Preach as the Holy Spirit leads you [Act 8]

PREACH AS THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS YOU

Acts 8:1-40

Key verse 8:4

The first time I preached was when I was a freshman. I did not know what to say and what I was saying. Anyway, I worked hard to preach and teach, sacrificing even my study. And now I am preaching here in America and already 32 years have passed since my first preaching. Some may think I am experienced in preaching. But I am not. I am still struggling on how to preach and teach. Probably, some of you have the same struggle. You have desire to preach, but you may not know how to do it. You may even feel uncomfortable or have fear in doing so. While studying today’s passage, I have learned a simple but very important truth about preaching. I pray that you and I can be encouraged by this passage and used as powerful witnesses of Jesus.

I. Philip preaches the gospel in Samaria

The furious Jews killed Stephen. He was the first martyr of the church. Some godly men, probably Christians or devout Jews, buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. Normally, mourning was not allowed for someone who was stoned to death. But these people mourned for Stephen because they knew Stephen was righteous and did not deserve such a death. What happened after Stephen was stoned to death?

¹ And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 

Beginning with the killing of Stephen, a great persecution broke out against the church. Saul went from house to house and dragged off believers, and put them in prison. This was the first major persecution against the believers. Previously, the religious leaders targeted mainly the apostles but now they targeted all believers. They hissed their displeasure, contempt, and anger toward believers and put them in prison. The situation was very discouraging and dangerous. Believers could no longer stay in Jerusalem. All except the apostles were scattered. In such a situation, they should have kept quiet and hidden themselves. But what did the scattered believers do?

⁴ Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 

The believers did not shrink back or keep quiet. Rather, they were compelled to preach the word boldly wherever they went, because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit so that they could not subdue their desire to preach. Probably, some went to Africa, others to Europe, and still others to the Middle East. The Jews tried to destroy the church but God used the scattered believers to spread the gospel outside Jerusalem. Among the scattered was Philip, one of the seven deacons. He went to Samaria.

⁵ Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there.

Philip proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. Normally, Jews did not associate with Samaritans. Samaritans were unclean people to them. But Philip went to Samaria and preached the gospel to them by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When he proclaimed the gospel in Samaria, an amazing thing happened.

⁶ When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said.⁷ For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 

They heard the gospel and saw the signs Philip performed. Many people were healed from, paralysis, lameness, and impure spirits. They had never seen such power and miracles. They were astonished and paid close attention to what Philip said - “Who is this guy? He can even drive out evil spirits!” Being amazed by the power, they accepted the gospel and were baptized. Verses 9-13 show more about the great work of God in Samaria.

⁹ Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, ¹⁰ and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” ¹¹ They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 

Simon was a sorcerer and had great influence in that region. He himself boasted that he was someone great. And all the people called him “the Great Power of God.” They thought that Simon’s power came from God and so followed him as if he had been a special agent of God.

Many modern people perceive sorcery as mysterious, fantastic and even positive, particularly being influenced by Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings. However, sorcery is not only to cast a spell over someone or something but also to cast lots with the assistance of evil spirits. So in the Bible, sorcery is always mentioned in reference to an evil practice. Sorcery is an attempt to bypass God’s wisdom and power and give glory to Satan instead. So the Bible prohibits the practice of sorcery. (Lev 19:31; Ex 22:18) By the way, the practice of sorcery always involves the use of drugs and poison, sex, sacrifice, or all kinds of satanic practices. Simon probably used such things for his sorcery and bewitched the Samaritans. That signified that their lives were so dark, profane, pagan, ungodly, and even satanic. Probably, that was the reason that there were many who were possessed by impure spirits. They were griped and controlled by satanic power. There was no way for them to be saved. Yet, God had mercy on them and shone light upon them by sending Philip.

¹² But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

When they heard the gospel, things were totally changed. Through Philip’s word and signs, the Samaritans saw the power of God and his grace for sinners. They came to believe and were baptized. Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He had boasted that he was a great man, but now he became a small man before Philip. He was astonished by the great signs and miracles Philip performed, following Philip everywhere. All this shows how great the work of God in Samaria was. As a result, there was great joy in that city.

