“Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.” (Acts 8:13, ESV)
The scripture above concludes a paragraph in the eighth chapter of Acts. This verse forms the conclusion of what happened to a man named Simon. Simon practiced “magic”. Some versions of the Bible call him a “sorcerer”. He believed in magical arts and in the power of magic. People were surprised at what he could do, the magical “powers” of his black magic and sorcery.
One day, Simon listened to Phillip. Phillip was an apostle who preached the gospel. Phillip also healed the sick and cast out demons. The “magician” Simon was amazed and surprised by the spiritual power of Phillip (Acts 8:11). Simon was baptized. Sadly, Simon had a hard time with believing the gospel. Because he had previously practiced magic, he was amazed and surprised at the power of God to heal and have power over demons (Acts 8:13). Sadly, Simon saw the gospel as having a power separate from God. Simon wanted to “obtain that power” (Acts 8:20). Peter and John called out Simon’s desire as sinful. Simon repented, seeking forgiveness (Acts 8:24).
Interpreting this story about Simon in the book of Acts, you can clearly see that Simon was amazed and surprised at the power of the gospel to change lives, to heal, and to control evil forces. Even today, people can be surprised at God’s power in this world! God often can surprise and amaze us with amazing feats as powerful as miracles and as life changing as the Resurrection. Every now and then, God startles us with amazing powers or beautiful gifts of grace. Like Simon, we can become amazed and surprised when God steps in and does something unexpected!
As a pastor, R.A. Torrey had seen God’s amazing power. He preached constantly about God’s ability to change a life, forgive heinous sins, and cleanse the heart. Torrey was well known in Chicago for being a pastor of integrity and an evangelist with great speaking ability. On the rough streets of Chicago, Torrey saw God do amazing things. Recently, I read about one incident that surprised even Torrey of God’s power.
Sitting in his office, Torrey was interrupted by a woman who seemed rushed and intrusive. Barging in, she asked Torrey, “Have you any missionaries to send to dying people?” Of course, Torrey knew of members of his church and visiting missionaries who could pray with the dying. He promised the woman he would send someone soon.
A very short time later, two missionaries came into Torrey’s office. Torrey sent them to pray with the dying woman, figuring the woman was a non-believer. The two missionaries went on their way. They prayed with the dying woman, spending a good deal of time with her. When they returned, the missionaries were excited. They said that though the woman was dying from an advanced form of an incurable disease and had been released to a hospice-type situation, they had prepared her to meet Jesus. The missionaries then assured Pastor Torrey that the prayer time had been wonderful. They also informed Pastor Torrey that when they left the woman was “rejoicing” in her new relationship with Jesus. The missionaries repeatedly visited the woman in “her last days”.
Torrey thanked the missionaries for their wonderful work and went about his business. He figured he would do the woman’s funeral in days. That’s when the surprise came. The woman did not die from her incurable disease. Even though the missionaries told Pastor Torrey that they felt a healing, he figured that the disease was still going to take the woman. Torrey was wrong. The woman not only was healed but became a valuable member for years after in Torrey’s church. She became an active Christian and a walking miracle in Torrey’s congregation. (pp. 33-34, R. A. Torrey, Anecdotes and illustrations)
If God’s power and amazing works can surprise a magician like Simon or a long-time pastor like R. A. Torrey, God can also surprise you! Just when you think you got God all figured out, God can do something amazing like heal a dying person, change the life of an ardent sinner, or help a person to overcome an addiction. God is still surprising people every day with HIS power and glory. Have you ever experienced such grace from God?
I have personally witnessed people who had serious illnesses receive spontaneous cures after prayer with Almighty God in Christ. I have seen the light come back into the eyes of the hurting after God healed their grief. Over and over, I have seen the amazing changes that have occurred in the lives of those who were forgiven or given grace. I know of hundreds of such examples.
There will be moments in your life when God will want to surprise you, too! Like my friend who asked God for a sign at her mother’s passing, and watched a deer walk up and lay down on her mother’s grave. Or the friend who asked God to forgive his sin only to find that he didn’t need depression medicines any longer. Or the pastor who wept after losing his mother only to find his mother’s Bible with all kinds of prayers and messages for her son, the pastor, in its pages.
