Presentation 18
Presentation 18
Introduction
One of the tremendous things about the Bible is that
it isn't frightened to record the failures of the church.
It doesn't sweep failure under the carpet but presents
us with an honest record of events. The early church,
despite being born in days of intense spiritual activity,
found spurious converts in its ranks. This did not
surprise them, nor should it surprise us today.
Indeed, the gaol of one of the most famous of Jesus’
parables - the parable of the sower - was designed to
show that not all response to gospel preaching is
genuine. Simon clearly did not have genuine spiritual
roots in his life. This is a searching story because it
asks if our Christian profession is truly genuine.
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Why Did Simon Join The Church?
Simon lived in Samaria where he had risen to a
place of some prominence among the people. This
charismatic character had bewitched an entire
nation with what is described in v11 as ‘his magic’.
Now much more seems to be implied than running
the equivalent of a C1st Paul Daniel’s magic show.
Simon’s hold over this people was both sinister and
unhealthy. He was a self seeking man, who derived
great pleasure from holding power over his
followers.
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Why Did Simon Join The Church?
Now Simon was in danger of becoming a nobody.
Ever since Philip had begun to preach the gospel
in Samaria, Simon's personal following had
dwindled. He had been eclipsed by the Jesus
whom Philip proclaimed and the power of the
gospel had shattered the fetters that had bound
the people to Simon.
People like Simon don't like being nobodies. They
recognise that if they don't jump onto the
popular bandwagon they might be left behind.
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Why Did Simon Join The Church?
That may seem a poor motive for joining the church but you would be
surprised by the number of people who have employed it. Perhaps Simon saw
the church as the place where he might regain his influence.
In addition, a man with his past reputation could be
viewed as a prize convert, a spiritual
celebrity who might soon be asked
to provide spiritual leadership.
Simon didn't want to be a nobody,
he wanted attention, admiration
and applause. Many have joined
the church for no greater reason
than that!
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Why Did Simon Join The Church?
We read in v13 that Simon ‘believed and was
baptised’. He seemed to be an eager convert
following Philip wherever he went. And yet there
was something seriously wrong with his profession
of faith.
Surely, this should teach us that it is possible for
someone to go through the whole process of
discipleship training, where verbal assent is given to
all that is said. They can be baptised and accepted
by the leadership of the church and yet remain
unregenerate, unchanged in heart and spirit. If the
heart is not right nothing else will be right!
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What Held His Interest In The Church?
It is of vital importance to ask, “What is it that binds
a person to the church? What is it which above all
else makes them want to be a part of it? How do we
test the genuineness of a person's conversion?”
William Guthrie one of the great Puritan writers
wrote a book called "The Christian’s Great Interest"
in which he encourages his readers to take this test.
Quite simply he asks, what their great interest is?
The reply he is looking for is that the awareness of
their burden of sin and desperate need of salvation,
drove them to Jesus and caused them to confess him
as Saviour and Lord.
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What Held His Interest In The Church?
Now what was Simon's great interest? Was he
devastated by his own spiritual bankruptcy? Did he
grieve over the fact that he had nothing in the
spiritual linings of his pockets – no righteousness of
his own? Did he hunger after the truth about Christ's
person and so glory in his work of salvation? This you
will remember was the mark of the infant church on
the day of Pentecost 4.32...
In contrast, Simon's interest was totally self-centred
and designed to satisfy his own ends. He had no real
concern for the kingdom of God.
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What Held His Interest In The Church?
However, he was interested in something that the church had to offer. A great
many people stand in Simon's shoes today. They have entered the church not
because their great interest is the Person and Work of Jesus but instead have
been attracted by other things. For some it is the variety of church activities,
or perhaps to areas of church life for which they believe they have some flair.
Others want to meet a nice group of people, the list is endless but they all
have one thing in common, these motives are totally self centred. There is no
focus on Jesus!
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What Held His Interest In The Church?
We note from v13 that Simon had a particular interest in the miraculous. He
followed Philip about because he was intrigued by the outwardly sensational.
This is very revealing. In Jn. 6 we find Jesus confronting the crowd with the
shallowness of their interest. He said you want miraculous entertainment and
have no real interest in me or my mission. He then described the cost of
discipleship and we read, “from this time many of his disciples turned back
and no longer followed him” v66. They wanted an entertainer, a benefactor
but not a Saviour.
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What Held His Interest In The Church?
Simon's fascination with the miraculous is further evidenced when the
apostles came from Jerusalem and laid hands on the Samaritan church, which
seems to have experienced their very own Pentecost v15. When Simon saw
that, he rubbed his hands together and said,
“here is the means of my comeback to
popularity, all I need is the power to
bestow the Spirit”.
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What Held His Interest In The Church?
Today, a great many people share Simon's fascination with the miraculous
which often tends to push Jesus and his gospel into a corner. Some time ago a
newspaper advert read; “Come to our meetings miracles guaranteed”, “People
experience levitation in our religious services”.
That attracts a particular type of individual whilst
displacing Jesus from his central position. In other
parts of the church Christians are encouraged to
pursue the more spectacular gifts of the Spirit but
little is said of the necessity of producing mature
Christian character. An appetite for the
spectacular rather than for holiness of life
is encouraged.
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How Did Simon Show His True Colours?
It was the essence of Jesus’ teaching that if you
listened long enough to a man's speech you
would discover the true state of his heart. You
see, one chance word can so often reveal a whole
inner attitude of heart. Simon's request in v18ff
betrays him,
“he offered them money and said, give me also
this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my
hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Surely no believer could have spoken like that.
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How Did Simon Show His True Colours?
Simon reveals a total ignorance of spiritual values.
He thought the gift of God could be purchased
with money and then used to promote his own
self-interest. Simon's behaviour has introduced a
word into the English language, "simony" which
describes someone who seeks to buy
advancement in the church. You will remember
one of the criticisms raised by the Reformation
was that a bishopric or even a cardinals hat could
be bought if the sum was right. Some men today
still try to buy their way into prominence in
religious circles by lavish giving.
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How Did Simon Show His True Colours?
However, the main thing to notice is that Simon did not want the Holy Spirit
for himself but the ability to confer him on others. Isn't that significant! He
wasn't interested in goodness or Christ-likeness of life, nor in spiritual
cleansing or regeneration but in a ‘new trick’. We note from 5v32 that God
bestowed his Spirit on those who ‘obeyed him’.
In other words on those who repented,
who turned their backs on their former
way of life and were prepared to head
in a new direction, those prepared for
moral transformation.
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How Did Simon Show His True Colours?
Simon had believed certain truths at a purely intellectual
level v13 but he did not allow them to challenge his will
which was not submitted to Christ. He would not allow the
truth of God to take root in his heart.
Simon was also a stranger to repentance something we
deduce from his response to Peter's rebuke in v24.
Simon did not say, "Pray that I might be given the gift of
repentance, I truly want to be different" but rather, “Pray
that I would escape the consequences of my sin.”
Remorse is not repentance and between the two lies a great
chasm. A remorseful man doesn't want to change. He doesn't
want God to make him different. He merely wants to be
delivered from the consequences of his godlessness.
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Conclusion
The scripture remains silent about what happened next to Simon. Fittingly, the
passage ends with an encouragement to repent. Having revealed how much
religion a man can have and yet still not be right with God, it begs the
question, is the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation is our
GREAT INTEREST?
If not then God mercifully calls you from a shallow,
ingenuine profession of faith to a genuine
commitment to him.
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