Go & Evangelize

ME: Intro

Growing up, most of us dream of becoming rich and famous,

Whether that is from being a famous actor or musician,

Or becoming a professional athlete or an influencer,

Most of us have a dream like this at a young age.

This past week, I was on NFL.com and saw a headline that said,

“Colts safety Khari Willis retires after three seasons.”

Willis is only 26 years old.

He was a starting safety in the NFL.

This season, he would be eligible for his first contract negotiation that would have been worth tens of millions of dollars!

Not to mention, he left 2.5 million dollars on the table by retiring before this season.

This guy was living the dream!

He was a starting professional football player,

Making millions of dollars!

And he walked away from it all.

Why?

Slide (insta)

Well he explained why in his instagram post last week.

He first thanks the Colts organization,

Talks about his relationships with teammates, coaches, and staff.

Then he goes on to write:

“With much prayer and deliberation, I have elected to officially retire from the NFL as I endeavor to devote the remainder of my life to the further advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Slide (God over NFL)

I Googled his name after reading this article and here was one of the top results:

God over NFL.

Willis walked away from the dream because he has an even bigger dream.

Now, Willis is really just an ordinary guy.

Sure, he is an incredible athlete.

But he does not have a Bible degree or anything.

He went to Michigan State where he was an All-State athlete.

Yet, he wants God to use him to Go & Evangelize.

Similarly, Acts 8:1-25 tells us about God using ordinary people to Go and Evangelize.

You may or may not be familiar with what it means to evangelize.

Our passage this morning describes where this word comes from.

But it is essentially reaching others with the gospel by teaching the gospel.

Slide (outline)

With this in mind, the outline for our passage is:

Persecution Against the Gospel (vs. 1-3)

Reach Through Persecution (vs. 4-8)

Distraction From the Gospel (vs. 9-19)

Reach Through Distractions (vs. 20-25)

Reach others with the gospel by teaching the gospel.

WE: Persecution Against the Gospel (vs. 1-3)

Persecution began on a smaller scale earlier in Acts.

Church leaders were told not to teach the gospel by the religious council.

They didn’t listen.

So, they were arrested and beaten by the council.

Then told again not to teach the gospel.

When they still didn’t stop,

Persecution escalated to a brutal murder of a Christian named Stephen,

Slide (vs. 1)

Leading to a new chapter in Acts,

With even greater Persecution Against the Gospel,

As we see in vs. 1-3.

The Jewish leader’s efforts to stop the gospel had the opposite effect,

More and more people were being reached with the gospel.

One of those leaders is Saul,

Who approved of Stephen’s murder.

Which just whet the appetite of the Jewish leaders.

Because Stephen’s murder leads to even greater persecution against the church in Jerusalem.

It was almost as if now that a Christian had been murdered,

The seal had been broken.

Therefore, the harsh mistreatment of the church escalated even more.

Persecution was not new for God’s people.

In the OT, prophets like Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, Daniel, and more endured varying forms of persecution.

In the gospels, Jesus and His followers were persecuted.

John the Baptist was imprisoned and executed.

Persecution against the gospel is inevitable.

Because all persecution stems from the ultimate persecutor, the devil.

Who is also the deceiver.

As a result, people who are persecuting do not see their actions as persecution.

For example, Saul later writes how he viewed his actions here as justice against religious radicals.

He did not see it as persecution.

He was deceived into thinking he was doing the right thing.

But what the devil intends for evil,

God uses for good.

So, when the church responded to increased persecution by scattering.

By God’s sovereignty,

The church scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.

What is significant about these specific places?

Slide (1:8)

Because Jesus said to His disciples,

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

So, part two of Christ’s command happens in response to persecution.

Opposition against the gospel could not stop it from spreading.

Although persecution is inevitable,

God’s mission is unstoppable.

Not even the threat of death can stop the gospel from reaching even farther!

Slide (vs. 2)

However, the early church did not have the advantage of knowing how God used their persecution for good.

