David Zamora

because remember ultimately what Jesus said in John 14 and we'll get into that later what Jesus said was that he'd pray to the Father to send another the word another in the original language means one just like him and oftentimes the Ministry of the Holy Spirit that's interpreted today in no way mirrors the Ministry of Jesus and Jesus would go on to say in John 15 and 16 as he continues to talk about the Holy Spirit Jesus would say that the Holy Spirit will not testify himself of himself the spirit but of Jesus so the Holy Spirit's ministry doesn't look different than the Ministry of Jesus so to be baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit and to be walking in the Holy Spirit should Minister the mirror the Ministry of Jesus Christ and so ultimately what we find here in this passage we're going to be looking at verses 9 and down to verse 25 here in Acts chapter 8 and this is a story of a man by the name of Simon the sorcerer now it's an interesting story why because we see that in Acts chapter 8 is when the Samaritans received the baptism of the holy spirit the book of Acts is an amazing book but if you notice that from the first 10 chapters in the book of Acts you can't really pinpoint a type of formula as a matter of fact some people were filled with the baptism of the holy spirit immediately others weren't filled right away some were filled right at their baptisms others waited and then had to have hands laid on them so you can't look at the first 10 chapters and say this is how you have to do it it was done in so many different ways I had the privilege of the week before last attending a conference and my pastor who spoke before lunch made a statement that I thought was just so cool he says Jesus was so unpredictable well when you look in the book of Acts so was the Holy Spirit and one of the things that we need to consider is that this that the Holy Spirit is here to empower the church to continue the ministry that Jesus commissioned the disciples to do in Matthew chapter 28 the Great Commission we all know that right well here's an interesting story the disciples the Apostles now here in the early church you see that one of the greatest revivals took place in Acts chapter 2 with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and we know that the Jews accepted Christ as Savior right so we see the Jews come to faith in the very start of the book of Acts in Acts chapter 8 the Samaritans come to faith in Acts chapter 10 the Gentiles come to faith and after this we now begin to see the flow and work in ministry of the Holy Spirit and remember that it's been attributed to the Holy Spirit as him speaking himself and asking for specifics one he said set apart Paul and Barnabas for the work of the ministry also we see that the same spirit would speak in regards to Philip and the Bible says in verse 29 of chapter 8 and the Spirit said to Philip go near and overtake the chariot you see the Holy Spirit's work in the New Testament especially in the early church was to empower the church oftentimes today we have men that sit in the church that are full of knowledge of the Bible but there's no power knowledge only gets you so far you see the interesting thing about knowledge and the work of the Holy Spirit is that there is a very clear warning when it comes to knowledge the Bible says knowledge puffs up but the Spirit doesn't I'd rather walk and the power of the Holy Spirit because it's there that I know I'm doing what God's called me to do ultimately if I were to ask this question to you men here and the men that are sitting across the street in the nice a/c right now don't fall asleep guys do not fall asleep it's a lot hotter in here as you can see I'm sweating but anyways listen if I were to ask them in here and say how many of you have a desire today for a fresh outpouring in work of the Holy Spirit in your life fans are already going up even now you see that we just that we want that that comes from knowing that there's more you don't settle for where you're at you say Lord I want more do you guys know that Peter was filled more than one time with the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts did you know that the Apostles were filled more than once it didn't just happen in Acts chapter two they were continually filled that's why we need to at times come in we need to say lord refill me refill me and maybe for some of us we need to say like David said restore unto me the joy of your salvation you see guys this story here is an interesting story an interesting backdrop we're going to look at a couple of points and I want you to jot this down in verses 9 through 11 we're going to see the wrong power viewed here the wrong power jot that down of you're taking notes the wrong power verses 9 through 11 in verses 12 through 13 we're going to see the wrong man the wrong man verses 12 and 13 and then we're going to see in verses 14 through 18 the wrong view the wrong view and then we're going to see in verses 19 through 25 the wrong God now the point that I want to make here is a contrast to the power that Simon the sorcerer had and the power that the disciples had the apostles the contrast I think is very clear the backdrop is very simple we know that chapter a clearly is the start of the Samaritans receiving the Holy Spirit and remember what we see here when Jesus gave the Great Commission and as Jesus began to minister to the disciples where did he say he said to Jerusalem to Judah first right Jerusalem first then to Samaria right and then to the uttermost ends of the earth that's how the book of Acts flows Jews came to faith first then the Samaritans then the Gentiles to the uttermost ends of the earth so we see that ultimately all of this is flowing according to how Jesus said