Simon is Rebuked

October 4, 2015 Background Scripture: Acts 8:9 – 25 Lesson Passage: Acts 8:9 – 24 Old habits are difficult to break. Even after we are saved, there is something about the comfort of the familiar that attempts to sneak back into our daily routines. How easily we are derailed from the truth of the gospel and turned again to the works of the flesh. Simon of Samaria is not one for us to look down on or hold in contempt as though we are better than him. Simon, for many of us, could easily be our alter ego. Simon, like many of us, attempted to combine his previous lifestyle without Christ with his recently received new birth in Christ. Before his conversion and regeneration, Simon was well known and respected as a magician. Many accepted Simon’s magic as a sign that he was approved of God. One could say that he was admired by all from the well-heeled to those without shoes. It’s not easy to walk away from a lifestyle that has that type of notoriety. After Simon heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and believed, he was baptized and began to spend time with Philip the Evangelist. He was impressed with the great signs and miracles wrought by God through Philip. As a practicing magician for a very long time, Simon knew that the miracles of God were real. For many years Simon gained fame by using magic to deceive people. Now he had the pleasure to be around someone who had the true power of God operating through him to work miracles. Philip’s preaching brought a spiritual revival to Samaria. The word of this got back to the church in Jerusalem. The apostles in Jerusalem sent Peter and John to Samaria—probably to confirm and strengthen the faith of the new converts. Peter and John prayed for the Christians of Samaria to receive the Holy Ghost through the manifestation of signs. We know that all who receive Jesus Christ are sealed with the Holy Ghost. Today’s lesson shows that being saved and sealed does not necessarily equate to being empowered with signs and wonders. Peter and John prayed that the salvation of the Christians in Samaria would be clearly shown with signs and wonders. After the apostles prayed, they laid hands on them and the Samaritans received the signs of the Holy Ghost’s presence in them. This was beyond what Simon had been seeing in the work of God through Philip. Now, Samaritan Christians were demonstrating the presence of the Holy Ghost in them and Simon wanted what the apostles had. Simon wanted to be able to lay his hands on people and see the gifts of the Holy Ghost operate in them. Simon offered to purchase this ability from Peter and John. Simon apparently missed the step involving prayer to God that the Samaritan Christians might receive the infilling of the Holy Ghost. This was done prior to the laying on of hands. Simon wanted to be able to just lay his hands on people and they receive the infilling to show forth the presence of the Holy Ghost in them. Peter rebuked Simon for such a selfish request. Simon’s request did not consider God’s will in the administration of spiritual gifts. He wanted that right for himself. At this point Simon set a great example for any Christian who gets out of line. Simon requested prayer of the apostles that God would forgive him and not punish him for his error. The Holy Ghost gives gifts as He wills to those He chooses. Simon made an error and was rebuked. How do we respond to being rebuked for our error? Robert C. Hudson September 21, 2015

Standing Firm Against Opposition

September 27, 2015 Background Scripture: Acts 7:1 – 53 Lesson Passage: Acts 7:2 – 4, 8 – 10, 17, 33, 34, 45 – 47, 52, 53 Let’s face it, it is easy to stand firm when there is no opposition. However, when there is opposition, then firmness often becomes relative depending on the threat of consequences from the opposition. Put another way, when there is no opposition, can we really be sure just how firm our stance is? If opposition does nothing else, it tests our fortitude. Andrae’ Crouch wrote “For if I’d never had a problem I wouldn’t know that He could solve them, I’d never know what faith in God could do.” This is very much in line with the thinking of the Apostle James who declared that faith without works is dead. “Faith talk” is always “good talk” when opposition is perceived to be a long ways off. But when the challenge is before us, faith must reach beyond our knowledge and comprehension into the spirit realm where God’s perfection flourishes with little opposition. In the spirit realm, we must gather the strength to trust God for things we don’t know to ask of Him. That is to say, through faith, we must believe that whatever God does on behalf of the person who places his trust in Him will always be the right thing and indeed the perfect thing. So it is when it comes to standing firm against opposition. We don’t know what others are thinking or what actions they will or will not take. Neither do we know what God will or will not do. But through faith, we trust God with the outcome. We yield ourselves to His will and we joyfully accept His decisions and actions or inaction. By faith we know that God knows what is best for us. We must evaluate ourselves and our situations to determine if we are facing opposition because we are in God’s will or is it because we are living or acting against God’s will. When we know we are doing our best to live in submission to the will of God, then we understand that opposition does not come to oppose us but to oppose what God is doing in and through us. The opposition is there to oppose God. Oftentimes we don’t comprehend what God is doing in and through us until it is over and we look back. The presence of opposition can be the first indication that we should look around to see God’s plan unfolding in our midst. Here’s a news flash: We are not responsible for God’s plan. God is responsible for His plan and He will not let any form of opposition frustrate His plans. That’s where we come in. We should not allow opposition to frustrate us either. Or if we do become frustrated, we should stop and evaluate our emotions to see why are we getting frustrated rather than allow God to defend His own plan. If God is not frustrated with the situation and we are trying to follow His will, then why do we allow ourselves to stay frustrated in the midst of those who oppose God? This is a lesson we can all learn from Moses. We should never become more upset at a situation that arises against God than He is. If God is standing firm, then we should do our best to do likewise. This was Stephen’s attitude in our lesson today. With this attitude, we can also stand firm against opposition. Robert C. Hudson September 10, 2015