CAN THE GOSPEL BE BLENDED WITH PAGANISM?
It was tested in the second Pentecost

July 21, 2022| Frank Tunstall | Biblical Study, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Pentecostal Revival, Scriptures, Sermons 1

By: Frank G. Tunstall, D.Min.

After Stephen’s martyrdom, the Lord raised up another deacon named Philip, who was also one of the seven. Philip went to a Samaritan  town and “proclaimed the Christ [Messiah] there” (Acts 8:5). Jesus had blazed the trail among the Samaritans before He was crucified, as is revealed in the story of the Samaritan woman (John 4).

It is interesting that Samaritans, people whom the Jews disdained because they had intermarried with the pagan world, were second on God’s agenda for receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s plan of progression in the apostolic years was the Jews first, then Samaritans, and then to the Greek and Roman world. Jesus died to save “whosoever will,” and that included Samaritans too (see John 3:16).

Philip was soon attracting large crowds resulting from “the miraculous signs he did” (Acts 8:5-8). As a result, the people were listening to his preaching. They accepted Jesus as their Messiah and welcomed water baptism (Acts 8:14-16).

But trouble was on the horizon. The town had a sorcerer named Simon who saw what was happening. Amazingly, he too “believed and was baptized” (Acts 8:9-13). Before his conversion “Simon… amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, ‘This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.’” Simon had a following because he had dumbfounded the people for a long time with his demonic magic.

The Holy Spirit inspired Philip to preach the Gospel out of the Old Testament for these Samaritans. Miraculous signs and miracles followed. Paralytics were being healed, cripples were walking, and evil spirits were being cast out with loud shrieks.

The Samaritan Pentecost (Acts 8:14-25).

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard about the Samaritan revival, “they sent Peter and John to them.” The apostles prayed for the people “to receive the Holy Spirit” and they did when Peter and John “placed their hands on them” (Acts 8:14-17).

The Acts 2 Pentecost marked the inauguration of God the Holy Spirit whom the Heavenly Father sent to take Jesus’ place.

Acts 8 shows the Samaritan break-through that marked the second Pentecost. The Holy Spirit step by step was also leading the new believers away from the temple and out of the Jewish cradle. The Holy Spirit’s first step was taking the Gospel through Peter and John to an ethnic group that held ties to Judaism but were not true sons of Abraham. The ancestors of the Samaritans did hold to the Pentateuch (the five books of Moses) and had built their own Temple on Mt. Gerizim.

The Good News of the death and resurrection of Jesus was beginning to spread, and there has been no stopping it from that day to this. The Gospel of Jesus Christ ultimately left its Jewish cradle and step by step moved out to the nations.

Stephen’s vision was coming true, and the Jewish temple that King Herod built simply was not needed.

It was a new day.

Simon makes his move (Acts 8:13-24)

The work of the Holy Spirit bringing Samaritans to Jesus did not go unchallenged.

Through the centuries of the Lord’s church many have wanted to merge the gospel with  idolatry. But a blended gospel is always a compromised and heretical gospel. Jesus towers far above all rivals and leaves no room for a blended gospel. But Simon tried to do just that as he saw the Holy Spirit being “given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands.” Simon saw it as something he could market and offered Peter and John money “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands,” he said, “may receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:18-19).

Peter shot back at him: “May your money perish with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!” Peter spoke with the Holy Spirit boldness that was a trademark of his apostleship. “You have no part or share in this ministry,” Peter continued, “because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

“Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon responded, “so that nothing you have said may happen to me” (Acts 8:24).

Briefly summarized, sorcery destroys with satanic enslavement, but the Holy Spirit brings believers to forgiveness for their sins, fills them with joy, and blesses their lives with the peace of God.

Did Simon repent, totally forsake his sorcery, and fully surrender his life to Jesus as his Messiah?

Peter discerned Simon was “full of bitterness and captive to sin” (Acts 8:23). The fact that Peter accurately comprehended Simon’s spiritual condition said it all.

Please let me share my personal thoughts.

The moment came when Satan knew Simon was bitter because his reputation in the town had largely disappeared. Neither could he boast any more. The steady stream of people that had come to Simon for help had become only a drip. It meant the source of his income had dried up. Simon had become a bitter man.

In those moments Satan planted in Simon’s heart a truly Satanic plan.

‘Simon, think about how much money you could make selling the Holy Spirit. You’ll be rich for sure. Pay Peter and John whatever they ask but buy and begin marketing the Holy Spirit. Become Peter and John’s partner and you’ll start cashing in!’

Simon did make his offer, but he woefully misjudged the Holy Spirit, and he misjudged Simon Peter.

“May your money perish with you,” Peter bluntly said to Simon, “because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin” (Acts 8:20-24).

Peter and John had no intention, none at all, of partnering with a sorcerer.

The message inherent in Jesus brutal death and glorious resurrection has no equal. The Gospel stood the test. Satan bit the dust in defeat again, and the Gospel continued to march to the nations – but without a temple.

“Say there! Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink-even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine and milk – It’s all free!  Why spend your money on food that doesn’t give you strength? Why pay for groceries that do you no good? Listen and I’ll tell you where to get good food that fattens up the soul!

“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake (Isaiah 5:1-4 TLB).

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