The Gospel On The Move
"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." - Acts 8:25
There is always something behind the movement of God. Many of us have moved to a new city for jobs, family, military service, school, or relationship reasons. That might be the circumstantial reason for your move. But God always has missional purposes behind His movement. He put you right where you are today for a specific reason. He placed you on your street and in your workplace to bring the joy of the Gospel to those exact people.
God has been doing this since the days of the early church.
In the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit descended upon the believers gathered in Jerusalem. Then, because of intense persecution, those believers were scattered out from the city into the surrounding regions of Judea and Samaria.
This movement is recorded in our text today through the ministry of Philip. He was one of the seven men entrusted with the care of widows in chapter 6. After his colleague Stephen was martyred, believers were targeted and scattered. But would this stop the work of the Spirit? Absolutely not. In the scattering, the Spirit reveals the true intentions of our hearts.
As we look at the contrast between Philip and a man named Simon the Magician, we find helpful Holy Spirit Indicators (HSIs) and Selfish Heart Intentions (SHIs) to help us discern our own motives in ministry.
Holy Spirit Indicator 1: Powerful Gospel Preaching
When the church was scattered, they became circumstantial missionaries. Philip went to Samaria. This was not a highly regarded place due to historic animosity between Jews and Samaritans. Yet here we find them receptive to the Good News. They responded beautifully to the preaching of the Word.
Where the Holy Spirit is at work, He moves people to proclaim the greatness of Christ. Ministry is never about us and our greatness. It is always about the greatness of God's Son. When Jesus is proclaimed, the Holy Spirit works powerfully.
Selfish Heart Intention 1: Self-Proclaimed Greatness
On the other hand, where selfish hearts are at work, there is self-proclaimed greatness. Consider how we are introduced to Simon in the text. He is known as Simon the Great. He is a magician and a sorcerer.
Whenever God does something amazing, the enemy tries to offer a counterfeit. Simon wanted people to pay attention to him because he made himself out to be great. We have to watch out for this in our own hearts and in the lives of those who influence us. Are we pointing to Jesus, or are we pointing to ourselves?
Holy Spirit Indicator 2: Real Life Change
Note the difference in why people paid attention to Philip. It was not because of a flashy show. It was because of real transformation. Unclean spirits left. Paralysis was healed. The lame walked.
Where the Holy Spirit is at work, real life change happens. This happens physically, but it also happens spiritually as old habits are left behind. It happens relationally as marriages are healed. It happens mentally as fearful people learn to walk by faith. This transformation is real, verifiable, and lived out in community.
Selfish Heart Intention 2: Public Posturing and Shameful Gain
We see none of that real life change with Simon. Instead, we see public posturing and a desire for shameful gain. At first read, Simon's story seems amazing. He claimed to believe and was even baptized. But the Holy Spirit quickly brought his selfish intentions to the light through the apostle Peter.
Simon saw the power of the Holy Spirit and thought he could buy it. He treated the Holy Spirit like a resource to be purchased rather than God Himself dwelling within us. Simon wanted to monetize the Gospel and use the Holy Spirit to get rich.
We must watch out for posturing and shameful gain in our own lives. Do we obey the Lord only to get blessed by Him? Do we put on spiritual masks to look holy at church?
The Call to Repentance
Peter immediately called Simon to repentance. The Holy Spirit is not a force to be wielded or bought. He is God, and He wields us for Gospel purposes.
The call to repentance is a call to reorientation. It is a step to get back on track. Sin deceives us, and our passions distract us. God's Spirit calls us back to repentance to reorient our thinking, desires, and actions back to a vertical focus on Him. If you ask the Lord for forgiveness genuinely from your heart, He will forgive you. You have only to ask Him.
Because of the Gospel movement in Samaria, the whole city experienced great joy. Joy is not a prerequisite for following Jesus. It is a consequence of walking in faith and obedience.
As we immerse ourselves in the history of God at work, we see the joy the early church had amidst opposition. Pray that the consequence of your faith would be joy. Pray that our church will have a reputation of joy in our city. The Gospel is for joy, not just a job. The mission is for joy.
God is behind the movement and the scattering. As the Gospel goes forward, joy comes to the world one soul and one city at a time. Let us repent, and let Him make us glad.
Closing Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the movement of your Spirit in our lives and in our community. Help us to serve you with pure hearts, to seek your joy above all else, and to bring your love to everyone we encounter. Lead us to true repentance and fill us with your lasting joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
There is always something behind the movement of God. Many of us have moved to a new city for jobs, family, military service, school, or relationship reasons. That might be the circumstantial reason for your move. But God always has missional purposes behind His movement. He put you right where you are today for a specific reason. He placed you on your street and in your workplace to bring the joy of the Gospel to those exact people.
