1. The Unhindered Harvest
Acts:
The Unhindered Harvest

2. Acts 8:9-13 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;

3. and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.”

4. And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.

5. But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.

6. Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him
Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

7. Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

8. The Gospel Story Continues
Acts 1:8
Jerusalem
Judea and Samaria
Remotest parts of earth
Don’t get lost
Vss. 4-8 a summary
Vss specific events

9. The Gospel Story Continues
Don’t get stuck
Laying on of hands???
Saved but no Spirit???
Acts is transitional
Jew, Samaritan, Gentile
Visible and verifiable
Unity was critical

10. A Celebrity Conversion
He was “powerful”
Magical arts
Public influence
He believed
He was baptized
WooHOO!

11. A Celebrity Condemned Danger! Enamored with display
Desired something else
Desired something more

12. “…Simon…was more interested in the great acts of power…than God’s reign in his life or the proclamation of Jesus’ messiahship…

13. …Simon’s belief…seems to have been…based only on miraculous signs and thus inferior to true commitment to Jesus.” (Longenecker, Expositor’s)

14. A Celebrity Condemned Danger! Confrontation Enamored with display
Desired something else
Confrontation
Damnation
Separation
Repent!

15. A Celebrity Condemned
Another sad ending

16. Reaping the Harvest Personal warning…examine yourself Ministry warning
Slow to elevate
Discipleship determines
Reaping the Harvest

17. 2nd Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you,

18. who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

19. 2nd Peter 2:20-22 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

20. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

21. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”