Inner Change Acts 8:4-24
8:9-11 We read about a influential person in Society
8:9 Sorcerer, Considered as great by Samaritans.....Amazed all people in the city of Samaria
8:10, 11 All listened to him.... People believed that he was a great power of God... People followed him - huge Fans and followers.
8:9 Sorcerer, Considered as great by Samaritans.....Amazed all people in the city of Samaria
8:10, 11 All listened to him.... People believed that he was a great power of God... People followed him - huge Fans and followers.
Acts 8: 4-8 Evangelism by Philip in Samaria
8:4 Scattered ones preaching the WOG
8:5 Philip went to Samaria and preached JC
8:6 People saw the miracles & listened WOG...... Healings and deliverance happened.... The people in the city were filled with the Joy.
Acts 8:12-13 Outcome of Ministry
8:12 People believed the good news & baptized
8:13 Simon also believed, got baptized & involved in ministry….witnessing the mighty works of God.... Simon is saved one now, baptized one now and actively involved in ministry, assisting the main leader in all places…….People might be astonished by the change happened to him……In our time, if this happen, the witness would be circulated through social networks, might have come in local news, etc.
Acts 8:14-17 Delegation from Jerusalem
8:14 Apostles sent Peter and John to Samaria
8:15 Prayed for the new believers to receive HS
8:16 Peter & John placed their hands and they received the Holy Spirit>>Spectacular happening.
Acts 8:18-19 Reaction of Simon
8:18 Simon got amazed to see the spectacular work of Holy Spirit
8:18,19 Simon offered money to Peter to get the ability to give the Holy Spirit to those he wants.
8:18 Simon got amazed to see the spectacular work of Holy Spirit
8:18,19 Simon offered money to Peter to get the ability to give the Holy Spirit to those he wants.
Following this incident we read two responses, one from Peter and another from Simon, we are going to meditate from these responses 3 corrections and a commitment
Acts 8: 20-23 Saved one asked to repent
8:22 Repent and pray for forgiveness.
8:22 Repent and pray for forgiveness.
- To a saved person, baptized person, ministering person.
- Looked Pious but were carnal.
- Looked spiritual but acted selfish
- Looked spiritual but acted selfish
Affected by Pharisaic spirit
- Rigid observance of external forms of without genuine piety.
- Magnifying the sins of others and ignoring own sins
-They cannot tolerate correction
- Have all the claims but not the truth in their life.
- Living a life like whitewashed tomb
- Rigid observance of external forms of without genuine piety.
- Magnifying the sins of others and ignoring own sins
-They cannot tolerate correction
- Have all the claims but not the truth in their life.
- Living a life like whitewashed tomb
Such type of life is harmful and dangerous, Why he behaved so?
IGNORANT IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS
Acts 8:20
Ignorance is spiritual matters leads to Immaturity in Spiritual life, Stagnant in Christian walk and Inability to overcome carnality
Heb 6:1,2 Let us go to maturity…. told about the believers in Christ
Heb 5:12 You are supposed to grow well
- Growing in inner strength to bear trials
- Spending more time with God
- Spending more time for God.
Acts 8:20
Ignorance is spiritual matters leads to Immaturity in Spiritual life, Stagnant in Christian walk and Inability to overcome carnality
Heb 6:1,2 Let us go to maturity…. told about the believers in Christ
Heb 5:12 You are supposed to grow well
- Growing in inner strength to bear trials
- Spending more time with God
- Spending more time for God.
What are you doing to move towards maturity in your Spiritual life?
How much time you spend with your bible everyday?
HIS INNER LIFE WAS NOT RIGHT BEFORE GOD
Acts 8:21 His external appearance is not coinciding with internal life. Lived a dual life….One life in front of church members and another life in front of others…….Acted to be known as pious and spiritual person.
Acts 8:21 His external appearance is not coinciding with internal life. Lived a dual life….One life in front of church members and another life in front of others…….Acted to be known as pious and spiritual person.
Mk 7:21-23
For a true outward life, our inner life has to undergo change…..God knows our inner life very well Ps 139:1-4 ; 1 Sam 16:7 ; Jer 17:9,10
Mt 5:8 Emphasize the purity in thoughts, imaginations and desires. Being pure also would mean being reliable, honest and faithful with respect to our relationship with others.
Christian life is change in inner life and outward life overflowing out of it…….Holy righteous life brings the right words, actions, relationships…..We have to focus on our inner life more and more…
- We have to work on the character, behaviour will change automatically.
- We have to introspect often. Accept faults…Make corrections in habits and characters
- We have to introspect often. Accept faults…Make corrections in habits and characters
HE WAS IN SINFUL BONDAGE
Acts 8:23Tied by lust, jealousy, pride
John 8:34 ;1 John 3:8; Rom 6:16
Acts 8:23Tied by lust, jealousy, pride
John 8:34 ;1 John 3:8; Rom 6:16
Reason for bondage is we yield to it.....Yielding to lust leads into sinful bondage
James 1:14 LUST - Drags us away from God - Take control of us....Kills our Spiritual life-- Lust resting in us leads to bondage -We are victims of lust
James 1:14 LUST - Drags us away from God - Take control of us....Kills our Spiritual life-- Lust resting in us leads to bondage -We are victims of lust
1 John 2:16 talks about 3 types of lust- Lust of flesh, lust of eyes and pride of life (lust for position, name, fame, power, etc). Lust is in our flesh….Lust is in the world…We need to control the lust to escape the sinful bondage
Gal 5:24; Col 3:5; 1 Cor 9: 27
Commitment of Simon
- He realized His mistake and recommitted his life Pr 28:13
His people commit mistakes….We commit mistakes...Only few accepted their mistake, confessed and got forgiveness and restored
- Adam blamed Eve and did not own up for the mistake
- Cain had lot of chances to correct his actions
- David committed great sin, when he confessed and repented, he was accepted
- Jonah disobeyed God, repented in the belly of fish, got second chance
- Peter betrayed, realized his mistake, repented and blessed
- He realized His mistake and recommitted his life Pr 28:13
His people commit mistakes….We commit mistakes...Only few accepted their mistake, confessed and got forgiveness and restored
- Adam blamed Eve and did not own up for the mistake
- Cain had lot of chances to correct his actions
- David committed great sin, when he confessed and repented, he was accepted
- Jonah disobeyed God, repented in the belly of fish, got second chance
- Peter betrayed, realized his mistake, repented and blessed
Like the father, in the prodigal son story, God can accept you if you return to him.
There are two ways - narrow way leading to eternal life and broad way leading to destruction. Which is your choice?
Are you ignorant in spiritual matters?
Is your inner life right before God?
Are you bound by sinful habits?
Repent and turn to God.
