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August 10, 2022 6:00 am
Pastor Rick teaches from the book of the Acts
Therefore watch and remember that the years I did not warn everyone night and day with tears warning about what savage wolves would come in from among you, not sparing the flock, and so it is naïve to think that just as happy-go-lucky in all yellow brick road to Christianity. You don't have the right, you don't have that luxury to be oblivious to Satan's counterattacks against souls. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of acts.
Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching power to preach is the title of Pastor Rick's message will be continuing in acts chapter 8 today alignment is so false prophet that will meet in chapter 13, he was into sauce three and he would not be did not tolerate Saul Paul the apostle coming into his territory and there was that confrontation and Paul smote him line for period of time we get to chapter 19 we come across the sons of Skiba, who also decided that they were going to dip and dab into the spiritual realm they were ill-prepared and and there ended up physically with the beating, but there's no indication of Simon doing anything more, but then be dazzling. The people making himself to be somebody in the people support this guy's impressive, you should see what would a rabbit and it out so just keeping that in mind how you can say will could he have been into the occult short but I think he was a fraud, he was a phony baloney and he was getting away with it and will come back to these verses get repeat that that he is pretending to sleight-of-hand.
Well, I should add. Philip would've really had his hands full with this guy was deep into the dark arts. So we come to the bottom of verse nine that. Speaking of Simon he astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great and there is he's an imposter. Look at me and he's trying these promoting himself. These people loving it and making money because of shore from this Philip preach Christ and Simon preached himself.
One of the big differences between the believer and the make believer. Verse 10 to whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest thing this man is the great power of God.
While this will Simon want to be one of these people to accept them and they were mesmerized by what he was doing and it doesn't detail again for us what he was doing, but let's just say this to say he's levitating people can impress people don't know that there is no sleight-of-hand. I don't think he was levitating anybody like I stick with the rabbit in the hat one, but because he doesn't seem to be this great character and here he is a self-made village spiritual advisor.
You may disagree with this agreement that that that's okay.
I would agree with you, then both be wrong. Verse 11 checking on and they hated him because he astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.
So again he's not producing any that healing and he potty.
He's just, you know, doing these things they're looking at it they can see it.
What should've been. They would better have been served had he been preaching truth to them. But there's nothing, nothing like that going on and when Philip comes it will be the preaching of the word that turns everything around with signs and wonders miracle of spiritual truth defeating will defeat these this mesmerizing these mesmerizing wonders of Simon the miracle of spiritual truth, and it is a miracle.
When a soul converts from the world from the cell from sin to Jesus Christ. When process faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God is a miracle all the right to the Ephesians warning them.
We should no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, and the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting of Ephesus was a huge city to whom he was writing at the time and he knew that there were men like Simon and far worse than Simon and he's telling the Christians that don't be wowed by things are not true. Stick to the unbroken witness of your scripture that goes back to Adam verse 12, but when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized as a whatever it was that Simon was into it was also decided by truth. True shows up and just overcomes that we will get two of those in acts that are interest, sorcery into the occult will have those that are demonically influenced or and all possessed but I don't think that's again so much the case here. Philip's arrival and work notified the people that they were incomplete. Maybe you go to church your churchgoer.
That's all you do you not family, yet you have to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. You have to recognize that you lack something without him more than life, lack salvation security that comes from Jesus Christ himself and Philip's arrival notifies the people that they look you might have Simon all asked of Mr. Cornell and their responding to that Satan says who wants to be a millionaire crisis was 11 who wants to be born again. Both men and women were baptized will nothing vague about that faith alone in Jesus alone that too gets baptized to be able to say Christ. Christ died in my place as me, took my sin my punishment my punishment for my sin. He took on himself so that I would not have to suffer. He is the Savior, but before he is my Savior. He is Lord. He is always been Lord he is Lord from eternity past, and he will be Lord into into eternity future. Those are the ones that get baptized in water and if you believe Jesus Christ is that to you, your Lord and your Savior and you have not been baptized. What are you waiting for now, we do not encourage the use to get baptized nor do we discourage them.
We only want to be part of the process of a genuine baptism, then I say want to get baptized. My friends getting baptized in order to create that kind of environment for them. A lot of people don't really see little four euros going to really understand what's going on as far baptism as yet understanding Christ as your Savior.
You are a sinner. What what it means to be baptized. What it is preaching to preach a sermon. All you have to do is go to chop chop square in Saudi Arabia get baptized and that's where final. What happens to you, will kill you. You won't even dry off before they kill you because it means something mean something to help L hates to see people sound lining up with the believers.
This is my uniform. This is the Army. I march with this is the kingdom that I belong to. This is where my primary citizenship is so if you are Christian you love the Lord Jesus Christ you believe in salvation through Christ alone faith alone in Christ alone. By the word of God.