that it would why because the spirit is empowering the church for God's will and purpose to be fulfilled the Bible says in verse 9 your attention please it says but there was a certain man called Simon who was previously practice li practiced sorcery now what's interesting here about this sometimes you would look at that word and some would say oh there it is that word sorcery isn't that the word Pharma chaos no it's not as a matter of fact the word for sorcery here is like the term for the name for mr. Magoo it's Magoo and really what it is the Hebrew word is Maggie on which is really a Magi now you guys remember the wise men that went to go visit Jesus well Simon the sorcerer practice what they practiced you see this would mean that this man Simon the sorcerer was very familiar with the practice of magic as they would practice it in the time of the Babylonian captivity his entire school of thought comes from that framework that the Magi is the ones that were looking to the star when Jesus was born you see and so this guy here Simon the sorcerer really was a magician that practice magic so the people were impressed with this man as a matter of fact when you look at if the root word here is where we get the the english word magic because in latin it's Monica now what's interesting here is that you see this man here was the sorcerer the sorcerer in the city but notice something the Bible says here that the city itself was astonished the people of Samaria claiming that he was someone great now notice that the Bible doesn't say in any way that Simon rejected their praise no he didn't the people really considered him of being someone who was great they considered him being of someone that they could look to and trust in here all of his tactics and his methods were obviously demonic there was something real he didn't have to do the type of magic today that's an optical illusion illusion so to speak this magic we believe that Simon the sorcerer had was empowered and influenced by the devil himself it was a demonic power because it was a real work he had the whole city following after him he had everybody looking to the power that he possessed and ultimately we don't know any much else about this man Simon the sorcerer other than that ultimately the people followed him and it's believed through church history that this man was one of the original founders of the agnostic movement so we see that he to a degree perhaps the original founder believed in a God but what God that was only he would know so we see that the people settled with the power that he displayed and the people clearly looked to him and his abilities and they truly trusted that his power guys listen wasn't just a magic trick but he really had control over some things the Bible goes on to say in verse 10 to whom they all gave heed notice this again heed they listened from the least to the greatest saying this man is the great power of God this is the wrong power you could see the people here desired they desired like I asked you guys a question anyone here desires a fresh move of God afresh work of God we raise our hand people are always looking for a movement or an empowering or an influence but notice something here as the people came together they looked at him as a Babylonian official so to speak a Magi a wise man but his power was not from the Lord his power was from Satan he had power but not the power that the people needed notice something God knows exactly what you need and at times we can give ourselves to things that we think look good because they viewed him as a wise man they didn't see the demonic power behind it what they saw was a man who was able to do works in their midst they were impressed and this is one of the things you and I need to be careful with remember what the Bible says that signs and wonders follow them that believe we don't follow signs and wonders and oftentimes people want a fresh work of the Holy Spirit in their life but you're probably following the wrong thing this is why there's no great move in your life I think there's preparation that one needs to have in the heart in order to receive a fresh outpouring whether it's a fresh wind or fresh fire or fresh work I don't know about you guys but some of us in here could probably use a fresh work of the Holy Spirit in our own personal walks in our marriages in our parenting in our lives in general I don't know about you guys but I want more I want more I don't look at what I have as a pastor or what God has done in and through this ministry and I could tell you story after story and in no way to ever sit back and say hey I've arrived I mean this is as good as it gets no every day I say Lord I know there's more that I could receive from you may I die to myself so that I can receive what you have for me there's more these people were searching all of us were searching some of us today are searching some of us are here because we desire fellowship some of us all you men are here because you desire to hear from God's Word amen so there's a desire there there's a there's a longing after there the people here followed this false power power Simon the sorcery the Bible says and they heeded him because he had astonished them think about this he astonished and these weren't just magic tricks guys these were radical miracles that took place at the hand of this man who did not know Jesus and the Bible says here that the that he astonished them with his sorceries for a long time this wasn't just some guy that came fly-by-night if it says a long time guess what it was for a while meaning what that he dwelt among them he lived among them this was probably the one they came to for every circumstance situation problem in life this is probably the one that they came to to help with things