Sermon Tone Analysis

Carry on the Work of God's Church!

Acts 8:9-25

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - Dec. 29, 2013

BACKGROUND:

*As we continue to explore Acts 8, remember that the chapter began with a great travesty and tragedy for God's church: Stephen the deacon was stoned to death for boldly proclaiming the truth about Jesus Christ.

And in Acts 8:2, "devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him."

*But the church's tribulation had only begun, because Acts 8:1 says: "At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles."

*Of course, Saul of Tarsus was one of the ringleaders of this persecution against God's church.

But we know that in the very next chapter, Saul will meet Jesus on the Road to Damascus.

There, Saul will be saved, and transformed into the beloved Apostle Paul.

*Satan had a plan, but God's plan is infinitely greater!

And God is in the business of bringing good out of the evil that happens in our world.

That's what happened here in Acts 8:3-4:

3.

As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

4. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

*Satan tried to destroy the infant church.

But just like the wind blowing on a dandelion, God scattered the seed of His Word everywhere the Christians went.

*In vs. 5-8, God sent Philip to Samaria, and he began to preach the good news about Jesus Christ.

There was a fantastic response to the Gospel from those people who had been deceived for so long.

Many miracles were done.

Many people were being saved.

And in vs. 8, "there was great joy in that city."

*Let's read vs. 9-25 to see what happened next.

INTRODUCTION:

*When World War II began, the British government distributed posters to encourage resolve among their countrymen.

The first series of posters went out in September 1939, and carried this message: "YOUR COURAGE YOUR CHEERFULNESS YOUR RESOLUTION WILL BRING US VICTORY."

*As the war got much worse, a second poster was released with these words: FREEDOM IS IN PERIL DEFEND IT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT.

They were scattered throughout the countryside and plastered on trains, restaurants, stores, and pubs.

*A third poster was created with two and a half million copies.

But this third poster wasn't used, because the British government was saving it for an extreme crisis, like an invasion by Germany.

Then, the crisis poster was basically lost for 60 years, until a copy was discovered at an auction of old books.

*And though this third poster was never used during the war, it's probably the only one you have ever seen.

It contained just five words: "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON." Once found, it quickly escalated in popularity and was put on coffee mugs, postcards, and posters.

People appreciated the simple but strong message to resist anxiety in the face of extreme adversity.

(1)

*Carry on.

That's what God's church was doing here in Acts 8.

They had faced extreme adversity.

One of their most beloved and fruitful leaders had been brutally murdered by the High Court of the Jews, but the church carried on.

Most of the other Christians had been uprooted from their homes and scattered to the winds, but the church carried on.

*How can we carry on the work of God's church today?

1. First: It must be by preaching God’s Word (vs.

9-13).

*The only way we can continue the work of God's church is by preaching the Word of God!

But why is it so important for us to preach God's Word?

[1] One reason why is the problem of false teachers.

*This world is plagued by false teachers today, and this was one of the biggest problems here in Acts 8.

In this case, the false teacher was named Simon.

And we see him in vs. 9-13:

9.

But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,

10. to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God.''

11.

And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.

12.

But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

13.

Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

*At first glance, we might think Simon got saved in vs. 13, but the rest of this passage proves this was not the case.

*John Phillips explained: "Simon's faith was spurious (or counterfeit) from the start.

He was not won by Philip's message, but by Philip's miracles.

Simon 'believed,' it says.

But what did he believe?

Whatever it was he believed, it did not regenerate his soul.

He was as lost after he 'believed' as he was before he 'believed,' as the sequel of the story makes clear.

Simon deceived Philip.

Perhaps he even deceived himself.

What Simon coveted was not the Master but the miracles, not the Savior but the signs."

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*God's Church still faces the problem of false teachers today.

We still face men and women who deny Christ, and claim that all kinds of evil are good.

That's one reason why it's so crucial for us to preach God's Word.

[2] But a greater reason for our preaching is the power of God's truth.

*Simon wasn't truly saved, but many of the Samaritans were saved!

So vs. 12 says: "But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized."

*Many of the Samaritans were saved!

And they were saved by the power of God's Word.

That's why in Romans 1:16, Paul could say: "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

*The gospel of Christ is still the power of God to salvation for everyone who truly believes!

But the gospel of Jesus Christ must be preached!

*The Apostle Paul strongly affirmed this truth in Romans 10:6-15, where he said:

6. . .

The righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' '' (that is, to bring Christ down from above)

7. or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?'''

(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

8.

But what does it say?

"The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart'' (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

9. that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10.

For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.

11.

For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.''

12.

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.

13.

For "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.''

14.

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?

And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?

And how shall they hear without a preacher?

15.

And how shall they preach unless they are sent?

As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!''

*No wonder Acts 8:25 closes this passage by saying: "So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans."

2. We cannot carry on the work of God's church without preaching God’s Word!

But we also must have the presence of God's Spirit.

*And thank God, we do have the presence of His Holy Spirit today!

The same Holy Spirit of God we see in Acts 8 is here with us right now, and living in us now, if we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

*But as we look at vs. 14-17, we do see a difference in the way God's Holy Spirit was received:

14.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

15. who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

16.

For as yet He had fallen upon none of them.

They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.