As such, where the gospel is preached and accepted, the power of God is displayed and people are healed, changed and filled with joy. Any magic power or satanic power cannot overcome the power of God. Hinduism dominates India and Hindus worship so many gods. Every household has a shrine. According to a missionary in India, there are so many crazy, weird and demon-possessed people. But the gospel of Jesus has been changing many Hindus and now India is the third biggest missionary sending country. Korea used to be a nation filled with all kinds of demons and evil power. But when the gospel was preached, she was changed and has become the second biggest missionary-sending country. It is because of God’s power. Where the gospel is preached, evil spirits are driven out and people are set free from drugs, depression, sinful desire, lust, and all kinds of demons. The University of Maryland is filled with liberalism and ungodliness. Several years ago, the commencement was held on Saturday, but it is held on Sunday now. The school has become more ungodly. And many students suffer from all kinds of bad spirits. Let’s spread the gospel and pray for this school to be changed into a godly school. Only the gospel can change this school and the students. That is what we are doing.

The work of God in Samaria was so great that the apostles in Jerusalem heard it. They sent Peter and John to Samaria. What did they do there?

¹⁵ When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Peter and John found out that the Samaritans believed but did not receive the Holy Spirit yet. They were simply baptized in the name of Jesus. So, Peter and John placed their hands on them and then they received the Holy Spirit.

The receiving of the Holy Spirit brought more joy to them. However, when Simon saw the coming of the Holy Spirit through Peter and John, he had another thought - “If I have the power to give the Holy Spirit as the apostle do, I can be more powerful than before and these Samaritans will follow me again.” And he offered Peter and John money and asked them to give the ability to give the Holy Spirit. What did Peter answer?

²⁰ Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. ²² Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ²³ For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

What was Simon’s problem? Simon thought that the Holy Spirit was something he could buy and control at his disposal. But the Holy Spirit is not something we can buy or control. As Peter said, the Holy Spirit is the gift of God, which is given freely when we truly believe in Jesus. But Simon wanted to buy the Holy Spirit. He did not and could not receive the Holy Spirit. The reason he wanted to buy the Holy Spirit was that he wanted to increase his magic power and thus his influence in Samaria and even in the ministry of God. He was full of bitterness (jealousy) and captive to sin. Actually, he followed Philip out of jealousy and greed, not because he truly believed Jesus.

Peter urged Simon to repent of his wickedness and pray for forgiveness. Tradition says that later on he became the source of heresies all over in many places. Even though he saw the power of God and his mercy, he did not repent and became an enemy of God.

What was the significance of all this, then? Why was it so meaningful for Peter and John to come to Samaria and pray for them? Let’s think about this from God’s perspective?

Jews regarded Samaritans worse than gentiles. And as we can see, the Samaritans were actually captured by sorcery and suffered from evil spirits. And there was a huge barrier between Jews and Samaritans in terms of religion and race. Samaria was the last place for Jews to go. However, things changed when the gospel was preached in Samaria, which signified that God accepted them and changed them through the gospel of Jesus. Peter and John, as Jews should, had allergies to Samaritans. But they saw that God poured out his spirit to Samaritans through their own hands. Their pride over Samaritans and their prejudice about them began to break. They came to acknowledge the work of God in Samaria and then accepted them as brothers in God. This was a great milestone in the church history. The church in Jerusalem never thought about preaching in Samaria. Now they began to open their minds and hearts toward Samaritans.

²⁵ After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.

Peter and John did not spare the gospel. They fully shared the gospel with them. And on their way back to Jerusalem, they preached the gospel in many Samaritan villages. Afterward, Peter traveled about Samaria and stayed in Joppa, preaching the gospel.

As such, the work of the Holy Spirit is beyond our expectation. He reaches out even to people who we think are too dirty, disgusting, liberal, selfish, pagan, and proud to change. But that is only our thinking. We should not resist the Holy Spirit when he leads us to them. Like Philip, Peter and John, we should follow the Holy Spirit and preach to anyone he leads to us. It is not we but the Holy Spirit who chooses people to preach to. The work of God does not always happen to those who seem to deserve the gospel according to our judgment. God cares for even underserving people and can lead us to such people. The Holy Spirit knows who needs the gospel the most. So, we should obey and follow the Holy Spirit regardless of our preferences.

My first Bible student in America was a white man. One day he stopped by the Bible center and I happened to greet him. And then we began to study the Bible. However, I felt burdened because he suffered many sins and mental problems and he was several years older than I. I had never studied with such a person. But I accepted him as God’s sheep and then I realized why God led me to America – it was to serve such people. Because of him, I could open my heart and mind to different types of people I had never experienced in Korea. Now I can better understand students who are very different from me.

