Here's Pastor Alan Wright with today's blessing, a biblical faith-filled vision for your life. You are near to God today because God is near to you.
So I bless you to know Him today as Emmanuel, God with us. Isaiah foretold it. The Christmas angel confirmed it, and Joseph believed it. You did not find him, he found you. You did not cause his nearness.
He chose to come close.
So what's left to do? but draw near to the major. Peer in. Behold the mystery. Tremble with joy.
God has arrived never to leave you. If God is with you, then you must be... With God. Pastor, author, and Bible teacher Alan Wright. Witchcraft is the opposite.
Witchcraft is saying, say hocus pocus, mix this concoction, do these certain things, and then you will be able to manipulate the forces around you. It's the exact opposite of the gospel.
So God hates it. That's Pastor Alan Wright. Welcome to another message of good news that will help you see your life in a whole new light. I am Daniel Britt. Excited for you to hear the teaching today in our series, Empowered, as presented at Renolda Church in North Carolina.
Hi. If you're not able to stay with us throughout the entire program, I want to make sure you know how to get our special resource right now. As you listen to today's message, go deeper as we send you today's special offer. Contact us at pastorallen.org. That's pastorallen.org.
or call 877-544-4860. More on this later in the program. But now let's get started with today's teaching. Here is Pastor Alan Wright. Statements like Leviticus chapter 19: you should not practice divination or soothsaying, do not turn to mediums and necromancers.
This is saying, like, any and all, in case you don't know this, any and all. of that kind of stuff. Ouija boards and seances and astrology and even like reading a horoscope and any of those kinds of things, right? are potential inroads to the demonic. But they're also the antithesis of the gospel.
Because the gospel of Jesus Christ says this. Recognize your powerlessness. To save yourself. or to change the world. and recognize that God can.
and that grace is the free gift of God. And you, in submission to God, receive from Him His saving grace and be used by God. in a way that you always point back to God. And always remember that it was not by your own works, but by his grace, all to his glory. Witchcraft is the opposite.
Witchcraft is saying, say hocus pocus, mix this concoction, do these certain things, and then you will be able to manipulate the forces around you. It's the exact opposite of the gospel.
So God hates it. Amen.
Well, Simon was all into that. One of the things, by the way, that happened, this is just kind of a side point, but it's a little funny, but also tell you what was really going on in that first century. One of the things that happened is oftentimes when they would preach the gospel. It would cause a big unrest amongst a certain segment of.
Society Because like If your business was making idols and all the people start getting saved and don't want idols anymore, that impacts you. And there's this scene in Acts 19. That after the revival, the gospel breaks out there. It says at verse 19: a number of those who'd practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to 50,000 pieces of silver.
That's a huge amount of money that was valued about these books and their value of what was being burned up. And so, this is just having economic impact. And in one instant, Paul and Silas almost get killed because the local idolaters and artisans and people that are suffering are so upset, they just literally beat them up and put them in prison.
So I'm just saying how prevalent this notion of magic was. Right. and some of it was that people were very superstitious. This is very different than, I want to be clear about this, than what in the modern day there might be at a show that somebody's doing illusions. As long as somebody's really clear about that, that this is sleight of hand, and we all know nobody's trying to pretend it's spiritual.
We're not doing anything like that. And I think that could be really fun. And I've been to some good shows like that. But one is really favorite is a guy named Harris III. Who had a ministry, has a ministry, and we go especially speaking to youth groups and all around the world, but he he's pretty incredible illusionist with stuff that you could do.
But he would go and deliberately sometimes tell people how he did a trick. Not all the time, but some of them. And he would do it to convince the young generation: look how easily you could be deceived. And it was funny. He'd bring a guy on stage and he was doing this thing, like, you know, had a little balled-up tissue in his hand.
He's like, you know, where is it? And then his sleight of hand and everything, the guy can't ever find it, and it was always gone and all like that. But what the audience could see that the man couldn't see who was sitting in this chair was we saw exactly how he was doing it, and he was throwing the tissue over his head every time. And we're just laughing, you know. And he's just like, you see how easily a sleight of hand, a twist of a phrase, and people could just be deceived.
So it's an interesting wonderful ministry he had. But his big trick, Harris III, is he brings his table out and he put a tablecloth on it and had two people come out and hold the ends of the tablecloth, and suddenly the table starts rising up. You know, and it's like it's floating around. I was like, oh no, that's creepy. And then he said, I'm not going to tell you how to do it.
He said, but I'll tell you this. I got this from a magic store in Kansas, specialty store. He said, and it took years and years to be able to develop the ability to do this trick. And so I don't know how he did it. But the thing that was interesting was he said that sometime before that he was traveling in a remote part of Asia.
