It Starts Small

I have been studying Acts 8 and sharing what I am learning. I believe that the only way to “arm” ourselves against the wiles of the devil is to better understand him and his ways. Acts 8 gives an interesting account of a man named Simon. Simon tapped into evil power and lured the local people into believing he was a great man of God. He even believed he was a great man because of what he could do. We can learn about how the devil corrupts through his power and pride but also his pretense.

¹² But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Acts 8:12-13

In verse 12 we learn that Simon was a believer and verse 13 he had wonder as he beheld the miracles and signs which were done. There are two types of believers here: true believers that possess and false believers who pretend. Verse 12 are the possessors and verse 13 are the pretenders. Simon was an unbelieving believer.

What is the difference? The object of their belief. Those who were truly saved believed in Jesus. Simon believed in the miracles. He became fascinated and interested in the power that he could attain.

¹⁸ And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, ¹⁹ Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. Acts 8:18-19

Simon tried to buy the Holy Spirit from the Apostles.

²⁰ But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Acts 8:20

Peter basically tells Simon to take his money and go to hell, the Holy Spirit can not be bought.

Simon’s belief was not in the master, but the power. False religion is egocentric. It is rooted in what can I GET and not what can I GIVE? Simon had a miracles based faith and not Jesus the miracle worker. Jesus spoke over and over about this. He would accumulate a massive following. People wanted to see the miracles to believe.

⁴⁸ Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. John 4:8

Faith’s purpose is to bring us into a relationship with God. It’s not man’s will to be done, but for God’s will to be done. Faith does not use God, God uses us! Faith does not say MY WILL be done, but THY WILL be done. Faith is what God uses to do what God wants to get done on this earth.

False religion are people who only seek what they can get from God. They have never truly repented and given their life to Christ. The go to church only for what it can do for them. Simon believed but not in Jesus. He was after his own selfish gain. There are many on this earth who walk and claim salvation, but have never truly received the Holy Spirit. They are a poison to the body of Christ.

²³ For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Acts 8:23

The word gall here is translated poison. There are two things false religion brings:

#1 Bitterness: unfulfilled and unsatisfied
#2 Bondage of Iniquity: enslavement of the devil and there is no deliverance in false religion.

The meanest, cruelest, most bitter and grudgeful people you will ever find are often religious people who do not know God. Egocentrics often engage conversation about their rights. They have enough intelligence to memorize scripture and use it for their own selfish desires and to justify their words, thoughts, and actions. They are full of devilish pride and devilish power. they lend themselves to the devil and commit all sorts of horrible acts and deeds in secret, but on the outside they act perfect.

We need to listen carefully to our teachers, pastors, and mentors. We need to be vigilant in watching their actions and to look beyond what is said. Their own actions and words will betray them and reveal what is really going on in their hearts.

If you’ve found yourself in this place, what can be done? Repentance.

²³ For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Proverbs 28:13

²³ For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. James 4:8

13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joel 2:13

It’s not enough to repent, but you must also receive Christ as your savior. Believe upon him and not what he has done.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

⁴⁷ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:47

⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9

These last three days of writing have hit close to home for me. When I was a kid I made a profession of faith. To be honest I was a scared child who did not want to go to hell as the preacher spoke one stormy sunday night. Maybe it was the thunderstorm that caused great fear, or the fire and brimstone preaching of what hell would be like. I knew I didn’t want to be there the rest of my life, but I do not believe I fully understood what it meant that Jesus was my Savior. I believed in a false religion that if I spoke a prayer I was saved. It was someone else’s rehearsed prayer. My prayer did not come from my heart. I did not make a heart confession that night, I made a mind confession.

For the next decade or so I had assumed I was saved. Yet, my life was empty and nothing testified of Christ. I was just a natural man with no spiritual discernment. I did not love God and had no desire to serve or seek him. I do remember the Sunday morning I realized my mind confession did not save me. A few weeks prior I had come very close to committing suicide. I was in some pretty deep darkness. I was exhausted emotionally, physically and spiritually. I felt empty. I do not remember what the preacher even preached. I was not paying attention. I sat there thinking how stupid it was to come to church sunday after sunday. I looked at my husband and thought about how much of a dog and pony show it all was. There was no God in our lives. No work of grace or love. God was not the center of our lives.

WHat on earth was I even doing there sitting in that row in that church? Why was I even there? I was a fake and a farce. I thought about that night as a kid. Was I saved? Was any of this even real? Who was God? What did he want of me? Why was I even here on this earth? We all bowed our heads to pray the invitation and something just happen in that moment. I knew I was not saved. I was not right. I went to the alter that morning and had a long conversation with God. I did not know if I was saved but I was not leaving until I was right with God.

I knew what salvation was, but I never received it in my heart until that moment. I never truly confessed Christ as my Savior and received him in that moment. The next 20ish years were a long wandering in the desert, and some days I get discouraged it took me so long to tear my death clothes off, but in those 20 years my Heavenly Father built a testimony in my to share with others. There is hope in suffering and pain. There is freedom from fear. There is liberty and victory that comes through Jesus when we finally lay our lives down and let him have complete control. We can not straddle the word and heaven. We have to pick one side or the other. Jesus didn’t come to heal us, he came to make us whole.

Salvation is not what can I get from God, salvation is what can God do through me? Do not let your life be like Simon and think you can fool God with your pride and evil power to get from him what you desire. Only a truly repented heart and surrender of your life can you find happiness and joy and peace. DO not let the devil lead you on a path of your own made up false religion to get what you think you desire and are owed by God.