Daily Devotions
December 9th, 2014 by Pastor SolleyActs 8:9-13 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Acts 8:18-20 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Acts 8:27-38 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
A little longer reading this morning, but a good one. Two men are found in this chapter who listened to Philip preaching the gospel, both believed, both were baptized, but both have different endings. The first man was told, “Thy money perish with thee”. The other heard no such thing. Why the difference, why would one perish and the other not? Because the first had a head knowledge of the gospel, of sin, of Christ, of salvation. The other had a heart knowledge. Both heard the same message, both were convicted, both were moved to action, but one truly believed and the other did not. How many like that today, men and women who know the gospel, have believed the gospel, but have never turned their heart over to Jesus Christ, have never repented before Him and ask Him into their heart? Our churches are filled with head knowledge Christians I fear, people who know and believe, but have never truly been born again, have never given their heart to the Lord. Like the first man, they have the appearance of being a Christian, but never the heart actions that follow the new birth. What of you today? Do you have Christ in your heart or have you only believed the message and never really taken Christ within?