So, when Stephen died, the church rightly grieved.

Why else would vs. 2 need to be included?

Stephen was clearly loved deeply by the church.

So, devout men displayed great courage by burying Stephen despite the persecution going on around them.

Don’t miss this,

These men are devout.

They are not described as immature Christians or new believers.

They know Stephen was in heaven with Christ.

Yet, they still mourned deeply over him.

They lamented,

They were sad.

It pained them to lose their beloved brother.

It is so easy for us to just gloss over this to focus on the persecution against the gospel.

But God inspired Luke to take note of the church’s grief.

Let this remind us that it is okay to grieve while staying on mission.

Slide (vs. 3)

After making note of the church’s grief.

Vs. 3 transitions between two major sections in Acts.

We already saw how God used persecution to reach the gospel into part two of Christ’s commission in Acts 1:8.

Now, we are given more details about Saul,

Who is the main character for the majority of the second section of Acts.

No longer is here merely looking at coats and affirming Stephen’s murder.

He is now a lead persecutor with a destructive reputation.

He was ravaging the church.

Not just harassing the church,

He wanted to destroy it entirely.

He wanted to burn it to the ground!

Forcing his way into house after house,

Dragging Christians off to prison.

He did not care if they were a man or woman,

He did not discriminate,

He dragged them all away.

Later, he is described as breathing threats and murder against the disciples.

He seems to have this anger and hostility toward Christians.

Until Jesus miraculously transforms him in an amazing way,

Which, Lord willing, we will look at later in Acts.

However, at this time, he is leading the persecution against the gospel.

GOD: Reaching Through Persecution (vs. 4-8)

Slide (vs. 4)

Yet, vs. 4-8, demonstrate

How God uses ordinary people to Reach Through Persecution with the gospel.

As we noted earlier,

When the church was persecuted in Jerusalem,

Most of the church fled.

But when they scattered, they did not go into hiding.

Rather, wherever they went,

They were preaching the Word!

This is where we get the word evangelism.

The Greek word for preaching is euangelizo.

It means to bring or proclaim the good news of the Gospel.

To present the way of salvation by Jesus’ death and resurrection.

It is reaching others with the gospel by teaching the gospel.

That is what we do when we evangelize!

Slide (mission chart)

Part of the mission of FBC Afton is to go and multiply disciples.

We do this through evangelism.

We reach others with the gospel by teaching the gospel.

That is what the early church was doing,

Even when they were being persecuted.

In fact, God used persecution to reach others more rapidly with the gospel.

As the early church father, Tertullian said,

“The blood of Christians is the seed of the church.”

As persecution rises against the gospel,

The gospel spreads like an out of control wildfire.

God uses the evil of persecution for good.

Slide (vs. 4)

And God uses the “ordinary” Christians to reach others with the gospel.

It was not the apostles,

Vs. 1 specifically says the apostles stayed in Jerusalem.

So, it was those who scattered.

Every Christian is called to go and multiply disciples,

Every Christian is called to evangelize.

We do not face the same persecution as the early church in our context.

Nonetheless, any persecution we do face God can use for good,

To give opportunities to evangelize.

Being a witness of Christ includes living the gospel.

Evangelizing includes teaching the gospel.

Christians are called to both,

Even when persecuted.

So, if you are facing opposition in some way,

Consider how God has permitted this so you could evangelize someone.

God reaches some from every part of the world with the gospel,

By the power of the Spirit working in ordinary people like you and me.

That is how the gospel continues reaching farther in Acts,

And why the gospel is still reaching to the ends of the earth today.

Slide (Green)

Michael Green writes,

“As early as Acts 8 we find that it is not the apostles but the ‘amateur’ missionaries...who took the gospel with them where they went. They were the evangelists, just as much as any apostle was.”

You are God’s plan for reaching the world with the gospel.

Persecution can not stop His plan.

In fact, God uses it for good.

