Sermon Title: THE GIFT WITHOUT A PRICE
Sermon Text: ACTS 8:4-25
Sermon Series: UNSTOPPABLE: A Sermon Series Through the Book of Acts. | Part 3: Walls Come Down
By: PTR NESTOR SY
Acts 8:4-25 ESV
⁴ Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. ⁵ Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. ⁶ And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So there was much joy in that city.
⁹ But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. ¹⁰ They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” ¹¹ And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. ¹² But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
¹⁴ Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John ¹⁵ who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit ¹⁶ for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹ saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” ²⁰ But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. ²² Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” ²⁴ And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
²⁵ Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
SERMON NOTES
I. SCATTERED SEED: WALLS KEEP OUT, SEEDS GO OUT.
The persecution that came after Stephen’s death was meant to destroy the church. Instead, God used it to the scatter seed of the gospel.
Being impressed by Jesus is not the same as being surrendered to Jesus.
Reflect: Who in your life has only ever seen your walls, and never heard your good news?
II. SHARED SPIRIT: GOD NEVER BUILDS A SECOND CHURCH, HE MAKES ONE FAMILY.
“If God had not withheld his Spirit until the Jerusalem apostles came, converts on both sides of the cultural barrier might have found Christ without finding each other.” – IVP New Testament Commentary (Acts)
Grace changes what our hands reach for.
Reflect: Who is the “Samaritan” in your life, the person whose village you have quietly wished fire upon?
III. SILVER THAT PERISHES: YOU CAN’T BUY WHAT GOD GIVES, YOU CAN ONLY RECEIVE IT.
The problem isn’t always what we’re asking God for, but why we’re asking.
Reflect: What am I trying to buy from God that he only gives as a gift?
A full hand can’t receive a gift.