Yes, God will surprise you! Why? Because God is way bigger than you think HE is!
One day, Simon listened to Phillip. Phillip was an apostle who preached the gospel. Phillip also healed the sick and cast out demons. The “magician” Simon was amazed and surprised by the spiritual power of Phillip (Acts 8:11). Simon was baptized. Sadly, Simon had a hard time with believing the gospel. Because he had previously practiced magic, he was amazed and surprised at the power of God to heal and have power over demons (Acts 8:13). Sadly, Simon saw the gospel as having a power separate from God. Simon wanted to “obtain that power” (Acts 8:20). Peter and John called out Simon’s desire as sinful. Simon repented, seeking forgiveness (Acts 8:24).
Interpreting this story about Simon in the book of Acts, you can clearly see that Simon was amazed and surprised at the power of the gospel to change lives, to heal, and to control evil forces. Even today, people can be surprised at God’s power in this world! God often can surprise and amaze us with amazing feats as powerful as miracles and as life changing as the Resurrection. Every now and then, God startles us with amazing powers or beautiful gifts of grace. Like Simon, we can become amazed and surprised when God steps in and does something unexpected!
As a pastor, R.A. Torrey had seen God’s amazing power. He preached constantly about God’s ability to change a life, forgive heinous sins, and cleanse the heart. Torrey was well known in Chicago for being a pastor of integrity and an evangelist with great speaking ability. On the rough streets of Chicago, Torrey saw God do amazing things. Recently, I read about one incident that surprised even Torrey of God’s power.
Sitting in his office, Torrey was interrupted by a woman who seemed rushed and intrusive. Barging in, she asked Torrey, “Have you any missionaries to send to dying people?” Of course, Torrey knew of members of his church and visiting missionaries who could pray with the dying. He promised the woman he would send someone soon.
A very short time later, two missionaries came into Torrey’s office. Torrey sent them to pray with the dying woman, figuring the woman was a non-believer. The two missionaries went on their way. They prayed with the dying woman, spending a good deal of time with her. When they returned, the missionaries were excited. They said that though the woman was dying from an advanced form of an incurable disease and had been released to a hospice-type situation, they had prepared her to meet Jesus. The missionaries then assured Pastor Torrey that the prayer time had been wonderful. They also informed Pastor Torrey that when they left the woman was “rejoicing” in her new relationship with Jesus. The missionaries repeatedly visited the woman in “her last days”.
Torrey thanked the missionaries for their wonderful work and went about his business. He figured he would do the woman’s funeral in days. That’s when the surprise came. The woman did not die from her incurable disease. Even though the missionaries told Pastor Torrey that they felt a healing, he figured that the disease was still going to take the woman. Torrey was wrong. The woman not only was healed but became a valuable member for years after in Torrey’s church. She became an active Christian and a walking miracle in Torrey’s congregation. (pp. 33-34, R. A. Torrey, Anecdotes and illustrations)
If God’s power and amazing works can surprise a magician like Simon or a long-time pastor like R. A. Torrey, God can also surprise you! Just when you think you got God all figured out, God can do something amazing like heal a dying person, change the life of an ardent sinner, or help a person to overcome an addiction. God is still surprising people every day with HIS power and glory. Have you ever experienced such grace from God?
I have personally witnessed people who had serious illnesses receive spontaneous cures after prayer with Almighty God in Christ. I have seen the light come back into the eyes of the hurting after God healed their grief. Over and over, I have seen the amazing changes that have occurred in the lives of those who were forgiven or given grace. I know of hundreds of such examples.
There will be moments in your life when God will want to surprise you, too! Like my friend who asked God for a sign at her mother’s passing, and watched a deer walk up and lay down on her mother’s grave. Or the friend who asked God to forgive his sin only to find that he didn’t need depression medicines any longer. Or the pastor who wept after losing his mother only to find his mother’s Bible with all kinds of prayers and messages for her son, the pastor, in its pages.
Yes, God will surprise you! Why? Because God is way bigger than you think HE is!
The video for today is Steve Harvey talking about God's grace in his life....click below to hear it!