Book of Acts - Ch. 8, Vs. 1-34 (03/02/2003)

We're in Acts the eighth chapter, but first Did God invent evil?

Now before you answer that I Want to read you

Incident That I think explains it At a certain college there was a professor

With a reputation for being tough on Christians At the first class every semester he asked if anyone was a

Christian and Proceeded to degrade and mock their statement of faith One semester

He asked the question and a young man raised his hand When asked if anyone was a

Christian did God make everything young man

Yes, sir, the young man replied The professor responded if God made everything then

God made evil And if we can only create from within ourselves in God is evil.

I Hope you've progressed beyond that point The student didn't have a response and a professor was happy to have once again proved the

Christianity To be a myth Then another young man raised his hand and asked may

I ask you something sir Yes, you may respond to professor the young man stood up and said sir

Is there such a thing as cold? COLD Of course there is what kind of question is that haven't you ever been cold?

Young man replied actually sir cold does not exist What we consider to be cold is really only the absence of heat

Absolute zero is when there is absolutely no heat, but cold does not really exist

We have only created that term to describe how we feel when heat is not there

Young man continued sir. Is there such a thing as dark? Once again the professor responded of course there is and once again the student replied actually sir darkness does not exist

Darkness is really only the absence of light Darkness is only a term man developed to describe what happens when there is no light

Finally the young man asked sir Is there such a thing as evil? The press professor responded of course we have rapes murders

Violence everywhere in the world these things are evil The student replied actually sir

Evil does not exist Evil is simply the absence of God Evil is a term man developed to describe the absence of God God did not create evil

It isn't like truth or love which exists as virtues like heat and light

Evil is simply the state Where God is not present? like cold without heat darkness without light

And the professor had nothing to say I Thought that was a pretty good explanation of did

God invent evil All right, let me start off by making the statement

There is no such thing as being late being late

You cannot come to this service with and be late You cannot go anyplace and be late that's a term that man has invented

But there is no such thing And I challenge you to think of that and all the ramifications of it

As it exists in our world all right chapter 8 verse 1 and Saul was consenting unto his death talking about Stephen and At that time there was a great persecution against the church

Which was at Jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the

Apostles Now I want to start off with the word consenting

Roger what does that mean to you? All right

Fred what does consenting mean to you? Joy Mrs.

Fisher Now we come to David Explain consenting.

All right a new word Well, you pronounce it in the

Greek and soon you'll doke Oh And it means allow

Have pleasure in to be pleased to approve together with others To be pleased at the same time with consent

Agree to to applaud being pleased with his murderous work you see how dangerous a misguided zeal can be

All was zealous for God. He thought

You could not convince him. Otherwise That what came from the

Greek? Well, I don't know if okay is a real word or it's a concoction

The word in the

Greek, maybe you misunderstood Soon you doke a oh

And we have digressed to the low level

All right, come back to these people in Jerusalem Now there was a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem Why David?

All right, the

Jews could not bear the doctrine of Christ's resurrection now

How do we know That these people didn't flee because of the persecution or did well, if they had scattered because of the persecution

Then they wouldn't have mentioned that subject wherever they went

That's rude. A lot of them did So we know it was not because of persecution some of them

I'm sure did but They scattered in obedient obedience to the

Lord they The church in general because the

Apostles stayed there well

Yes All right, they were driven out.

But the reason they went Was as the Lord had directed them to scatter now on the surface and the

Primary reason to them was because of the great persecution that was taking place

But it really wasn't because of the persecution I was thinking today about death

I Don't know how this pops in my mind But it makes

God no difference whether you're alive or dead. You're still is That true

So then to die is nothing all right

Those Of different countries that had come to Jerusalem for Pentecost Returned home and proclaimed this wonderful News to their countrymen.