The media baptized, you get one of the pastors that I was you every seven people decide to get there at the service. No I would not, but if you do preach about you anyway. The early church was very serious about this, where there was conversion there was baptism verse 13 than Simon himself also believe, and when he was baptized. He continued Philip and was amazing the miracles and signs which were done the X he couldn't duplicate that I met I could do little rabbit think what I can do this. It says, then Simon himself also believe that is what the Bible says the Bible does not say, but his belief was not genuine.
Calvinists will come back and add that later with no right to reject that initial statement from Luke under the Holy Spirit's authority just because he makes his tremendous blunder in a few minutes will you versus and why should we be surprised that a new convert has a theological error makes it up up the theological spiritual faux pas.
Why should we be surprised. Was he supposed to be converted. Also, neither theologian explicitly says Simon believed that he was baptized and having introduced Simon as one who was previously into sorcery in verse nine. It connects perfectly. I'm going to this because you have these all study Bibles and other commentaries and you read them and they think they just slam Simon and II disagree with them just because they write a book get you know get to be part of a book is mean automatically right be kooky that by that logic. Every book ever written is the authority of what is right and wrong is looking at it objectively, which I think many well-meaning commentators on certain parts of theology are not objective anymore because they gotten to a doctrinal camp. The written books about think I can leave anyway if the Samaritans belief was genuine unto salvation. Just like it says then why isn't Simons also with no reason to doubt it that his faith led to his baptism was genuine unto his salvation is says and was amazing. The miracles and signs which were done so the amaze her is now amazed himself not to crave miracles, signs and wonders as a gateway to faith.
We accepted Jesus preached on this very Christ concisely said to Thomas what Blessed are you, Thomas. You see it you got it, but there's going to be others that haven't seen what you have seen, and they going to believe by faith.
That's what I'm after. Romans 10 again. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God as a faith comes by seeing by seeing the miracles of God, you can't top Farah look at the miracles he sought to do just drove him to his death.
Judas Iscariot is probably the greatest of enigma of them all. What did he see what did he hear and still goes to help because he rejects refuses to be under its authority. Verse 14 when the apostles were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. They weren't gullible were these guys are in Jerusalem, is a hate is a movement of the spirit open up and suck Samaria and say wow. Well, if it's popular, it must be God.
They were not gullible.
They dispatched heavyweights you do you get any heavier than Peter and John, you do not among men is the top-of-the-line. They sent them to either authenticate the work or condemn it again. This is being popular is not enough to be accepted. Beloved John writes do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone into the world. It was an infestation of false prophets, prophets in the days of the early days of Christianity, as it seems to be even now, so that guarding against counterfeits. They dispatched these two heavyweights to get to the bottom of this is not enough to make converts that's not enough, you must post guards you must stand watch. You must be aware of counter attacks. Paul said therefore watching remember that for three years.
I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears warning about what the savage wolves would come in from among you, not sparing the flock, and so it is naïve to think that this is happy-go-lucky, you know, yellow brick road to Christianity. You don't have the right, you don't have that luxury to be oblivious to Satan's counter attacks against souls. If once you become save those foreign influences have to be dealt with when you come into the kingdom and when you come into the kingdom of God.
You gotta find out how do they live, what is the law you know when in the kingdom do is those in the kingdom. When in Rome do as those as in wrong. It's of its proverbial it is as wise and is also neglected very much what you want to a new church which I know you wouldn't do if you can, but just to say you went to a church when you say well I'm to do like everybody else is doing this, sitting in the pews and not standing on their heads and the consent of my head so that this is the system. This is not practice but I'm not going to take an opportunity to use Michael put the slam of the 28. Anyway, may we remember that basic law and that that applies really don't just go somewhere and just start behaving like you know okay I'm here now as it was Simons going to get him in trouble. Verse 15 when he had come down, prayed for them that he might receive the Holy Spirit supper. I need to probably put keep that in context. 14 and 18 together and when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God that they sent Peter and John, to them who, when they had come down verse 15 prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit a lot of stuff going on here. The apostles come down and they discern that there salvation here that these people are baptized and yet they're still lacking something there lacking a personal Pentecost.
They've had a personal Calvary experience that come to the cross. It dealt with their sins. They've even publicly announced that they've done this in the water baptism but there's another part of Christianity still available to them in their missing and the the apostles pick up one that is no mention of Philip catching that. There's a difference between being a believer, who admires God admires salvation admires the word of God believes that is saved versus a believer will also admires but also adores the level passionate about God's word passion about salvation.
I met believers that they believe Jesus Christ as Savior's.
No one else in the passion is no fire in them to reach lost souls is nothing in there to stand up and protest against Satan's lies.
That person is not been immersed in the spirit nothing about salvation open a little bit more this a lot of commentators is his will we begin to part on spend too much time on that because many preachers know there's no third experience there are three facets that belonged to sell to Christianity.