And he was doing some of his illusions and talking about Jesus. And then he did the table trick. And somebody said, There's a man down in the village next to us who does that and says it's because the spirits take over the table. And here's the third said, I'm going to go see him. And here's the third said, he went and visited with the man.
And at first, the man was like, no, no, it's spiritual. And here's like, no, I. And finally the man admitted he bought the same table from the same magic store in Kansas. Uh So, Simon is doing this kind of stuff. He's got his own magic table or whatever he's doing, and everybody's like, wow.
You are so spiritual. And this is verse 10. They all paid attention to him from the least to the greatest, saying, This man's the power of God that's called great. And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.
So Simon loved all of that. stuff that seems greater than what anybody could do humanly. You know, he's already fascinated by that. And people are s people are easily scammed. You know?
This is a side point, but Psychology Today sometimes reported about some of the goofiest scams ever, and the grand prize was given to this. An ad said: Wish you were born rich, now you can be. Yeah. This is a real scam, y'all. If you are one of the growing millions who are convinced of the reality of reincarnation, here's a once-in-a-lifetime offer.
First, Leave us $10,000 or more in your will. I got it. After you pass away, our professional medium will contact your spirit in another world. Then you tell us when you're coming back and under what name. Upon your return, we regress you at age 21 through hypnosis to this lifetime and ask you for your seven-digit account number.
Once you give us the number, we give you the check on the spot for your original investment plus interest. The longer you're gone, the more you'll receive. You may come back to find yourself a billionaire. And here's their closing line: Show your future self how much you care. Leave a generous welcome back present.
We'll take care of the rest. Mm-hmm. People are prone to be scammed, and then all of a sudden, into the context of what Simon was doing. Here came Philip preaching the authentic gospel, and authentic miracles are taking place. These aren't people that are doing some kind of trick.
These aren't people that are just doing a little. This is somebody. I knew him, and he hadn't walked in since he was born, and now he's walking. This was miracles that are taking place. This was, and so the whole town is abuzz.
Everybody is overjoyed. They're seeing things that are happening. And this is what's intriguing. In verse 13, it says, even Simon himself believed. I mean, it sounds like Simon became an authentic believer.
It's like. Wow, I've been faking it for all these years. This is a real thing. This is real. And as he was baptized, after being baptized, he continued with Philip.
The word means he was clinging to him, he was hanging around with him. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
So, what's not really clear, and we're going to see about this story, it's like. Was he really born again? Because he's getting ready to really mess up. What we're going to find out is Simon And you There's a fine line, y'all, between... being amazed With the signs and wonders of God such that you you want more of that Please want more of that.
But there's a fine line between that And just being mesmerized With how impressive it is. And Simon was missing that.
Okay, here we are at verse 14. When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John. who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. for he had not yet fallen on any of them. But they'd only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid their hands on them. And they received the Holy Spirit. This is one of the most intriguing verses in the New Testament, and it's been debated and talked about, and honestly, denominations have been split and formed on these verses. And I might revisit this at some other time in the series just because it's so intriguing and instructive. Because it sure seems that what happened is that there were people that readily received Jesus.
but for whatever reason, had not experienced the power of the Holy Spirit. Until Peter and John came and laid hands on them.
So You know, let's start with this. Why did Peter and John come?
Well Was it because they knew they needed to lay hands on them? No, they didn't know any of that until they got there. I think what happened was that Peter and John found out that Philip, little Philip, had gone out of Samaria and there was an outpouring. And so. This is what they did, and it's really what we're called to do: is that join in with what God's doing.
Man. You know, don't live your life and go, God, I'm going to do some great things today. Please bless it. Wake up in the morning and say, God, you're going to do some great things today. I'd like to join in with it.
What are you going to do? And so that's what they did. They said that there's an outpouring in Samaria, and so we're going to, Peter and John are going to go. I mean, Peter and John are going. Right.
Let's go and pour some fuel on that.
So they did. And when they got there, it was like they were surprised. They're like, man, there's so much joy here. People are being baptized. But what we don't see, this is me trying to think it through.
But what we don't see, Peter and John are saying, is we don't see these new Christians. They're they're not really I don't see anybody prophesying. I don't see anybody. Really, doing the kind of ministry that is producing fruitful miracles, like what we see all the time. And so I think they were like, whoa, they need the full power of God.
They prayed for him, and people started. flowing in the power of God.
So what does this mean? I mean, the first question that arises from this is a question, does this mean that people could be saved, born again, and not have the Holy Spirit? And the answer to that is no. Because There is no being saved except for the Holy Spirit. The theological term for being born anew or born from above, the Bible says, is regeneration.
regenerated. And the reason that this word is used is because the picture of the New Testament, of the Christian's life, is that. Jesus didn't come to teach moral truths to help people be better people. Right, right. He came.