that needed to go beyond the physical and perhaps in their mind the spiritual this was their spiritual man and the Bible says here in verse 12 but when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus both men and women were baptized now here is a direct conflict with the power of Finance or Sir Philip comes in listen guys Simon Wow's the people with the miraculous Philip comes and he preaches the Word of God and the Word of God alone the message of the kingdom carried way more power than the kingdom of darkness itself just the word alone Philip didn't go in there trying to wow them with all types of tricks and magic tricks and everything that this man Simonetta been doing no he simply went with the Word of God that should tell you a lot about the Word of God should tell us a whole lot about what the Word of God is for us take note in this here Philip goes and he preached the very word of God remember what Jesus said in John chapter 6 in verse 63 Jesus says these words that I speak to you they are spirit and they are life the very word of God is the power also of the Holy Spirit I mean let me read it to you jesus said in john chapter 6 and verse 63 it is the spirit who gives life the flesh profits nothing the words that i speak to you are spirit and they are life oftentimes people say you know i want to see a fresh move and a fresh work of god some people say they'd come out of a church service in particular here sometimes they'd say you know what it was good you know i would have liked to see the spirit move well i tell what you didn't you weren't paying attention to that no I was well you don't know that that's when the spirit moves the most you don't know that that's when the spirit does his greatest work Jesus say the words that I speak they are spirit and they are life but power of God is at work even now and oftentimes what happens is like the people in Simon's day are looking to a outward work when the spirit does the work inwardly and then some signs will take place outwardly to validate the message that came out of you from your heart you see the Spirit is balanced in his work the Bible teaches us very clearly in 1st Corinthians in chapter 12 as Paul begins to speak concerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit one of the things that he says in regards to this and I think it's so important for us to never lose sight of this he gives us an introduction to the work in ministry of the holy spirit but this is what he goes on to say he says now concerning chapter 12 verse 1 first Corinthians now concerning the spiritual gifts brethren I do not want you to be ignorant the term literally means without knowledge and think about this for a moment there's a couple of things that Paul would say I do not want you to be ignorant on as a matter of fact when you look at the book of Romans in Chapter 11 and verse 25 Paul goes on to say now brethren concerning God's future plan with Israel I do not want you to be ignorant the Bible also says here in 1st Corinthians chapter 12 verse 1 concerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit I do not want you to be ignorant Paul would even go on to say in 1st Thessalonians in chapter 4 verse 13 in reference to Jesus the second coming he says brethren I do not want you to be ignorant the Bible also says in 2nd Corinthians in chapter 1 in verse 8 Paul would go on to say brethren I do not want you to be ignorant concerning the trials that might come upon you one of the interesting things about the word ignorant it doesn't mean stupid it means without knowledge without knowledge and ultimately his desire to teach on the gifts of the Holy Spirit which is really chapter 12 is the introduction but what I love about this but the Bible makes it very clear in verse 11 in chapter 12 it says but the Spirit distributes the gifts accordingly as he will so what point am I making ultimately when we're talking about the Holy Spirit some would ask do you believe the gifts are to be in operation today yes every single one of them they continue on today this work of the Holy Spirit that Peter and John will introduce to the people of Samaria is totally different from the power that this man had now tell you guys listen there is a power of Darkness the scriptures say but there's a power of God that is greater and notice that it was the simplicity of God's Word preached among the people that the people responded to so Philips power was the words he spoke empowered by the Holy Spirit and really this was to speak concerning this coming kingdom what kingdom was Peter speaking about what what kingdom were they Philip excuse me peaked are speaking about while the kingdom the millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ his Christ is coming back again and so the people hear the gospel they respond to the gospel the Bible says they get baptized women and children there's a great work taking place and then the Bible says this listen to this the Bible says then Simon himself also believed the people still seeking found something in the message that Philip preached Simon now comes along and it would seem to us that Simon though he had this power and was praised by the people even this man filled with the power of darkness was seeking another power the question today is we're all seeking something what are you seeking more of today what is it that you desire notice this he goes on to say here then Simon himself also believed and look at this and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and was amazed seeing the miracles and signs which were done notice something everybody believed in the that Philip preached and thus became followers of Jesus Simon though he believed and was baptized didn't follow Jesus he followed Philip we looked at the wrong power that he