1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We are so 2 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: glad to have you listening with us here today. Today's 3 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: topic is about encountering All's teachers. We will return after 4 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: a brief message from our sponsors. Encountering modern day Simon 5 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: the Sorcerers, written by Vivian Bricker, read by Rochelle Alberti 6 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 1: Bible Read. When Simon saw that the spirit was given 7 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: at the laying on of the apostles hands, he offered 8 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: them money and said, give me also the ability, so 9 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: that everyone on whom I laid my hands receive the 10 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit. Peter answered, may your money perish with you 11 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: because you thought you could buy the gift of God 12 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: with money. You have no part or share in the 13 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: ministry because your heart is not right before God. Repent 14 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: of this wickedness, and pray to the Lord in the 15 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: hope that he may forgive you for having such a 16 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: thought in your heart, for I see that you are 17 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: full of bitterness and captive to sin. Acts eight eighteen 18 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 1: through twenty three. There are many false teachers who distract 19 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 1: us from the true Gospel. These individuals tend to be charismatic, confident, 20 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: and deceptive in their dealings. With others. How many megachurch 21 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: pastors have we seen step down from positions of authority 22 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: because of scandal. As followers of the Lord, we must 23 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: be discerning. It takes time, focus, and a close walk 24 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: with Jesus to recognize wolves dressed as sheep. God will 25 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: help discern true followers of the Lord from those who 26 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: are not. Unfortunately, there are many people who claim to 27 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 1: be Christians, only to disown Him through their actions. While 28 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 1: we cannot judge someone's salvation, we can weigh what they 29 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: say and do against scripture, intersecting faith in life. Simon 30 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: practiced sorcery x eight nine. His acts amazed the people, 31 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: and he often boasted of his greatness. The people of 32 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: Samaria believed he is somewhat special, even calling him the 33 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: great power of God. Acts eight ten. However, once Philip 34 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: showed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they rejected Simon the 35 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: Sorcerer and followed Jesus instead, Acts eight twelve through thirteen. 36 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: In Acts eighth eighteen to twenty three, we see the 37 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: true condition of Simon's heart. He wanted the same ability 38 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: to give the Holy speak to anyone on whom he 39 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: laid his hands. Peter was angered by cyrus desire and 40 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: rebuked him, urging him to repent and turn to the Lord. 41 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 1: Simon's actions revealed that he was full of bitterness and 42 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: captive to sin. There are many leaders within cities, organizations, 43 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: and companies who are similar to Simon the Sorcerer. Although 44 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: we are told Simon believed Philip's message of the good 45 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 1: news of Jesus Christ, he was still influenced by this 46 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: sin within him Acts eight thirteen. His main focus was 47 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: power Peter Pitti through Cyrus, duplicity, and winging. To ensure 48 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: we are doing the same as followers of Christ, we 49 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: must be aware of those who claim to be believers 50 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: but peddle the word of God for prophet, but must 51 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: also be cautious of anyone who professes faith but denies 52 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: Jesus through their actions. Jesus tells us watch out for 53 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but 54 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit, you will 55 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or 56 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, 57 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Mattsu seventh fifteen 58 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:27,799 Speaker 1: through seventeen. Anyone who denies the Lord in their actions 59 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:31,239 Speaker 1: or tries to use the Gospel for monetary gain should 60 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: be rebuked. If they are a true follower of the Lord, 61 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: they will turn to the Lord in repentance and ask 62 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: for forgiveness. However, if they continue in their wicked rays, 63 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: it is right to assume they never knew the Lord. 64 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: And do you come across anyone who is like silent 65 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: the Sorcerer? What are some ways you can become more 66 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 1: discerning of leaders and individuals? How can you gauge their heart? 67 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: Pray with me, Dear Jesus, please giverl discernment to know 68 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 1: who your true followers are and who are not. Uncover 69 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: the sirens in my life. Guide my heart away from 70 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: false teachers and towards you. Bless me with the confidence 71 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 1: to rebuke these individuals as Peter did, and give me 72 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: the bold nuss to stand up for you. In your name, 73 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: I pray Amen. 74 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 2: Further reading Second Peter two one through three, First John 75 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 2: or one Tewod Corinthians eleven thirteen through fifteen. 76 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 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