To help people who were spiritually dead. Have a resurrection and be made alive in Christ.
So that's the whole of the gospel. And the way that the Bible talks about, in case you're just exploring Christianity, be very clear about that, the way the Bible talks about it is that you become a new creature in Christ. What is new?
Well, it's like this. The spiritual part of us, because of sin, was dead to God. And it's like it's not alive.
So you're physically alive when you don't know Jesus, but you're spiritually dead. That's why the Bible speaks of it. And when you become a Christian, There's a work of the Holy Spirit called regeneration. in which your spirit comes to life. There's so much we could say about this, but this is very clear in the New Testament.
So there's no such thing as becoming a Christian. except by the power of the Holy Spirit.
So there's no such thing as being a Christian and not having the Holy Spirit. Being a Christian is to abide in Christ and Christ to abide in us.
So, even in the very first sermon that was preached with Peter's preaching, he said, Repent and be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit.
So it's always understand it's all part of one deal, you know. And the other thing is it that then you can notice from this is that we just establish that. Like any time you can't understand a scripture, take the clearer truths and apply them to the things that might be less clear to you.
So the first is the Holy Spirit is for every Christian, and every Christian has the Holy Spirit. But then You can also be aware of this. The Holy Spirit. The third person of the triune God. He is God.
and he can move how he wants to move.
So Who are we to say he can't move? There's an instance that's so beautiful in Acts chapter 10 where The Holy Spirit moved on people who hadn't been baptized. Acts 10:44, Peter was still saying these things. The Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised, the Jews, who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.
This is what's happening. There's just Peter's talking about the gospel, and then the Holy Spirit just starts falling on people. And it's very demonstrative, and they're like, the same thing's happening to them that happened to us. And they're not even Jews. Like, what are we going to do about this?
They hadn't been baptized. Nobody's even, they hadn't been to read the Torah, and the Holy Spirit's falling on them. I'm all right. Peter at verse 47 declared, can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people who've received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
And they said, stay with us.
So Let me just see if I can simplify this. And again, this is such an intriguing chapter. We may need to come back to it sometime. Let me just simplify it to this. Every Christian is saved because of the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, and every Christian has the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
If you don't, you're not a Christian. It's the definition of being a Christian. And the Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirit that we're children of God.
So, no Christian has to have a particular manifestation. in order to be a Christian or to prove that they have the Holy Spirit. Right. can move in our lives in many and diverse ways and fresh and powerful infillings. It's very clear to me because it's kind of the story of my life.
So I was in fourth grade, my parents' marriage split, and I've told you this story many times. Mom came to meet Christ, fell in love with God. She told me and my two brothers about Jesus, told me he was real. I saw the change in her life. I believed her.
I believed in Jesus. And I think as a fourth grader, I accepted Christ. I think that's where my Christian journey started. Alan Wright, our good news message, power beyond price, from the series Empowered. Please stay with us.
Pastor Alan is back joining me in the studio, sharing his parting good news thought for the day in just a moment. Alan Wright Ministries is more than just a daily radio broadcast. Here are Daniel and Pastor Alan explaining another layer. You know, Pastor Alan, through this radio ministry, it's often been said that this is a friend, a friend in time of need. It's a friendly voice.
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Click on to pastorallen.org today to learn more and take advantage of this opportunity. Again, that's pastorallen.org. Back here now with Pastor Alan in the studio. This teaching power beyond price. And as we think about this magician that is in this story, you know, I think it's pretty easy that you could say, well, he was a manipulator and he was twisting and perverting the power of God here.
But I also think there's a flip side to this, too, where some of us, it may be for good intentions, or we'd say, well, sure, what do I need to do to get this power? You know, it was just, I'm marveled by it.
So, yeah, I'll pay you whatever you're asking for. Yeah. Yeah, I think of Simon, the magician. I think. That You know, there was a part of him probably was like, whoa.
Not just, hey, they're doing better tricks than I've ever been able to do, but I think he saw it. Probably was real, but he was confused and thought you acquire the power of the Holy Spirit by buying that such power. And we get confused and think That the way that we're going to get more empowered by God is because we need to do steps one, two, and three. And I think it's really good news to every Christian. No, there's no steps.
To you receiving more power from God. It's not some list of things for you to do, you don't earn it in any way. Instead, Jesus purchased this. He purchased. A full forgiveness for every believer.
So there's no. impediment between us and God. This is why we can come boldly to the throne of grace in our time of need. And this is why we can simply ask him. to receive the power that He has purchased for us.
Receive the Holy Spirit. Uh Thanks for listening today. Visit us online at pastorallen.org or call 877-544-4860. That's 877-544-4860. If you only caught part of today's teaching, not only can you listen again online, but also get a daily email devotional that matches today's teaching delivered right to your email inbox free.
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