possessed and now we're looking at the wrong man that he was following Simon should have been a follower of Jesus if you're not following Jesus friend you're not going to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit if you're not following Jesus if you're following something else you will not have that fresh work and outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life it's more than just a prayer and saying that you believe it's even more than just baptism consider this for a moment here the Bible says that he was baptized you know what the big debate is was this man really a believer or not I think the picture is very fitting and very clear when you look at the parables you know that Jesus begins to teach these parabolic teachings one of the things that Jesus says is that there will be tears among the wheat and ultimately remember what the parable goes on to say they ask the master should we go and should we remove them and what did he say no the angels will in other words it's not our job to remove the wheat from the tares the Lord will do that and ultimately what we find here is that perhaps maybe Simon could be one of those tares among the wheat look at what happens here so Simon also was seeking yet now he is baptized he's following Peter army excuse me Philip and the message that Philip begins to preach the people at Samaria begin to respond to this message and it says here that Simon and the people were amazed seeing the miracles now this is interesting the word here per scene is the Greek word thiourea where we get our English word theory or to theorize so he is looking at it he's studying it he he has his ideas it would seem that he's looking at the work of the Holy Spirit rather than from experiencing it he studying it from the outside to think how can I do this same thing he was introduced to a power that was obviously greater than this and for perhaps the impact that it made upon the people's lives was so different than the impact that his power made you see there's no power like the work in ministry of the Holy Spirit the Bible says here that the people and so he himself was amazed also and he is liken those that Jesus said that they could not commit themselves to him in John chapter 2 in verses 23 through 24 Simon could never fully commit to the message that Phillip reached his desire was he wanted to own control and possess the power that he's seen that came over guys listen you can't control the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit empowers us for the work of the ministry you can't just say well I'll do this or I'll do that no the Spirit does that for us and so we surrender we yield ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit now I'm not saying that the Holy Spirit is going to make you do some way out things remember the Ministry of the Holy Spirit mirrors the Ministry of Jesus in no way could you in your own strength mirror the Ministry of Jesus and the Holy Spirit is the greatest instructor for us to see the Ministry of Jesus because what did Jesus say he will not testify himself but of me I want to know more of Jesus don't you well it requires being led by the Holy Spirit now when the Apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God they sent Peter and John to them now now here comes the big guns right Peter and John now remember that the Apostle Peter when you look in Matthew chapter 16 remember that the keys of the kingdom were given to the Apostles and God would use these apostles to open doors that no man can shut gave these apostles the authority the fresh work and movement of the Holy Spirit came on the day in which Peter began to preach and we see that now the people at Samaria received the Word of God had been baptized and keep in mind that there's a difference between a person being baptized and a person being baptized in the Holy Spirit when they were baptized they received Jesus as Lord and Savior meaning that they were in dwelt with the Holy Spirit what Peter and John came to do was to lay hands on them for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit you see they believed they became believers and some people will say well there's different dimensions to the Holy Spirit that's not necessarily true maybe the best way I can teach it to you is in this form in verse 15 it says who when they had come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit now take note of this jesus said in John chapter 14 and verse 16 that he prayed to the Father to send another comforter the word comforter is the greek word Parakletos derived of two Greek words para PA ra means alongside cletus means to comfort to come alongside in comfort that's the work in ministry of the Holy Spirit he comes alongside us the Bible says he convicts the world of their sin reveals to us like you and I all had an encounter with the Holy Spirit before he indwells did you know that it was the day that you realized you were a sinner in need of a savior the Spirit came alongside you the Parakletos and revealed to you that you needed Jesus and then when you said Lord Jesus when you responded to the work of the Holy Spirit coming alongside you very clearly in John's Gospel in chapter 20 and verse 22 we see that Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room they had their they had already followed Jesus so many of the miracles of Jesus but then Jesus told them receive the Holy Spirit now that word receive in the original language is the Greek word in a and means an inward dwelling of the holy spirit and there is where I believe that the disciples became born-again with the spirit indwelling them now isn't it interesting that on that day in John chapter 20 and verse 22 they didn't speak in tongues they didn't do any of that that you see in Acts chapter 