WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:05.340 This morning is a tale of two sorcerers, a tale of two sorcerers this morning. 00:05.800 --> 00:09.260 I want to go over the stories of these sorcerers that we find in the Book of Acts. 00:09.660 --> 00:13.220 Of course we have one here, Simon the Sorcerer in Acts chapter 8, 00:13.320 --> 00:18.560 and then we have the second sorcerer in Acts chapter 13 known as Elimus the Sorcerer. 00:18.780 --> 00:21.400 And I want to go over both of these stories in the Book of Acts 00:21.400 --> 00:24.060 and extrapolate some principles that we can learn from them. 00:24.120 --> 00:29.780 Now before we get into that, let's start by way of introduction talking about the sin of sorcery. 00:29.780 --> 00:33.040 What exactly is the sin of sorcery? 00:33.140 --> 00:36.140 This is something that is mentioned consistently throughout the Bible, 00:36.300 --> 00:39.460 a large portion of it, percentage of it is actually mentioned in the Old Testament. 00:40.080 --> 00:40.900 What is it exactly? 00:41.200 --> 00:45.560 Well, sorcery is used interchangeably in the Bible to describe that which is witchcraft. 00:45.980 --> 00:48.980 And most of us know exactly what witchcraft is. 00:49.380 --> 00:51.860 If we were to define what sorcery is, 00:52.120 --> 00:55.720 it's essentially referring to the so-called supernatural power 00:55.720 --> 00:59.100 that someone derives from an evil spirit. 00:59.640 --> 01:02.260 That's typically the connotation that we carry with it. 01:02.300 --> 01:03.620 We say that's what sorcery is. 01:03.940 --> 01:04.640 It's magic. 01:05.140 --> 01:10.260 It is supernatural capabilities that someone gets from some sort of entity, 01:10.740 --> 01:12.260 satanic entity and so forth. 01:12.700 --> 01:16.300 But sorcery in the Bible is also referring to just deception. 01:17.400 --> 01:18.960 Referring to that which is lies. 01:19.680 --> 01:25.420 And in fact in the Bible, God often associates sorcery with false preaching, 01:25.420 --> 01:28.300 false prophets, dividing that which is false. 01:29.040 --> 01:31.400 Now, when we think of the word sorcery, 01:31.660 --> 01:35.500 we often associate it with that which is negative, that which is evil, 01:35.860 --> 01:37.060 and obviously rightfully so. 01:37.480 --> 01:40.520 But when you actually look at the underlying word to sorcery, 01:40.780 --> 01:44.100 it actually comes from a word that we commonly use today known as pharmacy. 01:45.240 --> 01:48.020 The Greek word there is pharma kea or pharma kon, 01:48.320 --> 01:52.660 which is referring to what we would consider today to be medicine and so forth. 01:53.220 --> 01:55.820 Now, a lot of times people will think that and say, 01:55.880 --> 01:59.380 well, you know, this is why we got to be careful what kind of medicines we use, 01:59.560 --> 02:01.020 and I agree with that 100%. 02:01.020 --> 02:05.300 But let's talk about where that term is being used in the Bible. 02:05.480 --> 02:07.740 How is it being used when we talk about pharmacy? 02:07.940 --> 02:09.360 What is that exactly referring to? 02:10.120 --> 02:15.080 Well, pharmacy in the Bible or the sorcery as we have it in our English Bibles 02:15.080 --> 02:16.880 is referring to medicine. 02:17.360 --> 02:21.220 But in general, we can often associate it with medicine 02:21.220 --> 02:24.760 that actually helps you to get better, you know, medicinal medicine, 02:25.080 --> 02:27.440 medicine that actually improves your health, 02:27.720 --> 02:30.580 medicine that actually improves your immune system and so forth. 02:30.820 --> 02:34.980 It's just referring to that which aids the body and its recovery and so forth. 02:35.300 --> 02:39.720 But you also have, you know, pharmacy in the Bible, 02:40.300 --> 02:43.380 sorcery that is being used in a negative way, okay? 02:43.820 --> 02:47.340 So the pharmacist in the Bible is actually referred to the apothecary 02:47.340 --> 02:49.420 if you've heard that word in the Bible. 02:49.420 --> 02:53.420 The apothecary is the person who essentially is an expert in skilled 02:53.420 --> 02:56.440 and compounds of medicine in order to help you. 02:56.540 --> 02:59.660 You know, they use, you know, natural remedies, things of that nature 02:59.660 --> 03:01.280 to kind of help you to get better if you're sick, 03:01.520 --> 03:03.280 to help you to recover and so forth. 03:03.660 --> 03:06.160 Now, when we think of sorcery in the negative connotation, 03:06.440 --> 03:11.440 it's referring to sorcerers who use that knowledge for evil, okay? 03:11.880 --> 03:14.220 They use the knowledge of medicine. 03:14.500 --> 03:18.380 They use the knowledge of compounds in order to use it for wicked means. 03:18.860 --> 03:19.760 Now how so? 03:20.060 --> 03:22.260 Well, let me just put it to you in a very basic manner, okay? 03:22.700 --> 03:25.660 You have the, you know, the apothecary who says, 03:25.860 --> 03:28.600 hey, don't touch those mushrooms because if you do, 03:28.700 --> 03:30.500 you're going to see some weird stuff, okay? 03:31.060 --> 03:34.300 You're going to freak out or you're going to see weird visions and stuff. 03:34.840 --> 03:36.260 Use these mushrooms for pizza. 03:36.500 --> 03:38.800 I don't care what you guys think about mushrooms on pizza, by the way. 03:38.860 --> 03:40.160 I'm for mushrooms on pizza. 03:40.580 --> 03:41.940 It's delicious, okay? 03:42.460 --> 03:45.540 So the apothecary says these are good for mushrooms. 03:45.540 --> 03:46.900 This is good for soup. 03:47.260 --> 03:48.720 This is good to enhance the taste, 03:48.720 --> 03:51.580 but stay away from these because these are really bad for you. 03:51.660 --> 03:52.620 These can kill you. 03:52.700 --> 03:55.000 These can give you hallucinations and so forth. 03:55.280 --> 03:57.180 Well, the sorcerer comes by and says, excuse me, 03:57.180 --> 03:58.620 what did you say about the whole visions thing? 03:59.860 --> 04:02.440 They hijack the knowledge of the apothecary 04:02.440 --> 04:07.240 and use that knowledge of medicine for evil, okay? 04:07.720 --> 04:10.700 They use the wisdom of the apothecary in order 04:10.700 --> 04:13.720 to carry out wicked means to have visions. 04:13.720 --> 04:16.680 You know, this is why people know what to do with peyote, okay? 04:17.280 --> 04:21.060 And all these mind altering drugs, psychedelics that people use 04:21.060 --> 04:24.880 in order to experience these visions, these hallucinations 04:24.880 --> 04:28.020 and associated with that, which is spiritual, okay? 04:28.560 --> 04:30.730 So that is essentially the difference between the apothecary 04:31.700 --> 04:33.200 and the sorcerer. 04:33.280 --> 04:35.140 The sorcerer takes the knowledge of the apothecary 04:35.140 --> 04:37.460 and uses it for evil. 04:37.840 --> 04:41.440 And just a side note here, the apothecary not only is an expert 04:41.440 --> 04:43.900 in skilled in, you know, medicines, 04:44.160 --> 04:47.140 but he's also the one responsible for making compounds 04:47.140 --> 04:51.180 for perfumes, you know, herbal treatments and so forth, okay? 04:51.600 --> 04:52.880 And that is found in the Word of God. 04:53.200 --> 04:56.260 But here's the thing is though, when you think about the sorcerer, 04:56.540 --> 04:58.280 they're the ones that use the wisdom for evil. 04:58.420 --> 05:00.560 They're the ones who essentially pervert the truth. 05:01.180 --> 05:03.240 They're the ones who take the knowledge of things 05:03.240 --> 05:05.800 that are meant for good and they corrupt it 05:05.800 --> 05:09.320 for their own godless means in order to corrupt others 05:09.320 --> 05:10.400 and so forth, okay? 05:10.900 --> 05:13.600 And another side note here, this is why you should not be smoking marijuana. 05:14.260 --> 05:16.440 You should not be doing any mind altering drugs. 05:16.580 --> 05:18.020 The Bible commands us to be sober. 05:18.780 --> 05:21.600 The Bible commands us to walk circumspectly, 05:21.660 --> 05:23.000 not as fools, but as wise. 05:23.620 --> 05:26.580 You see, the apothecary says, hey, they're marijuana leaf, 05:26.700 --> 05:29.380 this makes for good pants, you know, 05:29.760 --> 05:31.940 during the summer days, right? 05:32.140 --> 05:34.580 It makes for good clothes 05:34.580 --> 05:36.800 in order to keep you cool during the summer. 05:37.360 --> 05:40.420 The sorcerer says, yeah, but if you smoke it though, you know, 05:40.960 --> 05:43.180 you know, that's good stuff right there or whatever, you know, 05:43.180 --> 05:45.580 and then you can hallucinate and see all kinds of things. 05:45.820 --> 05:48.680 But that would obviously contradict what the Word of God actually says 05:49.060 --> 05:50.480 that we ought to be sober. 05:50.860 --> 05:52.940 And this is something that people will often bring up like, 05:52.980 --> 05:54.900 well, if marijuana is bad, then why did God make it? 05:55.720 --> 05:57.920 You know, well, first of all, you know, 05:57.940 --> 06:00.120 yeah, he made marijuana, but nowhere in the Bible does it say 06:00.120 --> 06:02.180 that he told you to roll it up and smoke it. 06:04.960 --> 06:05.840 Pretty simple, right? 06:05.840 --> 06:09.520 You know, by the way, God made the tree of knowledge and good and evil 06:09.520 --> 06:11.380 and he told Adam and Eve not to take of it. 06:11.620 --> 06:12.440 So how about that? 06:12.900 --> 06:15.700 So just because God creates something doesn't mean he tells you explicitly 06:15.700 --> 06:18.440 or doesn't mean he gives you permission to actually use it 06:18.440 --> 06:20.400 for selfish means or whatever it may be. 06:20.480 --> 06:21.780 Sometimes things are just created 06:21.780 --> 06:24.220 and you're not supposed to do anything with it, okay? 06:24.800 --> 06:25.860 You know, God made great whites. 06:26.000 --> 06:27.880 He didn't tell you to jump in the ocean and swim with them either. 06:29.160 --> 06:29.520 Understand? 06:30.240 --> 06:32.080 So it's important for us to make this distinction 06:32.080 --> 06:34.520 to understand why things are created and so forth. 06:34.520 --> 06:37.900 Now, when we think of sorcery, again, as I mentioned, 06:38.140 --> 06:43.200 it's often used interchangeably with witches and wizards, okay? 06:43.700 --> 06:47.760 So it's often used with witchcraft, witches, wizards, sorcerers. 06:48.380 --> 06:50.820 These are all kind of used interchangeably in the Bible. 06:50.920 --> 06:52.980 Now, let's go to Leviticus chapter 20 real quick. 06:53.340 --> 06:54.540 Let's look at a couple of verses here. 06:55.700 --> 06:56.940 Leviticus chapter 20. 07:00.320 --> 07:01.460 This is all introduction. 07:01.460 --> 07:04.920 Leviticus chapter 20, look down at your Bibles at verse number 27 07:04.920 --> 07:06.660 of Leviticus chapter 20. 07:06.740 --> 07:08.100 It says this in verse 27, 07:08.660 --> 07:13.380 a man also or a woman that hath a familiar spirit 07:13.380 --> 07:16.180 or that is a wizard, the Bible says, 07:16.660 --> 07:18.020 shall surely be put to death, 07:18.520 --> 07:21.320 they shall stone them with stones, their blood shall be upon them. 07:22.060 --> 07:26.140 So the penalty for being a sorcerer, a wizard, 07:26.500 --> 07:28.980 a witch in the Bible was the death penalty. 07:28.980 --> 07:31.860 These are people who were not only corrupting knowledge, 07:32.200 --> 07:34.940 but they were corrupting knowledge with the intent to corrupt others. 07:35.920 --> 07:38.380 Now, I want you to notice the word wizard there, okay? 07:38.480 --> 07:43.020 This isn't referring to, you know, Hogwarts or anything like that, okay? 07:43.680 --> 07:45.220 This is not referring to Harry Potter. 07:45.800 --> 07:48.340 You know, a wizard in the Bible, you know, 07:48.400 --> 07:51.440 the etymology of the word wizard comes from the word 07:52.060 --> 07:54.840 that basically means a wise man, okay? 07:55.280 --> 07:57.420 So a wise man, you can see that, you know, 07:57.640 --> 08:00.940 wizard, wizard, that's kind of how the word evolved. 08:01.340 --> 08:03.980 But it carries the connotation of someone who takes the wisdom 08:03.980 --> 08:06.740 of the wise man and corrupts it, you understand? 08:07.240 --> 08:10.280 They use the wisdom of God and they corrupt it, 08:10.360 --> 08:12.560 they destroy it, and obviously we can give all types 08:12.560 --> 08:14.320 of secondary and tertiary applications 08:14.320 --> 08:17.780 where people take the wisdom of God's word 08:17.780 --> 08:19.780 and they corrupt it to teach a false gospel, 08:20.200 --> 08:22.360 they corrupt it to teach heresy and so forth. 08:22.360 --> 08:25.040 These are examples of wizardry in the Bible. 08:25.620 --> 08:26.960 So you have the witch, you have the wizard. 08:27.400 --> 08:31.800 Now under that, you have essentially different branches 08:31.800 --> 08:33.780 of practice under sorcery, okay? 08:34.160 --> 08:35.760 For example, you have enchantments, 08:35.860 --> 08:37.140 the Bible talks about enchantments, 08:37.420 --> 08:39.300 which is synonymous with charmers. 08:39.780 --> 08:44.800 You have soothsayers, you have necromancers, okay? 08:45.480 --> 08:48.800 You have, for example, you have diviners, 08:48.880 --> 08:50.360 those who practice divination, 08:50.360 --> 08:53.360 and by extent you also have astrologers 08:54.060 --> 08:56.820 and you have those who observe times, okay? 08:57.180 --> 09:00.440 So all of these abominable actions that the Bible talks about 09:00.440 --> 09:03.360 are under the canopy of sorcery. 