God has been doing this since the days of the early church.
In the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit descended upon the believers gathered in Jerusalem. Then, because of intense persecution, those believers were scattered out from the city into the surrounding regions of Judea and Samaria.
This movement is recorded in our text today through the ministry of Philip. He was one of the seven men entrusted with the care of widows in chapter 6. After his colleague Stephen was martyred, believers were targeted and scattered. But would this stop the work of the Spirit? Absolutely not. In the scattering, the Spirit reveals the true intentions of our hearts.
As we look at the contrast between Philip and a man named Simon the Magician, we find helpful Holy Spirit Indicators (HSIs) and Selfish Heart Intentions (SHIs) to help us discern our own motives in ministry.
Holy Spirit Indicator 1: Powerful Gospel Preaching
When the church was scattered, they became circumstantial missionaries. Philip went to Samaria. This was not a highly regarded place due to historic animosity between Jews and Samaritans. Yet here we find them receptive to the Good News. They responded beautifully to the preaching of the Word.
Where the Holy Spirit is at work, He moves people to proclaim the greatness of Christ. Ministry is never about us and our greatness. It is always about the greatness of God's Son. When Jesus is proclaimed, the Holy Spirit works powerfully.
Selfish Heart Intention 1: Self-Proclaimed Greatness
On the other hand, where selfish hearts are at work, there is self-proclaimed greatness. Consider how we are introduced to Simon in the text. He is known as Simon the Great. He is a magician and a sorcerer.
Whenever God does something amazing, the enemy tries to offer a counterfeit. Simon wanted people to pay attention to him because he made himself out to be great. We have to watch out for this in our own hearts and in the lives of those who influence us. Are we pointing to Jesus, or are we pointing to ourselves?
Holy Spirit Indicator 2: Real Life Change
Note the difference in why people paid attention to Philip. It was not because of a flashy show. It was because of real transformation. Unclean spirits left. Paralysis was healed. The lame walked.
Where the Holy Spirit is at work, real life change happens. This happens physically, but it also happens spiritually as old habits are left behind. It happens relationally as marriages are healed. It happens mentally as fearful people learn to walk by faith. This transformation is real, verifiable, and lived out in community.
Selfish Heart Intention 2: Public Posturing and Shameful Gain
We see none of that real life change with Simon. Instead, we see public posturing and a desire for shameful gain. At first read, Simon's story seems amazing. He claimed to believe and was even baptized. But the Holy Spirit quickly brought his selfish intentions to the light through the apostle Peter.
Simon saw the power of the Holy Spirit and thought he could buy it. He treated the Holy Spirit like a resource to be purchased rather than God Himself dwelling within us. Simon wanted to monetize the Gospel and use the Holy Spirit to get rich.
We must watch out for posturing and shameful gain in our own lives. Do we obey the Lord only to get blessed by Him? Do we put on spiritual masks to look holy at church?
The Call to Repentance
Peter immediately called Simon to repentance. The Holy Spirit is not a force to be wielded or bought. He is God, and He wields us for Gospel purposes.
The call to repentance is a call to reorientation. It is a step to get back on track. Sin deceives us, and our passions distract us. God's Spirit calls us back to repentance to reorient our thinking, desires, and actions back to a vertical focus on Him. If you ask the Lord for forgiveness genuinely from your heart, He will forgive you. You have only to ask Him.
Because of the Gospel movement in Samaria, the whole city experienced great joy. Joy is not a prerequisite for following Jesus. It is a consequence of walking in faith and obedience.
As we immerse ourselves in the history of God at work, we see the joy the early church had amidst opposition. Pray that the consequence of your faith would be joy. Pray that our church will have a reputation of joy in our city. The Gospel is for joy, not just a job. The mission is for joy.
God is behind the movement and the scattering. As the Gospel goes forward, joy comes to the world one soul and one city at a time. Let us repent, and let Him make us glad.
Closing Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the movement of your Spirit in our lives and in our community. Help us to serve you with pure hearts, to seek your joy above all else, and to bring your love to everyone we encounter. Lead us to true repentance and fill us with your lasting joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Posted in Redemption Blog
Posted in Philip, Simon, Stephen, Holy Spirit Indicators, Selfish Heart Intentions, Holy Spirit, Joy
Posted in Philip, Simon, Stephen, Holy Spirit Indicators, Selfish Heart Intentions, Holy Spirit, Joy
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