FAITH COMES BY HEARING

1. In Acts 8:10-12 we have some interesting details about a man named Simon.

2. Luke says people of Samaria “gave heed” to Simon (imperfect tense—continuous action).

3. In verse 11 we find that Simon amazed this same group of people.

4. Because amazed is in the perfect tense, these people were in a state of amazement.

5. It was as if these people had total and complete faith in Simon.

6. Lenski said the Samaritan’s faith in this man was “deep and strong.”

7. Verse 10 tells us people were “saying” (continuous tense) things about Simon.

8. They were claiming he was the “great power of God.”
Simon was making some almost God like claims, and people were believing it.

WE DO NOT HOW LONG SIMON WAS MAKING FALSE ASSERTIONS OR HOW LONG THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA WERE BEING DECEIVED. IT DOES APPEAR, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH WENT ON FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

a) There was great conviction about Simon but all this suddenly changed.

b) Verse 12 begins with a powerful word: but.

c) A preacher named Philip came to town and he began to present the gospel.

d) Since the Bible as we have it was not available, he confirmed his message with miracles.

2) Faith was created by the preaching and it was confirmed with the supernatural signs.

3) What is recorded in Acts 8:10-12 shows the power of the gospel.

4) Back in Rom. 1:16 Paul said he was not ashamed of God’s gospel.

5) He then gave a reason for this statement: it is God’s power (means) of salvation.

6) If people are going to be brought to God, it will be done through heaven’s word.

a) To many, mere words may not seem to be all that powerful.

b) Acts 8 shows us how powerful words—especially words from God—can be.

c) People were converted to a spoken message.

d) Even a person who deceived others was changed by this spoken mesage.

7) Last week we established that Simon really did become a Christian.

8) In a future lesson I hope to speak a little more about the subject of apostasy.

9) Tonight we concentrate on the force (power) that changed Simon and his followers.

10) Luke stresses the force of God’s word in the lives of people in Acts 8:14 – READ.

a) Philip performed miracles, but this was not what Luke stressed in his account.

b) People at Jerusalem were excited because Samaria had received the “Word of God.”

c) Simon should have realized that the true power was in the Word.

d) Instead of doing this, his attention was turned elsewhere: verse 19 – READ.

11) The account of Simon presents us with a thought provoking and timely lesson.

12) In our day and time many religious groups have a poor attitude towards the Bible.

13) God’s word has been referred to as an old, outdated book that no longer works.

14) We need something new; something different; something better.

15) Around town we sometimes see plumbing trucks with a catchy slogan:

16) Don’t apologize; modernize. Such is the thinking of some religious groups.

17) 2,000 years ago a Christian by the name of Simon had this type of thinking.

18) He wanted the power to transmit spiritual gifts more than the gospel message.

19) What did Peter tell him?

20) Verses 20-22 – READ.

21) When people turn their attention away from the Word of God, they are turning from God.

22) We cannot serve and honor God if we do not respect and follow His word.

IN THE BOOK OF ACTS WE FIND A REPEATED EMPHASIS UPON GOD’S WORD.

a) In a moment I will be citing references that demonstrate this.

b) Before that is done, it seems timely to mention Rom. 10:17.

c) Paul said “faith” (what we need to please God) comes to us in a certain way.

d) We do not pray for it, pay for it, or wait for God to send it to our doorstep.

e) Paul said “faith comes by hearing,” and we need to “hear the Word of God.”

2) The Word of God is our tool to bring others to Christ.

3) This is the drawing power God has given, and it is a strong power.

4) Not only is the gospel God given and powerful, it works.

5) When we look at Acts the first recorded sermon is in Acts 2 (Day of Pentecost).

6) On this day people—about 3,000—become Christians.

7) Many of these people had hated the Lord.

8) Peter said they had used “lawless men” to crucify Jesus (Acts 2:23).

9) Peter had a hostile audience in on his hands.

10) How did he change hostility towards the Lord into loving obedience?

11) Our answer is found in Acts 2:41—they then that received his word were baptized.

12) It was not Peter’s good looks, charm, or other personal qualities. He used God’s word.

13) Acts 4:4 tells us about a time when the number of male Christians was about 5,000.

14) From Acts 2 to Acts 4, there was significant growth.

15) How did this growth occur?

a) Acts 4:4 tells us: MANY of them that heard the word believed.

b) Early Christians knew the power of God’s word. They had seen it work.

c) Thus, we find a prayer in this regard in Acts 4:29.

d) Christians prayed, “God, help us speak thy word with all boldness.”

16) If God’s word is not spoken, its power will be hidden and deadened.

17) God’s word needs to be opened up, offered to others, and carefully studied.

18) By doing this there will be light in dark places, and people will become true child of God.

19) After the prayer in Acts 4 we read about a reaction from heaven.

20) Acts 4:31 tells us heaven was very pleased when people wanted to talk about the Bible.