09:03.480 --> 09:06.700 Why? Because sorcery in general is referring to deception 09:06.700 --> 09:10.860 and all of these practices essentially foment that deception. 09:11.020 --> 09:12.580 They're different ways of deceiving people. 09:12.920 --> 09:14.140 Now what is an enchantment? 09:14.260 --> 09:15.040 What is that exactly? 09:15.240 --> 09:16.880 Well think about the word enchantment. 09:16.980 --> 09:18.880 The word in there is chant, right? 09:18.880 --> 09:21.060 This is referring to incantations 09:21.060 --> 09:23.500 or people who repeat things repeatedly 09:23.500 --> 09:25.900 in order to get a certain result, 09:26.100 --> 09:27.640 supernatural result, okay? 09:27.920 --> 09:28.960 You have this in Buddhism. 09:29.500 --> 09:30.840 You have it in Hinduism. 09:31.020 --> 09:32.760 You have it in Catholicism. 09:33.540 --> 09:37.100 And the Bible calls it vain repetition, okay? 09:37.600 --> 09:39.120 Where someone repeats a word, 09:39.320 --> 09:42.540 they repeat a phrase over and over and over again, 09:43.900 --> 09:46.320 meaninglessly, vainly thinking that they're going to receive 09:46.320 --> 09:48.560 some sort of supernatural result because of it. 09:49.000 --> 09:51.080 But the Lord Jesus Christ specifically says 09:51.080 --> 09:52.840 not to use vain repetition. 09:53.480 --> 09:54.720 And people are like, well, you know, 09:54.820 --> 09:55.640 with Catholics it's different. 09:55.740 --> 09:57.800 Okay, then you explain to me what that verse means exactly. 09:58.160 --> 09:59.340 How is that applicable then? 10:00.140 --> 10:02.720 You know, when he says you do not use vain repetition, 10:02.760 --> 10:05.220 it's basically saying no matter what phrases you use, 10:05.480 --> 10:07.180 don't repeat it vainly thinking that God's going to 10:07.180 --> 10:08.260 hear you for your much speaking. 10:10.020 --> 10:11.680 You know, God wants us to speak to him 10:11.680 --> 10:14.020 as though he actually exists and he's listening 10:14.020 --> 10:15.880 and you're conversing with him, okay? 10:16.480 --> 10:19.160 Now, why does God forbid vain repetition? 10:19.660 --> 10:21.360 Well, because it's a form of enchantment. 10:21.780 --> 10:23.520 It's a form of charming others. 10:24.360 --> 10:25.860 And again, this is something that is practiced 10:27.900 --> 10:31.240 in Eastern mysticism with Buddhism and Hinduism 10:31.240 --> 10:34.140 where they were literally chant these mantras 10:34.140 --> 10:36.440 in order to put people in a certain trance 10:36.440 --> 10:38.920 so they can be deceived by the teacher, 10:39.240 --> 10:41.040 by whatever teaching is being given to them, 10:41.300 --> 10:42.680 whatever institution that they're in. 10:42.680 --> 10:45.880 They often refer to it as the altered state of consciousness, 10:46.040 --> 10:46.420 okay? 10:47.040 --> 10:50.140 And a lot of charismatic churches will use things like this 10:50.140 --> 10:52.680 but they'll just use like praise and worship music. 10:53.000 --> 10:55.720 This is why a lot of the CCM has the same repetitious 10:56.660 --> 10:58.300 statements in order to put you in a trance 10:58.300 --> 11:00.800 and he's like, I just feel like there's God in this place. 11:01.300 --> 11:02.540 You know, why? 11:02.660 --> 11:04.860 Because you repeated the same phrase 50 times. 11:06.140 --> 11:08.020 You know, we don't determine if God's presence 11:08.020 --> 11:10.900 is in, you know, a church based upon the music. 11:10.900 --> 11:13.080 We base it upon what's being actually 11:13.080 --> 11:14.580 issued forth from the word of God. 11:15.180 --> 11:17.200 What's being preached from the pulpit, right? 11:17.840 --> 11:20.260 You know, the Bible is the determining factor 11:20.260 --> 11:22.480 whether the institution is of God or not. 11:23.240 --> 11:25.300 And so, you know, this is why God says, 11:25.380 --> 11:29.040 hey, you know, refuse those who practice enchantments, 11:29.220 --> 11:31.460 those who are charmers, those who are used, 11:31.660 --> 11:34.140 these incantations, these spells so to speak 11:34.140 --> 11:35.860 in order to be with you, 11:36.100 --> 11:38.080 put you into an altered state of consciousness 11:38.080 --> 11:41.200 in order to deceive you with false ideologies and so forth. 11:42.020 --> 11:44.360 So this is why he says, hey, the sorcerers who practice 11:44.360 --> 11:46.820 enchantments, charmers, get away from them. 11:47.020 --> 11:49.180 How about the diviners? What is a diviner? 11:50.140 --> 11:51.340 What is divination? 11:52.360 --> 11:55.420 Well, divination is the practice of a person 11:55.420 --> 11:59.300 seeking to know the future outside of the boundaries 11:59.300 --> 11:59.980 of God's word. 12:01.080 --> 12:02.340 Now, none of us can tell the future. 12:03.080 --> 12:06.220 We can generally predict what is going to happen 12:06.220 --> 12:08.580 in the future based upon the cause and effect 12:08.580 --> 12:10.480 of what the Bible teaches, right? 12:10.920 --> 12:13.560 We could also tell you what the future holds 12:13.560 --> 12:15.640 based upon Antioch's Bible prophecy. 12:16.020 --> 12:19.620 But none of us can actually accurately, specifically, 12:19.780 --> 12:21.980 depict what's going to happen tomorrow, right? 12:22.920 --> 12:24.660 Because we know not what a day may bring forth, 12:24.780 --> 12:26.440 the Bible says, okay? 12:27.080 --> 12:29.820 You know, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 12:29.920 --> 12:32.000 Part of the evil of this life is not knowing 12:32.000 --> 12:32.860 what's going to happen tomorrow. 12:33.040 --> 12:34.600 That's just how life is, okay? 12:34.600 --> 12:36.480 But diviners, on the other hand, 12:36.620 --> 12:39.120 will claim that they can tell you 12:39.120 --> 12:40.440 what's going to happen tomorrow, 12:40.760 --> 12:42.940 who you're going to marry, how much money you're going to... 12:42.940 --> 12:44.280 Are you going to get that promotion? 12:44.800 --> 12:46.960 You know, we often think of those who are psychics 12:46.960 --> 12:48.660 or claim to be psychics, the palm readers. 12:49.120 --> 12:52.620 These are all different examples of diviners, okay? 12:53.020 --> 12:55.420 Now, let's go to Ezekiel chapter 20, if you would. 12:55.480 --> 12:56.520 Let's look at an example of this. 12:57.080 --> 12:58.140 Ezekiel chapter 20. 13:00.040 --> 13:01.040 Ezekiel chapter 20. 13:01.140 --> 13:02.120 So you have the charmers. 13:02.120 --> 13:05.320 You have the enchanters. 13:05.720 --> 13:09.780 And then you also have the diviners. 13:11.080 --> 13:12.740 Look at Ezekiel 20. 13:14.040 --> 13:15.040 Let's see here. 13:15.480 --> 13:16.300 Actually, go to 21. 13:16.460 --> 13:17.240 I think it's in 21. 13:17.680 --> 13:17.760 Yep. 13:18.300 --> 13:19.040 Ezekiel 21. 13:19.980 --> 13:22.740 So a diviner is someone who claims to be able to know the future. 13:22.860 --> 13:25.280 Look at Ezekiel 21 and verse 21. 13:25.760 --> 13:26.580 It says here, 13:41.200 --> 13:46.780 Well, let's explain a couple of these things. 13:46.860 --> 13:50.900 First and foremost, the king of Babylon is not a Bible-believing person. 13:51.160 --> 13:52.960 This is not someone who is of God. 13:53.500 --> 13:55.240 He is of the Mesopotamian culture. 13:55.240 --> 13:57.400 He practices paganism. 13:57.760 --> 14:01.900 He adheres to the heathen theology of this world and so forth. 14:02.380 --> 14:04.620 And he's using divination in order to tell the future. 14:04.880 --> 14:08.760 And he gives us three specific things that he looks into in order to tell the future. 14:08.880 --> 14:11.440 He talks about, it says in verse 21, 14:11.900 --> 14:13.040 He made his arrows bright. 14:13.140 --> 14:16.500 There's not necessarily a whole lot of information of what exactly that means. 14:16.900 --> 14:18.840 But these last two, we know for sure. 14:18.920 --> 14:19.340 It says here, 14:19.720 --> 14:21.400 He consulted with images. 14:23.000 --> 14:23.580 What does that mean? 14:23.580 --> 14:26.640 It means he goes to his false gods that are in his house, 14:26.860 --> 14:28.740 the statues that are in his house, 14:29.020 --> 14:30.280 the images that are in his house, 14:30.440 --> 14:32.580 and he consults them to figure out what to do. 14:33.100 --> 14:36.100 This is the equivalent of someone going to the Virgin Mary today 14:37.220 --> 14:38.360 in order to say like, 14:38.380 --> 14:39.180 What should I do? 14:40.240 --> 14:42.460 To go to some saint or whatever, 14:42.640 --> 14:43.720 that they claim to be a saint, 14:44.060 --> 14:47.320 of some image in their household at their church 14:47.320 --> 14:49.760 in order to be able to tell what the future holds. 14:50.260 --> 14:52.100 And this is exactly what the king of Babylon is doing. 14:52.100 --> 14:54.720 So he's using images. 14:56.720 --> 14:58.860 He says he consults with images, 14:59.060 --> 15:00.500 and then he looks into the liver. 15:01.260 --> 15:01.900 What is that? 15:02.720 --> 15:04.900 Well, this is actually called hepatoscopy. 15:06.720 --> 15:10.280 Hepatoscopy is the pagan practice of killing an animal, 15:10.720 --> 15:11.980 opening the animal, 15:12.220 --> 15:14.580 and looking inside its entrails, 15:14.580 --> 15:16.800 specifically the liver in order to tell the future. 15:17.020 --> 15:18.160 How that works, I don't know. 15:19.880 --> 15:21.460 The devil is just, I don't know, 15:21.620 --> 15:23.280 just tell him to look in the liver. 15:24.180 --> 15:25.160 They'll fall for it. 15:26.040 --> 15:27.520 And you know the Babylonians weren't the only ones 15:27.520 --> 15:28.220 who practiced this. 15:28.380 --> 15:29.420 Romans practiced this. 15:29.740 --> 15:30.660 The Gauls practiced this. 15:30.740 --> 15:33.080 There was a major practice in the ancient world 15:33.080 --> 15:35.760 where they would use the entrails of an animal 15:35.760 --> 15:37.740 in order to tell the future. 15:38.000 --> 15:39.140 It's completely nonsensical, 15:39.160 --> 15:41.040 but you know people believe in stupid stuff today though too. 15:41.580 --> 15:44.240 People have always believed in nonsensical things 15:44.240 --> 15:46.180 because the deception is so strong 15:46.180 --> 15:48.600 because they are bewitched by the enchantments 15:48.600 --> 15:50.960 and the charming of these sorcerers 15:50.960 --> 15:52.280 that would come to these people and say, 15:52.320 --> 15:55.620 hey, look inside the entrails of the lamb here 15:55.620 --> 15:57.260 and see what the future holds. 15:57.500 --> 15:58.340 But you know as Christians, 15:58.580 --> 15:59.580 we don't believe in that nonsense. 16:00.000 --> 16:00.440 What do we do? 16:00.640 --> 16:01.980 We look within the Word of God. 16:02.980 --> 16:04.700 The lamb of God who should take away 16:04.700 --> 16:06.260 the sins of the world, okay? 16:06.860 --> 16:08.980 Jesus said, you know, search the scriptures. 16:09.000 --> 16:10.700 For in them you think you have eternal life 16:10.700 --> 16:12.000 and they are which testify of me. 16:12.960 --> 16:14.040 So if we want to know the future, 16:14.120 --> 16:15.340 we've got to go to the Bible, right? 16:15.340 --> 16:17.280 We don't need to go to the stars. 16:17.580 --> 16:19.480 The Bible tells us in Jeremiah chapter 10, 16:19.980 --> 16:22.040 you know, be not dismayed at the signs of heaven 16:22.040 --> 16:24.220 for the heathen are dismayed at them, the Bible says. 16:24.760 --> 16:26.940 We're not to learn the customs of the heathen. 16:27.160 --> 16:29.720 No palm reading, no looking into the entrails. 16:29.980 --> 16:31.280 This is what divination is. 16:31.380 --> 16:33.440 Divination are these heathen practices 16:33.440 --> 16:34.820 in order to be able to tell the future. 16:35.080 --> 16:35.540 But you know what? 16:35.740 --> 16:36.760 This is why us as Christians, 16:36.900 --> 16:38.960 we need to make sure that we just have faith in God, 16:39.300 --> 16:41.960 that we walk by faith, not by sight. 16:42.300 --> 16:43.760 We don't have to worry about 16:43.760 --> 16:45.060 what's going to happen tomorrow. 16:45.340 --> 16:47.380 We simply have to walk circumspectly, 16:47.440 --> 16:48.940 not as fools but as wise, 16:49.480 --> 16:51.460 understanding what the will of the Lord is, 16:51.520 --> 16:52.380 Ephesians chapter 5. 16:53.600 --> 16:55.060 You see, if you are a Christian 16:55.590 --> 16:57.140 and you are reading the Word of God, 16:57.400 --> 16:58.500 you're not going to worry about anything. 16:59.140 --> 17:01.360 If you're going according to what God says, 17:01.720 --> 17:03.180 you don't have to be bewitched 17:03.180 --> 17:04.940 by the sorcery of this world 17:04.940 --> 17:06.560 known as social media, 17:07.740 --> 17:09.100 known as, you know, 17:09.400 --> 17:11.400 the social media platforms of X 17:11.400 --> 17:12.780 and Instagram and Facebook, 17:13.060 --> 17:14.400 because you're just worried what's going to happen. 17:14.760 --> 17:16.620 How about you actually look at the entrails 17:16.620 --> 17:19.420 of the Word of God and recognize that, 17:19.500 --> 17:21.160 you know, we know who holds tomorrow. 17:22.060 --> 17:22.300 Okay? 17:23.260 --> 17:25.240 And so we have the king of Babylon 17:25.240 --> 17:27.300 looking into the entrails of an animal 17:27.300 --> 17:28.260 in order to divine. 