“Simoney”

Acts 8:4-

I: “Hearing and Seeing.”
1. The hearing was made to mean more by what they saw.
2. Phillip preached Christ with deep conviction.
3. Miracles were performed, unclean Spirits came out, Palsy cured and Lame were healed.
4. “Great joy in that city!” Where people find full surrender to Christ, there is great joy.

II: “But There was A Certain Man.” vs. 9
1. Simon the Sorcerer.
2. Claimed he was some great person. (These Sorcerers were common in the Roman Empire).
3. He was used to the people following him.
4. He enjoyed being like a God to the people.
5. Simon was wise enough to know he was about to lose his power over the people.
6. He joined the crowd but missed the personal contact with Jesus.
7. His motives before and after Baptism were selfish.
8. Simon wasn’t willing to be Crucified with Christ.

III: “When Simon Saw.” vs. 18
1. He thought he saw:
a. A way to remain a leader.
b. A way to get the Power in this new movement.
c. He thought he had found a way to use God!
2. Simon was more interested in what he could get out of this Spiritual Revival than what he could put in.
3. He was more ready to use the power of God than he was to be used of God.
4. Simon failed to sit down and count the cost of being a real Christian.
5. Simon had no thought of taking a low place in serving the Christ. He still wanted to be “some great one.”
6. Simon failed to pass the test when he tried to buy God.

Any man or woman that tries to use God and refuses to be used of God is trying to buy the Power of God. This 1 walks with Simon.