21) God’s word comes to the forefront again in Acts 6:2.

22) A situation arose in the early church that required special help.

23) Widows were being fed, but this good work had some complications.

24) The apostles were put into a position where they were something like restaurant workers.

25) They said “we cannot forsake the Word of God.”

26) Helping those who needed to eat was a good work.

27) Presenting the Word of God was even more important so other Christians fed the widows.

28) With the passage of time Christians in Jerusalem had to leave their homes.

29) Great persecution resulted in Christians having to move away from Jerusalem.

30) Christians went, and when they left they took the Word of God with them.

31) Acts 8:4 says they “went everywhere preaching the word.”

32) God’s people had learned the truths of Rom. 1:16 and Rom. 10:17.

33) Faith comes by hearing God’s word, and God’s word is very powerful.

34) Christians knew they could not leave this power back in Jerusalem.

35) We may lack a lot of things in our life, but if we have and know the Bible, we have power.

36) We have the power that takes people from being a child of Satan to a child of God.

37) Later in Acts 8 we read about another man who became a Christian.

38) He was reading the Word of God and he received some assistance in understanding it.

39) Today there are people who have God’s power in their hands, but they need some assistance.

a) I remember being in a remote location in Russia a few years ago.

b) While in this place I became ill and needed to get back home earlier than expected.

c) I gave a translator a credit card and asked her to call the Moscow airport and arrange a flight.

d) She saw the card and said, “What’s that?”

e) This woman had never seen or even heard of a credit card.

f) She wondered how a piece of plastic could pay for an airline ticket.

g) She had power in her hands—power I wanted her to be careful with—but didn’t know it.

40) Such is also true in the spiritual part of life.

41) Acts 10 tells us about Cornelius, one of the first Gentile converts.

a) God used some supernatural acts in converting this man and his household.

b) Peter had to be convinced that it was okay to enter into this man’s house.

c) He also had to be convinced it was permissible to teach Cornelius the gospel.

42) Peter needed some proof and reassurance, and he got both items.

43) Cornelius, however, was brought to the truth just like everyone else.

44) This man and those with him “heard the word” (Acts 10:44).

45) Acts 11 provides a second account of this event, and Acts 11:1 is interesting.

46) There Luke said Cornelius and others had “received the word of God.”

47) Acts 11:19—a few verses later—refers to “speaking the Word of God.”

48) Acts 13:5 talks about a time when Christians “proclaimed the Word of God.”

49) Acts 13:26 is especially rich because it says “the word of salvation.”

a) A lot of people are interested in salvation and are eager to discuss it.

b) In these discussions the Word of God is minimized; experience is stressed.

c) In the Bible God has joined together His word and salvation.

d) If we want to go to heaven, we must turn to and follow the Word of God.

50) When God’s word is preached, people will be interested.

51) Acts 13:44 says almost a “whole city” turned out to hear the Word of God.

52) Just a little later (Acts 13:48) it is said Gentiles “glorified the Word of God.”

53) People who were close to the time of Jesus knew the importance of God’s word.

54) Thus, the information from God was respected, appreciated, and closely followed.

55) Verse 49 of this chapter says God’s word went throughout “all the region.”

a) Acts 14:3 introduces a new point about the word of God.

b) Today a lot of people have much to say about God and His grace.

c) Acts 14:3 says “the word of His grace.”

d) If we want salvation and grace, we must go to the Word of God.

56) A complimentary reference on this point is Acts 15:7.

57) Here Luke spoke of people “believing” because of God’s word.

58) If we want God’s grace, we must believe. What we must believe is found in scripture.

59) God’s word is so important Christians insisted on taking the message to others.

a) Acts 15:35 says Paul and Barnabas plus “many others” presented God’s word.

b) Even when Christians were not treated well, they told of the gospel, Acts 16:32.

60) Acts 18:11 says there was a time in Paul’s life when he stayed in a place 18 months.

61) For Paul, this type of stay was a rarity. He was a roving evangelist.

62) During this period he spent a year and a half teaching the Word of God.

63) Acts 19:10 also speaks about Paul and says he stayed in another place 2 years.

64) His purpose for such a commitment was to teach God’s word.

65) When we look at the New Testament we can come to only one conclusion:

66) True Christians held to the Word of God no matter what they cost.

67) This was their guide, their hope, and a message they had completely committed to.

68) Christians consistently taught God’s word, but they didn’t always get a good response.

69) Acts 22:22 says people heard the Bible message and said, “away with such a fellow.”

70) Today we too will find people who do not respond favorably to the Bible.

71) Our mission is not to arm twist until people finally submit.

72) God has told us to take His word to people—all people.

73) If we do that, there will be people who will listen.

74) If people like Simon and his faithful followers listened, others will too.

75) We have the greatest message ever given, and it is very powerful.

76) It is a message that works in our lives and in the lives of others.

77) If we believe this, have we acted on it? Have we done what the Bible says?