17:28.540 --> 17:30.600 But there's also another practice of divination 17:30.600 --> 17:32.720 that's alluded to in the Bible 17:33.300 --> 17:34.480 and that is the practice 17:34.480 --> 17:36.460 of looking inside of a cup 17:36.460 --> 17:38.200 in order to look at the tea leaves. 17:38.200 --> 17:39.880 This is a practice that they would often use. 17:40.520 --> 17:41.700 You know, they would drink the tea 17:41.700 --> 17:44.060 and the tea leaves would sink to the bottom of the cup 17:44.060 --> 17:46.160 and they would look at the structure 17:46.160 --> 17:48.080 or how the tea leaves were pointing 17:48.080 --> 17:49.760 and they would be able to tell the future, 17:49.900 --> 17:51.640 supposedly, based upon that. 17:51.940 --> 17:53.940 Now there is an example in the Bible 17:54.660 --> 17:56.200 that it alludes to this 17:56.200 --> 17:58.240 but it doesn't explicitly say and that's with Joseph. 17:58.620 --> 18:00.240 Okay? If you remember the story of Joseph 18:00.240 --> 18:01.840 when he's in Egypt 18:01.840 --> 18:04.400 he tricks his brothers and they take what? 18:04.520 --> 18:05.620 His cup of divination. 18:06.040 --> 18:07.140 And he specifically says, 18:07.180 --> 18:09.280 don't you know that this is the cup that I used to divine? 18:09.840 --> 18:12.180 Now obviously I think he's just being sarcastic here. 18:12.200 --> 18:13.140 He's just trying to trick his brothers. 18:13.440 --> 18:15.760 We know that God gave him dreams and interpretations. 18:16.360 --> 18:17.640 He didn't need a cup to do so. 18:17.760 --> 18:20.240 But this is obviously something that he's saying 18:20.240 --> 18:21.560 because it's a common practice 18:21.560 --> 18:23.500 in that particular region in Egypt. 18:23.960 --> 18:25.240 Okay? Point being here 18:25.240 --> 18:26.920 we don't have to look into a cup. 18:27.520 --> 18:29.360 We don't have to look into the entrails. 18:29.580 --> 18:31.340 We can simply look into the word of God 18:31.340 --> 18:33.440 in order to determine what the future is. 18:33.440 --> 18:35.460 So you have enchanters, 18:35.960 --> 18:36.980 you have charmers, 18:37.520 --> 18:39.040 you have diviners 18:39.040 --> 18:40.940 and you also have 18:41.640 --> 18:42.260 necromancers. 18:43.260 --> 18:44.740 Now what is a necromancer? 18:44.860 --> 18:46.680 This is used interchangeably in the Bible 18:46.680 --> 18:49.000 to describe those who consult with 18:49.000 --> 18:50.340 familiar spirits. 18:51.180 --> 18:52.580 They talk to demons 18:52.580 --> 18:53.520 or whatever. 18:54.480 --> 18:56.720 These are people who talk to demonic entities. 18:57.300 --> 18:59.320 They think they're talking to their family members. 18:59.680 --> 19:01.460 They're using the Ouija board. 19:01.460 --> 19:03.680 They're trying to consult with entities, 19:04.460 --> 19:05.500 supernatural entities 19:05.500 --> 19:07.120 in order to get certain answers. 19:09.000 --> 19:10.660 Now there is an instance in the Bible 19:10.660 --> 19:11.860 where God permitted 19:12.520 --> 19:14.460 someone to actually communicate with someone 19:14.460 --> 19:16.200 who had gone beyond. 19:16.420 --> 19:17.280 They were already in heaven. 19:17.600 --> 19:18.500 And that is Saul. 19:19.460 --> 19:22.020 Saul was able to commune with Samuel 19:22.680 --> 19:25.080 and he used a witch in order to do so. 19:25.620 --> 19:25.700 Okay? 19:26.220 --> 19:27.760 And obviously the reason God allowed that 19:27.760 --> 19:29.580 is because Samuel was going to 19:30.500 --> 19:32.280 tell Saul that he was going to die. 19:32.960 --> 19:33.000 Because 19:33.720 --> 19:34.960 God wanted to kill Saul. 19:35.340 --> 19:37.020 Because Saul had gotten him so far away from God 19:37.020 --> 19:38.460 he wanted to destroy him. 19:39.080 --> 19:41.400 But here's the thing though, that's another form 19:41.400 --> 19:43.020 of sorcery. 19:43.380 --> 19:45.260 People who try to communicate with the dead 19:45.260 --> 19:47.880 try to communicate with those who have passed on. 19:48.160 --> 19:49.500 And again, this is something else 19:49.500 --> 19:51.400 that falls under the category of Catholicism. 19:52.240 --> 19:54.120 You know, praying to those who have passed away, 19:54.300 --> 19:56.080 have passed on, praying to saints. 19:56.080 --> 19:57.480 That is an example 19:58.080 --> 19:59.880 of consulting with familiar spirits. 20:00.080 --> 20:01.740 That is an example of 20:01.740 --> 20:02.760 necromancy. 20:03.060 --> 20:04.980 And nowhere in the Bible does it teach that 20:04.980 --> 20:06.960 any disciple, any apostle 20:06.960 --> 20:09.480 communicated with anybody who had gone beyond 20:09.480 --> 20:11.060 other than the Lord Jesus Christ. 20:12.640 --> 20:14.100 And it's interesting that they want to 20:14.100 --> 20:15.680 pray to everyone except for Jesus. 20:18.680 --> 20:20.020 They want to pray to 20:20.020 --> 20:22.180 Saint So-and-so and Saint Joseph 20:22.180 --> 20:23.880 and Saint Mary and Saint whatever. 20:23.880 --> 20:26.020 But they never want to go to the actual source 20:26.020 --> 20:27.280 which is the Lord Jesus Christ. 20:27.740 --> 20:30.200 And any religion that pushes you away 20:30.200 --> 20:32.080 from communion with the Lord Jesus Christ 20:32.080 --> 20:34.060 runs screaming in the opposite direction. 20:35.900 --> 20:37.880 And so that is a form 20:37.880 --> 20:39.220 of necromancy. 20:39.500 --> 20:42.480 That is a form of consulting with familiar spirits. 20:42.920 --> 20:43.560 And obviously there's 20:43.560 --> 20:46.040 various branches of this too. 20:46.220 --> 20:47.780 You have this in Hispanic 20:47.780 --> 20:49.800 cultures where they will 20:49.800 --> 20:51.160 try to communicate with 20:51.160 --> 20:53.120 their lost love ones 20:53.120 --> 20:55.320 or the ones who have passed away and so forth. 20:55.740 --> 20:56.500 It's all demonic. 20:57.000 --> 20:58.600 And you know what? That's why it's important for us 20:58.600 --> 21:00.460 to recognize that we 21:00.460 --> 21:03.080 cannot communicate with those who have gone 21:03.080 --> 21:04.740 beyond. The only time we're going to be able 21:04.740 --> 21:06.440 to communicate with them is when we go there too. 21:07.020 --> 21:08.600 And the only way you can go there is if you believe 21:08.600 --> 21:10.820 on the Lord Jesus Christ exclusively for salvation. 21:12.680 --> 21:14.820 So you have divination. You have 21:14.820 --> 21:16.420 enchantments. You have charmers. 21:16.860 --> 21:19.480 You have those who are consultants with familiar spirits. 21:19.480 --> 21:21.480 You have the soothsayers. 21:22.440 --> 21:23.620 What is a soothsayer? 21:24.020 --> 21:25.600 This is someone who is a sorcerer 21:26.380 --> 21:28.400 who just preaches lies to you. 21:28.520 --> 21:29.480 He's very soothing. 21:31.140 --> 21:32.320 You know, it's the opposite of what I'm 21:32.320 --> 21:33.200 doing to you right now. 21:33.660 --> 21:35.620 You know, the soothsayer is just all 21:36.060 --> 21:37.340 exhortation. He's like the 21:37.340 --> 21:39.360 Joel Olstein. He is 21:39.360 --> 21:41.800 the pastor who just wants to tell you what you want to hear 21:41.800 --> 21:43.780 in order to take advantage of you. 21:43.840 --> 21:44.840 This is the person that has 21:45.360 --> 21:47.420 men's persons in admiration because of advantage. 21:47.420 --> 21:49.120 This is the person with great swelling 21:49.120 --> 21:50.180 words of vanity. 21:50.400 --> 21:53.160 This is the person who just preaches lies 21:53.160 --> 21:55.400 to you. That is the soothsayer. 21:55.760 --> 21:57.580 They don't care about your spiritual 21:57.580 --> 21:59.380 well-being. They don't care if you 21:59.380 --> 22:01.340 destroy your life. All they care about 22:01.340 --> 22:02.280 is your pocketbook. 22:02.960 --> 22:04.920 All they care about is what they can get 22:04.920 --> 22:06.840 from you. That is the soothsayer. 22:06.980 --> 22:07.820 That is the false prophet. 22:09.280 --> 22:10.360 And then lastly, 22:11.240 --> 22:13.040 under the canopy of sorcery 22:13.040 --> 22:14.960 is you have the 22:15.540 --> 22:16.100 astrologers 22:16.760 --> 22:18.360 and those who 22:18.960 --> 22:20.660 observe days, those 22:20.660 --> 22:22.720 who observe the stars and so forth. 22:23.080 --> 22:24.780 These are the individuals that will 22:24.780 --> 22:26.940 look at the stars in order to determine 22:26.940 --> 22:27.400 the future. 22:28.260 --> 22:30.780 You know, oh I'm a Scorpio 22:30.780 --> 22:32.480 so I got to look at this particular 22:32.480 --> 22:33.960 constellation or something like that. 22:34.580 --> 22:36.820 They're the ones who literally use 22:36.820 --> 22:38.840 the constellations. They'll use all 22:38.840 --> 22:40.740 these things, the horoscope type people 22:40.740 --> 22:42.580 in order to determine the future 22:42.580 --> 22:44.300 but that's all nonsensical. You're like 22:44.300 --> 22:46.220 well you know, I saw this one 22:46.220 --> 22:48.140 horoscope though. I'll look it into 22:48.140 --> 22:50.120 and I feel like it was just about me. Yeah, because 22:50.120 --> 22:51.580 it was saying all good things and you want 22:51.580 --> 22:53.220 people to say good things about you. 22:54.320 --> 22:56.000 So you're like, oh this is all good. 22:56.100 --> 22:57.700 Yeah, I'm definitely successful. 22:59.160 --> 23:00.540 Yeah, that's me right there. 23:01.060 --> 23:02.640 Oh yeah, I'm definitely trustworthy. 23:03.240 --> 23:04.380 I'm definitely loyal. 23:04.880 --> 23:06.200 Oh yeah, I'm really passionate. 23:06.780 --> 23:08.220 Yeah, this is called soothsaying. 23:09.000 --> 23:10.600 They give you all the good qualities 23:10.600 --> 23:12.580 because they know that you're so narcissistic 23:12.580 --> 23:14.440 when it comes to yourself. You're just like, yep 23:14.440 --> 23:16.140 I fit all these. I must be a 23:16.140 --> 23:18.600 whatever, a Capricorn or whatever they call it. 23:20.180 --> 23:20.460 Okay, 23:21.140 --> 23:21.900 and you know 23:22.500 --> 23:24.520 I hope no Christian is struggling 23:24.520 --> 23:26.300 with this and believes in this crap 23:26.300 --> 23:28.320 because that's exactly what it is. 23:28.820 --> 23:30.560 Okay, because at the end of the day 23:30.560 --> 23:32.540 the Bible says we're to be conformed to the image 23:32.540 --> 23:33.120 of Christ. 23:34.120 --> 23:36.200 Not to just revel in how 23:36.200 --> 23:38.380 we are and our characteristics 23:38.380 --> 23:39.440 and our attributes. 23:39.840 --> 23:42.140 The Bible tells us to put off the old man 23:42.140 --> 23:44.640 which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust 23:44.640 --> 23:46.160 and be renewed in the spirit 23:46.160 --> 23:48.320 of your mind, which is created after 23:48.320 --> 23:49.920 righteousness and true holiness 23:49.920 --> 23:52.280 to put on the new man the Bible says. 23:52.800 --> 23:53.920 So it's just like, well 23:53.920 --> 23:56.060 I just really want to know who I really am. 23:56.340 --> 23:56.880 You're a sinner. 23:58.300 --> 24:00.480 Okay, plain and simple. 24:00.940 --> 24:02.200 You have a corruptible body 24:02.200 --> 24:04.380 your mind is not subject to the law of God 24:04.380 --> 24:05.880 neither indeed can be 24:05.880 --> 24:07.600 therefore you need to be filled with the spirit 24:07.600 --> 24:09.460 and transcend the flesh to be spirit filled. 24:10.300 --> 24:11.800 You need to put on the new man 24:11.800 --> 24:12.360 the Bible says. 24:13.080 --> 24:14.740 So stop looking at the horoscope 24:15.700 --> 24:17.560 to figure out why you know 24:17.560 --> 24:19.700 I just don't know why I am the way I am 24:19.700 --> 24:21.400 it's called the sin nature that's what it is. 24:22.440 --> 24:23.760 Okay, and you know what 24:23.760 --> 24:25.960 even if the horoscope gets like 50% of it 24:25.960 --> 24:28.040 right 50% of it you got to get rid of anyways. 24:29.500 --> 24:29.980 God's not 24:29.980 --> 24:31.560 pleased with that 50% anyways 24:31.560 --> 24:33.380 and you know what don't use that 24:33.380 --> 24:35.340 as an excuse as to why you're such 24:35.340 --> 24:36.100 a sinful person. 24:36.880 --> 24:38.760 How about you get the word of God inside 24:38.760 --> 24:40.760 the Bible tells us that word of I hit in my heart 24:40.760 --> 24:41.900 that I may not sin against thee. 24:42.720 --> 24:44.760 Okay, and God expects us to transform 24:44.760 --> 24:46.780 ourselves on a day to day 24:46.780 --> 24:48.100 to live a sanctified life 24:48.100 --> 24:49.800 to live a life that's pleasing unto him 24:49.800 --> 24:51.780 and if there's characteristics and attributes 24:51.780 --> 24:53.380 and ideologies that we possess 24:53.380 --> 24:54.420 that are contrary to God's word 24:54.420 --> 24:55.700 God says change it. 24:56.060 --> 24:57.820 It doesn't care what the horoscope says 24:58.760 --> 25:00.100 why this is just me 25:00.920 --> 25:02.340 I'm just a selfish person 25:03.020 --> 25:04.300 I'm just this is just me 25:04.300 --> 25:05.920 yeah but you know what if it contradicts the Bible 25:07.160 --> 25:08.320 you know you got to change it 25:08.940 --> 25:10.880 okay you got to be renewed in spirit of your mind 25:10.880 --> 25:12.380 you got to conform yourself 25:12.380 --> 25:13.700 to the image of Christ 25:13.700 --> 25:15.540 you got to transform your mind 25:15.540 --> 25:18.140 by the word of God and not be that way 25:18.580 --> 25:18.940 understand. 