They took it Broadcast it verse 2 and devout men

Carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him

What do we learn from this verse joy, all right, the

Jews would not bury Someone that was condemned in their burying place

We get a clue from the word carry Now when we carry something means that we have it in our hand and we go

To them the word carry Included not only transporting but gathering up Stephen was beaten perhaps to pieces

So he was not considered guilty by his followers

They had a separate special place for those who were stoned

For those who were buried according to their law these The stone wherewith they were stoned was buried with them the post on which he was hanged was

Buried with him the sword that cut off his head was buried with him

And if you were strangled The strangling instrument was buried with you as These persons died under the curse of the law the instruments by which they were executed was considered to be unclean

Therefore they must be buried with the victims Now great lamentation was made for him

This was never done Over any condemned man by the Sanhedrin This is proof that Stephen was not convicted by the court

He probably fell a sacrifice to the fury of the bigoted incensors or to the mob

The Sanhedrin did not interfere to prevent the illegal Execution that must have been something

They just they didn't like what he was saying and somebody picked up a stone three as for Saul He made havoc of the church entering into every house and hailing them men and women

Committed them to prison now You're a Christian in Damascus First let's go with the word havoc.

What's that mean David? All right

Havoc to fix The stigma to dishonor defile to treat shamefully or with injury to ravish

To devastate ruin Hailing To draw or to drag before the judge to prison or to punishment

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word

This was the ultimate outcome Stephen was simply a spark this

Very That's the very means devised by Satan to destroy the church became the very instrument of his diffusion and Establishment, that's what we are to do

When the Satan puts up a roadblock, let's use it Always let's use it to further

Christ's Message Well water counsel or might or cunning or rage or malice against the

Lord? Whether they are excited by men or devils

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them

Samaritans formed a bridge between the Jew and the Gentile These were a mongrel people

Made up of both sorts they held both Jewish and pagan rights and The people with one accord gave heed unto those things which

Philip spake Bearing and seeing the miracles which he did

For unclean spirits crying with loud voices came out of many that were possessed with them and many taking with taking with palsy and That were lame and healed were healed now

The Lord is working in a mighty way Joy, why doesn't he do that today?

All right Know this all healing is of God.

He has developed a medical field today We have good doctors good hospitals

Some not so good Well, there was great joy in that city and we can understand why but there was a certain man called

Simon Which before time in the same city used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria giving out that himself

Was some great one Now, where did he get that idea

David? Yes It's really a simeon

All right The devil will always have somebody available an ancient reign of Tiberius in the person of the

Soma that he descended on the Apostles on the day of Pentecost in flames of fire

In quality of the Holy Spirit that the women whom accompanied him called

Hellas Was Minerva Or that first intelligence

Well, you don't need to our word sorcerer comes from the same root word

And I don't want that all in your computer 10 to whom they all gave heed this simeon from the least to the greatest saying this man is the great power

We have come into Samaria a new city A new country new people and we find that there was somebody there

Claiming to be of God Only he wasn't how were the people

Before The Apostles came how were the people?

How did they succumb to such a teaching? All right, what does that teach us about people

David and they're always looking even the most ignorant the most uneducated are looking for something higher than themselves 11 and to him

They had regard because that of the long time he had bewitched them with sorceries

He'd been added a long time But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ That they were baptized both men and women so it's evident that Philip's word came with greater power than out that of simeon and That his miracles stood the test in such a way as the feats of simeon could not 13 then simeon himself believed also

And when he was baptized he continued with Philip and wondering Beholding the miracles and signs which were done

When he was baptized Phil this sorcerer believed and Was baptized it would seem that this man was saved

Like so many today his motive was wrong David can we see the motives of people?

Do we know we cannot

And I force myself every day to know that It says that simeon believed and was baptized

But we find out something different a little bit later now when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem Heard that Samaria had received the

Word of God. They sent unto them Peter and John Who when they were come down?

Prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost When they were come down They always spoke of going up to Jerusalem and going down when they leave

Far as yet. He was fallen upon None of them only they were baptized in the name of the

Lord Jesus Then lay they their hands on them and they received the

Holy Ghost And they received the

Holy Ghost How can you explain all right?

