Acts 8:9-25
A Look at the Holy Spirit
Introduction
A. (Look at TV and Read Title)
B. Boy if that does not catch you attention I don’t know what will
C. Is that possible?
D. I thought once you were born again everything was cool?
E. Wow, today passage, I will confess, really cause some intense pondering
F. I usually am working on one sermon, well starting another sermon
G. Since I did not have to preach last week, I have been pondering this text longer then I normally get to
H. Let me be totally honest with you guys
I. This portion of Acts has some really difficult concepts to grasp
J. It is not one of those read and get it immediately passages
K. I give you are warning, some of what I am going to say is going to totally frustrate a lot of you
L. You will get mad, I will probably raise more questions then I will answer.
M. But this passage is very vital to us
N. Today we are going to look at 3 Questions about the Holy Spirit
O. We will look at:
a. Is the Holy Spirit Greater Then the “great power”
b. When does the Holy Spirit Come
c. How Much Does the Holy Spirit Cost
I. Is The Holy Spirit greater then the “great power”? (9-13)
A. Explanation
1. Philip was having a very fruitful ministry down in Samaria
2. As we ended 2 weeks ago we said that there was great joy in that city
3. Because of this, there were many people who were interested in what was going on
4. One of them was Simon
a) Simon was a sorcerer
(1) Now do not equate a sorcerer to a modern day magician,
(2) Most magicians today use slight of hand methods to trick you
(3) Simon was the psychics, chanelers, palm reader séances participator, tarot card, horoscope type of sorcerer
b) Simon had built up quite a lucrative business
(1) He had people from all walks of life interested, and by interested we mean paying customers, thinking that he had divine power, they even called him the “great Power”
5. Soon Simon Inc. started to go down hill, he started to loose his fan base
6. All these people started to follow Phillip
7. Being the smart business man that Simon was, he went and checked out the completion
8. Wow! This Philip guy has some good tricks
9. Simon long for what Phillip Had
10. He wanted that ability, that power, Simon realized that his powers he had being the “great power” were no match for what Phillip Had
B. Application
11. What can we learn from this?
12. I want you to look at vs. 13. You notice it says, “Simon himself believed and was baptized”.
a) Now here is the question that this passage raises
b) Was Simon Saved?
c) Sure he raised his hand during the invitation and even came down front at the Alter and “prayed” the sinner prayer
d) Heck he even went so far as to be baptized
e) But was he saved?
f) His actions later in the passage would bring make you wonder, would make you doubt the sincerity of his commitment
g) But note the Bible says that he was, and the Bible doesn’t lie. If that is the case then it is possible to loose your salvation
h) So was he saved, and then loosed his salvation? Or was it never a genuine conversation?
(1) We just don’t know!
(2) Only God know the condition of a person’s heart
i) Now what we can clearly see in this passage is the motives for Simon believing and being baptized
(1) It was for the power
(2) It was for the signs and wonders
13. We must be careful in what we use as motives for our salvation, and for telling others about salvation
14. Salvation is not an End
15. Salvation is a beginning
16. That is a concept that has been misinterpreted for a long time know
17. The Goal of salvation is not a ticket to Heaven
18. The Goal of Salvation is relationship with the Creator
19. The Goal of Salvation is not getting “great powers”
20. The Goal of Salvation is serving God
21. WE also see that Simon, even thought he was an accomplished sorcerer recognized that his powers were no match for the Holy Spirit powers
22. You will not find anything greater then the Holy Spirit
23. I need to make this warning to all of you
24. We are not to be “dabbling” in psychics, channelers, palm reader séances participator, tarot card, horoscope type of sorcerer
a) These are the powers that Simon was using
b) Like it or not, these are the powers that the Devil has
c) I know we like to say that we are just doing it for the fun of it
d) But when you start getting involved in these type of things, you are using Satan’s power