Slide (vs. 5)

One example of an “amateur” Christian evangelizing is Philip.

He was one of the seven chosen back in ch. 6 to care for practical needs.

Vs. 5 says how after the increased persecution,

He went to Samaria.

Samaritans were generally looked down upon by Jews.

They were considered unclean.

Samaritans settled in this area near Jerusalem when Israel was exiled in Babylon.

After the exile, Jews returned to the region,

Where they began not getting along with the Samaritans.

A big reason was because the Samaritans followed their own version of the Torah,

They had their own temple,

And their own views of the Messiah.

So, historically speaking, there was little love lost between Jews and Samaritans.

In fact, the relationship could be described as deep hatred and prejudice.

Yet, Samaritans played a fairly regular and unexpected role in Jesus’ ministry.

The Samaritan was the person who loved his neighbor in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan.

When Jesus healed ten lepers, only the Samaritan returned to thank Him.

And the woman at the well who had a life-changing conversation with Jesus in John 4 was a Samaritan woman.

So, Christ’s ministry to Samaritans paved the way for Philip’s ministry in Samaria,

Where the church took a significant step.

Because it showed how the gospel reaches across even the darkest ethnic barriers.

Slide (vs. 6-7)

Vs. 6 makes it clear that God prepared the hearts of the Samaritans to hear the gospel.

They listened and they saw the signs.

Vs. 7 says Philip was casting out unclean spirits.

He was healing many who were either paralyzed or disabled through the power of the Holy Spirit.

God was affirming Philip’s teaching.

And Samaritans were gladly accepting the gospel!

Slide (vs. 8)

Hearing about Christ was cause for great joy in the city!

They realized God’s presence was with them through this ordinary guy, Philip.

This does not mean you need signs and miracles to evangelize.

Acts is describing a specific historical event here.

It is not prescribing a pattern for evangelizing.

Philip’s story does not mean we should start a signs and wonders ministry at FBC Afton.

God was doing something exceptional through Philip,

Just like the signs and miracles of Stephen and the apostles.

So, instead of trying to do signs and miracles,

What Philip’s story does teach us,

Is that we must Go and evangelize,

Because God empowers ordinary people with the Holy Spirit to reach through persecution with the gospel.

YOU: Distractions From the Gospel (vs. 9-19)

When persecution against the gospel does not work,

The gospel still faces other more subtle forms of opposition.

Vs. 9-19 are an example of a Distraction From the Gospel.

Slide (vs. 9-10)

The person who is the cause of the distraction is also the primary one who is distracted.

Vs. 9 introduces this man, Simon.

He had been practicing sorcery in Samaria,

Amazing the Samaritans,

And claiming to be somebody great.

He has made quite the name for himself through his magic,

Likely earning a pretty good living doing so as well.

Both him and the Samaritans think pretty highly of him.

As vs. 10 says, the people thought he was the power of God called great.

Slide (vs. 11)

Because, as vs. 11 says, the people had been distracted by Simon’s magic for a long time.

Now, when the Bible talks about magic,

It does not speak about it innocently.

No, historically magic and religion were often intertwined.

So, magic in the Bible is an example of manipulation, heresy, or idolatry.

Because magic was essentially a distraction from God.

It was a cheap imitation of God’s power,

Often claiming to be associated with God.

The OT prohibited magic under the penalty of death.

The NT continues to reinforce that participating in magic or dark arts is unacceptable for those who worship God.

So, magic represents a deceptive or manipulative distraction from the gospel.

When Jesus and His followers performed signs and wonders,

Many people thought it was magic, not the gospel.

Sorcerers, like Simon exemplify liars, deceivers, and false prophets.

Because by being a distraction, Simon was setting people’s hope in the wrong place.

In the end, God promises that false prophets like Simon will be exposed,

And the distractions will be revealed as empty idols.

Slide (vs. 12)

As vs. 12 demonstrates, despite the cult following Simon had built over the years,

When Philip came to town teaching the gospel,

Things began to change.

