Acts 8:1-25 Persecution and the Spread of the Gospel.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Good Morning .. Pause

I welcome you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Out Scripture meditation is from

Psalm 141:1 “O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!”

PRELUDE — Use these moments to prayerfully consider the Scripture meditation above, so you may properly give God the glory due to His name.

THE LORD CALLS US TO WORSHIP HIM

*God’s Word of Greeting

Call to Worship Psalm 142:5 I cry to you, O Lord;

I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Let us rise for the singing of Gods Word

Tuen in your In your Trinity Psalter Hymnal to Psalm 103A

INVOCATION:

Father we now call upon you to be with us and be in our presence.

And illuminate our minds by your Spirit and Word.

We thank you Father in all things in Christ name Amen.

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S CALL

TPH *Psalm of Praise Psalm 5 Hear My Words, O Lord

Responsive Reading

*LET US PRAY

Prayer of Confession and Repentance

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God,

the Fountain of life and of immortality,

the Author of all creation,

both visible and invisible,

the Son who is coeternal with the Father and equal with the Father Which has no beginning,

Who through your great goodness

has offered Yourself a sacrifice for us ungrateful and evil-natured men,

and you renewed us with your blood.

Our nature which has become corrupt through sin:

We ask of you to accept us O King Immortal,

Accept our repentance and our sinful self;

We pray that you would incline your ear unto us,

and give heed unto our words:

For we have sinned, O Lord,

We have sinned against heaven and before You,

and we are not worthy to look upon the greatness of your glory.

We have affronted your goodness, in that we have transgressed your commandments,

And we have not obeyed your commands.

But you, O Lord, You are not vengeful,

Rather you are long-suffering and of great mercy,

And you have not delivered us over to destruction for our transgressions.

You who love your elect before the foundation of the World

desire not the death of us sinners,

You don’t desire, to destroy the work of your hands

neither the destruction of the human race,

but that all men should call on you for salvation.

And that they should come to the knowledge of the truth.

Accept us, O Lord,

Who loves his people,

And desires those who society looks down upon.

You who did accept the sinning woman, the thief, the publican, the prodigal son;

take our heavy burden of sin,

You Christ Jesus Who has taken upon yourself the sins of the world,

Who heals human infirmities,

Who calls us to Worship the true and living God,

and gives rest unto those who labour and are heavy laden;

Who did come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.

Purify us from all uncleanness,

both bodily and spiritual,

and teach us to fulfill holiness in the fear and knowledge of you

That we might approach you with a pure conscience,

Through the Blood of your Son and our Savior alone.

In Christ name Amen

Assurance of Pardon Romans 8:31-39

English Standard Version (Chapter 8)

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not, also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

LET US RISE FOR THE SINGING OF GODS WORD

Hymn of Thanksgiving

TPH Psalm 141 O Lord, to You I Call

LET US PRAY

Congregational Prayer

Lord, teach us to be resigned to your will; teach us to delight in your law;

teach us to have no will but your will;

teach us to understand that everything you do is good and is the very best that can be done.

Help us to leave our concerns in your divine hands, being persuaded that you have sway even over evil; that out of it you bring good,

till your high purposes shall develop in your own perfect glory,

and in the perfect bliss of all those who put their trust in you.

Blanks - Pregnancy

Faulkners - continued success with the state and growth in Godliness individually and as parents.

Vicorys-transition out of the military and new business’s

David Williams -

Sandy F.

Clarissa F.

Pregnancies - that they will come to term and add to the congregation covenant children.

Austin OPC:s

South Austin, Providence (Pflugerville)

Father we Pray for _____________ and we ask for all these things in the powerful, glorious, majestic, and wonderful name of Jesus Christ Amen.

YOU MAY BE SEATED

THE LORD FEEDS US FROM HIS WORD

OLD Testament Reading

2 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” 8 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— 9 if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

12 Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He declared to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.

God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

to whom belong wisdom and might.

21  He changes times and seasons;

he removes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have understanding;

22  he reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what is in the darkness,

and the light dwells with him.