Do not ignore one who seems not be your style and your preference. Follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and preach any persons he leads you to.

II. Philip preaches the gospel the Ethiopian official

²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 

After the great of work of God in Samaria, God told Philip to go south to the road that went down from Jerusalem to Gaza. Whom did he meet there?

²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,²⁸ and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 

He was an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the queen of Ethiopia. He was returning to his country after he worshiped in Jerusalem. Probably, he was a convert to Judaism. He was a truth seeker. In such hot weather, he was reading the Scripture. He was thirsty for the word of God. The passage he was reading was Isaiah 53:7-8.

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. ³³ In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.  Who can speak of his descendants?  For his life was taken from the earth.”

Probably, the one who suffered in the passage attracted him since he himself might have gone through many hardships and sufferings to live as a eunuch. But he had no idea whom the passage referred to. At that moment, the Holy Spirit led Philip to the man.

²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

Philip ran to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Instantly, they had a one to one Bible study in the desert. How did Philip help the man?

³⁴ The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. The man was convicted by the Spirit and came to believe. He stopped his chariot by the water and was baptized by Philip.

All of sudden, after baptizing the man, the Holy Spirit took Philip away and he disappeared from the man. The man did not see Philip again, but he went on his way rejoicing. What a dramatic event it was? This way, the seed of the gospel was planted in the man and spread in Ethiopia later on.

Though the Ethiopian eunuch sought truth and was thirsty for the word, he could not have met Philip without the help of the Holy Spirit. The same was true with Philip. He had no idea of who was out there and how to get there. From Jew’s eyes, the Ethiopian was an unlikely person to meet. But the Holy Spirit led Philip to them to preach.

Here we can learn that preaching is motivated by God’s desire and the Holy Spirit is the driving force of preaching. It is not we but the Holy Spirit who preaches. All we have to do is to seek and obey his guidance. That is the way of preaching and that is preaching.

One day, more than 15 years ago, one man suddenly felt nature’s call while passing by UMD. Though he did not attend the school, he was compelled to stop by the Stamp Union to go to the restroom and then he was about to leave. At that time, the Holy Spirit led SY to the place where he was standing. SY invited him to Bible study. That time he was troubled with bad things and was looking for God, reading the Bible by himself. But he did not understand it and needed a Bible teacher. While he got out of the restroom and was waiting for a bus, the Holy Spirit sent SY to him. About one month later, he attended the summer conference at University of Michigan. There he met the Creator God and he became a Christian. (So do not ignore those who are standing in front of restroom.)

One day, the Holy Spirit led SY to a girl. That day she was about to commit suicide. But after she talked with SY briefly, she changed her mind and went to church. God saved her life.

About two years ago, BY and TL came to UMD from china. They did not know what would happen to them. LL did not know them either. But the Holy Spirit led them separately to meet one another. That was the beginning of their spiritual journey. BY and TL graduated and their goal was achieved. But they received a much better one – salvation. On May 5, both were baptized. All this was the work of the Holy Spirit. Now they are going back to China, but we know the Holy Spirit will be with them. Let’s pray for them not only to keep faith but also to be used as Jesus’ witnesses like Philip wherever they go.

⁴⁰ Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

The Holy Spirit led Philip to Samaria and then to the south of Samaria and now to

Azotus (Ashdod) in Gaza. He travelled along the coastline, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Carsarea where he seemed to stay long.

Conclusion:

Philip ran away from Jerusalem to avoid the persecution and then went to Samaria. He never planned to go to Samaria. As it turned out, however, the Holy Spirit led him to preach the gospel in Samaria, using the persecution. And then the Holy Spirit led Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch and then other cities in Samaria. Peter and John also never planned to go to Samaria. But the Holy Spirit had them go there and place their own hands on the Samaritans for the coming of the Holy Spirit. None of them planned to preach in Samaria. It was clear that all this was God’s will and plan and was driven by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Therefore, seek God’s will and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to those who he wants rather than tying to choose certain types of people and preach to them by yourself. When the Holy leads you and compels you to preach, obey him regardless of your preferences or situations. The Holy Spirit is the one who preaches.  When preaching and teaching, we should just depend on him and follow his guidance.
by David Yun