Philip was able to reach through the distraction with the gospel.

The people stopped hoping in Simon and his magic.

Instead, they trusted the gospel and were baptized.

Making vs. 12 a historical moment!

Because the gospel has reached beyond the Jews for the first time!

Slide (vs. 13)

Vs. 13 says even Simon believed.

Which at first, seems remarkable!

But it does not take long to see he is still distracted because idolatry remains in his heart.

After getting baptized,

He followed Philip everywhere.

But he was not amazed by the gospel,

Rather, the signs and miracles distracted him.

Earlier, it said he amazed the Samaritans with his magic.

Now the same word is used to describe his reaction to Philip’s signs and wonders.

Meaning, his heart is not interested in the gospel,

He is distracted by the signs and wonders he thinks he can get from the gospel.

His confession and baptism were not sincere,

He is still distracted by the idol he worships.

Nonetheless, the Samaritans were no longer distracted,

They trusted the gospel.

Slide (vs. 14-15)

Vs. 14 says the apostles in Jerusalem heard this joyful news,

And knew this was a breakthrough moment for the church.

Because the gospel was now reaching “the outsiders.”

So, vs. 15 says, Peter and John went to Samaria to pray for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit.

Why?

Slide (vs. 16-17)

Vs. 16 says it was because the Spirit had not yet fallen on them,

They were only baptized in the Name of Jesus.

So, vs. 17 says they laid their hands on them and they received the Spirit.

Ironically, in the context of distractions from the gospel,

Vs. 14-17 have been a distraction among Christians because of how difficult it is to interpret this passage.

Everything within me wants to just skip over these verses,

But going verse by verse forces us to address this passage.

So, I will briefly present common interpretations,

While confessing that I loosely hold to the last interpretation I will present.

Keeping in mind that we cannot allow these verses to be a distraction from the gospel

So, let us start with some more misguided interpretations.

Slide (misguided interpretations)

First, some have taught that based on this passage,

It is common for some believers to not receive the Holy Spirit at salvation.

Therefore, some believers must be baptized in the Holy Spirit,

Which is displayed by speaking in tongues.

This would mean a person could be saved but not have the Holy Spirit.

A natural reading of these verses show how this interpretation seems possible.

But the issue is that Acts 2:38 and other parts of the Bible teach how the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is equated with saving faith.

So, repentance and baptism fills believers with the Spirit.

Meaning salvation and being Spirit-filled are simultaneous.

Which is what the NT teaches.

With this understanding,

Some have tried to compromise on this first interpretation and say,

Well the Samaritans were already Spirit-filled when they were saved.

However, when it says they had not yet received the Spirit,

It is just talking about the evidence of the Holy Spirit, which is spiritual gifts.

In other words, it is common for some believers to not receive spiritual gifts at salvation.

So, that is what the apostles prayed for.

This issue is that it does not say the evidence of the Holy Spirit is not in them,

It says they had not yet received the Spirit.

Another interpretation is that the Samaritans initial faith was somehow defective.

Therefore, the Spirit did not come until their faith was genuine.

The issue with this is vs. 14 says the Samaritans received the word of God.

They did not just hear it, they believed it.

So, these are some of the more misguided interpretations.

Slide (possible interpretations)

A slightly more possible interpretation is that God withheld the Holy Spirit from the Samaritans to essentially correct the apostles’ bias toward the Samaritans.

For example, Luke 9:54 records how the apostles asked Jesus if they could tell fire to come down from heaven to consume Samaritans who rejected Jesus,

While never making a similar request when Jews rejected Jesus.

So, this interpretation believes that the apostles were required to come and see that the gospel truly reached the Samaritans.

Removing the biases that may have remained in their heart.

If that were so, it would seem out of God’s character to withhold the Spirit from one group,

Because of another groups prejudice.

This final interpretation has to do with the authority of the apostles at this specific time in the history of the church.