23  To you, O God of my fathers,

I give thanks and praise,

for you have given me wisdom and might,

and have now made known to me what we asked of you,

for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”

25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” 26 The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.

Daniel Interprets the Dream

31 “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

Daniel Is Promoted

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.

May the Lord add his Blessing to this reading of His Word

TURN IN YOUR COPY OF GODS WORD TO Acts 8:1-25

Hear Now the Word off the Lord

8 And Saul approved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria

4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.

Simon the Magician Believes

9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

The Grass withers the Flower Fades But the Word of Our God Will Stand Forever.

Vs. 1-8 Preaching during persecuting.

And Saul approved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria

4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.

So what is happening here in our text?

the Lord is putting the faith of these early christians to the test.

Saul is entering peoples homes in Jerusalem and actively pulling them out of their homes.

God says he was ravaging the church and dragging men and women off to jail.

Ravaging means he is bringing them to ruin. He is causing them harm, injuring them, ruining or spoiling them, Saul is truly ravaging them.

men women it doesn’t matter to him.

Saul is truly a vile sinful man, and he is doing all this in his mind for the purity of his religion as he understands it.

he won’t except this Christ as the Messiah.

And what is he going to do to those he is hauling out of their homes?

He already approved of the stoning of Stephen.

Saul got a taste for blood. He is increasing in his persecution of the church.

At this point in time Saul is a tool for Satan to persecute the church.

can we imagine if this happened today. The local minister the representative for God in your community is hauling you off to prison.

You might think maybe I’m next because I believe on the same Jesus that Stephen did.

Well we can speculate but I’m sure when you and your wife are pulled out of your home there is some worry at a minimum.

So while this is happening some people obviously heard Saul was coming and they fled Jerusalem.

Believers fled to the regions of Judea and Samaria,

But the apostles didn't leave Jerusalem.

But I think it’s amazing that even under this persecution those that fled followed Stephen’s example of proclaiming the truth of the gospel.

maybe his death ignited them to become bolder in the sharing of their faith.

That is what Luke seems to be communicating.

That the Lord will use the persecution of his saints to light a fire under the rest of the church to become bolder in their proclamation of the truth.

Because in verse 4 we are told

 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

These scattered ones were preaching the word.

So maybe some of these were preachers or preachers in training. Or maybe they were just Believers exciting to share the truth of the gospel.

in verse 5 we are then told Phillip the apostle goes to Samaria

5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

And what is God going to do with this preaching of the Gospel during persecution.

Are the people of God fearful?

No they are bold.

‘And people are coming to faith in droves.

verses 6-8

Acts 8:6–8 (ESV): 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.

They paid attention, they listened.

‘they understood his words.

‘And they see more signs that he is doing.

He is casting out unclean spirits,

People are being healed and crying as they are released from these unclean spirits.

people who couldn’t walk are walking

people who couldn’t talk are talking.

People who are Blind are seeing.

I imagine those who had the unclean spirits you would say

I have know him or her my whole life as- that’s the crazy man or woman on our block.

Thats Crazy Jacob

Thats wild Rebecca.

He or she is always breaking things and talking to themselves.

or that’s the poor lame begger of our town.

they are being healed by the power of God

God is bringing joy to those who had no joy.

God is cleansing a town of unclean spirits.

Or demons

Those who serve Satan

And the result is joy in the city.

I think I might be sitting around the local gathering place and speaking about these miraculous things with my neighbors.

I would be asking Phillip more about this gospel he is preaching.

And the result is just that people are coming to faith in Samaria.

And they are proclaiming it shortly after they come to faith to others.

Lets look at verses 9-13

Vs. 9-13 Phillip the New Believers and Simon the magician.

Next we meet a man named Simon who is practicing magic in the city. He is trying to make himself look great.

He wants the people to think so according to verse 9

Verse 10 says they all paid attention to him from the least to the greatest.

They said of Simon “THIS MAN IS THE POWER OF GOD THAT IS CALLED GREAT”

and the people had been watching this magic performed by Simon for some time.

