Exposition of Acts: Faulty Faith
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. BOLD WITNESS FOR GOD
A. GOSPEL & OPPOSITION
>>1. PERSECUTION
Acts 8:1b-2 And there started on that day [of Stephen’s martyrdom] a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. (Jn 15:20 Acts 1:8; 11:19-20)
>>2. PREACHING
Acts 8:3-4 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women to prison. Now those who were scattered went about sharing the word. (Phil 3:5-6)
B. GOSPEL & TRANSFORMATION
>>1. PROCLAMATION
Acts 8:5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria, proclaiming to them the Messiah. (Lk 9:51-56; Jn 4; Lk 10:25-37)
>>2. PHENOMENON
Acts 8:6-8 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed, or lame were healed. So, there was much joy in that city.
II. BLESSED WORK OF GOD
A. GOSPEL & PRESENTATION
>>1. PROMOTION
Acts 8:9-11 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, proclaim himself as someone great. Everyone paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is ‘The Great Power of God’” [supreme deity]. And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. (Mt 2:1)
>>2. PARDON
Acts 8:12-13 But when Philip preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they believed and were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip, amazed at the signs and great miracles performed.
B. GOSPEL & INITIATION
>>1. PLEASED
Acts 8:14-17 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the holy Spirit, for He had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus only. (Mt 16:19)
>>2. PRAYER
Acts 8:17 They began laying hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
III. BLATANT WICKEDNESS TOWARD GOD
A. GOSPEL & CONFRONTATION
>>1. POWER
Acts 8:18-19 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the holy Spirit.”
>>2. PERISH
Acts 8:20-23 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor parcel in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” (Is 55:1)
B. GOSPEL & CONVERSION
>>1. PROTECTION
Acts 8:24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
>>2. PROSPER
Acts 8:25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.