Let's see if we can find a dividing place As long as the

Apostles lived and practiced David could they convey the

Holy Spirit all right?

now after They died which They did eventually

Then what happens to the Holy Spirit all right?

Why was the difference all right?

Transitional period it seems from this verse 17 that even the most holy deacons

Though full of the Holy Ghost themselves could not confer this heavenly gift on others

It had to be one of the Apostles This was a prerogative of the

Apostles and it died when they died and they were the instrument

But they were the only ones by which the Lord chose to work The blessing came from God to the people by way of the

Apostles This came for the reason of the requirements of the early church and the special work which they must do

And it ceased with them So many people mix that age in with this age you cannot do that And when

Simeon saw that through laying on of hands the

Apostles Laying on of hands the Apostles Holy Ghost was given

He offered them money so Roger was he a saved man

All right We've got him off of absolutely to may be confused now

Saying give me also this power That on whomsoever I lay hands

He may receive the Holy Ghost Yes, we have

Simeon judged the Apostles to be mercenary men What's mercenary mean money a mercenary soldier is one who fights for pay

And he decided the Apostles were doing the same thing But Peter said unto him

Thy money perish with thee because thou has thought that the gift of God may be perished with money

Now I ask you to hold your ears but hear what I say Peter told

Simeon Very bluntly take your money and go to hell he actually

Use stronger language than that Now has neither part nor lot in this matter

David. What's the difference in part and lot? That's good joy

That's right Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray

God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity

Well Simeon overvalued the wealth of the world And undervalued the wealth of the

Holy Spirit He understood nothing Then answered the

Simeon and said pray ye to the Lord for me That none of these things which you have spoken of come upon me

What's wrong with that statement David? He couldn't well

There's a rather interesting history of this man Simeon He's supposed to have died in Rome after making his boast to the

Emperor that he could fly But he could hear you're lumping them both together

They say that He they they think that we say all you have to do is just nod your head

Yeah 25 and they when they had testified and preached the word of the

Lord returned to Jerusalem and Preached the gospel in many villages of the

Samaritans and the angel of the Lord spake unto

Philip saying arise And go toward the south

Unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert now

Philip can't miss the way. There's only one way There's only one road south

That goes to Gaza or Gaza or Giza But he is not told why is going or what is to do when he gets there

Now that'd be rather frustrating. We received word from the

Lord this morning You have to go To Dallas. I know people that have followed that And it has worked out

Remember one incident that Barney told me he didn't know why he was going

We won't go into that but in Phillips not told and He arose and went and behold a man of Ethiopia a eunuch

Let's go back to this David is it still? Is that the way

God works today in some cases? He tells you to go a certain place and you do or you don't all right, but you didn't answer my question

Does he move you audibly or through your heart or thinking of it

To go someplace and doesn't tell you why I Think he still works that way

All right 27 and he arose and went and behold a man of Ethiopia a eunuch of great authority under Candace Queen of the

Ethiopians who had the Charge of all of her treasures and had come to Jerusalem for to worship

Was returning and sitting in his chariot I'll read

Isaiah the prophet Then the Spirit said unto Philip go near and join thyself to this chariot

It's good to note that Even while traveling this man is improving his knowledge the

Ethiopian God has him at the right place at the right time and sends

Philip to instruct him in the truth You see how thorough

God is and Philip ran thither to him and heard him read the prophet

Isaiah and said understandest thou What thou readest? And he said how can

I except some man Should guide me and he desired

Philip that he would come up and said with him. Well it did It seems as though the eunuch was reading aloud from the

Greek version the Septuagint The place of scripture which he read was this he was led as a sheep to the slaughter

And as a lamb dumb before his shears so opened he not his mouth

And his humiliation he judged His judgment was taken away and who shall declare his generation for his life is taken from the earth and The eunuch answered

Philip and said I pray thee of whom speakest the prophet this of himself or some other man

We need to stop right there We'll find out next week if he's talking of himself or someone else