Simon and the people Simon in the people wear the same in that they were lost and they both saw and heard the gospel. They were the same in that Simon in the people both lost both heard the gospel. They were different in the way. They responded the people responded by combining their hearing with Faison were saved Simon did not
The issue of our work in the church is the response that people have to the gospel. The gospel transforms but no response of Faith No transformation.
The second other pair Simon and Philip they had some similarities. They both did miracles. Did you notice that Phillip did signs and Simon had previously done. So that's why you going so amazed. But they were different. Simon did the Miracles by dark power and Phillip did Miracles by the Holy Spirit looking on a video camera matters. It matters to look up what the results were. The results of Simon's Miracles was amazement with Simon here I am. The result of Phillips Miracles was conversion to Christ. Those are very different things.
Philip was obedient to the gospel. He went where he saw the need and he preach the word Simon was not. The gospel transforms but not Withers note obedience.
The sick one last pair Simon and salt we see Saul and verses one and three and then we're going to see a lot of him in chapter 9. They're similar. They're both thoroughly lost.
Thoroughly lost they have completely lost their Moorings. Saul season. Unjust mob murder. And he's a devout Jew and his reaction was hit a bug.
They're both thoroughly lost and they're both confronted by the gospel. Simon is confronted by the gospel with Philip in chapter 8. Paul is going to be confronted with the gospel by Christ himself in chapter 9.
Soul surrenders Simon seeks control. Let me have this power over the Holy Spirit. Prince the issue is surrender to the gospel the gospel transforms, but not when there's a unless not unless there's a response of faith not unless there's obedience not unless there's surrender. This morning isn't about Saul but I want to demonstrate how thoroughly he lost. He was. In chapter 8 verse 1 or text this morning. He's just seen Stephen murdered by a mob and he totally approves. And then he is confronted by Christ in chapter 9 and by the way still thoroughly lost. in chapter 9 Jesus says why do you persecute me? And you know what Paul says. Who are you?
What do you mean Sherlock? How many churches are you persecuting? You would think he would be able to piece this to get that's not the way he saw it everything I'm doing is Honorable. He totally didn't see it, but will after the gospel transforms and he sees it he writes in 1st Corinthians 15:9. I am the least of the Apostles unworthy to be called an apostle. Why because I persecuted the Church of God the very thing he approves of in chapter 8. This is the power of the Gospel the gospel. Not only shows us who God is it shows us who we are. And allows us to see us the real us for the first time. Find the never got there. Simon never saw his heart
and that allows us to go to the middle of the passage versus 15 16 and 17 and see the message on prayer.
The apostles hear about new Believers in Samaria. And so they send people they sent Peter and John to pray for the Samaritan so that they would receive the Holy Spirit.
We see here that prayer in the church is a partnership. Between the Church of God between us and got they did what they can do. What can they do? They can pray for them. They can actually go to Samaria what they did that.
What can't they do? They can't cause the Holy Spirit to fall. So they pray about that.
We see in this little middle of the passage that prayer is partnership with God we do what we can do and we lie and we pray about all the things we can't do we see that the church believe that Prayer Changes Things. When they heard there were new Believers in Samaria that it received the god. The first thing they did was pray because the church believed. The when the church prays the throne room of God stops and listens.
We have a situation here. The first thing we need to do is pray the church believed that Prayer Changes Things.
In verse 17 we see the right of the prayer of Peter and John.
And finally, we see the two ingredients of prayer as contrast between the people of Samaria and Simon.
the two ingredients of Prayer Is the Holy Spirit? That the Samaritans received and repentance that Simon refused.
Let me just end by allowing us to prepare our hearts for communion and not leaving acts 8. In communion, we are going to focus on Christ when we haven't said a word about Christ. No, no prices to Central character this story. Why was Stephen killed?
Because of Christ why was the church persecuted? Because of Christ why did Philip go to Samaria? Because of Christ why did unclean spirits flee the people they were possessing because of Christ. Why was there joy in the city? Because of Christ, why did the Holy Spirit fall on the Samaritans because of Christ? Friends, we are celebrating. the center of the universe the savior of the world Jesus Christ we're going to do that in communion will start in just a few moments, but I want to allow us time for quiet reflection as we prepare our hearts to re give ourselves to the Risen Christ.