2 they had the holy spirit right then and there that's that born-again experience that we have the power of the Holy Spirit coming alongside you John 14:16 the inward dwelling received en the inward dwelling of the Holy Spirit John chapter 20 and verse 22 and then remember in Luke's Gospel in chapter 24 and then Acts chapter 1 in verse a Jesus tells the disciples tarry in Jerusalem wait parry wait that's what that word means wait wait in Jerusalem until you receive power from on high and in Acts chapter 1 and verse 8 it says that which the Holy Spirit shall come upon that word upon is the Greek word epi II P I means and overflowing an outpouring of the Holy Spirit because that's where the church was going to be birthed it was birthed in an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and I think today we need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit amen I think today we need a fresh work fresh way into fresh fire and this is how the Spirit works in this dynamic the power of the end the EPI work of the Holy Spirit the Spirit empowers you and I to be better husband's better fathers better men of God I want to be a better man of God don't you don't you I know you guys are tired but come on man listen man you guys used to cut the rug back in the day man come on now all you older catch your fandango's your wingdings you know what I'm talking about right you guys usually do crazier stuff in hotter weather like this come on now for the world I'm doing it for Jesus today amen we need a fresh work of the Holy Spirit amen all right good I'm up here about to faint right now I need electrolytes man sweating like sweating like crazy right now huh anyway you guys stay with me man stay with me we're here listen guys listen this is what we need we need the Holy Spirit to empower us we need to go back and powered and lead our families our homes our wives the ministry not with our knowledge and our wisdom and our abilities you guys know that God is not impressed with your abilities some of you need to hear that again you know that God is not impressed with your abilities well God's impressed with is your availability are you available are you available to be stretched by the Lord and the Lord staying here I want to use you this way I want to use you this way you know sometimes guys will never experience the work in ministry of the Holy Spirit because of fear or things that get in the way and we don't ever allow God to work to his fullest potential in our lives years ago when I planted this church I used to lead worship here I left for four years I would teach the message after I would lead worship get back up do the closing song and then come back down and pray for people it was ministry loved it still love it today but God's blessed his church has grown leaps and bounds unbelievably in God's brought faithful men and women to serve in this ministry and I was totally thankful for that but at one time I praise God for that but at one time I was studying the gifts of the Holy Spirit I grew up as a young kid in the church till about the age of seven or eight in a predominantly hyper charismatic Pentecostal Church so the gifts and Ministry of the Holy Spirit were taught to me in more of a distorted way so I thought it had to be about the jumping the yelling rolling around speaking in tongues and doing all that stuff and then when I became a believer as an older man I began to read in the Word of God and it says well it's a little bit different than what the Bible says so I sought out a more balanced approach came across some of the teachings of Papa Chuck who had the same testimony as mine coming from the hyper charismatic Pentecostal and then seeing the balance of the word of God ministry and so on and so forth so it appealed but I remember as it appealed to me and I was pastoring the church that says Lord I don't ever want to lose that freshness of the Holy Spirit I believe it's for today I believe tongues are for today I believe prophesy word of knowledge all that is for today I practice these gifts myself so I know therefore today either that or I'm still crazy put it that way but I remember I'll never forget this one day I was sitting here and I just got done leading worship and it was an amazing service and after I was done this young lady right there began to pray and she began to pour out loud everybody had their head bowed I'm looking at the guys like you need to you know quiet her down you know this is out of order here you know we're at Calvary Chapel we don't do that you know kind of thing nobody's paying attention to me at all whatsoever she's just praying out loud crying it was saying you know she's just worshiping the Lord and then I kind of put the guitar down all quiet you know what I'm looking at the what's wrong with these guys mama sit him down I'm saying you damn you damn you damn you know it's like nobody's paying attention me so then I get right here and as I start praying I'm like lord help us this is good this is not I don't know what to do and the Lord literally spoke to my heart I didn't hear an audible voice but you know sometimes where the Lord speaks to your heart it's your conscience because the Lord speaking to you man and the Lord spoke to my heart and says repeat what she just said my response was that's dumb why would I repeat what she said everybody's hearing her and the Lord says repeat what she just said and I said yeah how if I want to do that and the Lord says if you don't repeat what she said I won't use you this way again so standing right here I repeated word-for-word which she said after I was done then I cleaned it up I said lord thank you that we can worship you freely and thank you Lord for this and I cleaned it all up and I got into the message I preached the message