We have seen how Philip has been able to do signs and wonders,

He clearly teaches the gospel effectively,

And has been baptizing believers.

But vs. 14 says the apostles hear that Samaria received the Word,

They send Peter and John.

Why?

So, they, the apostles, can pray for the Samaritans to receive the Spirit.

Which Philip does not seem to find anything strange about.

So, at this time in the church’s history, patterns had not been established.

Making this is a unique case where the gospel reached beyond Jerusalem for the first time.

Therefore, this interpretation teaches that God waited to give the Spirit until God’s chosen authorities could be there to witness and affirm it.

Later examples support this being a unique situation.

We see Philip baptize an Ethiopian Eunuch,

And nothing is said about the apostles needing to go to him,

Nor is there anything said about him not receiving the Spirit.

We also see the apostles encountering people from other places who have believed and have the Spirit.

So, these examples support the idea that this was a unique event at this momentous occasion in the church’s history.

Regardless, you must interpret this passage with humility, grace, and charity.

Do not allow it to be a distraction from the gospel.

Generally, the Bible says believers receive the Spirit upon belief and are baptized.

However, there are a unique narratives,

Like this one,

Where believers are baptized then receive the Spirit later.

But in all cases, belief is the constant.

And in this remarkable moment,

The gospel has reached beyond the Jewish community for the first time!

This is huge for us because it reinforces that the gospel reaches everyone who trusts in Christ.

You do not have to have a certain background,

You do not have to be a certain ethnicity,

You do not have to have certain ancestors.

You have to trust in the gospel.

Slide (vs. 18-19)

Do not keep your trust in your idols that distract from the gospel.

As Simon does in vs. 18-19.

There must have been something Simon could see about the Spirit being poured out,

Because he was willing to pay big bucks to do what the apostles did.

Remember, he was accustomed to being the one to impress the crowds with his magic.

Perhaps he thought, if he could buy this power from Peter and John,

He would be able to impress the crowds even more.

Or maybe he just thought he could make money off of it.

Regardless, he is distracted from the gospel,

And is a distraction from the gospel.

WE: Reach Through Distractions (vs. 20-25)

Slide (vs. 20-21)

But the apostles are able to reach through distractions with the gospel,

As we see in vs. 20-25.

Peter implies that Simon is headed for destruction and his silver will be destroyed with him.

He goes on to say that Simon has no part or share in this matter.

This is inheritance language.

In other words, Peter is saying that Simon is not a part of the church,

He does not have the Spirit,

He is not truly saved because his heart is not right before God.

Meaning Simon’s innermost person has not genuinely trusted in God.

Simon is still distracted.

His affection and allegiance is not with God,

But with his idol.

Therefore, he has no future in God’s kingdom.

Slide (vs. 22)

So, Peter commands Simon to repent in vs. 22.

He is reaching through the distraction with an invitation into the gospel’s promises.

That is what it means to call someone to repent,

It is to invite them into the gospel’s promises.

Peter knew Simon was in danger because Simon was distracted,

He did not want the gospel,

He wanted to manipulate, control, and pay for God’s gifts because he wanted his idol.

So, Peter’s command to repent was stern but gracious.

Also telling Simon to ask God for forgiveness for the intent of his heart.

Slide (vs. 23)

Then Peter concludes with a devastating comment in vs. 23.

Describing Simon as being poisoned by bitterness and bound by wickedness.

This is OT language describing the temptation of idolatry and the slavery of sin.

Therefore, we can conclude that Simon’s heart had not truly changed.

Despite his outward profession,

And even his act of baptism,

He did not genuinely trust in Christ as Lord and Savior.

When he saw the Spirit poured out,

He revealed how he was still distracted in his heart by his idol.

He said what he thought he had to say when he confessed.

He did what he thought he had to do to when he got baptized.

He even tried negotiating a price to get the Spirit’s power.

At this time, it is certain that Simon was not a believer.

Therefore, Peter does not treat him like a believer.