25:19.260 --> 25:21.560 And so we have too much of this in society 25:21.560 --> 25:22.940 where it's just like you know 25:22.940 --> 25:24.960 you just got to really embrace who you really are. 25:24.960 --> 25:25.560 No. 25:26.380 --> 25:28.620 The heart is deceitful above all things desperately wicked 25:28.620 --> 25:29.280 who can know it? 25:30.500 --> 25:32.340 You should want to be less like you 25:34.460 --> 25:35.680 that's what you should try to be like 25:35.680 --> 25:37.100 well I kind of like the way I am 25:37.100 --> 25:38.840 yeah but if who you are 25:39.400 --> 25:41.540 is completely contrary to the word of God 25:41.540 --> 25:42.720 and you're a Christian 25:42.720 --> 25:44.500 you're a Bible believing Christian 25:44.500 --> 25:45.880 then you need to change 25:46.460 --> 25:48.460 it's called the process of sanctification 25:49.560 --> 25:50.960 okay you need to crucify 25:50.960 --> 25:52.500 the flesh with the affections and lust 25:52.500 --> 25:53.780 that's what the Bible literally says 25:53.780 --> 25:56.000 you know the last time I checked Jesus said 25:56.000 --> 25:58.160 if any man come after me let him 25:58.160 --> 25:59.760 deny himself 26:00.360 --> 26:02.040 take up his cross and follow me 26:02.040 --> 26:03.780 he didn't say embrace yourself 26:04.400 --> 26:06.280 he that loves his life shall lose it 26:06.280 --> 26:06.800 the Bible says 26:06.800 --> 26:09.320 whoever shall lose his life for my sake 26:09.320 --> 26:10.260 the same shall save it 26:11.000 --> 26:13.100 so the Bible is constantly talking about us 26:13.100 --> 26:14.440 leaving the old man 26:14.440 --> 26:16.280 crucifying the old man 26:16.280 --> 26:18.860 let not sin therefore reigning your immortal bodies 26:18.860 --> 26:20.480 that you should obey and the lust thereof 26:20.480 --> 26:22.100 and put on the new man 26:22.100 --> 26:24.080 which after God has created righteousness 26:24.080 --> 26:25.520 and true holiness and so forth 26:25.520 --> 26:28.720 now let's go back to Acts chapter 8 26:28.720 --> 26:30.080 that was my rant 26:31.140 --> 26:32.620 some of you needed it though 26:32.620 --> 26:33.180 so it's all good 26:36.360 --> 26:38.620 that was all introduction just to kind of explain to you 26:38.620 --> 26:39.440 what sorcery is 26:39.440 --> 26:41.360 so now you know 26:42.680 --> 26:44.340 sorcery, witchcraft, wizardry 26:44.740 --> 26:46.560 these are all used interchangeably 26:46.560 --> 26:47.940 and a wizard 26:48.560 --> 26:50.740 a witch is simply someone who takes the wisdom 26:50.740 --> 26:52.220 of God and they corrupt it 26:52.220 --> 26:54.400 they turn it into lasciviousness 26:54.400 --> 26:55.620 they use it for evil means 26:55.620 --> 26:58.320 they're wise to do evil the Bible says 26:58.320 --> 27:01.040 and so not all wise men 27:01.040 --> 27:02.100 in the Bible are bad 27:03.340 --> 27:04.460 obviously it's 27:04.460 --> 27:06.700 often used to describe both categories 27:06.700 --> 27:08.500 but we need to read it in its context 27:08.500 --> 27:10.700 we know that the wise men came to seek 27:10.700 --> 27:11.100 Christ 27:11.100 --> 27:13.900 the Bible also says that 27:13.900 --> 27:15.160 when it's wise 27:15.900 --> 27:16.700 wisdom is not bad 27:16.700 --> 27:18.340 just like subtlety is not bad 27:18.340 --> 27:21.260 being a subtle person 27:21.260 --> 27:23.020 is actually a Christian virtue 27:23.020 --> 27:24.980 but we obviously know that there are instances 27:24.980 --> 27:26.460 where people use subtlety 27:26.460 --> 27:28.540 to their advantage in order to deceive 27:28.540 --> 27:29.840 i.e. Satan 27:29.840 --> 27:32.960 he was more subtle than any beast of the field 27:32.960 --> 27:33.500 the Bible says 27:33.500 --> 27:36.080 and so this is simply an example 27:36.080 --> 27:37.120 of that 27:37.120 --> 27:38.700 so you have sorcery 27:38.700 --> 27:40.160 now in Acts chapter 8 27:40.160 --> 27:41.020 with that in mind 27:41.020 --> 27:44.200 you have the story of Simon the sorcerer 27:44.200 --> 27:46.000 now it doesn't explicitly say 27:46.000 --> 27:48.220 what type of sorcerer he was 27:48.220 --> 27:49.940 if I were to guess 27:49.940 --> 27:52.380 and kind of infer my interpretation 27:52.380 --> 27:54.140 of what type of sorcerer he was 27:54.140 --> 27:56.800 I would say that he was probably an enchanter 27:56.800 --> 27:58.920 and a charmer 27:58.920 --> 27:59.380 okay 27:59.380 --> 28:01.400 he probably wasn't a diviner 28:01.400 --> 28:03.580 he probably wasn't an enchanter or a charmer 28:03.580 --> 28:05.240 or a soothsayer 28:05.240 --> 28:07.140 why is that? well let's look at the story here 28:07.140 --> 28:08.260 let me give you some 28:09.380 --> 28:11.220 introductory statements regarding the chapter 28:11.220 --> 28:12.620 in chapter 8 28:13.200 --> 28:15.400 the apostle Paul is not yet an apostle 28:15.400 --> 28:17.380 simply referred to as Saul 28:17.380 --> 28:19.120 and he's persecuting Christians 28:19.120 --> 28:19.580 okay 28:20.940 --> 28:23.220 he's like single-handedly persecuting 28:23.220 --> 28:24.020 the churches 28:24.020 --> 28:26.860 to the point where they're literally just scattering 28:26.860 --> 28:29.060 in all different regions of the known world 28:29.060 --> 28:31.880 because he's so passionate about the Jews religion 28:31.880 --> 28:33.540 he's persecuting Christians 28:33.540 --> 28:35.540 and so you know a lot of the Christians 28:35.540 --> 28:37.880 in Jerusalem are forced out of 28:37.880 --> 28:39.860 Jerusalem and they go into various cities 28:39.860 --> 28:41.400 now one of the reasons for that 28:41.400 --> 28:43.120 is because God didn't want 28:43.120 --> 28:45.600 you know believers to just stay in Jerusalem 28:45.600 --> 28:47.700 you know the apostles were just 28:47.700 --> 28:48.720 sticking around in Jerusalem 28:48.720 --> 28:50.660 and they weren't reaching the known world 28:50.660 --> 28:52.160 they were only reaching Jews 28:52.800 --> 28:54.320 and you say what's the problem with that 28:54.320 --> 28:56.520 well the problem with that is that God specifically commanded them 28:56.520 --> 28:58.000 to go into all the world 28:58.000 --> 29:01.180 he said to Samaria, Judea, Samaria 29:01.180 --> 29:02.640 and the uttermost parts of the world 29:02.640 --> 29:04.400 but they were disobeying that command 29:04.400 --> 29:06.100 so God allowed 29:06.840 --> 29:08.520 Paul, Saul 29:08.520 --> 29:10.060 which is their use interchangeably 29:10.060 --> 29:12.660 he allowed Saul to go in 29:12.660 --> 29:14.180 and persecute them and cause them to scatter 29:14.180 --> 29:17.200 the only difference is the apostles still remain in Jerusalem 29:17.200 --> 29:17.920 okay 29:19.000 --> 29:20.660 so he's wreaking havoc 29:21.160 --> 29:23.480 well Philip goes out and he's preaching the word of God 29:23.480 --> 29:25.020 look at verse number 4 29:25.020 --> 29:27.100 it says therefore they that were scattered 29:27.100 --> 29:28.860 abroad went everywhere preaching the word 29:28.860 --> 29:31.540 then Philip went down to the city of Samaria 29:31.540 --> 29:33.020 and preached Christ 29:33.020 --> 29:33.880 unto them 29:33.880 --> 29:36.800 the people with one accord gave heed 29:36.800 --> 29:38.760 unto those things which Philip spake 29:38.760 --> 29:41.360 hearing and seeing the miracles which he did 29:41.360 --> 29:42.200 so we have Philip 29:42.860 --> 29:44.380 he was one that actually did go 29:44.380 --> 29:46.040 into different regions 29:46.040 --> 29:48.980 the Bible specifically says that he went down into Samaria 29:48.980 --> 29:51.120 down doesn't mean that he went south 29:51.120 --> 29:51.860 of Jerusalem 29:52.660 --> 29:54.400 Samaria is actually north of Jerusalem 29:54.400 --> 29:56.820 but elevation wise it's lower 29:56.820 --> 29:59.700 than Jerusalem which is why it says that he went down into Samaria 29:59.700 --> 30:00.960 so he goes there 30:00.960 --> 30:02.580 preaching the gospel look at verse 6 30:02.580 --> 30:04.820 and the people with one accord gave 30:04.820 --> 30:06.840 heed unto those things which Philip spake 30:06.840 --> 30:08.640 hearing and seeing the miracles which he did 30:08.640 --> 30:10.900 for unclean spirits 30:10.900 --> 30:12.820 crying with loud voice 30:12.820 --> 30:14.820 came out of many that were possessed 30:14.820 --> 30:17.160 with them and many taken with palsies 30:17.160 --> 30:18.620 and they were lame or healed 30:18.620 --> 30:21.240 so you know an incredible works being done here 30:21.240 --> 30:23.060 Philip obviously has the supernatural 30:23.060 --> 30:24.660 capabilities of healing people 30:24.660 --> 30:27.140 he is performing exorcisms 30:27.140 --> 30:28.760 he's leaving people of demonic 30:28.760 --> 30:30.640 possession he's healing people 30:30.640 --> 30:31.640 of physical infirmities 30:31.640 --> 30:34.720 but he's also simultaneously preaching the word of God 30:34.720 --> 30:36.920 okay now how does that work 30:36.920 --> 30:38.840 well the reason God allowed 30:38.840 --> 30:41.080 these supernatural miracles to occur 30:41.080 --> 30:42.020 in the first century AD 30:42.500 --> 30:44.660 is in order to lend veracity to the 30:44.660 --> 30:46.720 message okay because you gotta keep in mind 30:46.720 --> 30:48.720 this is the beginning stages of the 30:48.720 --> 30:49.420 New Testament churches 30:50.160 --> 30:52.540 you know they're kind of transitioning out of the 30:52.540 --> 30:55.080 Old Covenant and they're getting away 30:55.080 --> 30:56.980 from the stigma 30:56.980 --> 30:58.620 of the synagogues and the 30:58.620 --> 31:00.080 Pharisees and the Jews religion 31:00.080 --> 31:02.600 okay so in order to kind of set 31:02.600 --> 31:04.640 them apart make them distinctly different 31:04.640 --> 31:06.720 from them God enabled them 31:06.720 --> 31:08.520 to supernaturally perform 31:08.520 --> 31:10.080 these miracles of healing 31:10.080 --> 31:12.920 in order to give them the rightful 31:12.920 --> 31:14.560 credibility so people are like okay these guys 31:14.560 --> 31:15.720 are men of God 31:15.720 --> 31:18.340 these guys are sent by God because they're 31:18.340 --> 31:20.520 performing these miracles which only God can do 31:20.520 --> 31:21.040 right 31:21.920 --> 31:24.160 so that obviously sets them apart from the Pharisees 31:24.160 --> 31:25.260 because they can't do anything 31:25.260 --> 31:27.540 all they can do is steal clip coins 31:28.180 --> 31:30.080 that's the only thing they can do 31:30.080 --> 31:32.320 so these guys 31:32.320 --> 31:33.860 people are getting saved 31:34.380 --> 31:36.280 people are being exercised of their 31:36.280 --> 31:37.760 demons and so forth 31:38.320 --> 31:39.280 great works being accomplished 31:39.280 --> 31:41.820 verse 8 says there was great joy in that city 31:42.500 --> 31:44.280 but there was a certain 31:44.280 --> 31:45.520 man called Simon 31:45.520 --> 31:47.920 which before time in the city 31:47.920 --> 31:49.500 used sorcery 31:49.500 --> 31:51.880 and bewitched the people of Samaria 31:51.880 --> 31:53.680 giving out that himself 31:53.680 --> 31:54.860 was some great one 31:54.860 --> 31:58.040 so there's a guy there's a prominent character 31:58.040 --> 32:00.140 in this city known as Simon 32:00.140 --> 32:01.980 and it seems as though 32:01.980 --> 32:03.860 he has a big reputation 32:03.860 --> 32:05.900 of being just like the goat 32:05.900 --> 32:08.280 okay he's some great one 32:08.280 --> 32:10.040 apparently but you know 32:10.040 --> 32:11.900 it's kind of like if you're to walk in there 32:11.900 --> 32:14.080 into Samaria and someone told you 32:14.080 --> 32:15.380 like hey that's the goat right there 32:15.380 --> 32:17.520 this guy knows everything 32:17.520 --> 32:19.460 he has the power of God 32:19.460 --> 32:21.260 in his life but then you're looking at all these 32:21.260 --> 32:21.900 sick people 32:22.760 --> 32:24.420 people who are possessed by demons 32:25.060 --> 32:26.820 people who have the palsies 32:26.820 --> 32:28.800 they have all these physical infirmities 32:28.800 --> 32:31.000 you would kind of be like what is he doing 32:31.000 --> 32:32.900 you know 32:32.900 --> 32:35.660 how is it that he's the great man of God 32:35.660 --> 32:37.020 how is it that he has all these 32:37.020 --> 32:38.900 supernatural capabilities but you have all these 32:38.900 --> 32:39.520 sick people 32:40.360 --> 32:41.700 now it's kind of like today right 32:41.700 --> 32:44.000 you have these so called faith healers 32:44.000 --> 32:46.200 which I call them fake healers 32:46.200 --> 32:46.980 okay 32:46.980 --> 32:49.400 in the charismatic movement that they claim 32:49.400 --> 32:51.280 to be able to heal people by touching them 32:51.280 --> 32:53.640 well why aren't they lined up at the hospital right now 32:54.180 --> 32:55.740 just healing people on mass 32:57.240 --> 32:58.720 if you have that power 32:58.720 --> 32:59.420 why don't you do that 32:59.420 --> 33:01.160 why is it that you can only heal people 33:01.560 --> 33:03.500 of minor things right 33:03.500 --> 33:05.100 of just like you know 33:05.100 --> 33:06.880 oh make my leg a little longer 33:08.660 --> 33:09.420 you know 33:11.160 --> 33:12.440 keep my leg a little short 33:12.440 --> 33:13.140 you know 33:14.080 --> 33:15.040 you know 33:15.040 --> 33:16.420 oh make my leg a little longer 33:16.420 --> 33:18.520 just things that you can't really see 33:18.520 --> 33:21.400 but they never heal 33:21.400 --> 33:23.020 just major infirmities 33:23.760 --> 33:25.020 okay and obviously 33:25.020 --> 33:27.280 today we would say that this person is a 33:27.280 --> 33:28.000 charlatan 33:28.000 --> 33:30.800 and that's what Simon is, he's a charlatan 33:31.480 --> 33:33.180 because he's a great one supposedly 33:33.180 --> 33:34.400 but he ain't healing nobody 33:34.400 --> 33:35.340 okay 33:35.340 --> 33:36.860 you know where are all 33:36.860 --> 33:39.140 where are all the faith healers doing 33:39.140 --> 33:41.200 COVID and you know when people 33:41.200 --> 33:41.900 have cancer 33:42.840 --> 33:45.260 they're gone, they can't heal anybody 33:45.260 --> 33:47.140 it's all fake, they are 33:47.140 --> 33:48.940 enchanters and charmers 33:48.940 --> 33:51.220 who make you think they have that ability 33:51.220 --> 33:53.420 but there are a bunch of phonies is what they are 33:54.040 --> 33:55.440 Benny Hinn and the like 33:56.280 --> 33:57.620 him and his street fighter 33:57.620 --> 33:58.460 you know little 33:58.460 --> 33:59.920 show that he puts on 34:02.720 --> 34:04.020 and the bible specifically said 34:04.020 --> 34:05.080 that he bewitched them 34:05.080 --> 34:06.280 what does it mean to bewitch them 34:06.280 --> 34:08.120 it means like he puts them under a spell 34:09.180 --> 34:10.640 okay and not pixie dust 34:10.640 --> 34:12.080 he's just by the stuff that he's saying 34:12.520 --> 34:13.960 he's causing people to believe 34:14.400 --> 34:16.200 like oh man are people really that dumb 34:16.200 --> 34:18.260 I mean look at the people in the movement 34:18.260 --> 34:20.360 within the faith healing community 34:21.140 --> 34:22.300 people will literally 34:22.300 --> 34:23.780 watch this on TV 34:23.780 --> 34:25.400 send hundreds of dollars 34:25.400 --> 34:26.800 just to get a hanky 34:28.140 --> 34:29.720 that's touched by one of these prophets 34:30.680 --> 34:31.500 you know thinking 34:31.500 --> 34:33.180 that that's somehow going to help them 34:33.180 --> 34:33.780 or something like that 34:33.780 --> 34:34.900 they're bewitched 34:35.480 --> 34:38.760 they've been deceived by a sorcerer 34:38.760 --> 34:40.100 by an enchanter 34:40.100 --> 34:41.220 by a charmer 34:42.260 --> 34:44.480 you say yeah I'll never fall for that 34:44.480 --> 34:46.400 but you know there's false prophets who use the same 34:46.400 --> 34:47.800 exact tactics on you 34:49.220 --> 34:50.720 there's plenty of churches out there 34:50.720 --> 34:52.560 that are being bewitched by false prophets 34:52.560 --> 34:53.540 and false doctrine 34:53.540 --> 34:55.120 and heresy 34:55.120 --> 34:56.220 and zionism 34:56.220 --> 34:57.980 and dispensationalism 34:57.980 --> 35:00.360 and teachings that you could lose your salvation 35:00.360 --> 35:02.080 and teachings about the gospel 35:02.080 --> 35:03.940 these are sorcerers 35:03.940 --> 35:05.380 from a different category 35:05.380 --> 35:07.660 that are simply bewitching people 35:07.660 --> 35:09.240 in heretical things 35:09.240 --> 35:11.800 and sometimes you're like how is it that you can believe this 35:11.800 --> 35:13.800 despite the clear evidence that's presented 35:13.800 --> 35:15.480 I'll tell you how because they're bewitched 35:15.480 --> 35:17.800 a person who's bewitched they're under 35:17.800 --> 35:19.940 listen to this a strong delusion 35:21.300 --> 35:22.580 have you ever heard that word 35:22.580 --> 35:23.900 someone who's delusional 35:23.900 --> 35:26.940 it's like no matter how much evidence you give them 35:26.940 --> 35:28.540 how much truth you provide 35:28.540 --> 35:29.720 they're just like 35:29.720 --> 35:32.260 I don't see it 35:32.260 --> 35:34.040 I just don't see it 35:34.560 --> 35:37.040 I just still think they're gospel people 35:43.380 --> 35:44.500 you're delusional 35:45.480 --> 35:47.520 and you can like literally just like 35:47.520 --> 35:48.860 throw the Bible at them 35:48.860 --> 35:50.820 just show them every verse in the book 35:50.820 --> 35:51.940 and it's just like they don't get it 35:51.940 --> 35:53.680 why because they've been bewitched 35:54.800 --> 35:57.460 now we'll say that in order to prevent being bewitched 35:57.460 --> 35:58.340 you've got to love the truth 35:58.340 --> 35:59.920 and when you love the truth 36:00.340 --> 36:02.800 you're not going to be bewitched by heresy 36:02.800 --> 36:04.220 and false doctrine and so forth 36:04.860 --> 36:06.480 but if you love fairy tales 36:07.620 --> 36:09.340 if you like exotic doctrines 36:09.340 --> 36:11.780 if you like things that are contrary to the word of God 36:11.780 --> 36:13.960 just because you think it's a great thing 36:13.960 --> 36:15.500 then guess what you will be bewitched 36:15.500 --> 36:17.620 God will allow you to come under that 36:17.620 --> 36:18.440 strong delusion 36:18.440 --> 36:19.920 in order to be deceived 36:19.920 --> 36:23.220 so you have Simon here 36:24.480 --> 36:26.140 apparently he's deceived his people 36:26.140 --> 36:27.000 for a very long time 36:27.000 --> 36:28.520 it says in verse number 10 36:28.520 --> 36:30.300 to whom they all gave heed 36:31.080 --> 36:32.960 from the least to the greatest saying 36:33.500 --> 36:35.700 this man is the great power of God 36:35.700 --> 36:37.000 they're just like 36:37.000 --> 36:39.460 this man is the great power of God 36:41.440 --> 36:42.600 he's just like how 36:42.600 --> 36:43.620 you're not even healed 36:44.740 --> 36:46.320 like what has he done for you 36:47.420 --> 36:48.720 what exactly has it done for you 36:48.720 --> 36:49.620 I'll tell you what he's done 36:49.620 --> 36:50.620 he's deceived them 36:51.800 --> 36:53.960 by his sorceries into thinking that 36:53.960 --> 36:55.420 he's some great one 36:55.420 --> 36:57.960 and they all gave heed 36:57.960 --> 36:59.660 so the whole city is like oh yeah we know this 36:59.660 --> 37:00.960 we know Simon that's Simon 37:01.900 --> 37:03.980 that's the go this is the great one 37:04.400 --> 37:05.680 he's the one with all the power 37:05.680 --> 37:08.120 he's the one who's capable of doing all these miracles 37:08.120 --> 37:10.180 he's the one who's just like but you guys are all sick 37:10.180 --> 37:11.760 no one's healed 37:12.920 --> 37:14.620 it says in verse number 11 37:14.620 --> 37:16.560 and to him they all had to regard 37:16.560 --> 37:18.080 because that of a long time 37:18.080 --> 37:20.020 he had bewitched them with 37:20.020 --> 37:22.200 sorceries but when they believed Philip 37:22.200 --> 37:24.160 preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God 37:24.160 --> 37:25.600 and the name of Jesus Christ 37:25.600 --> 37:28.020 they were baptized both men and women 37:28.020 --> 37:30.400 so this shows us that the truth 37:30.400 --> 37:31.460 can always 37:32.540 --> 37:34.200 destroy and cause 37:34.200 --> 37:35.480 the lie to collapse 37:36.120 --> 37:37.420 truth is powerful right 37:37.960 --> 37:38.780 the gospel 37:38.780 --> 37:40.480 the preaching of the cross 37:40.480 --> 37:42.340 it's to them that perish foolishness 37:42.340 --> 37:43.640 but into us which are saved 37:43.640 --> 37:44.720 it is the power of God 37:44.720 --> 37:47.380 it can cause someone to come out from under 37:47.380 --> 37:49.120 the spell of this world 37:49.120 --> 37:51.100 the bible says that the God of this world 37:51.100 --> 37:53.120 has blinded the minds of them 37:53.120 --> 37:53.820 which believe not 37:53.820 --> 37:56.320 lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ 37:56.320 --> 37:57.200 who is the image of God 37:57.200 --> 37:58.740 should shine unto them 37:58.740 --> 38:00.520 so when you bring the gospel to someone 38:00.520 --> 38:02.380 it doesn't matter how deceived they've been 38:02.380 --> 38:04.220 if they're looking for the truth they'll get saved 38:04.220 --> 38:06.120 and it's like the scales fall off 38:06.620 --> 38:08.520 and I think many of us could attest to the fact 38:08.520 --> 38:10.140 that when we got saved it's just like whoa 38:10.880 --> 38:12.340 like I know the truth now 38:13.080 --> 38:14.740 I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ 38:14.740 --> 38:16.060 I know I can't lose my salvation 38:16.060 --> 38:18.480 and now when you read the bible you read these clear verses 38:18.480 --> 38:20.380 you're like man all this makes sense 38:21.440 --> 38:22.520 all this is like 38:22.520 --> 38:23.660 crystal clear now 38:23.660 --> 38:26.400 now I get the bible and look I remember 38:26.880 --> 38:27.840 not being saved 38:28.380 --> 38:31.080 I remember people giving me verses about eternal security 38:31.080 --> 38:31.920 and salvation 38:31.920 --> 38:34.360 and I remember listening to it 38:34.360 --> 38:36.660 but I also remember not understanding it 38:36.660 --> 38:38.700 but I remember after I got saved 38:38.700 --> 38:40.160 I'm just like the light bulb went on 38:40.160 --> 38:41.740 and it's like I get it now 38:41.740 --> 38:43.760 and you're kind of like kicking yourself wondering 38:43.760 --> 38:45.680 how did I not understand this before 38:45.680 --> 38:48.060 because the bible calls it the simplicity 38:48.060 --> 38:48.840 of the gospel 38:49.540 --> 38:51.220 the gospel is very easy 38:51.840 --> 38:53.360 getting saved is easy 38:53.360 --> 38:56.040 and yes I believe in easy believism 38:56.600 --> 38:58.960 because it's easy to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ 38:58.960 --> 39:00.600 because Jesus Christ did all the hard part 39:01.020 --> 39:02.300 he did all the hard stuff 39:02.300 --> 39:03.440 he did all the work for us 39:03.440 --> 39:05.780 well no I think you gotta give your life to God 39:05.780 --> 39:06.380 in order to be saved 39:06.380 --> 39:08.520 no the gospel is the fact that he gave his life to you 39:10.180 --> 39:12.000 not the reversal of it 39:12.000 --> 39:13.820 now does he command us 39:13.820 --> 39:15.720 to live a life that's pleasing unto him 39:15.720 --> 39:18.100 absolutely he commands us to serve him 39:18.100 --> 39:19.660 he commands us to do good works 39:19.660 --> 39:20.820 but not for salvation 39:21.480 --> 39:23.980 and if you never do any of those works after salvation 39:23.980 --> 39:25.420 you're still saved yes you heard right 39:25.900 --> 39:27.780 because the bible says to him that work is not 39:28.220 --> 39:29.620 to him that work is not 39:30.420 --> 39:32.020 but believe it on him to justify 39:32.020 --> 39:34.000 the ungodly his faith discounted for righteousness 39:34.000 --> 39:34.900 that's what the bible says 39:35.420 --> 39:37.700 not by works of righteousness which we have done 39:37.700 --> 39:38.900 but according to his mercy he saved us 39:38.900 --> 39:41.420 and you always have this hyper spiritual statement 39:41.420 --> 39:42.620 yeah but you know 39:42.620 --> 39:44.000 don't you love him though 39:44.540 --> 39:45.700 of course I love him 39:46.300 --> 39:48.840 you think you or I love him 39:48.840 --> 39:50.040 100% of the time 39:50.040 --> 39:50.380 no 39:51.400 --> 39:53.480 none of us love God 100% of the time 39:53.980 --> 39:56.300 I'm a pastor this is literally my job 39:56.300 --> 39:58.120 24-7 and I'm gonna tell you right now 39:58.120 --> 39:59.960 I don't love God 100% of the time 39:59.960 --> 40:00.800 why because I'm a sinner 40:01.860 --> 40:03.460 my love wanes it goes like this 40:03.460 --> 40:05.940 and no one in this room loves God 100% of the time 40:05.940 --> 40:07.860 either the only person 40:07.860 --> 40:09.340 who's ever loved God 40:09.340 --> 40:11.800 the father 100% of the time is the Lord Jesus Christ 40:11.800 --> 40:12.680 and that's not you 40:13.620 --> 40:14.160 you know 40:14.940 --> 40:17.640 we have to work we have to grow in our love for Christ 40:17.640 --> 40:19.500 and you know what no you don't 40:19.500 --> 40:21.000 you don't get saved by loving God 40:22.020 --> 40:23.020 it's not the way it works 40:23.020 --> 40:25.060 you get saved by receiving 40:25.520 --> 40:27.840 the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone 40:28.520 --> 40:30.160 and let me just make it very clear 40:30.160 --> 40:32.320 you get saved by believing on Jesus Christ 40:32.320 --> 40:34.160 exclusively for salvation 40:34.160 --> 40:35.660 let me explain to you what that means 40:35.660 --> 40:38.000 at the exclusion of everything else 40:39.320 --> 40:40.280 no sacraments 40:40.280 --> 40:40.960 no Mary 40:41.640 --> 40:42.600 no works 40:42.600 --> 40:43.600 no church 40:44.720 --> 40:45.760 no moral 40:45.760 --> 40:47.480 uprightness exclusively 40:47.480 --> 40:48.480 upon Jesus Christ 40:48.480 --> 40:50.520 because he Romans 11-6 says 40:50.520 --> 40:52.480 by grace then it is no more of works 40:52.480 --> 40:53.820 otherwise grace is no more grace 40:55.260 --> 40:56.880 showing us conclusively 40:56.880 --> 40:58.320 that salvation is by grace 40:58.320 --> 41:00.400 and it's not of works and if you add works 41:00.400 --> 41:01.420 then you cannot be saved 41:03.960 --> 41:05.000 and so 41:05.460 --> 41:06.640 you know we have here 41:06.640 --> 41:09.340 a demonstration of how powerful the gospel is 41:10.040 --> 41:11.160 is that it can 41:11.160 --> 41:13.480 relieve even a sorcerer 41:13.480 --> 41:15.340 right we're going to see this later on 41:15.340 --> 41:16.020 that he gets saved 41:16.020 --> 41:18.400 it relieves those who are under the sorcery 41:18.400 --> 41:20.920 but also the sorcerer from the deception 41:20.920 --> 41:22.000 of this world 41:22.000 --> 41:24.980 then Simon himself believed also 41:24.980 --> 41:27.100 and when he was baptized he continued 41:27.100 --> 41:28.020 with Philip and wondered 41:28.020 --> 41:30.500 beholding the miracles and signs which were done 41:30.500 --> 41:33.000 I love this because you know sometimes 41:33.000 --> 41:34.380 we may think like oh man 41:34.380 --> 41:36.100 that guy was a sorcerer 41:36.100 --> 41:38.100 they're a magician they're involved 41:38.100 --> 41:39.960 in all kinds of weird demonic 41:39.960 --> 41:41.960 things they can't get saved well Simon 41:41.960 --> 41:44.020 did and this is like 41:44.020 --> 41:44.720 his profession 41:45.460 --> 41:47.920 he was the one responsible for deceiving people 41:47.920 --> 41:49.440 he was the enchanter 41:49.440 --> 41:52.040 he was the charmer yet he believed in the 41:52.040 --> 41:53.340 Lord Jesus Christ and guess what he got saved 41:53.340 --> 41:54.260 and he got baptized 41:55.980 --> 41:57.540 and he followed Philip 41:58.100 --> 41:59.240 so he's kind of going through the whole 41:59.240 --> 42:00.400 entire process there 42:00.400 --> 42:03.080 he got saved he got baptized and then he 42:03.080 --> 42:04.880 just started following Philip which is exactly 42:04.880 --> 42:06.200 what God wants us to do as well 42:06.710 --> 42:08.480 and this shows us that 42:08.480 --> 42:09.820 there's people out there 42:09.820 --> 42:12.320 they might be out there 42:12.320 --> 42:14.160 they might be into horoscopes 42:14.160 --> 42:16.880 and what are those things called the stones 42:16.880 --> 42:18.460 the crystals they might be into crystals 42:18.980 --> 42:20.120 you guys know what I'm talking about 42:20.120 --> 42:22.080 people who believe like in crystals and stuff 42:22.080 --> 42:23.560 you know hyper crystals 42:25.840 --> 42:27.120 they're into all kinds of 42:27.120 --> 42:28.460 weird mystical things 42:28.460 --> 42:30.780 and they just have these 42:30.780 --> 42:32.600 weird ideas 42:32.600 --> 42:33.940 and doctrines 42:33.940 --> 42:35.760 but you know what if they actually get saved 42:35.760 --> 42:36.980 if they love the truth 42:37.780 --> 42:39.040 they can come out of that 42:40.300 --> 42:41.640 because that's what Simon did 42:41.640 --> 42:43.660 now I love the story of Simon because 42:43.660 --> 42:45.180 he comes out of that 42:45.180 --> 42:48.120 but he's still envious and he covets 42:48.700 --> 42:50.680 the ability of the Apostles 42:51.560 --> 42:52.520 let's read on here 42:55.480 --> 42:56.440 verse 14 says 42:56.440 --> 42:58.080 now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem 42:58.080 --> 43:00.420 heard that Samaria had received the word of God 43:00.420 --> 43:02.580 they sent unto them Peter and John 43:03.120 --> 43:04.440 who when they were come down 43:04.440 --> 43:06.820 prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost 43:06.820 --> 43:08.660 for as yet he had fallen upon 43:08.660 --> 43:10.720 none of them only they were baptized 43:10.720 --> 43:12.380 in the name of the Lord Jesus 43:12.380 --> 43:14.280 then laid their hands on them 43:14.280 --> 43:15.400 and they received the Holy Ghost 43:15.400 --> 43:16.580 and what is this talking about 43:16.580 --> 43:18.680 receiving the Holy Ghost in the book of Acts 43:18.680 --> 43:21.000 and throughout the Bible is simply referring to the fact that people become 43:21.560 --> 43:22.760 emboldened through the Spirit 43:22.760 --> 43:25.240 when you're filled with the Spirit 43:25.240 --> 43:27.260 the major connotation of the Bible 43:27.260 --> 43:28.460 is that they become 43:28.460 --> 43:30.200 bold to preach the word of God 43:30.200 --> 43:32.860 that's the major effect of being filled with the Spirit 43:32.860 --> 43:34.880 well they just had the supernatural 43:34.880 --> 43:36.900 capability of kind of transferring 43:36.900 --> 43:38.680 that to these new believers 43:39.260 --> 43:40.840 so you know 43:40.840 --> 43:42.340 Simon is viewing this 43:42.340 --> 43:44.320 he's seeing this ability and then it says 43:44.320 --> 43:46.780 verse 18 and when Simon saw that 43:46.780 --> 43:48.680 through the lane on of the apostles hands 43:48.680 --> 43:49.560 the Holy Ghost was given 43:49.560 --> 43:51.180 he offered them money 43:51.720 --> 43:53.860 saying give me also this power 43:53.860 --> 43:55.800 then on whom server I lay hands 43:55.800 --> 43:56.880 he may receive the Holy Ghost 43:56.880 --> 43:58.740 so he saved 43:58.740 --> 44:01.300 he got baptized, he's following Philip 44:01.760 --> 44:04.060 but he still has that old nature about him 44:04.060 --> 44:05.100 right 44:05.760 --> 44:07.680 and it's kind of letting us know 44:07.680 --> 44:09.020 that prior to his salvation 44:09.020 --> 44:10.660 when he was the so-called great one 44:10.660 --> 44:12.420 why was he bewitched into people 44:13.860 --> 44:14.900 for money 44:15.680 --> 44:17.420 right because he wanted to 44:17.420 --> 44:19.200 he's probably making money off of this 44:19.820 --> 44:21.820 and so he sees that all the attention 44:21.820 --> 44:23.780 is going to the apostles because they're legitimate 44:24.260 --> 44:25.580 you know men of God 44:25.580 --> 44:27.400 they're the legitimate goats 44:27.400 --> 44:29.360 and what do we have here he says 44:29.360 --> 44:31.140 hey how much money you charge for this 44:31.140 --> 44:32.220 I want this ability too 44:33.700 --> 44:35.120 and you know what this shows us 44:35.120 --> 44:37.300 is that just because you're saved doesn't mean 44:37.300 --> 44:38.020 you're not going to sin 44:39.060 --> 44:40.840 doesn't mean you're not going to have carnal desires 44:40.840 --> 44:43.680 you're not going to have sinful desires 44:44.160 --> 44:45.100 it's going to happen why 44:45.100 --> 44:46.720 because your old nature stays with you 44:47.220 --> 44:49.320 there's no such thing as sinless perfection 44:49.320 --> 44:50.120 this side of eternity 44:51.300 --> 44:53.700 that is a nonsensical doctrine 44:53.700 --> 44:55.660 oh if you get saved you just will never 44:55.660 --> 44:56.420 desire to sin 44:57.640 --> 44:58.960 wrong because if that were true 44:58.960 --> 45:00.300 then why are there so many commandments in the Bible 45:00.300 --> 45:01.240 that tells not to sin 45:02.000 --> 45:03.300 if batteries come included 45:04.160 --> 45:06.460 if once we get saved it's just the hardest 45:06.460 --> 45:07.440 completely correct 45:07.440 --> 45:09.560 we're righteous before the Lord 45:09.560 --> 45:12.440 and we just have no sinful desires 45:12.440 --> 45:14.780 whatsoever then why are there so many commands 45:14.780 --> 45:16.160 for us to walk in the spirit 45:16.160 --> 45:17.980 and not in the flesh if it just comes naturally 45:19.280 --> 45:20.220 the reason those 45:20.220 --> 45:22.280 commands are there is because God knows we have the propensity 45:22.280 --> 45:22.780 to sin 45:23.920 --> 45:25.320 this is listen to this 45:25.320 --> 45:28.020 this is the battle for every Christian 45:29.180 --> 45:30.320 and you will not 45:30.320 --> 45:31.400 stop fighting this 45:31.920 --> 45:32.900 until you go to heaven 45:34.380 --> 45:36.080 and here's the thing you're like oh I know 45:36.080 --> 45:37.680 someone who stopped fighting well you just knew 45:37.680 --> 45:39.060 you just know someone who's losing 45:39.660 --> 45:40.640 that's what it is 45:41.920 --> 45:43.320 someone who's saved 45:43.320 --> 45:44.960 someone who believes the right gospel 45:44.960 --> 45:47.260 and they're living a worldly life 45:47.260 --> 45:49.380 they're fornicated like are you saying that they're saved 45:49.380 --> 45:51.120 well if they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ 45:51.120 --> 45:51.960 yeah they're saved 45:53.500 --> 45:55.460 and you know what we need to get away from this 45:55.460 --> 45:56.820 hyper spiritual 45:57.800 --> 45:59.320 this holier than now 45:59.320 --> 46:01.260 doctrine that says well 46:01.260 --> 46:03.520 because a Christian is backslidden 46:03.520 --> 46:05.620 because he's involved in sin 46:05.620 --> 46:07.380 because he's out there living a wicked life 46:07.380 --> 46:09.300 somehow that just means that they're not saved 46:09.300 --> 46:10.840 really you want to tell that to David 46:10.840 --> 46:11.680 who 46:13.060 --> 46:13.900 committed adultery 46:14.380 --> 46:15.940 and conspired to murder a man 46:16.540 --> 46:18.500 yeah but he wrote song 51 where he repented 46:18.500 --> 46:20.100 yeah a year after 46:21.840 --> 46:23.660 meaning for an entire year 46:24.180 --> 46:25.700 he was involved in adultery 46:25.700 --> 46:26.860 and conspiring 46:26.860 --> 46:29.480 he conspired to murder someone and he was involved in adultery the whole time 46:30.060 --> 46:31.680 you're trying to tell me that he wasn't saved 46:31.680 --> 46:32.200 during that time 46:32.920 --> 46:33.880 of course he was saved 46:34.740 --> 46:36.940 no student of the bible would say that he wasn't saved 46:36.940 --> 46:38.180 everybody knows that he was saved 46:38.180 --> 46:40.440 it's a demonstration that people are carnal 46:40.440 --> 46:41.320 they're fleshly 46:41.320 --> 46:42.780 and you know what if you allow 46:42.780 --> 46:44.820 if you continue to feed the flesh 46:44.820 --> 46:46.680 you don't walk in the spirit 46:46.680 --> 46:48.380 you'll be a horrible person too 46:49.940 --> 46:52.060 you will be a horrible person too 46:52.060 --> 46:53.200 if you don't do so 46:53.200 --> 46:55.160 this is why the bible commands us to walk in the spirit 46:55.160 --> 46:57.020 not fulfill the lust of the flesh 46:57.020 --> 46:59.780 this is why the bible says that we're in a spiritual warfare 46:59.780 --> 47:02.000 the weapons of our warfare 47:02.000 --> 47:03.820 are not carnal but mighty 47:03.820 --> 47:05.660 through god to the pulling down the strongholds 47:05.660 --> 47:07.740 he's constantly telling us to put on the armor of god 47:07.740 --> 47:08.900 to take a stand 47:08.900 --> 47:11.340 to fight against the wiles of satan 47:11.340 --> 47:14.080 to do all these things in opposition to satan 47:14.080 --> 47:15.380 why would he tell us that if we just 47:15.380 --> 47:16.500 we're good to go 47:17.200 --> 47:18.800 I'll tell you why because we all sin 47:19.760 --> 47:22.160 now the goal should be that every day we sin less 47:23.800 --> 47:25.440 but you're never going to get to a point 47:25.440 --> 47:26.600 where you don't sin anymore 47:27.680 --> 47:28.960 and here's a great example 47:28.960 --> 47:31.360 Simon still has that envious 47:31.780 --> 47:32.800 feeling within him 47:32.800 --> 47:35.180 he still has that covetous feeling about him 47:35.180 --> 47:36.900 even to the point where he thinks he can 47:36.900 --> 47:38.620 purchase the power of god 47:39.720 --> 47:41.160 it says in verse number 47:41.900 --> 47:43.280 19 verse 20 47:43.280 --> 47:44.580 but Peter said unto him 47:44.580 --> 47:46.360 thy money perish with thee 47:46.960 --> 47:48.840 because thou hast thought that the gift of god 47:48.840 --> 47:50.100 may be purchased with money 47:50.100 --> 47:52.480 thou hast neither part nor law in this matter 47:52.480 --> 47:55.020 for thy heart is not right in the sight of god 47:55.020 --> 47:56.900 repent therefore of this thy wickedness 47:56.900 --> 47:59.100 and pray god if perhaps the thought of thine heart 47:59.100 --> 47:59.960 may be forgiven thee 47:59.960 --> 48:02.460 for I perceive that thou art in the gall 48:02.460 --> 48:04.340 of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity 48:04.340 --> 48:05.500 so what is Peter saying 48:05.500 --> 48:06.700 I feel like you're bitter 48:08.100 --> 48:09.860 because we took away all your revenue 48:10.900 --> 48:12.100 we took all your customers 48:13.120 --> 48:14.860 now no one thinks you're a hot shot anymore 48:15.520 --> 48:16.860 you're not the great one anymore 48:16.860 --> 48:19.000 and I think you're in the gall of bitterness 48:19.000 --> 48:20.860 because you are once the preeminent 48:20.860 --> 48:21.800 one here in Samaria 48:21.800 --> 48:23.260 and you're not anymore 48:24.400 --> 48:25.820 and you know what you better ask god 48:25.820 --> 48:27.380 to forgive you for these things 48:27.380 --> 48:29.280 so that judgment doesn't come upon you 48:29.280 --> 48:30.600 leading me to my next point 48:30.600 --> 48:32.460 and that is that just because you're saved 48:32.460 --> 48:35.240 doesn't mean you won't suffer punishment here on this earth 48:36.260 --> 48:37.820 the bible specifically says 48:37.820 --> 48:39.420 whom the lord loveth he chastened it 48:39.420 --> 48:41.180 and scourged it to every son whom he received it 48:41.660 --> 48:42.580 the bible says 48:42.580 --> 48:45.340 vengeance is mine sayeth the lord I will repay 48:45.340 --> 48:47.180 and the lord shall judge 48:47.180 --> 48:48.160 his people 48:49.060 --> 48:51.120 you know just as I spanked my children 48:51.120 --> 48:52.780 yes you heard right 48:53.340 --> 48:54.700 I