Prince of Heresy: The Mystery of Simon of SamariaĪuthors always seem quick to entice readers with the promise of revealing the real truth behind some Bible “mystery.” When I last checked for books with both the words mystery and Bible in the titles, I found no fewer than 1,959. It forces us to ask a question - are you asking God to deliver you from consequences. Simon’s story is the sad story of a guy who was unwilling to leave his past behind and fully follow Jesus. There were other reformed bad guys in church. Simon could have been one of the leaders of the early church. In fact, verse 24 is the last we hear of Simon in the Bible - the prayer to be rescued from consequences. God will allow you to suffer temporary consequences so you don’t suffer eternal consequences! Lesson #5: God’s agenda is not rescuing you from consequences, it’s keeping you from hell! It seems harsh, but it’s actually loving. Here's the final lesson from Acts 8: 1 - 24. Are you willing to do that? Are you willing to walk away from friends who lead you to evil? Are you willing to leave behind some habits? Would you leave yourīusiness if that’s what it took? I know people who have had to either quit their job or alter their sales due to their newfound convictions once they became a follower of Christ. Lesson #4: Following Jesus requires total commitment! There are some things you need to leave behind! There are some things you have to leave behind if you are going to be a life-long follower of Jesus Christ. We wouldn’t do that would we? We wouldn’t decide to follow Jesus, but still hold on to things and practices and people that represent our old life, would we? We mistakenly think we can simply add Jesus while keeping the old friends, old habits and old places. Simon wanted to follow Jesus, but he didn’t want to completely leave behind his old practices. But, Simon wasn’t willing to leave everything behind. Peter saw through Simon to what was really there. Here’s another great lesson – Lesson #3: No amount of money, position, social status or attention is worth compromising the gospel of Jesus Christ! Let them discover hope and deliverance, joy and a future.” No one is beyond hope! (How many of you would say YOU were one of the WORST sinners in your town!) When they walk in the door, help us love them with your love and receive them with your grace. Expand our capacity to love the most desperate and difficult people. I have prayed, “God send the very worst sinners in our city to CPC. The person who is most against you can still be reached by His love. However, the very last man or woman (boy or girl) you would expect to follow Jesus is still a candidate for His grace. Here’s another lesson for us from the story of Simon the Sorcerer - Lesson #2: There’s hope for the worst sinner in our city! We have a tendency to give up on people and decide they are too big a challenge - even for God. Would God allow hardship and heartache in order to move us out of our comfort zone and back into His mission and plan? Absolutely! He does and He will! We have an assignment to share His gospel anywhere and everywhere. God never intended us to be a safe, comfortable group of happy little believers. Lesson #1: If we ever decide we won’t be outward focused, that we are happy where we are, and with what we’ve done, God will move us out of our comfort zone! What’s the lesson from the early church for us? The focus shifts - from outward, to inward - from reaching others, to pleasing We’ve got enough needs here – I’ve got needs of my own. We are just putting too much emphasis on evangelism and the unchurched.You know this has happened when you hear things like: It even happens in churches! The focus shifts from reaching the lost to making sure church people are happy. The natural tendency of any group of people is to turn “inward” - consumed with their own needs. (Read Acts 8: 1 - 24) According to Acts 1:8 - the disciples were to go "into the uttermost parts of the earth and preach the gospel". It was a bloody way to die and it kicked off a time of great struggle and hardship for the early church. Leaders, Stephen, was stoned to death (Acts 7). This story begins immediately after one of the early church It is a powerful story in the Bible with lessons for all of us. You may have never heard the story we will look at today. Acts 8: 4 - "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where PREACHING THE WORD!"
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |