Effie Darlene Barba

Often, in this life, we feel defeated.  What today appears a great victory, deflates into doubt tomorrow as it fails.  It may be at work or home.  The stay at home mom faces the same ups and downs as the one juggling her career.  Then, there is the widow or widower looking back on their life and wonder if any of it really mattered.  Did they make the right choices?  Indeed, this is a dilemma that faces every human being.  The Christian is not exempt.  In fact, the Christian may face these dilemmas with greater despair at times.  Pastors are certainly not exempt.    So, we have Philipp the evangelist.  So, elated I am sure over all the converts including Simon Magus.  What did Philipp feel when he knew Simon’s salvation wasn’t real? Did he feel the sting of failure?  How did he have the faith to stand after failure?

Perhaps, I am projecting my own feelings on Philipp. But I doubt I am the only one who questions, “How did I not see that coming?”  “What is wrong with me?”  “Why can’t I figure this all out?” And on it goes in my head, some days.  Those are the days I find myself most deeply engaged in prayer, desperately needing to feel the presence of God.  I know the truth of God’s word and of His grace.  Yet, my heart feels deflated.  Not so uncommon, Spurgeon often felt that a few days after a great, successful revival.  Confronting constant pain, bouts of depression, moments of feeling so inadequate, he would stand once more in the pulpit leading hundreds and thousands to Christ Jesus.  What’s worse?  Feeling you must keep it hidden. Otherwise people won’t believe the truth of God’s love. Your testimony will fall. Or so you think.

The Faith to Stand after Failure

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One of the most important questions of all is: “Did you receive the power of the Holy Spirit?”  Water baptism cannot give it to you.  Walking the aisle to pray a prayer cannot give it to you.  Yet, as Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:5-6).  Simon Magus was a prime example of this very fact.  He prophesied that he believed. Furthermore, he was baptized by Philipp the preacher in the name of Jesus into the earliest Samaritan church.  However, when Peter and John came to Samaria to join the Samaritan church with that of Jerusalem as one body in Christ, it was evident Simon was not truly saved.

Indeed, Simon was fascinated by the idea of the church; but, believed it all to be some form of magic.  Being a renowned magician himself, he was enamored with the miracles.  Never did he truly believe in Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord.  He was never in love with Jesus Christ.  Neither did he believe himself to be a sinner in need of a Savior.  In fact, he believed himself to be endowed with power from on high.  Historians speak of Simon Magus as a heretic who formed a large gnostic sect-the Simonians.  His heretic teachings were said to be a thorn in the side of the true church.

The Holy Spirit’s Filling

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We know that we are “saved through faith.”   However, as we meet this man named Simon in Acts 8, we are confronted with a question.  Is there a faith that cannot save?  Afterall he listened to all that Phillip preached.  He was enthralled with all the wonders and miracles performed in the name of Christ.  Furthermore, he came forward, prayed the prayer and was baptized.  From that day forward he remained active, following Phillip diligently.  In the eyes of the world, he played the role of a good Christian.  Perhaps, he believed himself that he was.  But he knew nothing of true salvation.  When Peter and John came to Samaria to anoint the Samaritan church, this became evident.  Simon, referred to as Simon Magus, was a magician.  He saw the miracles as though a bag of magic. Enticed by the shiny object, he wanted the magic.

He did not really believe in the saving power of Jesus Christ, nor that he was a sinner in need of salvation.  Instead of being enamored with God for His Grace, Simon was enamored with idea of God’s magic being greater than what he already had. He asked Peter to sell him the power of the Salvation, by selling him the power of giving out the Holy Spirit.

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.  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 (Acts 8:20-23).

A Faith That Cannot Save

How often is that true today?  So many people when asked might say, “yes, I am a Christian”.  Yet, they have no genuine love for God, no humble gratitude for His grace, and certainly no desire for Him to be Lord of their life.  Theirs is a faith that cannot save; because, they are attracted to the idea of being a Christian rather than in Christ Himself.  Some desire Him to be a “get out of jail free card” or a Santa Claus who provides them with whatever they ask Him for (as though they deserved earthly gain for having joined His cause).

However, the truth is they do not really love Him, seek Him nor desire a close relationship with Him.  They may believe in the idea of Jesus and God.  Indeed, they may have prayed the prayer and been baptized like Simon Magus had.  Yet, in their heart they have not surrendered to God, nor do they really know Jesus as Sovereign Lord of their heart.  Theirs is a faith that cannot save.  Jesus spoke of this in the parable of the sower.

Luke 8:

⁵ A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

⁶ And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

⁷ And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

⁸ And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

⁹ And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

¹⁰ And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

¹¹ Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

¹² Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

¹³ They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

¹⁴ And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

¹⁵ But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

What Was Wrong with Simon Magus Faith?

His faith was in the “magic”, the shiny object of what he could gain himself by believing.  It was not a faith in Jesus Christ.  I daresay, he never realized that he was a sinner in need of grace.  There was no humility of spirit.  He just wanted to be a part of a movement bigger than his own.  Sorcery had given him power, prestige, and financial gain.  He merely wanted to expand upon what he had himself, never considering the truth of gospel.  In other words, he saw this church thing as a means to an end.  Never did he recognize that Jesus is the beginning and the end, everything flows forth from Him.  Simon never desired to die to self that Christ might live in and through him.

Concluding Thoughts

So, what about you?  Is yours a faith that cannot save?  Or do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord?  Do you desire Him as your Greatest Treasure?  Are you willing to lose everything else, to have Him?  Can you like Paul say:

 ⁷ But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

⁸ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

⁹ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Philippians 3.

So, how can you be saved?  Come with a heart that is broken, humbled by your own sin, acknowledging that you are a sinner in need of a Savior.  Then, seeing Him as so Glorious, so worthy of your praise that even if He gave you nothing.  Even if there was no heaven or hell, you would bow to worship Him because of who He is.  Then, as Paul wrote in Romans 10

⁸ But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link.  There is nothing more important than this; because,  He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

PREVIOUSLY

But for God, the Sorrows that Abound

How can Relentless Persecution Really Bring About Good?

One of the Greatest Sermons Ever

7 Characteristics of Stephen Everyone Should Know

A Child’s Woeful Cry and God’s Reply

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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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Saul wholeheartedly approved of Stephen’s death. And on that day a great and relentless persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. ² Some devout men buried Stephen, and ^[a]mourned greatly over him [expressing a personal sense of loss]. ³ But Saul began ravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison (Acts 8:1-3 AMP).

Prior to this moment, the only ones persecuted by the Jewish leaders were the apostles.  Yet the priestly council within the Jerusalem temple had determined to not make them martyrs.  Instead, they would beat them, warn them, put them in prison, from which they would escape.    But, for fear of the people, they in some ways tolerated them.  Gamaliel, a well-respected Pharisee is recorded saying, “Give them some space.  If this is not of God, it will die. However, if God be in it, no one can stop it” (paraphrase of Acts 6:34,39).

Then, Stephen began to reach out to the temples of the Jewish people visiting Jerusalem from far and wide.  He was so well versed in Old Testament doctrine and an extraordinary speaker.  A truly gifted apologetic speaker, the greatest scholars including Saul could not “resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.” (Acts 6:10).  In other words, they could not win the debate.  Therefore, they killed him.  Satan launched a relentless persecution of the church using Saul.  He must have believed in doing so he would squelch the church.

Relentless Persecution

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