and after we were done there was a gentleman sitting in the back over there everybody heard tongues I was the only one that heard English I repeated it in English that gentleman came all the way to the back and he says were you from and I was like from video manual setup from Ontario madam from out here you know and he said how is it that you were able to translate what she just said he says you translated it perfectly he understood that man accepted the Lord that day and then the verse they popped into my head was that tongues is a sign to non believers because there needs to be an interpreter I didn't realize God used me to interpret the gift of tongues see guys now listen I'm not starting the interpretation ministry here in the church okay I'm not doing any of that and you know what it didn't happen again it didn't happen again see he's he good he's good huh I just said God brought good servants here to the church he good he's good they were like all back there like do something do something he just said it do something thank said love you buddy so listen guys that was good any guys are good no listen so ultimately the more important thing was that this man came to faith he came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior and you see guys sometimes were afraid to trust the Lord we're afraid to trust God and you need to trust the Lord you need to trust God in a be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit well the Lord sends Peter and John did minister and the Bible says here that they had came down to pray for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit for as yet he had fallen upon none of them they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit and when Simon saw that through the laying on of hands or the laying on of the Apostles hands the Holy Spirit was given he offered them money you see guys you cannot manufacture a work of the Holy Spirit you can no matter how hard you try you can't at all whatsoever try it's not about goosebumps it's not about feeling it's about faith and no way you can you see when you try to manufacture a move or a work of God you lose the presence of God in 1st Samuel in chapter 4 we know the story of Eli right the priest remember he had two sons and these guys were wicked men remember the whole prophecy 2 Samuel the word of the Lord that he got was a swift rebuke to Eli and his sons because Eli would not correct his sons remember that and when the children of Israel went into battle remember that it was Eli sons who said let's take the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord before us in battle because we'll get the victory with the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord here's the problem that when the children of Israel before took the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord into battle it's because God instructed them to do so you see they saw the power of God moved in their history with the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord going before the army of Israel in battle and they seen the victory that God brought but that's because God commanded it that way and directed it that way what if these guys try to do is wicked as they were rather than trust in the Lord and seek God they trusted in a method rather than the Lord Himself ultimately what was lost that's when the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord was lost to the Philistines and remember one of them there they were both married men but one of them their wives were pregnant and remember she gave birth at the hearing that her husband had died Eli when he heard that the Ark of the Covenant Lord was captured by the Philistines he fell over and died immediately but his daughter-in-law gave birth and she named her child Ichabod which means the glory of the Lord has departed you see they lost the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord they that is where God would meet his people in the tabernacle of the Lord they applied a method rather than a leading of the Holy Spirit and ultimately they lost the presence of God among his people in the tabernacle you see Simon the sorcerer here had a desire to buy he wanted to buy the work of the holy spirit you can't buy it you can't manufacture it on your own you can't try to say you know we're going to do our own thing here there's no there's no lone Ranger's man and no man's an island when it comes to the body of Christ you don't do your own thing you do the Holy Spirit's thing you do the Holy Spirit's thing that's what you do and the Bible says here saying give me this power all so that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit imagine that look closely here we see that he had the wrong power he followed the wrong man and he has the wrong view the wrong view of the Holy Spirit guys if you want a fresh outpouring and work of the Holy Spirit it can be none of you it has to be all of him and that's why prayers need to sound more like Lord I empty myself of me remember what Jesus told Peter James and John we know the famous quote when he called them to go pray with him and they fell asleep remember that and he came back what did he tell him the spirit indeed is it wills the spirit indeed is but your flesh is the spirit wills the spirit desires but it's a flesh that is weak think about that for a moment there what is it that we're led by are we led by the flesh are we led by the spirit oftentimes when people think of the flesh do you think of loss do you think of sinful desires yes that's all true but also laziness that's a work of the flesh fear is a work of the flesh do you know that that's probably one of the biggest works of the flesh is fear 2nd Timothy chapter 1 right around verse 7 I believe it says there that God has not given