e) Unlike God, Satan expects you to “repay” him
f) Satan will use you as his instrument
g) We need to make sure that we are not dabbling in these type of things
h) Don’t give Satan a foot hole
C. Illustration
II. When does The Holy Spirit come to a person? (14-17)
A. Explanation
1. Our passage continues.
2. We notice that the apostles back in Jerusalem get a report back from Samaria about all these people who are beginning to follow Christ
3. Wow, they were impressed. However, there was the fact that these were Samaritan
4. Samaritans and Jews did not get along, there were enemies
5. It was hard for the Apostles to initially except the fact that Samaritans could know Christ too
6. But they remember all the times that Christ, the very Head of the Church, ministered to the Samaritans, he was not afraid of them
7. So with a guarded sense of optimism, they sent Peter and John down to check matters out
8. Peter and John meant with the group, talk to them about their decision to follow Christ
9. Ask Phillip so important questions, made sure everything was good
10. They found out that all was in order everything was going good except for one thing
11. The Holy Spirit had not come upon them yet
12. Well they had confessed, and been baptized into the name of the Lord, they had yet to experience the Holy Spirit
13. So Peter and John (which by the way this is the last time that John is mentioned in the book of Acts) laid hands on them, and prayed that they would receive the Holy Spirit
14. We can infer that upon the laying of hands the Holy Spirit came based on verse 18 because of what Simon ask for
B. Application
15. What can we learn from this passage
16. First of all we see that indeed the Gospel is not just for the Jews, it is for the Samaritans as well
a) The Gospel is just not for Americans, it is for the whole world
17. The Gospel is universal
18. Now as far as the Holy Spirit coming on the believer
19. Because of this text we can say that the Holy Spirit only comes on a believer after laying on of hands by the apostles, or the modern day equivalent of a pastor
20. Therefore, I need you all to come up right now, and I will lay hands on all of you and immediately you will be filled with the Holy Spirit
21. See that is what we do, we make a doctrine out of one verse, we forget to examine the whole Bible and see what it has to say
22. WE like things in a need easy to understand flow chart
23. First you accept Christ Salvation
24. Then you are Baptized into Christ
25. Then you need to get some preachers together lay hands on you and you will receive the Holy Spirit
26. It just does not work that simple
27. John 3:8 tells us that the Spirit moves were the Sprit moves (read it)
28. There are plenty of differences in when and How the filling of the Holy Spirit occurs
a) In Acts 2:38 we read that it says “repent and be baptized, every one of you… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit – ok so it is repent, and be baptized – then I have the Holy Spirit right?
b) Our text today the Believed, were baptized, but they had to wait until the laying on of hands – then it is believe, baptized, and then have someone lay their hand on me, then the Holy spirit comes right?
c) In Acts 10:44– While Peter was speaking these words, the Holy Sprit cam on all who heard the message. This was before baptism. Therefore once I am saved, I immediately get the Holy Spirit right?
d) Then there are the people in Corinthians mentioned in Acts 19:1-6. Paul asked them if they received the Holy Spirit. Say what? Never heard of it. Ok what baptism did you receive, John’s baptism. Then he explained the difference between John’s baptism and Jesus baptism. So they were baptized into the name of the Lord. Then after the baptism Paul placed his hands on them, and then the Holy Spirit came. Ok so we have to have a baptism of repentance, followed by the baptism of Jesus, followed then by the baptism of the Holy Spirit right?
29. The Bible is not specific on when the filling of the Holy Spirit occurs
30. The reason for that is that is occurs different time, different places, different ways in people
31. WE need to make sure that we do not make a doctrine out of one verse
a) WE have to search the whole scripture and base our doctrine, our beliefs on what the Whole scripture says
b) Many occults by the way are started based on isolated one verse and making it doctrine
c) Many church splits are caused from doing that
d) Many arguments that divide us are cause based on refusal to examine the whole Bible
32. I can confidently say, that there is not pattern of when the filling of the Holy Sprit occurs
33. Some it is right immediately after conversion, some it takes a long time
34. There are many reasons this could be, but the important part is to understand that we can not definitely say when this will take place
35. The Bible gives no specific pattern, other then after conversion
36. To make a “chart” on how it must happen, is a ridiculous notion
37. Should we seek the filling of the Spirit – by all means yes
38. But because one person experiences one way and one time, does not mean that is the way it has to happen always
39. Please do not let this be an issue that divides us
40. There is one definite Biblical way, therefore, it can happen different to different persons
C. Illustration
III. How much does the Holy Spirit Cost (18-24)
A. Explanation
1. Simon saw his fellow country men receiving the Holy Spirit
2. It was incredible, soon they started speaking in tongues, performing signs and wonders
3. Casting out demons, healing people
4. “Man” Simon thought to himself “would I like to get my hand on some of that, I’ll pay $5000 for that, I start with a figure of 3000, and I will negotiate up to $5000, maybe I will get lucky and get it for less”
5. How much will it cost me to get the Holy Spirit
6. Oops wrong question to ask, when Peter heard this he flipped out on Simon
7. Peter was enraged, how dare you try to buy this gift of God
8. The mere fact that you are want to buy this gift tells me about your heart
9. You are not a genuine convert, you are full of bitterness and a captive to sin
10. You heart is not right
11. Boy you need to repent – to turn away – from this before anything will ever happen
12. The fact that you would say such a thing, is so ridiculous, I tell you what if I were God, I would not forgive you
13. Fortunately for both of us, I am not God, and maybe God will forgive you
14. Simon after hearing this realized that he messed up, boy he was in trouble and he knew it
15. So Simon asks Peter. “Since you and God are so tights, can you ask him that nothing you have said will happen to me?”
