Acts Pt. 15 | Sermon Notes
Acts Pt. 15 | “Miracle or Magic?”
Pastor Chris Pletcher
March 2, 2025
Acts 8:1-13 // And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.
9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
Goals of this Teaching:
Re-emphasize the unstoppable nature of the Gospel message
“except the apostles”
“those who were scattered went about preaching the word”
The primary mission of the church is PROCLAIMING THE NEWS OF JESUS
Ministry Moment - Identify the gifted evangelists in the room
Continue our teaching on spiritual authority, specifically showing how believer’s have been given authority over unclean spirits as part of their INHERITANCE in Christ
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
Luke 10:17-20 // The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Where does spiritual authority come from? IT IS GIVEN
Matthew 28:16-20 // Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus submitted to the Father, UNTO THE POINT OF DEATH. And He was entrusted with the power and authority to bring LIFE.
Where did Jesus’ authority come from? IT WAS GIVEN… in proportion to His submission to His authority.
John 5:19-20 // So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
John 12:49-50 // I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.
AUTHORITY IS THE FRUIT OF LOVING SUBMISSION to a Father who delights to involve His children in the great works He desires to do on the earth.
Remember the centurion’s faith revelation? “I TOO AM A MAN UNDER AUTHORITY.” If the centurion stopped submitting to the General who GAVE HIM that authority, do you think he would stay in that place of authority for long?
Jesus walked in great authority because He walked in Great Submission to God His Father. Then, He turns around and GIVES US that same authority as our inheritance as children of God.
Just like submission is key to understanding spiritual authority, so is INHERITANCE. Inheritance occurs when what was EARNED or ACHIEVED by one person is GIVEN AS A GIFT to another person in the context of a family relationship. So check this out… Jesus perfectly submitted to God. HE suffered. HE died. HE descended into hell… and on the basis of His life of PERFECT OBEDIENCE TO GOD, He overthrew the devil and took back the keys to the Kingdom of this earth. Then THE FATHER pulled Him up out of hell, breathed life back into His dead body, and sent an angel to roll away the stone for His resurrection.
Jesus walks out of the tomb… He goes and finds His “children”... and the Bible tells us very clearly who He considers His spiritual family to be…
Matthew 12:47-50 // While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
He finds those who are SUBMITTED TO HIM, and He GIVES THEM THE KEYS THAT HE JUST WORKED HIS ENTIRE LIFE FOR. This is inheritance… when what was EARNED or ACHIEVED by one person is GIVEN AS A GIFT to another person in the context of a family relationship.
3 Key Aspects of AUTHORITY //
Love - “We love because He first loved us.”
“The Father loves the Son and shows him all that He himself is doing…”
“The love of Christ compels us…”
Submission - “If you love me you will obey my commandments.”
Maturity - The right to your inheritance comes DAY 1 as a Son, but it is fully given at the time of MATURITY… even for Jesus!
“This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This was the common Inheritance Ceremony for a Hebrew family. “I love Him, He’s submitted to me, and He’s matured to the point where He can now do business on my account!”
Wearing the SIGNET RING of authority, GIVEN by a Good Father to son’s who live submitted to the Father’s Mission and have matured to the point where they can be ENTRUSTED with power.
So there was much joy in that city. 9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic (sorcery) in the city and amazed (astounded, he “blew their minds”, bewitched in the KJV) the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
Egypt’s Magicians // Signs & Wonders
Exodus 8:16-19 // Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’” 17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
Babylon’s Enchanters // Wisdom & Knowledge
Daniel 1:17-20 // As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.
STRONGS H2748: engraver, writer, one possessed of occult knowledge, diviner, astrologer, magician; “teller of hidden things”; “he who holds the book” “bearer of sacred words”
What’s with the rising obsession of the occult and witchcraft? People are hungry for spiritual power and spiritual wisdom!
Magic or Miracle? // What’s the Difference
Simon was amazing people with magic and glorifying HIS OWN NAME; Holy Spirit gives sons and daughters miracle-working power to glorify the name of JESUS
Think about what is at the root of this… WHO IS BEING EXALTED? This gets at the root of why Satan originally fell from glory: self-glorification.
Any power that is used to amaze people but exalts a person instead of God is ultimately witchcraft. This is tell-tale sign #1 between witchcraft and true miracles. Where is the power coming from? And who is getting the glory from the use of that power?
1 John 4:1-5 calls us to sharpen our discernment so we can TEST THE SPIRITS. The test is simple: IS IT DECLARING JESUS? IS IT EXALTING JESUS?
We live in a world of HIGH spiritual activity. Our city is a hotbed of this stuff! Witchcraft, tarot cards, satanism, spiritual but not religious… people are hungry for real encounters! Let’s be sons and daughters that aren’t afraid to confront the counterfeit that they have been shown. LOVE MUST COMPEL US, because the counterfeit costs them something and brings them further into bondage, but Jesus is looking to GIVE SOMETHING that will set ppl free. This is tell tale sign #2!
False spiritual power may impress people, but it comes at a cost. True spiritual power DELIVERS people by the love of God… and the fruit that comes is FREEDOM and GREAT JOY!
Response // Joy, Gladness and Laughter!
Isaiah 61:3-4 // … to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
Isaiah 41:12 // You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.
Repentance:
If you have ever practiced withcraft or the occult and never repented, I want to invite you to come and receive the grace of Jesus today!
If you have used spiritual power or wisdom for your own glory, I want you to come and receive the grace of Jesus!