Watching prophesy being fulfilled, and this world in the sick shape it's in....I have to wonder....just who are people following?? Matthew 7:14 tells us, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Revelation tells us of all the signs to watch for and all the things to come before Jesus' return. I know things will be worse, instead of better....but I have to believe that so many, so called Christians, have been given a counterfeit! I am not judging, but upon inspecting their fruits...they don't have the attributes of a child of God.
Now let me explain the title...bear with me. In my Sunday School class, we are studying the book of Acts. It has been a wonderful study, and I have learned so much! We see how Jesus continued with the disciples for 40 days after His resurrection. We see Him ascend to the Father and how the disciples waited in prayer for 10 days in the upper room for the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to come. We see the day of Pentecost, and all the souls saved, and the beginning of the church. The religious world did not like it one bit! They had crucified and buried this so called 'son of God', this good man, this prophet, the person who was totally messing up their 'religion'. They thought they were done, and could continue on their own way. They brought Peter and John before the Sanhedrin council, who warned them to stop preaching about this Jesus. However, they continued to serve the Lord, and the church continued to grow. They again brought them before the council, they also put them in jail and beat them, again, telling them to stop spreading the gospel. But, Peter an John continued to preach, and God continued to bless them.
Well, Satan couldn't get rid of God's people, His church that way, so he began to work in the church. A man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira lied about what they had given to the church, and God killed them. God will not allow the destruction of His message being sent out! The church continued to grow, so much so that the disciples couldn't do all the work needed. So they appointed deacons to help. Stephen was one, and we know that the council falsely accused him of blaspheming against God, the church, the law, and Moses....and as he stood in the boldness of God and preached to them, they were so angered that they rose up and stoned him to death.
In walks Saul now. He is a hater of the church. He was killing anyone who proclaimed the name of Jesus. He went further than the council did. The council brought them in front of the council...Saul would go into their own houses and drag them out and kill them. He didn't try to just kill the leaders of the church; he killed the lay members as well! This scared the church members, so they began to spread out through other cities. But, they didn't stop preaching His Word! This was fulfilling God's will, the gospel must be spread to all nations!
Now, in chapter 8, we see that Philip went down to Samaria and preached. He also performed miracles in Jesus' name. Here is the point I am trying to make.....A certain man called Simon, came out and saw Philip preach and perform these miracles. You see, Simon was a magician. He had bewitched the Samaritans with his tricks for years, and now here is Philip, taking his thunder. Philip was taking Simon's followers. In verse 13 we see where Simon himself believed also....or did he? If we stop at this verse, we think...awww....that's great! All is well....but hold on..Peter and John come to town because they had heard that the Samaritans had received the Word of God and now needed the Holy Spirit...now I'm not saying that you don't get the Spirit when you get saved...this scripture isn't saying that either. This was the first church and the beginning of the spread of the gospel, and in order for the Jews to accept the Samaritans...Peter and John had to come. Anyway...
Simon has followed Philip around and has seen his powers... now he sees Peter and John performing miracles.....and.....he wants in on it! He can't take it anymore! The façade he wore was now gone. Simon had no humility, no desire to do God's will....it was all about him! Peter quickly put him in his place and told him his heart was not right with God! Simon may have had Philip believing he was saved, but Ole Peter saw through him! I don't know that Simon ever really got it though. Even with Peter's reprimand, instead of falling to his knees and repenting...he asked Peter to pray that nothing bad would come upon him.....again, Simon was worried about self, instead of serving the Lord!
Back to my question, Are you following a magician, or are you following the Master? Do a self examination and see if you truly have salvation. See if you are truly serving the Lord and not self, or other people, or pleasures of this world. The gate to destruction is very broad and many go therein...don't be part of the crowd! Get in God's Word and study it, know what you believe! God forbid anyone die and go to hell by listening to false doctrines, false beliefs! Try the spirits....God will prove Himself, every time! Just because it sounds good, or the crowd seems to follow, doesn't mean it is real. There are many that seem to have a servant's heart, but they are only in it for themselves. Don't fall prey to Satan's devices! Get rooted and grounded in God's Word, and then stand boldly for the Lord! Satan's façade will have to fall! There is victory in Jesus! Try it and see!!