a) Ok here is something that really annoys me
b) Why cant Simon ask God himself
c) There is no way that Peter can ever save Simon, nothing Peter does or says will save Simon
d) What needs to happen is Simon needs to repent and turn toward God and away from evil
B. Application
16. Now what does this all mean for us today?
17. First of all almost as a little side note
18. Just because I have a close relationship with God, does not mean I can save you
19. It is not between you me and God, it is between you and God
20. Do not make me the middle man
21. Don’t get me wrong, I regularly pray for each and everyone of you, I pray that all of you will become closer and closer to Christ
22. But I can not save you, My prayers wont make all your troubles go away
C. Illustration
23. How many like a good barging? See this Bible. This is a Thompson Chain Bible with a blue imitation Leather cover, and of course thumb indexed. This was my parent’s graduation gift to me 10 years ago.
24. At that time I was working at Family Bookstore. 10 years ago they gave their employees a 25% discount on everything. I very good deal for me
25. I also had my family perks card, I filled it up and I received a coupon for 25% off.
26. Guess what, they allowed me to use both of the discount for that purchase
27. Basically I got this Bible for ½ off – what a bargain
D. Application 2
28. Bargains are great when it comes to shopping
29. But do not try and bargain with God
30. What a foolish Idea
31. As if we can obtain something from God that is free
32. Salivation is a gift from God
a) A gift = free. Any gift that you have to pay for is not a gift
b) You just won a free _________, just send 50 Shipping and Handling, then it is not longer a gift, it might be a bargain, but it is not a gift
33. So your sitting here thinking I don’t do that to God I don’t bargain anything with God
34. Many people figure if they go to church, give money to the church, then God is obligated to give them a comfortable, trouble free life
a) When hardships occur, they stop coming and giving, assuming that God has let them down. Since he is not longer meeting their expectations
b) Is your giving based on wanting to receive a blessing, or based on the joy of what God has already given you?
35. What about promises made to God – Dear Lord, if you get me out of this – then I will do that
a) Again it is coming at it all the wrong way – we serve God because of what he has done for us already
36. You can not play “let’s make a deal with God”
37. You can not bargain with God
38. It will not work
39. It is ok to ask God for things, don’t misunderstand me
40. But it is the attitude with which we approach God that matters
41. Do not undervalue the things of God, such as the (free) gift of the Holy Spirit by putting a price tag on it
42. God cannot be bought, bartered, or bargained
Conclusion
A. I know I probably have confused some of you today
B. I know this is not one of those “I get it” sermons
C. This is not one of those “I get it” passages
D. But I feel this passage has a lot of things we really need to examine
E. I would like you to respond in one of several ways
a. Number #1: You realize that you have been living like Simon; you are in it for your own gain. You realize that you have been wrong. If that is you I want you to come up here and ask God’s forgiveness
b. Number #2: You have never thought about the Holy Sprit, or being filled with the Holy Spirit before. You realize that the Holy Spirit has been missing in your life. If that you I want you to first pray for the Holy Spirit. 2nd talk to me about it. 3rd I have a little booklet I would like you to read
c. Numbers #3: You are frustrated because there is no simple 3-step plan. No neat little course of action to follow, and you are questioning a lot of things. You don’t know why you believe what you believe. If that is you, congratulations, it is not a bad thing, it is a good thing. I want to encourage you to study the things your are questioning, please feel free to talk to me about the area you are questioning
d. Number #4: Maybe something that was said has really peaked your interest. Has got you started thinking about something, Run with that thought, pray through that thought, study that thought, if it is a thought about God, and you start thinking about it, great, that means you are thinking about the things of God, that is a good thing. Again you ever have a question, that is what I am here for
F. I will encourage you all to think about the Holy Spirit this week
G. Sadly we do not spend enough time thinking about the Holy Spirit
H. I want you to read and re read this passage and dwell on the Spirit of God
I. There is no greater Power then the Holy Spirit
J. Are you devoted to following the Greatest Power, the Holy Spirit?
K. Now that we looked back, let us move forward.
L. (Pray)
