Signs and Wonders • 2/20/22

Perris Valley Church

Sermon Notes: Acts 8:4-24

Series: Acts

Title: Signs and Wonders

Date: 2/20/22

Location: Perris Valley Church

Acts 8:4-8 (NIV)

4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 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. 8 So there was great joy in that city.

Acts 8:9-11 (NIV)

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.

Point number 1 in your notes:

Jesus isn’t the only one who will amaze you with signs and wonders.

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 (NIV)

9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nation’s there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord;

Point number 2 in your notes:

Satan loves to disguise himself as God.

Acts 8:12-14 (NIV)

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. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Point number 3 in your notes:

Some people who call themselves Christians will not see the Kingdom of Heaven.

Acts 8:14-17 (NIV)

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 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.

James 2:14,19 (NIV)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Acts 8:18-19 (NIV)

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Point number 4 in your notes:

The blessings of genuine faith are not for sale. There are no shortcuts. All roads lead through Jesus.

Acts 8:20-23 (NIV)

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.”

Acts 8:24 (NIV)

Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”