Power to Preach (Part C)

Also, the lockstep I think out of fear of the book of acts that we tell you that the gift of tongues is still available, but somehow you all will go crazy and start speaking tongues on the telephone with each other and it is these fears that these are well-meaning and analytical and great minds try to come up with ways to say what was for them than the gifts of cease but yet they still promote the gift of teaching. I don't see a can cherry pick you know you can't take that approach. They don't do it with other doctrines.

Why do it with this one. 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, you can get a free copy of this teaching that hears Pastor Rick with the conclusion part three is message called power to preach in acts chapter 8 the apostles come down and they discern that their 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 to come to the cross dealt with their sins. They've even publicly announced that they've done this in the water baptism but there's another root 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 and is saved versus a believer will also admires but also adores another level is passionate about God's word passion about salvation. I met believers that they believe Jesus Christ as Savior's. No one else but then 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 that little bit more and is a lot of commentators is his will we begin to Parnell and 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 is that next experience that now. Not only is he in you but is flowing out from you and that's what there lacking and 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 filled 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 is adjusting the wrong on this .15 years ago I would've hated the guts hard with Todd's would not want to read anything about the but I've I've learned I've matured a little bit.

My pace is not very fast but anyhow you're matured on the outside a lot was on the inside. They were believers. They had been baptized, which means the Holy Spirit was in them accepted to Peter said 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 they are 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 a great 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 slowly 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 it. 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 gifts of the Holy Spirit when they believe Philip was 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 and chapter 8 and then a check for 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 still more Romans chapter 1, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ rate is 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 the city excited so.

But 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 up 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 promise. 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 what 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. I 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 reveals 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 is that process that begins once we've come to Christ and the Spirit is in us that third experience is what lacking I not repeating some repeating it on purpose because there aren't many churches out there that preach this because they've also have lockstep. I think out of a fear of the book of acts that we tell you that the gift of tongues is still available that somehow you all going to go crazy and start speaking tongues on the telephone with each other and it is the these fears that these are well-meaning and analytical and great minds try to come up with ways to say what was for them than the gifts of cease but yet they still promote the gift of teaching. I don't see a can cherry pick it you know you can't take that approach with they don't do it with other doctrines. Why do it with this one because of the abuses we covered this in the introduction to the book of acts verse 18 and when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles hands, the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying verse 19 give me this power also that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.

And so Simon is impressed by this but he was first impressed by the preaching of Philip and that's how he got converted. But he makes what is not uncommon. A rookie mistake they bring strange fire into it. While Abraham's sons did. That doesn't mean they went to hell.

They were struck dead with the loser one on righteous men were just out of bounds at a critical stage and God made that message clear read of it happening and happening again because that's all clear was in here Simon makes this rookie mistake applying the old lifeways to the new life now. Even today, magicians have a history of buying and selling their tricks they come up with a delusion, and the other magicians that I'll give you $100,000.

That's a pretty neat trick, and then the so here Simon is probably what is how we do business is what you think. I learned all my stuff going around the ancient world buying these tricks and it's made me somebody. What I'd like to buy this one couldn't understand was going on and which again we can't fault him is a new convert with Peter home in Peter talk is not going to have any of this is going to be brutal so will we get to that in a moment abut what is surprising, not surprising Simon would make this mistake. What is surprising is that there people who pay for prayer cloths and holy water in holy oil.

What are you doing Jeff faucets and hold you actually think that somebody I don't on some other state can pray over a bottle water and sell it to you is holy water. Do you really think that what about the oil is olive oil. The version I mean is this is it is a simple symbols is no power in the stuff I mean if it would sell you the ark if they could get you to buy so I don't get it in the abysmal ignorance of biblical things in in the name of Christ simony is a word that we have buying and selling spiritual benefits or church positions in the dark ages 980 something to 1000 and something. There was open primary in the Roman Catholic Church where the office of the Pope was being sold repeatedly to the highest bidder that that is along the same lines is they don't these people read the Bible. No, only the parts they want. So anyway, to bear Simon to Nashville.

How do I evangelize is that he's just attracted to this power. Now verse 20 it comes the hammer Peter the hitman apostle Peter said to him your money perish with you because you thought gift of God could be purchased with money.

You would think that would be enough.

Okay Peter you gotta go Peter's getting started these people. So what Peter is doing is upholding truth because to Peter truth was more important than people joining the church.

God's truth more important than filling the pews. He was willing to lose somebody from the congregation rather than forfeit the truth from God's word today that would be churchgoers who have no relationship with Jesus Christ. Or maybe they do, even that just because churchgoers can begin can be born again on fire for Christ and still wrong. Never happened to me but should happen. You okay back to this today.

These churchgoers some of them would say that Peter was unloving that he was harsh, mean-spirited is Eric Peter is right on and and you know, chapel the movement under Pastor Chuck God gave another gift to the church other than Pastor Chuck in the form of a man named Romain. He had no other name just remain widening thereafter letters. I don't know but every time I think about and I want to sell it anyhow. Romain was a no nonsense, I mean he was.

