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About-Him.Com Devotional 08-04-2007
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Samaria Receives the Word

Things had been going rather  smoothly in Jerusalem up until the stoning of Stephen, about three or four years after Pentecost. We recall that the new church was daily in the temple and going from house to house breaking bread in remembrance of the Lord’s death (Acts 2:46). They also rejoiced in His resurrection, which led to the first persecution (Acts 4:33). Saul of Tarsus who had been present at the stoning of Stephen began to wreak havoc on the church by committing believers to prison because of their faith. We’ll hear more of Saul later.    

Acts 8:4 ¶  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.  


Well, good times in Jerusalem were over. It was time to move on (Matt. 10:23). At His ascension , Jesus had commanded the disciples to be witnesses of Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). Perhaps they were a bit slow in carrying out the Lord’s command, but persecution gave them  the necessary impetus to get started.  

They went everywhere preaching the word.  

These people were fleeing for their lives. They didn’t have any gimmicks or promotional campaigns, they simply preached the word. The word that Jesus said was spirit and life (John 6:63). In the parable of the sower, the seed was the word of God that had life in itself, and would cause us to be saved, if we believed it (Luke 8:11-12) And 1Thes. 2:13 reminds us that this word works effectively in all who believe. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the word is alive and powerful and can penetrate our very being to the point of dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and can discern the very thoughts and intents of our heart. It is by the word of God that we are begotten of God (James 1:18). Peter said that the word of God was incorruptible and lives and abides forever (I Peter 1:23).  

Acts 8:5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.  


Philip went down to Samaria and preached Christ. Nothing else, just what Jesus had commanded: that He  had suffered and died and rose again the third day and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name (Luke 24:47). Once again we see the power of the word of God. The people of Samaria had been under the sway of one, Simon the Sorcerer. Simon had bewitched the people by sorceries. The people considered him to be a great power of God. Simon’s sorceries could not stand up to the preaching of the word of God which God confirmed by signs following (Acts 8:6-7).  

Acts 8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  


Philip preached the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.  

Jesus had announced the coming of the kingdom which any could enter by repenting and believing the gospel (Mark 1:15). After His resurrection, Jesus gave  commandments pertaining to the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Perhaps Philip was present at that time. I’m sure his preaching was right on target. I don’t think he preached anything that hadn’t first come from the lips of the Master. Philip also preached the all important name of Jesus Christ. The name that denoted Who and What He is i.e the Eternal God manifested in flesh and  all that He will be to those who accept Him.  The precious name of Jesus that carries all the authority of heaven. When Satan is confronted by this name, he is stopped dead in his tracks, just as he was here in Samaria.  

The people believed Philip and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (vs. 16). Many people minimize the necessity and role of water baptism today. I believe that it is dangerous to do so. Jesus commanded it without reservation, the apostles practiced it in His name by baptizing believers immediately upon their conversion. We may not understand all the arguments pro and con, but all we need to do is simply obey the word of God. As the Niki slogan says, “Just Do It.”  

Acts 8:14 ¶  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.  


Well, there had been healings and miracles and great joy in the city, the people had responded to the word by being baptized in the name of the Lord, but the work was not complete. The Holy Ghost had not fallen on any of them. Peter and John came from Jerusalem and laid hands on them and they received the baptism of the Holy Ghost with some visible manifestation that caused Simon to offer money for the power to bestow the Spirit. This simply  proves that the baptism of the Spirit is subsequent to our conversion and acceptance of the gospel. Friend, if you haven't received the gift of God's Spirit, He is eager to give it to you. It is yours for the asking (Luke 11:13).  

Next Week: Philip Preaches to the Ethiopian Eunuch.   
Humor
A fisherman returned to shore with a giant marlin that was bigger and heavier than he. On the way to the cleaning shed, he ran into a second fisherman who had a stringer with a dozen baby minnows. The second fisherman looked at the marlin, turned to the first fisherman and said, "Only caught one, eh?"  

Somebody Has Said
 "Jesus was God and man in one person, that God and man might be happy together again." - George Whitefield    

Keep Looking Up!

Don and Marie Spooner
About Him! Ministries

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