Instead, Peter tries to reach him with the gospel by teaching the gospel.

Slide (vs. 24)

Then, Simon’s narrative ends in vs. 24 with some ambiguity.

He asks Peter to pray for him so that none of what Peter just said would happen to him.

On one hand, he is sincerely remorseful.

So, it could possibly be genuine repentance.

On the other hand, his remorse seems to be triggered by fear of consequence,

Rather than genuine faith, confession, and repentance.

He was initially distracted by how his perceived perks of the gospel could feed his idol,

Now He seems to be distracted by the consequences of rejecting the gospel.

All the while, being distracted from the essence of the gospel, Jesus Christ.

So, I believe the ambiguous nature of Simon’s fate is an intentional warning for us.

As tragic as it sounds,

People who claim to be Christian but are distracted by their idols do exist.

They always have.

And Simon very well could have been one of the earliest.

But we do not know for certain.

So, we must reach through distractions with the gospel.

Conclusion

We must marvel at God’s amazing grace.

To a certain degree, I sympathize with Simon.

He seemed to be, on some level, trying to understand Christianity.

But sadly, his idol distracted him from realizing the freedom of the gospel.

He was too concerned about whatever it was he hoped to get from the Spirit’s power.

Yet, he was still offered a chance to repent and be forgiven.

That is grace!

That is what must captivate our attention.

As Colossians says,

We must set our minds on things that are above.

Simon’s story should make us consider what idols we have that distract us from the gospel,

Then repent of them, and say,

Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.

We have a gracious Savior!

And his grace is shown to Simon here in this passage.

Slide

Then, in vs. 25, the disciples Go and Evangelize.

Philip had already went around evangelizing in Samaria.

Now, Peter and John do the same.

It is not enough to simply live out the gospel.

We reach with the gospel when we teach the gospel.

At work, around dinner tables, with family or friends,

Tell about the goodness of God.

Explain the truth of sin.

Draw attention away from idols that distract and toward the grace of Christ.

Teach the gospel in various situations.

In our passage, facing persecution, the gospel reached beyond the Jerusalem for the first time,

And immediately, idolatry sought to distract from the gospel.

This reminds us, that as the gospel reaches more and more,

Distractions, persecution, and idolatry seek to interrupt the gospel’s reach.

Therefore, even the best of times will be encumbered with ideas and forces trying to threaten the gospel.

Nevertheless, we must continue to reach through persecution and distraction with the gospel.

Remember, God used an ordinary person to first reach Samaria with the gospel.

The gospel reaches every tribe, tongue, and nation,

Through persecution and distraction,

From the hands, feet, and mouths of ordinary people used by God.

Slide (mission)

Take advantage of every opportunity.

Reach others with the gospel by teaching the gospel.

It is not just superstar evangelists who do this.

It is fathers, farmers, salespeople, cooks, students, athletes, and on and on.

So, no matter our role in this world,

God calls us to Go & Evangelize.

God uses us to reach our children, coworkers, customers, teammates, classmates, family, friends, neighbors, and the world.

So, when we talk about going as part of our mission as a church.

We go and evangelize.

Meaning, we reach others with the gospel by teaching the gospel.

You know, I often forget how little about the gospel I really knew before trusting in Christ.

As a result, I forget how little people in our culture today know about the gospel.

I wrongly assume that most people know the basics of the gospel.

But they don’t.

So, if we want to reach others with the gospel,

We must teach the gospel.

One of the most effective ways to do this,

Is to teach how the gospel has impacted your life.

We need to think of evangelism as a thread, woven through our daily lives,

Deliberately tying every part of your life to the gospel.

Regardless of persecution or distraction,

We continue to reach others with the gospel by teaching the gospel.

That is what we see in our passage this morning.

Persecution against the gospel,

And a distraction from it.

Yet, God used ordinary people to reach through persecution and distractions with the gospel.

So, as we go and evangelize.

Let us remember that we reach others with the gospel by teaching the gospel.

Pray.