A Tale Of Two Messengers
Unless the Holy Spirit is in a man, he may not know the difference between these two messengers. We see their story In Acts 8:1-11 (New King James Version), Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.
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, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.
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. 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.
Evidently, there was a lot of supernatural wonders in this city. In the first part, we see Philip, a deacon of the first century church preaching Christ to the citizens of Samaria. The people payed attention and were rewarded with deliverance (unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed); various healings (many who were paralyzed and lame were healed); great joy (there was great joy in that city). God had come to their rescue by sending His messenger to them.
Contrast this with the other messenger; his name is Simon and the bible describes him as a sorcerer (enchanter). You can immediately guess what he preached to the people; not Christ like Philip did because a man who practices sorcery has nothing to do with Jesus Christ. He preached himself (claiming that he was someone great). He promised them wonders but they had to acknowledge him as the power. Have you heard pastors say, “tell your sister to come to our church if she wants her deliverance?” As if the power to deliver a person from demon oppression belonged to them? If you hear such a person, even if he wears his collar backwards and speaks from a pulpit, according to this bible passage, he is practicing sorcery. But there were lots of people who did not know the difference and gave this sorcerer, this messenger of Satan their attention. They shared his message of self-aggrandizement on social media, inviting all their friends to attend his ‘services’ to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest). They helped promote him (saying, “This man is the great power of God.”). Apparently, he had become entrenched in their lives; they could no longer tell right from wrong (And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time).
How does a sorcerer astonish people? By perpetrating a religious Ponzi scheme. Satan has nothing that he did not steal. So, his messengers give a man a house, a car and a wife, say. He rejoices and invites others into the scheme. In order to give the new members their own ‘dividends’, he has to deprive the first group of their car, which is suddenly repossessed, he has to collect the house which suddenly goes into foreclosure; in addition, he takes the job and they find that their wife wants a divorce. Their later end is worse than the former. Why? They have allowed a spiritual hacker into their lives because they loved the miracle more than the real miracle-worker. They assumed that every supernatural event was from God. Not so. It is better to have a personal relationship with God so that He will send His messenger to rescue you. He is ready.
Please note that the passage contains a second ‘but’, meaning that all that this sorcerer had been doing was about to be zeroed out. This time, Simon, the one who had been serving as a messenger of Satan to deceive and enchant the people, knew better than his victims.
He himself decided to become wise and seek Jesus. He gave his heart and life to Jesus (Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip).
Unfortunately for those he had previously deceived, and who may end up in hell, they did not realize that Simon went behind their backs and obtained his passport to Heaven. His name is Jesus, the way, the truth and the life.
Maranatha!
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, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.
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. 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.
Evidently, there was a lot of supernatural wonders in this city. In the first part, we see Philip, a deacon of the first century church preaching Christ to the citizens of Samaria. The people payed attention and were rewarded with deliverance (unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed); various healings (many who were paralyzed and lame were healed); great joy (there was great joy in that city). God had come to their rescue by sending His messenger to them.
Contrast this with the other messenger; his name is Simon and the bible describes him as a sorcerer (enchanter). You can immediately guess what he preached to the people; not Christ like Philip did because a man who practices sorcery has nothing to do with Jesus Christ. He preached himself (claiming that he was someone great). He promised them wonders but they had to acknowledge him as the power. Have you heard pastors say, “tell your sister to come to our church if she wants her deliverance?” As if the power to deliver a person from demon oppression belonged to them? If you hear such a person, even if he wears his collar backwards and speaks from a pulpit, according to this bible passage, he is practicing sorcery. But there were lots of people who did not know the difference and gave this sorcerer, this messenger of Satan their attention. They shared his message of self-aggrandizement on social media, inviting all their friends to attend his ‘services’ to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest). They helped promote him (saying, “This man is the great power of God.”). Apparently, he had become entrenched in their lives; they could no longer tell right from wrong (And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time).
How does a sorcerer astonish people? By perpetrating a religious Ponzi scheme. Satan has nothing that he did not steal. So, his messengers give a man a house, a car and a wife, say. He rejoices and invites others into the scheme. In order to give the new members their own ‘dividends’, he has to deprive the first group of their car, which is suddenly repossessed, he has to collect the house which suddenly goes into foreclosure; in addition, he takes the job and they find that their wife wants a divorce. Their later end is worse than the former. Why? They have allowed a spiritual hacker into their lives because they loved the miracle more than the real miracle-worker. They assumed that every supernatural event was from God. Not so. It is better to have a personal relationship with God so that He will send His messenger to rescue you. He is ready.
Please note that the passage contains a second ‘but’, meaning that all that this sorcerer had been doing was about to be zeroed out. This time, Simon, the one who had been serving as a messenger of Satan to deceive and enchant the people, knew better than his victims.
He himself decided to become wise and seek Jesus. He gave his heart and life to Jesus (Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip).
Unfortunately for those he had previously deceived, and who may end up in hell, they did not realize that Simon went behind their backs and obtained his passport to Heaven. His name is Jesus, the way, the truth and the life.
Maranatha!