One is when Christ draws you to him, the Holy Spirit, you become a Christian when you become a Christian. The Holy Spirit is in you, you are safe. And then there's that next experience that now. Not only is he in you but is flowing out from you and that's what there lacking in this is what this is about. This is what were being taught. You can't say what that was back in the apostolic age of this is today to verse 16 for as yet he had not fallen upon for as yet he had fallen upon none of them they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus saved. Yes, Phil yes overflowing. No third experience of the holy Holy Spirit again again objected to by some well-meaning Christians and Christian authorities and I don't. Those that don't agree with me on this. I don't think less of them there just in the wrong on this point out 15 years ago I would've hated the guts and heart with God's will not want to read anything about the bad vibes were never matured a little bit. My patient is not very fast but anyhow you matured on the outside a lot with an inside they were believers. They had been baptized, which means the Holy Spirit was in them accepted to Peterson repent that everyone of you may be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Okay that happen.
Then Peter says, and you shall receive the holy. You shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit will these haven't gotten there yet. They didn't win when Peter preached to the Jews with the Samaritans on there and there's a reason why. Again, it is one thing to have the Holy Spirit in you doing the inward work of conforming you into the image of Christ. Every believer gets that the decency the righteousness, the desire to please God. But it's another thing to have the spirit again bursting forth looking for opportunity to share. I don't mean you know, jamming the gospel down people's throat or you know sneaking Traxler into their sandwiches stuff like that. That's not being led by the Holy Spirit we see you know the Jehovah witnesses are out there thinking that there, you know, knocking on doors and therefore they're doing everything right with this distal leading of the Spirit that even the apostles did not do it that way. Anyway coming back to this.
This is what they were receiving the releasing of the spirit of God to go forward. Jesus said this in John chapter 7, he who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water, so you made it. We get to them in chapter I think is 19 we get to Ephesus we get the Christians at doing. I haven't even heard of the Holy Spirit and and Paul discern that.
And of course that things then change so he who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow living waters. Verse 17 then they laid hands on them and they receive the Holy Spirit. So the Holy Spirit affirms that the Samaritans are believers now also fully just like the Jews exciting them in their faith. Salvation again is one thing but to be able to have a desire to get others to be saved. That's another thing there is a distinct interval of time between the new converts being converted and baptized in the coming of the Holy Spirit into their lives. And that's very interesting, and as a mentor that happens in chapter 19 there already believers. But there's this long period of time before they enter into this third experience here. It seems that the Holy Spirit is delayed in his filling because he wants the apostles to introduce. I do believe that Peter and John were sent up Holy Spirit overseeing this because it must have their stamp of approval in the initial phases.
This is transitional.
Matthew 1818, Jesus speaking to Peter, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. These are the kings that of the kingdom of Blancs of that on diatonic and all of it. But here's where Peter's action is in Matthew 16. Peter's getting the keys here. Matthew 18 is the authority to administer church discipline authority in the apostles. So it is important to note that the Samaritans did not receive the gift of the Holy Spirit when they believe Philip who is empowered to perform miracles was not able to impart to lay hands on them and give them this third experience in the spirit first experience of the Holy Spirit. He draws us to him. Second experience, we become saved third experience. We are filled to over flow. So when Jesus says to Peter I give you the kingdom. Keys of the kingdom we see Peter the one unlocking the filling of the spirit of the Jews in chapter 2 to the mixed Samaritans here in chapter 8, and then in chapter 10 to the Gentiles, it's Peter. Each time unlocking this transition from Judaism and non-Christianity into Christianity with the holy spirit. He is unlocking doors and he is confirming the don't want to get too far ahead, but no Christian should feel like they are a second-class citizen whether they have been filled with the spirit are not what you believe in Christ you are citizen of heaven, but there's still more Romans chapter 1, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ raises the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek and that's what we see happening in acts chapter to chapter 8 and chapter 10. This progression that all the people are are being drawn in equally to salvation, and this should this should excite us of what I want to go back to these three experiences from the Scripture John chapter 14, Jesus speaking. I will pray the father and he will give you another helper, that is the Holy Spirit that he may abide with you now that Greek word for with that preposition is par coming alongside of the spirit of truth. Verse 17 of John 14: the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you now that preposition EN in the Greek and and will be in you that preposition that promised he will be is with you is in you is not yet overflowing from you is what Jesus is saying and that Greek word that preposition in the Greek is epi and it means everything because when we get to chapter 8 we read, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you epi there's that preposition again and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of their Philip as a witness in Samara is filled with the Holy Spirit is flowing out of him by all three experience of the experiences have been captured one to woo you to Christ, the other to bring you to Christ to make you perform shapes in the image of Christ. Second Corinthians 313 but we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the spirit of the Lord who you've been listening to cross reference radio daily radio ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website. Simply visit cross reference radio.com that's cross reference radio.com would also like to encourage you to subscribe to the cross reference radio podcast subscribing ensures that you stay current with all the latest teachings from Pastor Rick you could subscribe to cross reference radio.com or simply search for cross reference radio your favorite podcast to the next time as Pastor Rick continues teaching through the book of acts right here on cross reference radio