SF237 - The Great Pretender (Acts 8 4-24)

Acts 8:4‑24; Key vv.20‑23

INTRODUCTION

Biblical Background

Persecution scattered the Christians (8:4)

Ø Stephen/Saul

Philip's ministry (8:5‑8)

Ø Philip preached Jesus (8:5‑6)

Ø God’s power was manifested (8:7)

Ø Brought joy to the city (8:8)

Basic Principle

Wherever the is a real thing counterfeits abound

Ø clothes

Ø food

This is true for revival/Christianity.

Ø Satan will always have his tares among God's wheat.

Simon was a tare, a lost church member.

He was a great pretender

Simon had... position without possession, association without identification, and response without repentance.

1A. POSITION WITHOUT POSSESSION

1B. Simon enjoyed a position of prominence (8:9-13)

He was filled with personal pride (8:9)

Proverbs 16:5 (NASB) 5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

The Rich Fool

Luke 12:16‑21 13 times he refers to himself

He enjoyed public popularity (8:10‑11)

"were giving him attention"

Luke 6:26 (NASB) 26“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.

2B. Simon imitated a possession of power

He followed his peers’ example (8:12)

Ø Many have followed a friend down and aisle without following the savior.

He made a public profession of faith (8:13)

"Believed, pisteuo;” this is the normal world for faith.

James 2:19 (NASB) 19You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

He joined the church – “baptized”

He was faithful to the church – “continued on with Philip”

2A. ASSOCIATION WITHOUT IDENTIFICATION (8:14-21)

1B. His superficial association is revealed (8:14-19)

The Apostles tested Simon’s faulty faith (8:14‑17)

Ø They validated the reality of the Samaritans’ faith.

Matthew 16:19 (NASB) 19“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Ø The keys of the Kingdom used

Jews ‑ Pentecost (Act 2:14)

Samaritans (Act 8)

Gentiles (Act 10:44)

Simon gave testimony to his faulty faith (8:18‑19)

Ø Overvalued the world (8:18)

Ø Undervalued the Spirit (8:19) ‑ put a price tag on the work of God.

2B. His spiritual identity is revealed (8:20-21)

Peter declares God’s judgment on Simon (8:20)

Ø "Perish" = refers to Hell

Ø The Spirit enabled Peter to see Simon for what he was.

Peter details God’s justice (8:21)

Ø "No part or portion"

Ø "your heart is not right"

James 2:17 (NASB) 17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

3A. RESPONSE WITHOUT REPENTANCE

1B. A call for repentance (8:22)

Luke 13:3 (NASB) 3“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

2B. A cause for repentance (8:23)

Simon was full of bitterness

Ø Poison, abominable to God

Isaiah 64:6 (NASB) 6For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Simon was a captive to sin

Galatians 4:3 (NASB) 3So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.

3B. A careless response (8:24)

Simon simply wanted to escape the consequences of his sin, he did not want to repent.

Application

THE DEATH TRACK

Many years ago, when the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was an almost unbroken wilderness, two men set out to reach a new mining camp. After traveling quite a distance, a snowstorm obliterated the path, but still they went on.

Later, they were astonished to find that apparently they were not alone on the trail, for they came upon the footprints of at least two other men. Reassured, they hurried on, hoping to reach their destination.

Suddenly an Indian appeared before them, pointed to their tracks, and exclaimed in broken English, "White man lost! Go 'round and 'round." Sure enough, they were treading what is known as "the death track." They had been walking in a circle!

Carla's testimony

Many here today have...

Position without Possession

Association with out Identification

Response without Repentance

THE GREAT PRETENDER
Acts 8:4‑24

1A. ___________________ WITHOUT POSSESSION

1B. Simon enjoyed a _________________________ of prominence (8:9-13)

He was filled with personal ______________ (8:9)

Proverbs 16:5 (NASB) 5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

He enjoyed ______________ popularity (8:10‑11)

Luke 6:26 (NASB) 26“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.

2B. Simon imitated a possession of _____________