us a spirit of fear but a power of love and of a sound mind fear is a spirit we often refer to this but it's true did you guys know that the word fear afraid fearful fright and is used from 720 times in the Bible did you know that and 320 of those are in reference to the fear of the Lord I'd rather have the fear of God than the spirit of fear I'd rather be led by the Holy Spirit because see the fear of God is being led by the Spirit of the Lord if you're led by the fear that the Scriptures speak about in negative light and not the fear of the Lord you're led by your flesh you'll never fulfill the work that God has called you to do in the spirit that's what the latians clearly teaches in Chapter five reveals to you and I look at what else we see here some people say well you know if I'm baptized with the Holy Spirit does it mean that I'm able to do this do that let me tell you one thing about the baptism of the Holy Spirit you want to know what it looks like I'll make it very easy for you if you want to know how many you guys want to know here if you've been baptized in the Holy Spirit raise your hand how many you want to know how many guys have ever been told that you've only been baptized with the Holy Spirit if you speak in tongues raise your hand have you heard that before okay for those of you that raised your hand that's a lie so lie let me show you what the evidence is you want to know what the I'm going to make it very easy for you listen here's the evidence pay attention to this the evidence of the Holy Spirit is very clear Galatians chapter 5 in verse 22 says but the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness ready for this self-control have you been baptized by the Holy Spirit are you loving joyful peaceful long-suffering are you kind are you good to people are you is there faithfulness in your life are you gentle do you have self-control sometimes I remember when somebody came to me and told me oh you know I just couldn't handle it I just had to do this the Holy Spirit got ahold of me and after I says yeah I know that wasn't the Holy Spirit that was all you dude that was all the flesh and they says you know how it says what look at Galatians chapter 5 says the fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control so when you say you had no control a friend of mine that was not the Holy Spirit was all you wanting to get attention so people would think you're spiritual so like Simon the sorcerer guess what you're like this man here and what did Peter say to him Peter said to him your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money Wow how often have we looked at the gift of God as something so cheap that we can turn on and turn off whenever we wanted to how often have we looked at the gift of God as something that we could possibly purchase oh if I just go to church I'll be more spiritual than the next guy or if I just do this more as if the gift of God's coming and the gift of God comes in those ways no listen the gift of God is freely given to us you have neither part nor portion in this matter for your heart is not right in the sight of God is your heart right is your heart right in the sight you know that it has a lot to do with it you know what I think is interesting he says you'll have no portion in this matter you see the word there matters circle that word interesting word the Greek word logos it's a Greek word logos logos in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God in a sense you can kind of look at this and you can say listen if you think that the gift of God is cheap enough for you to buy you'll have no part with the word Jesus it doesn't work that way for your heart is not right in the sight of God repent therefore of this your wickedness and pray God if he perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you for I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity and you know what his response was then Simon answered and said pray to the Lord for me how come he couldn't pray to the Lord you I don't know what look at what it says here it says that his heart was not right you see it's a matter of the heart it's a condition of the heart and notice something here Simon though he believed he didn't believe for the right reasons he believed for the wrong reason he had the wrong power he followed the wrong man he should have been following Jesus not filling any other wrong view of the power of the Holy Spirit and here we see when he says will pray for me that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me you know what I think is interesting here that he only wanted to escape the consequences of his sin but he didn't want to repent of his sin interesting he had the wrong view of God I'm going to close with this and I just summed all this up just to kind of give you guys these thoughts listen if you really want to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit you need to have the right view of the power you need to have the right view of Jesus you have the right view of the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit and you need to have the right view of God you see the power of the Holy Spirit is there to empower us take note what it says here guys as we close then Simon answered and said if pray to the Lord for me that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me so when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord they returned to Jerusalem preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans they continued in the power of the Holy Spirit I want to continue in the power of the Holy Spirit [Music] [Applause] [Music] you [Applause]

Channel: LivingWayTV

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Id: qX5gsJmMC1A

Length: 45min 42sec (2742 seconds)

Published: Tue Jul 11 2017