Today in Acts 8:14-40 we see something about how a Christian walk begins and continues…
First, we see Peter and John traveling to Samaria because some had received the Word of God. Today, we might think great they are saved so they are good with God. Today’s text shows two examples of why that is just the beginning, not the end.
v16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
So what were they missing? In some church circles just being baptized relationship with Jesus or not is the be-all and end-all. But we see the “non of them” the Holy Spirit was not in them.
Remember the Jesus told us that He would leave and send the Holy Spirit to teach us everything and dwell inside us. Jesus said it so it must be an important thing to being in the “way” of everlasting life and destination Heaven.
Has the Holy Spirit fallen on you? Not you fall on the ground, but do you feel
Side note: We see Simon here as he sees all this and he wants to buy some of this action, this power. We see this is the church today, people claim to have the power to do to heal and give the life-altering gift of Jesus Christ – If you just pay them some money. We will see Peter in this text rebuke Simon:
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
And Peter prays for Simon:
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
And Simon accepts the prayer, but doesn’t pray for forgivness himself… which kind of shows the Peter was right that his heart is not right….
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
That was the last of Simon. If Simon would have done great things God probably would have shown us but was silent and that silence is a teaching for us to know that our hearts have to be right… right where? In my sighte? no. In the sight of God – who is the just judge of everything.
Also, this text testifies about Philip and his ear that was tuned into the listening and obeying God. And about a eunich who was much like the people of Samaria that had received the Word and believed but were still missing the Holy Spirits presence in their lives.
This man had access and was in charge of all the Queens “treasure” which obviously included some scrolls of Esaias the prophet. This man was reading them. Imagine that. Reading the Word of God!
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Philip listened not just to God but to the man and heard him reading and asked him if he understood it. Do we ask people if they understand it? Have questions?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
The man needed to know who was this many that Esaias was writing about? Doesn’t everyone????
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
And Philip “opened his mouth” Do you open your mouth? Is your mouth prepared in season and out of season to exhort with longsuffering and correct Biblical doctrine or just your feelings?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Philip “preached unto him, Jesus”. Jesus is Truth.
Then Philip baptized the man at his urgent request.
We need to be ready to tell others that need to go the next step in relationship with God, not just in doing ministry work or duties at church. We’ve gotten things a little backward nowadays where it matters more what ministry you do than if you actually read your Bible. Is it urgent that you read Truth each day? How else can you answer the questions from people that God sends you each day? If Gods sending nobody, perhaps He’s still waiting for you to get ready.
Sure perhaps you know where the food pantry is and the hours but what about where the bread of life is contained? You know where the face masks are so they won’t get covid19 but what difference does it make if either way mask or no mask they don’t know Jesus and are going to Hell?
Maybe your answer is to tell them to call pastor? God sent them to You. You are to be prepared not to stuff their dead bodies with food but to feed their souls with the Word of God.
God tells us we are in a spiritual battle for our souls and the answer is being armored in the FULL armor of God not just in your favorite books of the Bible – sometimes.
If God has told you read the WHOLE BIBLE and you refuse because you got other things to do, then you are rebelling against God, and against what God has written (which is truth probably the only truth you and I read all day is going to be the Bible) He wrote this to save us. Don’t ignore what God says, it’s the wrong heart.
Are you ready? 2 Timothy 4
It is written:
I CHARGE THEE! This is an order. Sounds important. It is. Why? Because Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick (quickened by God, whom is the Word) (alive), and the dead (dead people walking towards hell) at his appearing (after your last breath) shall appear before God to be judged. Not if you said a prayer… but if you followed in The Way, HIS Way, not devily’s way. God will judge if you have the heart that He tried to put in you or not.
The devil can convince us that we have a heart for God because we did this or that, but devily is a liar and murderer. God will know the truth about our hearts. And each day we need to search them to see if contained therein is anything that is wicked and repent and be changed.
Why is that? v 3
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine… “
Sounds like god is talking to the CHURCH – He is. He’s talking about the guy or gal that says they are “good with God”, that has been beguiled by the devil into a lie.
What is the opposite of sound doctrine? God tells us “.. but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears…”
I don’t know how many times I hear someone tell me they don’t like the Jesus of the KJV bible they like another version that has a nicer Jesus, a non-judgemental Jesus.
They choose a fake Jesus…why? because the fake Jesus makes them feel better about their sin, their hard hearts, their death they are walking in because of the lies of other Jesus’ in the church. The jesus frauds.
The Bible says Ye shall be Judged… that’s the way it is.
v4 “…And they shall turn AWAY their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables…”
You can’t go to heaven folks if you’ve turned from the Truth because the Truth is the REAL JESUS. And if you have you’ve turned to the Jesus of Fantasy Land.
And despite what the world taught us Fantasies are selfish lies which put us as the boss when Jesus says we are the servant.
Some people like fantasy land and which to spend eternity there… Well, it didn’t turn out too well for Pinnochio.
For those who love truth, we need to look to the race and Pauls words:
v7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished course, I have kept The Faith.”
Notice the word course? It’s not just running like wild men and women our own paths, through darkness and light and chasing our tails around with works, it’s God’s course, the one that He has for you not the one you made up today because it felt better to your wicked heart. Seek daily Gods course and beware of devily’s detours to hell.
Keep keeping the Faith in the real Jesus and turn from the fake Jesus that we see in the Hollywood movies of people who wear a cross and do ungodly things and music that they preach and sing about a Jesus that is reckless and holy water which does not exist anywhere in Gods Word.
Keep the Faith!