spanked my children 48:56.200 --> 48:57.520 I wilt my children 48:57.520 --> 48:58.820 yes when they are disobedient 48:59.500 --> 49:00.940 if they're rebellious and disrespectful 49:00.940 --> 49:02.800 they get a chastisement from dad 49:02.800 --> 49:03.340 yes 49:06.120 --> 49:07.000 and no 49:07.000 --> 49:08.620 I don't give them timeouts either 49:09.440 --> 49:10.860 or make them stand in the corner 49:10.860 --> 49:11.760 facing a wall 49:12.600 --> 49:14.800 oh man I just don't think that's right 49:14.800 --> 49:16.200 then you better start reading the bible 49:16.200 --> 49:17.460 because the bible is for chastisement 49:18.560 --> 49:20.280 all over both Old and New Testament 49:21.320 --> 49:22.200 you know 49:22.660 --> 49:23.860 I just don't think that's right 49:23.860 --> 49:25.900 because you probably weren't whooped as a child 49:25.900 --> 49:26.400 that's why 49:27.540 --> 49:28.960 mom and dad never whooped you 49:29.900 --> 49:31.560 that's why you're a spoiled brat 49:32.220 --> 49:34.100 that's why you just question authority 49:34.100 --> 49:36.000 you just do whatever you want 49:36.000 --> 49:37.620 you just mouth off to mom and dad 49:37.620 --> 49:39.520 because they never give you a good whooping 49:40.340 --> 49:42.340 but you know why I'm still respectful to my mom 49:42.340 --> 49:44.060 even though I'm 40 years old 49:44.060 --> 49:45.360 it's because she whooped me 49:48.040 --> 49:49.580 oh man that can traumatize 49:49.580 --> 49:51.480 oh yeah I could make a person like 49:51.480 --> 49:53.640 a Christian and then I'm a pastor now 49:53.640 --> 49:55.060 and now I'm just leading 49:55.060 --> 49:57.100 a ton of people to Christ and just live 49:57.100 --> 49:58.880 and now I'm married with six children 49:58.880 --> 50:00.380 it's just such a blessed life 50:00.380 --> 50:01.860 I can't believe this has happened to me 50:01.860 --> 50:02.660 look what you did to me mom 50:04.500 --> 50:07.300 you made me a functioning member 50:07.300 --> 50:08.420 of society mom 50:10.740 --> 50:13.820 you know bring back spankings again 50:13.820 --> 50:15.920 bring back talking about spankings again 50:15.920 --> 50:16.420 yeah 50:17.680 --> 50:19.760 the point being here is the bible talks about 50:19.760 --> 50:21.060 God chastening his people 50:21.060 --> 50:23.640 even to the extent where he kills his people 50:24.480 --> 50:25.820 that's a theme in the bible 50:25.820 --> 50:26.840 right right 50:26.840 --> 50:30.000 and in fact it's a theme in both old and new testament 50:30.000 --> 50:30.560 right 50:30.560 --> 50:32.440 the new testament specifically says 50:32.440 --> 50:35.140 who served to father the temple of God 50:35.140 --> 50:36.940 him shall God destroy 50:37.840 --> 50:39.340 yeah interpret that for me 50:40.320 --> 50:42.020 well in the greek that means 50:42.020 --> 50:43.260 it means that he'll kill ya 50:43.260 --> 50:44.560 that's what it means 50:45.260 --> 50:46.720 so don't defile your temple 50:46.720 --> 50:48.320 because God can just destroy you 50:48.320 --> 50:49.160 and take you home early 50:51.000 --> 50:52.640 so he tells simon repent 50:53.460 --> 50:55.240 verse 24 then answered simon 50:55.240 --> 50:56.800 and said pray ye the lord for me 50:56.800 --> 50:59.080 that none of these things which ye have spoken come 50:59.080 --> 51:00.500 upon me 51:00.500 --> 51:01.880 and the story ends with simon there 51:01.880 --> 51:05.420 it's a great story because it demonstrates that the sorcerer can be saved 51:05.980 --> 51:07.300 but it also demonstrates 51:07.300 --> 51:08.560 that even after salvation 51:08.560 --> 51:09.620 he can struggle 51:09.620 --> 51:11.360 with past sins 51:11.360 --> 51:13.840 of wanting to have the admiration 51:13.840 --> 51:15.560 the acclimations of the crowd 51:15.560 --> 51:17.320 he can still struggle with envy 51:17.320 --> 51:19.440 and covetousness because it's a part 51:19.440 --> 51:22.220 of his sin nature therefore he has to repent 51:22.220 --> 51:22.960 of these things 51:23.420 --> 51:24.380 now let's go to ax 13 51:25.820 --> 51:27.800 so we see simon the sorcerer 51:28.400 --> 51:29.580 and for the next hour 51:29.580 --> 51:31.380 I'm going to talk about elimus the sorcerer 51:35.200 --> 51:37.240 so let's give you a little bit of an introduction 51:37.240 --> 51:38.600 to ax 13 51:38.600 --> 51:41.160 in ax 13 you have the apostle paul 51:41.160 --> 51:43.220 on his first missionary journey 51:43.220 --> 51:45.960 so he's in his first missionary journey 51:45.960 --> 51:47.920 he goes to antioch 51:47.920 --> 51:49.400 and then he goes to the island 51:49.400 --> 51:51.060 of cyprus with barnimus 51:51.060 --> 51:53.560 and they're out trying to preach the gospel 51:53.560 --> 51:55.640 do work and they're doing a great job 51:55.640 --> 51:57.060 this is his first trip 51:57.060 --> 51:59.200 look what it says in verse number 4 51:59.200 --> 52:01.220 it says so they being sent forth 52:01.220 --> 52:03.360 by the holy ghost departed unto salutia 52:03.360 --> 52:05.460 and from then sailed to cyprus 52:05.460 --> 52:07.800 and when they were at salamis 52:07.800 --> 52:09.400 they preached the word of god 52:09.400 --> 52:11.180 in the synagogues of the jews 52:11.180 --> 52:12.840 and they had also john to their minister 52:13.240 --> 52:15.660 and when they had gone through the isle of paphis 52:15.660 --> 52:16.820 they found 52:16.820 --> 52:18.760 a certain sorcerer 52:18.760 --> 52:20.360 a false prophet 52:20.360 --> 52:21.420 a jew 52:22.700 --> 52:24.660 whose name was bar jesus 52:25.260 --> 52:27.660 so god's trying to specify here 52:28.460 --> 52:29.180 he's like 52:29.180 --> 52:30.780 just let you know what you're dealing with here 52:30.780 --> 52:31.060 okay 52:33.560 --> 52:34.880 verse 7 says 52:34.880 --> 52:35.420 which was 52:35.420 --> 52:36.860 with the deputy of the country 52:36.860 --> 52:39.280 a prudent man who called for barnimus 52:39.280 --> 52:41.240 and saw a desire to hear the word of god 52:41.240 --> 52:43.500 but elimus the sorcerer 52:43.500 --> 52:45.400 for so is his name by interpretation 52:46.080 --> 52:46.860 withstood them 52:46.860 --> 52:48.880 seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith 52:48.880 --> 52:50.440 alright so what do we got going on here 52:50.440 --> 52:53.440 well elimus literally means sorcerer 52:53.440 --> 52:55.100 he goes by the name bar jesus 52:55.100 --> 52:57.140 bar is the aramaic term 52:57.140 --> 52:58.280 that means son 52:58.280 --> 53:00.300 so it's like his name is literally like 53:00.300 --> 53:01.360 son of jesus 53:01.360 --> 53:04.280 or son of josh or would be another way of saying it 53:04.940 --> 53:06.620 and this guy is a false prophet 53:06.620 --> 53:07.640 he's a jew 53:08.260 --> 53:10.160 and he's hanging around with the 53:10.160 --> 53:11.280 these political leaders 53:11.820 --> 53:13.940 serges paulis and serges paulis 53:13.940 --> 53:14.980 wants to hear the gospel 53:16.000 --> 53:17.260 he wants to hear the truth 53:17.260 --> 53:18.760 he wants to know how to be saved 53:18.760 --> 53:21.120 and what better person to preach the gospel to them 53:21.120 --> 53:23.660 than the apostle paul and barnimus 53:23.660 --> 53:23.880 right 53:24.520 --> 53:25.980 but the problem is 53:25.980 --> 53:27.220 that elimus is there 53:27.220 --> 53:30.240 and he is withstanding paul 53:30.240 --> 53:31.880 and he's trying to turn away the deputy 53:31.880 --> 53:32.580 from the faith 53:32.580 --> 53:35.560 now here is a distinct difference between 53:36.280 --> 53:37.620 elimus and simon 53:38.320 --> 53:39.960 there's no indication that simon 53:39.960 --> 53:41.200 tried to stop the apostles 53:41.800 --> 53:43.240 stop philip or anybody 53:43.240 --> 53:45.000 from preaching the gospel to those in samaria 53:45.640 --> 53:47.280 in fact he joined them 53:48.320 --> 53:49.560 elimus on the other hand 53:49.560 --> 53:50.140 what is he doing 53:50.140 --> 53:52.180 he's actually trying to stop the 53:52.180 --> 53:52.980 preaching of god's word 53:53.760 --> 53:55.400 now here is the major difference 53:55.400 --> 53:57.400 look sorcery is evil 53:57.900 --> 53:58.500 it's wicked 53:58.500 --> 54:00.960 it's godless it's an abomination 54:01.640 --> 54:02.660 but you know what 54:02.660 --> 54:04.840 if you're a person who's a sorcerer 54:04.840 --> 54:06.920 and you're trying to stop the preaching of god's word 54:06.920 --> 54:08.180 you're doubly wicked 54:09.480 --> 54:11.240 you're a false prophet jew 54:11.240 --> 54:13.200 child of the devil according to the bible 54:15.260 --> 54:16.080 and god 54:16.080 --> 54:18.080 looks down on you far more 54:18.080 --> 54:18.940 than simon 54:19.760 --> 54:21.240 because simon we can say 54:21.240 --> 54:23.780 simon would fall under the category of being a false prophet 54:24.520 --> 54:26.160 who did it ignorantly 54:26.160 --> 54:27.280 in unbelief 54:27.840 --> 54:29.740 who's another false prophet in the bible who's like that 54:29.740 --> 54:30.940 how about paul 54:31.460 --> 54:32.560 paul was a false prophet 54:33.160 --> 54:34.920 wasn't he a part of the jew's religion 54:35.620 --> 54:37.620 wasn't he a Pharisee of the Pharisee 54:37.620 --> 54:39.720 wasn't he persecuting the church of god 54:39.720 --> 54:41.500 does not the bible say that he was 54:42.040 --> 54:43.500 injurious that he was a persecutor 54:43.500 --> 54:44.900 and a blasphemer 54:44.900 --> 54:45.820 what's the difference 54:45.820 --> 54:47.600 the bible says that he obtained mercy 54:47.600 --> 54:50.020 because he did it ignorantly in unbelief 54:50.020 --> 54:52.140 demonstrated that there's false prophets out there 54:52.740 --> 54:54.120 who are wrong 54:54.120 --> 54:55.760 but they're actually sincere 54:56.440 --> 54:57.900 they think that they're doing right 54:58.720 --> 55:00.080 you say then you know 55:00.080 --> 55:01.240 what happens to that person 55:01.240 --> 55:03.580 well a philip needs to go to that person 55:03.580 --> 55:06.420 preach the gospel and lord willing to get saved 55:06.420 --> 55:08.040 but if they don't get saved 55:08.040 --> 55:09.380 then they'll become an alimus 55:09.980 --> 55:12.640 because the alimus is someone who knows the gospel 55:13.120 --> 55:14.300 he knows the truth 55:14.300 --> 55:16.100 and he wants to fight against it 55:16.700 --> 55:17.820 that's a major difference 55:19.640 --> 55:20.740 you know it says here 55:20.740 --> 55:22.520 that he stood them seeking to turn them away 55:22.520 --> 55:24.080 from the deputy from the faith 55:24.080 --> 55:25.120 this is evil 55:26.260 --> 55:28.260 you know and all of us have experienced this 55:28.260 --> 55:30.100 to a degree or another when we're out souling 55:30.640 --> 55:31.900 and we're literally talking to someone 55:31.900 --> 55:33.160 who is receptive to the gospel 55:33.160 --> 55:34.820 and then you have some 55:35.740 --> 55:37.540 knucklehead friend or family member 55:37.540 --> 55:39.880 who's just literally just being 55:39.880 --> 55:41.800 annoying, obnoxious 55:41.800 --> 55:43.680 trying to turn this person away from the truth 55:43.680 --> 55:45.440 and you just kind of want to knock them out 55:46.860 --> 55:47.600 don't do it 55:47.600 --> 55:49.180 I'm just saying you just kind of want to 55:50.120 --> 55:52.440 because it's just like why are you being so evil 55:53.020 --> 55:54.360 let this person listen to that 55:54.360 --> 55:55.260 I'm not talking to you 55:55.680 --> 55:57.000 if you don't want to hear it it's fine 55:57.000 --> 55:59.260 but don't try to distract and disrupt 55:59.260 --> 56:00.800 the gospel presentation here 56:02.740 --> 56:03.600 you're saying well 56:03.600 --> 56:05.980 you know you're being kind of rough there 56:05.980 --> 56:07.000 you know seriously 56:07.940 --> 56:09.840 you know maybe he is sincere 56:10.680 --> 56:11.060 maybe 56:11.060 --> 56:12.460 you know we just need patience 56:13.260 --> 56:14.600 he just needs love 56:14.600 --> 56:17.140 he needs a little bit of grace 56:18.260 --> 56:19.380 need to pray for him 56:21.680 --> 56:23.320 that's why you know you're going to turn people away 56:23.320 --> 56:24.180 from the faith like this 56:24.740 --> 56:25.740 by that kind of preaching 56:25.740 --> 56:27.020 well let's see what Paul did 56:29.040 --> 56:30.160 verse 9 then Psalm 56:30.160 --> 56:31.200 who's also called Paul 56:31.200 --> 56:33.720 filled with the holy ghost so is he in the flesh 56:33.720 --> 56:34.320 no 56:34.960 --> 56:35.900 filled with the spirit 56:37.300 --> 56:38.720 set his eyes on him and said 56:38.720 --> 56:40.940 all full of all subtlety 56:40.940 --> 56:43.720 and all mischief, thou child of the devil 56:43.720 --> 56:45.910 thou enemy of all righteousness 56:46.680 --> 56:48.280 wilt thou not cease to pervert 56:48.280 --> 56:49.560 the right ways of the Lord 56:50.460 --> 56:51.760 so he looks at the line 56:51.760 --> 56:53.500 and says like you're a child of Satan 56:54.300 --> 56:55.360 you're an enemy of 56:55.360 --> 56:57.740 you know I think you overreacted Paul 56:58.500 --> 56:59.780 it's a bit of an overreaction 56:59.780 --> 57:01.920 no he's legitimate in his assessment 57:01.920 --> 57:02.500 of this person 57:02.500 --> 57:05.220 why because a person again who tries to stop you 57:05.220 --> 57:07.240 for preaching the