They are putting him at the level of God.

And the people are revering him for it.

So this should raise some red flags in the minds of all believers.

How do we define Magic.

Let’s see what Noah Webster has to say on this topic.

An American Dictionary of the English Language (MAGIAN)

One of the sect of the Persian Magi, who hold that there are two principles, one the cause of good, the other of evil. The knowledge of these philosophers was deemed by the vulgar to be supernatural.

The art or science of putting into action the power of spirits; or the science of producing wonderful effects by the aid of superhuman beings, or of departed spirits; sorcery; enchantment. [This art or science is now discarded.]

What does God think of Simon and those who practice magic?

And what does God think of those who follow after them?

You can write these down.

Lev 20:6 ““If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.”

Lev 20:27 ““A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.””

What is some of the sinful things that have gone along with those who entertain magic and witchcraft?

2 Chronicles 33:6 “And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.”

And what is the end of those who practice magic?

Revelation 21:8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.””

This is a practice of those who worship Satan and seek something that seeks to replace the knowledge of God and who he is.

And this is what Simon is doing.

Do we toy with magic and Witchcraft in our Society?

you know we do.

It is in game Quige - that uses a board to pretend you are communicating with spirits.

The story of Bloody Mary which is told by people to scare them.

We celebrate Haloween.

We have physic’s on our corners

It is in our Media in which we make those who do evil to be heroes - Harry Potter vs. Lord Voldermort.

Yes they put the title that only belongs to God in front of the vilan who Harry potter defeats.

Is Harry now stronger than God.

So Harry potter, Voldermort are in the same category as Simon the Magician.

Servants of Satan and enemies of God.

But God is about to show his power through this Magician Simon.

Lets look at verses 12-13

Acts 8:12-13 “But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.”

The power of the Gospel is contrasted here as overcoming the miracles and signs performed by Simon.

Phillip preaches the Gospel.

The Word of God and the Kingdom of God

In the Name of Jesus Christ overcome this wicked magician.

Simon believes on the name of Jesus Christ.

Men and women believe the Gospel and are Baptized.

Simon starts following Phillip.

And this is exciting news to the church because the Gospel is now not only affecting those in Jerusalem but now its effecting those in Samaria.

Its spreading. What man has used for evil. Saul and the Persecution of the church.

Simon practicing the sin of magic and drawing attention to himself and taking the title of God.

God is using it to spread the Gospel to Samaria and call sinners to repentance.

Simon in this passage comes to faith

and Saul will eventually become Paul and come to faith in Christ.

All done by Phillip simply obeying God to declare his truth to the world.

This off course excites the apostles in Jerusalem when they hear about it.

And they go to Samaria.

Which brings us to verses 14-25 Which talks about the free gift of the Holy Spirit.

Vs. 14-25 The free gift of the Spirit and Money.

Lets read verses 14-16

English Standard Version Chapter 8

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

They had recieved the Word of God.

They accepted it to be true.

And we know this is a work of the Holy Spirit.

So these men and women were already baptized.

Because they had come to Faith.

So why did the apostles need to come down too Samaria to have the Holy Spirit descend on them?

because we should not deny that these Samaritans were already Christians.

Becasue those who put on Christ, were already regenerated by the spirit of God.

Luke is not speaking about the common grace of the Spirit in which God makes us his children.

This descending of the spirit was something extraordinary that certain of them should then be given gifts of the Spirit in order to proclaim the kingdom of Christ and the glory of the Gospel;

This was so the early church would be able to benefit the church in her early life.

And we can see that the spirt was doing miraculous things in the lives of new believers.

The apostles said that we are going to pray that the spirit of God descends on you.

They lay hands on them in verse 17 and the spirit is given to these Samarians.

They are now apart of the people of God.

And this is a great thing. A wonderful thing.

But Simon we see in verse 18 wanted something more.

Lets read verses 18-19

English Standard Version Chapter 8

18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Simon has already been regenerated.

Already given the spirit of God.

And now he want’s more.