He was the bodyguard church guard. He kept those hippies in line and he would flay them. And so when I come across a gallery pastor who doesn't like romaine unlike them is Ari series because I don't I don't want to settle like them but they will be speaking in this pulpit because it telling me that they missed the point of somebody having to seal the pastor because of the pastor goes around is a handkerchief that seeped well that's not going to work well for the church.

If the past is going around directing people on that level. But to have a guy like romaine do it that works pretty good as they see the pastor still loves me but we got this guy over here and it worked wonderfully not being very short about this and throwing in some humor, but the bottom line, he was a gift to Calvary Chapel and we would not have experienced the movement as we have. If God did not send such a man.

We need people to stand up to people who are wrong and there's a right way to do it in a wrong way to do Peter has nobody to do that. John doesn't really have what John really think that Meg John call fire down the leg and his brother one earlier, but Peter is the one that's doing in verse 21 now five excited questions about Romain. Feel free to ask because I love talking about immigrant stories on him and he was just a really Jim and I miss him very much anyway. Verse 21 you have neither partner portion in this matter. For your heart is not right in the sight of God.

So, not merely was Simon wrong on the outside is deep wrong. In this view, on the inside. Simons as a buyer. Peter says your wicked verse 22 repent.

Therefore, additional wickedness and pray God is perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven.

So Peter is now this fellow shipping but is giving him a chance to be reinstated at same time you can come back to this church as you fix this. In this case he could fix it right away. Sometimes a good Fix right away can go home and do it, but here he has that is giving him the solution and solutions usually are better than executions. Solutions are usually better than executions. Verse 23 Bryce see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound in iniquity. Man is to have hit Megan imagine the pastor's payment history here you go to visit a church to do something and he tells her you are poisoned by bitterness and bound in iniquity are tied up in the shrinkwrap of evil all around you, so we picture here a well that is poison that is Simon, a freshwater well in his conversion that has been poisoned by a bio old life view. Exodus 1523 now when they had come tomorrow they could not drink the waters of Morrow, for they were bitter. Therefore, the name is called Morrow the poisonous or least social fluid and you could drink would get the lies are purifying a well for people to drink, so do not consider the Holy Spirit as an unholy man who can be brought. Hebrews 1215 on the subject of bitterness, looking carefully lest any of you fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and by this many become defiled. Various types of bitterness.

There's ones from.

I hold a grudge against you, you still my blood pressure goes up when I think of you I can't stand you I never want to see that kind of stuff will destroy and even learn to deal with that. Learn to parry that kind of bitterness. Jeremiah 2719. Your wickedness will correct you and your backsliding will rebuke you know therefore and see that is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, and the fear of me is not in you, says the Lord, Yahweh of host as to iniquity. Psalm 116 verse 16, or Yahweh. Truly, I am your servant.

I am your servant, the son of your maidservant, you have loosed my bonds. Iniquity freed from it. Remember, he said Simon was found in iniquity. Proverbs 522 his own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin, but that is true in us.

We all do.

Christ says of the son makes you free will be free indeed. The gospel liberates Simon is tangled up here in Simon Peter is is not the easiest being very thorough with this you know as a pastor of a new Christian says something to me that is wrong have to say something. I can't let them go away in a year later, come back to what you tell me I was wrong with that. It may hurt them and make keep Jason from the church but I can give him a pass of the something minor.

I'm certainly not going to slam but if they'd say something like you know Jesus is one of the Savior's minimum to get it that you will not say that to me and in the church I pastor and we just blink at you and that it should be that way with with you too. Just don't call yourself a Christian, you got co-serve our saviors. Verse 24. Then Simon answered and said, pray the Lord for me that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me. See, that's the voice of a man who wants God who submitted is not a voice of a man was being deceptive as a false conversion, it would've said something like what you think you are. We were fine before you got here, Peter doesn't do that. There is repentance to salvation and there is repentance with in salvation do we not understand that you'll find out when you drive out here driving on the road and that person just makes you irritated I get irritated with the other drivers might do. That's how bad it is for me. Sometimes he might cut me off. I never liked him. Hyperbole anyway.

Try to identify with your struggles anyway. Will is done. This illustrates Russ that when people are delivered from Satan by the Holy Spirit through Christ. They may bring in ignorantly blasphemies they might not even know the doing it because they don't did not dip in school who needs teachers if we just know everything right away, while the God has given us teachers, new citizens must learn how the laws of the kingdom work in Simon is learning. Verse 25. So when they had testified, and preach the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans, so the apostles they are beginning to see the work that Christ started goes beyond the Jewish people when they were Jewish and announcing all the Samaritans going to save to.

We saw the Holy Spirit confirm this for us, which is one of the reasons why this at this transitional stage is so critical. God first use the Jews to spread the good news to other people's were all equal. So I hope we covered a lot with you know the argument about to have the gifts ceased with the just for them is no mention of speaking in tongues.

Did they speak in tongues that sign. Who knows maybe they just praise God zealously doesn't have to be tongs that confirms that you filled with the spirit they can just be you go up and start sharing the gospel with people mainly we not be biased in our theology, but may we remain objective.

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