Now a Magician… Really?

Read: Acts 8:9-25 (part 1)

Belief is not a one time event. If you don’t think so, reflect back to your childhood. Did you believe in Santa Claus, monsters, aliens, the Tooth Fairy, or Bigfoot? Belief, much like “following”, is an ongoing work. To have believed once in the past is worthless, like an adult saying they still believe in Santa Claus. Belief is also something that grows over time… strengthens… develops. This is important when we think of “believing” in Christ… when we speak of the people of God as “believers”.

This is precisely what we are faced with here in Acts 8. Our ideas around “accepting” Christ and being “saved” are challenged. The truth is that our journey towards the Lord is a process, and one that God is more committed to than even we are. It is God who is calling a people to himself. If you don’t think that is true, just read this passage again. It is not the Samaritan’s “belief” that renders them the Holy Spirit. (v.14-16) It is not even their act of getting baptized that unlocks the seal of the Spirit of God. This is part of Simon the magician's misunderstanding, he thinks that the power to give/receive the Holy Spirit rests in human hands. (v.19) Peter makes this mistaken way of thinking clear: ““May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!” (v.20) The grace of God cannot be bought with money nor human acts. The gift of being “born again” - born of the “Spirit” - is exactly that… a GIFT… and only GOD gives it. (cf. John 3 /Nicodemus) We cannot give it to ourselves through our acts or even our “beliefs”. This is why not all “belief” is a “saving belief”. There is more to the journey that God is bringing us on. It is not just a matter of believing once… like punching a ticket… but rather an ongoing trust and belief that is accompanied by being made spiritually alive… being “born again”… born of the Spirit. (cf. John 3) This truth makes even more sense when we read Jesus’ parable of the sower. (cf. Matt 13:1-23) The question is not whether a “seed” sprouts up or germinates, but whether it endures and multiplies!

My brother in law Josh used the term “withheld” this morning regarding this passage. God ``withheld” the Holy Spirit from these Samaritans and Simon on purpose. He was up to something! God was working on them and growing their trust and belief. He was refining what they thought about him and his son, Jesus. He was getting them ready to come alive with his Spirit. He wanted Peter and John to have to go to the Samaritans. Remember, the Samaritans were enemies of the Jews. God wanted his Apostles to see first hand that what he was doing didn’t stop with just the Jews… the Kingdom of God is expanding to bring in other people and cultures… even those we may consider our enemies. I think this was as much about bringing Peter and John to Samaria… out of their comfort zone… as it was about Simon and the Samaritans getting the Holy Spirit. God wanted the Samaritans to see these Jewish Christian leaders come and affirm that they were now ONE…part of the same movement… the same family. The Samaritans had already seen “magic” in Simon. They needed to understand that this was utterly different! The power and work that would accompany the coming of the Holy Spirit was rooted in CHRIST, and not to be confused or commingled with the “dark magic” of Simon.

How is God stretching your belief? Is your faith a “one time event” where you believed in the past, got baptized, and then went on with your life as if it was simply a matter of getting your ticket punched? Do you believe in Christ today the way that some adults “believe” in Santa Claus? Do you feel as though God is “withholding” something from you… that there is a breakthrough waiting to happen? God is growing your trust and belief… your faith. God is calling you to himself. He does not entrust you with those things you are not ready for. There is more to your journey with Christ than just having “believed” at one point. (Remember, even demons “believe” cf. James 2:19) Not all “belief” is a “saving belief” … just as not all plants that sprout are necessarily destined to multiply… some wither and die. God DOES NOT plant his children someplace just to watch them wither and die! Each and every day we are faced with moments where we are called to believe… where we are tested. Each and every day these moments give us an opportunity to experience the Father, Son, and Spirit within us. Each and every day, God is giving us moments to have our hearts refined… the way that Simon did here in Acts 8:22. (More on Simon later) Who are the “Samaritans” that God is going to force you to go to so that you can see he loves them as well and is bringing them into the family… joining them with YOU in Christ? Share with someone around you today one of the things you are having a hard time believing… trusting in… and let them come alongside you. Maybe you feel like you haven’t had the Holy Spirit “fall” on you yet… well today could be the day! Ask the Lord to reveal himself to you today. Ask him to send a proverbial “Peter and John”. They need it as much as you do! Love you guys. - JDP