But what is the problem with men who have had a taste of power and seek attention from others?

They struggle with this sin of lust and greed.

And so Simon says I want to be able to do what you just did.

I want to lay my hands on people and them to receive this Holy spirit.

Simon wanted the gift God had given only to the apostles.

And may I add a gift that the apostles are mearly facilitating.

The Spirit of God is working these miracles and converting these people.

So Simon is the recipient of the first case of church discipline.

We call this a rebuke in presbyterian Church’s

The first level of church discipline.

And what does Peter say to Simon

Acts 8:20-23 “But 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 part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.””

Simon you want to go back to your old ways.

You want to use your money to take this power that only belongs to God.

You want this attention you were so use to receiving.

Peter says this is not for you.

Your heart is not right.

you have not been called by God to this.

Repent and pray that God will free you from these evil thoughts.

We must remember we can not manipulate God with money.

The Tithes and offerings that we are aloud to give to God are our duty.

And we can not sway the Spirit of God to do our will by giving money to the ministry.

And those who claim they can give or receive a special blessing to you with the action of giving money to them are lying to you.

They are committing the sin of Simony.

Those of the prosperity Gospel.

Which is No Gospel at all.

Noah Webster defines it as

An American Dictionary of the English Language

The crime of buying or selling ecclesiastical preferment; or the corrupt presentation of any one to an ecclesiastical benefice for money or reward.

So Simon is famous but for the new sin that would be named after him and his actions here.

But Simon answers correctly at the rebuke.

He asks for prayer for him to be forgiven for this sin of Simony.

The Rebuke worked Simon turned towards the Lord and asked for forgiveness.

This is how we should act when we are Rebuked by the leadership of the church for public sins that are made known to them.

We must turn to Christ

We must pray to Christ.

The author and finisher of our faith.

And the only one who can forgive sins.

And we see the apostles staying true to their calling from the Lord.

They continue to testify and to proclaim the Word of God.

Throughout the villages on the way back to Jerusalem from Samaria. according to vs.25

Preaching that Christ is the only mediator between God and man.

That Christ can overcome witchcraft and magic.

That Christ can overcome those who are ill and infirm and heal them.

Not only physically but spiritually.

Christ can forgive sins like in the case of Simon.

And Christ can forgive your sins if he has called you to himself.

He calls you to heed his word and his rebukes as those of a loving Father.

A Father that would rather rouse you and upset you than to see you perish in a gall of bitterness and the bonds of iniquity.

So turn to Jesus the one who calls you to himself by his word.

The ones who regenerates you by his spirit.

The one who calls you to serve the church with the gifts he has given you to develop and cultivate.

And the one who continues to help you and sanity you until his return.

Let us pray to that end.

Lets us go to the Lord in prayer.

CLOSING PRAYER

Father I pray that today your people have heard you speaking to them this morning.

Help us to apply this in our walk with you and with our brothers and Sisters in Christ And those around us who are unbelievers.

Help us to show the Love of Christ to others in sharing your Word and Gospel Call to Salvation with this lost and this dying world.

Help us to be generous with our abundance with those who are truly in need.

Help us to be witness for you Lord here in Wichita Falls and good disciples.

Help us to have comfort in the knowledge that we will live forever with you.

And help us to look forward to that day when you will say well done you good and faithful servant enter into the rest of your Lord.

And we pray in Jesus Christ name.

Amen

LET US RISE

*Psalm of Response

TPH Psalm 142 I Cry for Mercy to the Lord

WE ARE DISMISSED WITH GOD’S BLESSING

Let us Pray

Father in heaven be with and keep this your people throughout the week.

Father in heaven encourage these your people to discuss with their families the sermon and how they can apply this to the people who they run into through the week.

And father help them through your spirit to have a stronger walk with you and to make this word preached effectual in their lives.

In Christ name

Amen

Closing Hymn TPH 567 Doxology

Praise God from whom all Blessing Flow; praise him all creatures here below; Praise him above ye heavenly host praise Father Son ands Holy Ghost Amen.