gospel is evil and wicked 57:08.500 --> 57:09.360 according to the bible 57:10.660 --> 57:11.460 now obviously 57:11.900 --> 57:14.020 this guy is doubly wicked because he's a Jew 57:14.780 --> 57:15.780 and the bible said 57:15.780 --> 57:17.540 that's why it's calling him the child of the devil 57:18.500 --> 57:19.520 Jesus said the same thing 57:19.520 --> 57:20.260 in John 844 57:21.080 --> 57:22.500 but this guy is like 57:23.500 --> 57:24.860 I was going to say quadruple 57:24.860 --> 57:27.240 but it's quadruple 57:27.240 --> 57:29.920 wait yeah quadruple 57:30.560 --> 57:31.120 quadruple 57:31.120 --> 57:33.680 I almost did it again quadruple wicked 57:33.680 --> 57:35.420 why because 57:35.420 --> 57:36.700 he's a false prophet 57:36.700 --> 57:37.960 he's a Jew 57:37.960 --> 57:39.820 he's a child of the devil 57:39.820 --> 57:41.860 he's an enemy of all righteousness 57:41.860 --> 57:45.980 and he's perverting the right ways of the Lord 57:46.840 --> 57:47.860 so this guy 57:47.860 --> 57:49.680 is just like on an agenda 57:49.680 --> 57:51.260 to just destroy the truth 57:53.240 --> 57:55.220 and what happens look at verse 11 57:55.220 --> 57:57.640 and now behold the hand of the Lord 57:57.640 --> 57:58.700 is upon thee 57:58.700 --> 58:00.800 and thou shalt be blind 58:01.460 --> 58:02.860 not seeing the sun 58:02.860 --> 58:04.520 for a season 58:04.520 --> 58:06.960 and immediately there fell on him a mist 58:06.960 --> 58:09.580 and a darkness and he went about seeking some 58:09.580 --> 58:11.600 to lead him by the way 58:11.600 --> 58:13.120 so you know Paul 58:13.640 --> 58:14.880 strikes him with blindness 58:15.800 --> 58:17.860 why because spiritually 58:17.860 --> 58:19.740 you know false prophets 58:19.740 --> 58:20.740 children of the devil 58:20.740 --> 58:22.300 are spiritually blind 58:23.580 --> 58:25.120 they're spiritually blind 58:25.120 --> 58:26.800 and they're trying to withstand the truth 58:26.800 --> 58:29.520 this is why the apostle Paul says in 2 Timothy chapter 3 58:29.520 --> 58:31.500 that they're when talking about false prophets 58:31.500 --> 58:33.820 he says ever learning never able to come to the knowledge of the truth 58:34.340 --> 58:35.920 now as Janice and Jamborees 58:35.920 --> 58:37.120 which by the way are sorcerers 58:37.120 --> 58:37.920 the magicians 58:37.920 --> 58:40.520 now as Janice and Jamborees withstood Moses 58:41.020 --> 58:42.020 so do these also 58:42.560 --> 58:43.720 resist the truth 58:44.540 --> 58:45.860 men of corrupt minds 58:45.860 --> 58:47.120 reprobate concerning the faith 58:47.120 --> 58:50.080 well what does he do he's trying to withstand the men of God 58:50.080 --> 58:52.260 trying to stop them from preaching the gospel 58:52.260 --> 58:54.160 and therefore they are 58:54.160 --> 58:55.480 reprobate according to the Bible 58:57.120 --> 58:58.380 this is evil 58:58.380 --> 58:59.960 this is godless this is wicked 58:59.960 --> 59:02.740 and you know if modern Christians 59:02.740 --> 59:03.840 were there back then 59:03.840 --> 59:05.140 and this happened 59:06.560 --> 59:08.400 Paul would get condemned 100% 59:09.300 --> 59:11.080 you could have handled that differently 59:12.540 --> 59:13.640 I don't agree with this 59:13.640 --> 59:14.180 why did you do that 59:14.180 --> 59:15.320 why didn't you invite him in 59:17.200 --> 59:18.540 to pray to Satan 59:20.140 --> 59:21.240 you know why didn't you just 59:21.240 --> 59:22.420 you should have just invited him in 59:22.420 --> 59:23.720 you went about that the wrong way 59:23.720 --> 59:25.960 you're wicked I can't believe you do something like that 59:26.340 --> 59:27.960 I would never go to a church like that 59:28.480 --> 59:29.940 you know what I tell people when they say that 59:29.940 --> 59:32.140 yeah don't ever come to my church 59:33.360 --> 59:35.200 I don't want someone like that to ever go to my church 59:36.120 --> 59:36.640 you know 59:36.640 --> 59:38.340 and this is something I got a lot 59:38.340 --> 59:39.520 when I kicked out the Muslim dude 59:41.060 --> 59:42.400 okay and the homeless guy 59:44.160 --> 59:44.680 you know 59:45.260 --> 59:46.560 you say why didn't you like 59:46.560 --> 59:47.100 win them to Christ 59:47.100 --> 59:50.420 well the reason I didn't try to preach the gospel to the homeless guys 59:50.420 --> 59:52.660 because number one he was trying to burn the place down 59:53.500 --> 59:54.220 kind of hard to 59:54.220 --> 59:54.640 you know 59:55.380 --> 59:57.580 and two he's taking a swing at me so you know 59:58.160 --> 01:00:00.880 I mean I could do I could multitask 01:00:00.880 --> 01:00:02.300 but I just don't know if I can preach the gospel 01:00:02.720 --> 01:00:03.500 well you know what 01:00:06.800 --> 01:00:08.020 oh but you candle right 01:00:08.020 --> 01:00:09.720 the person who's condemning me like 01:00:09.720 --> 01:00:11.660 oh you should have just preached the gospel 01:00:11.660 --> 01:00:14.280 well first of all you would have gotten knocked out 01:00:16.740 --> 01:00:17.880 number one okay 01:00:18.320 --> 01:00:20.120 but number two there's a time and place for everything 01:00:20.620 --> 01:00:22.300 and you know what the Bible tells us 01:00:22.300 --> 01:00:24.580 listen to this listen to me this is what Jesus said 01:00:24.580 --> 01:00:26.780 okay give not that which is 01:00:26.780 --> 01:00:28.540 holy unto the dogs neither cast you 01:00:28.540 --> 01:00:29.540 your pros before swine 01:00:29.540 --> 01:00:32.600 that means give the truth to the people who actually want the truth 01:00:33.360 --> 01:00:34.800 not the people who hate the truth 01:00:34.800 --> 01:00:36.080 not the people who are aggressive 01:00:36.080 --> 01:00:37.560 and angry against the truth 01:00:38.380 --> 01:00:40.580 we're not to try to go out and give the gospel 01:00:40.580 --> 01:00:41.640 to people who don't want it 01:00:42.760 --> 01:00:44.620 now look folks we don't pick and choose 01:00:44.620 --> 01:00:46.800 what doors we knock we're going to knock on every single door 01:00:47.440 --> 01:00:48.220 that we're given 01:00:48.220 --> 01:00:50.780 but if there's someone at the door who is aggressive 01:00:50.780 --> 01:00:52.640 we move on to the next we wipe off 01:00:52.640 --> 01:00:54.520 the dust of our feet and move on to the next 01:00:55.780 --> 01:00:56.660 you know 01:00:56.660 --> 01:00:58.300 oh why didn't you invite 01:00:58.300 --> 01:01:00.700 the Muslim to come in because he's praying 01:01:00.700 --> 01:01:02.460 to a false God that's why 01:01:03.640 --> 01:01:04.800 because Islam is a 01:01:04.800 --> 01:01:05.620 false religion 01:01:06.880 --> 01:01:08.680 that's why and I'm not going to have some 01:01:08.680 --> 01:01:10.700 guy coming into our building praying to Allah 01:01:11.900 --> 01:01:12.940 since Jesus Christ 01:01:12.940 --> 01:01:14.120 is the God of this church 01:01:15.200 --> 01:01:16.260 and what fellowship 01:01:16.260 --> 01:01:18.260 has righteousness with unrighteousness 01:01:18.860 --> 01:01:20.420 what concord has Christ with 01:01:20.420 --> 01:01:21.640 Belior or with Allah 01:01:23.760 --> 01:01:24.500 oh man 01:01:24.500 --> 01:01:26.480 I just think you should have 01:01:26.480 --> 01:01:28.660 you're trying to tell me that this guy rolled up 01:01:28.660 --> 01:01:30.220 Saul first works Baptist church and said 01:01:30.220 --> 01:01:31.220 this is a good place to pray 01:01:33.100 --> 01:01:34.820 when there's like mosques all around 01:01:35.400 --> 01:01:36.400 don't give me that nonsense 01:01:36.400 --> 01:01:37.900 you're like oh man you just 01:01:37.900 --> 01:01:40.080 you're going to cause people to just like 01:01:40.080 --> 01:01:42.060 you know just get away from the truth 01:01:42.060 --> 01:01:43.240 not so not so 01:01:43.240 --> 01:01:45.580 we've had a lot of people come to church because of that video 01:01:45.580 --> 01:01:47.960 number one but number two my brother in law 01:01:47.960 --> 01:01:49.880 kicked out a Muslim from a church just recently 01:01:49.880 --> 01:01:50.720 because of that 01:01:51.240 --> 01:01:53.980 there's a Muslim who's trying to come in do the same exact thing 01:01:54.660 --> 01:01:55.260 you know 01:01:55.260 --> 01:01:56.860 pulled out his rug his little 01:01:56.860 --> 01:01:59.440 his little rug there to try to pray 01:01:59.440 --> 01:02:01.480 my brother in law caught him he said 01:02:01.480 --> 01:02:03.240 are you a Muslim he said are you going to pray here 01:02:03.240 --> 01:02:04.380 he's like get out of here 01:02:05.060 --> 01:02:06.400 we don't pray to Allah here 01:02:07.340 --> 01:02:09.020 so not only is it causing 01:02:09.020 --> 01:02:10.980 people to find the truth but it's causing 01:02:10.980 --> 01:02:12.700 other Christians to be emboldened 01:02:12.700 --> 01:02:14.180 to do something like that 01:02:14.180 --> 01:02:16.120 why because they're sick and tired of pastors 01:02:16.120 --> 01:02:17.960 oh yeah just come in yeah just pray 01:02:17.960 --> 01:02:19.480 it's all the same God right 01:02:20.480 --> 01:02:22.140 we all pray to the same God right 01:02:22.140 --> 01:02:23.360 Allah means God doesn't it 01:02:24.060 --> 01:02:25.980 we don't want no trouble give me trouble 01:02:25.980 --> 01:02:26.760 I want trouble 01:02:29.740 --> 01:02:32.400 you know the Bible teaches us here 01:02:32.400 --> 01:02:34.060 that we need Christianity is not 01:02:34.060 --> 01:02:35.480 a pacifist religion 01:02:36.440 --> 01:02:37.980 okay the Bible tells 01:02:37.980 --> 01:02:40.120 us that we are to 01:02:40.120 --> 01:02:42.300 that the gates of hell should not prevail against it 01:02:42.300 --> 01:02:43.900 it is a spiritual battle and look 01:02:43.900 --> 01:02:45.940 I'm not looking to fist fight anybody 01:02:45.940 --> 01:02:47.880 okay that's not my thing 01:02:47.880 --> 01:02:50.060 but you know what here's the thing is that I'm not going to permit 01:02:50.700 --> 01:02:52.120 just godlessness from entering 01:02:52.120 --> 01:02:53.880 to the church false religion from entering 01:02:53.880 --> 01:02:56.200 to the church and you know what no amount of criticisms 01:02:56.200 --> 01:02:58.140 or comments will convince me otherwise 01:02:59.280 --> 01:03:00.520 oh I can't 01:03:00.520 --> 01:03:02.340 believe yeah I know you can't believe it 01:03:03.420 --> 01:03:04.860 you can't believe a lot of things 01:03:05.760 --> 01:03:07.580 I will never go to the church 01:03:07.580 --> 01:03:09.020 I'm glad you wouldn't 01:03:09.020 --> 01:03:10.620 because church is for believers 01:03:10.620 --> 01:03:12.520 which is something that you're apparently not 01:03:14.620 --> 01:03:15.800 what do we have here we have 01:03:15.800 --> 01:03:17.780 Elimus the sorcerer getting rebuked 01:03:17.780 --> 01:03:18.820 and being struck with blindness 01:03:18.820 --> 01:03:21.360 because he's a godless reprobate false prophet 01:03:21.360 --> 01:03:22.740 who's trying to stop the preaching of the gospel 01:03:23.720 --> 01:03:25.900 okay and we've had this happen multiple times 01:03:27.040 --> 01:03:27.920 where you know 01:03:27.920 --> 01:03:29.300 whether here we've had this happen 01:03:29.300 --> 01:03:30.420 we had this happen in Belize 01:03:31.220 --> 01:03:33.460 where someone literally hindered us from preaching 01:03:33.460 --> 01:03:35.640 to like thousands and thousands of students 01:03:35.640 --> 01:03:37.140 a coalition of pastors 01:03:37.920 --> 01:03:39.440 literally hindered us from going 01:03:39.440 --> 01:03:40.840 to preach to thousands of students 01:03:40.840 --> 01:03:42.960 at a convention because we were preaching 01:03:42.960 --> 01:03:44.140 that you can't lose your salvation 01:03:45.060 --> 01:03:47.480 you know these are the Elimuses of this world 01:03:47.480 --> 01:03:49.380 what's the point the point is this folks 01:03:49.380 --> 01:03:51.660 is that sorcery is a real thing 01:03:51.660 --> 01:03:53.560 and you know sorcery we look at it now 01:03:53.560 --> 01:03:54.940 and we're like oh yeah you're talking about like 01:03:54.940 --> 01:03:56.860 sorcerers today like palm readers 01:03:57.360 --> 01:03:58.840 you're talking about the people 01:03:58.840 --> 01:03:59.940 who look at the crystal ball 01:03:59.940 --> 01:04:02.220 and you look at the people who you know 01:04:02.220 --> 01:04:04.380 those Mexican stores 01:04:05.360 --> 01:04:06.500 your Mexicans out there 01:04:07.480 --> 01:04:08.660 what is that called Marcos 01:04:10.400 --> 01:04:11.500 you know what that's called 01:04:11.500 --> 01:04:12.960 they go into these stores 01:04:12.960 --> 01:04:14.380 they got the candles 01:04:15.980 --> 01:04:16.400 botanica 01:04:16.400 --> 01:04:17.160 there you go 01:04:18.300 --> 01:04:20.040 they go to the botanica 01:04:21.320 --> 01:04:21.740 okay 01:04:22.400 --> 01:04:23.660 you know they go in there 01:04:23.660 --> 01:04:24.960 and it's just like you got 01:04:24.960 --> 01:04:26.760 the Santa Muerte here 01:04:27.430 --> 01:04:29.460 you got Jesus over here you got candles 01:04:29.460 --> 01:04:30.880 you got all types of spells 01:04:31.490 --> 01:04:33.780 yeah that's a form of sorcery for sure 01:04:33.780 --> 01:04:35.720 but let me explain to you 01:04:35.720 --> 01:04:36.480 one of the biggest 01:04:37.760 --> 01:04:39.820 okay institutions of sorcery 01:04:39.820 --> 01:04:41.840 in the world it's called the pharmaceutical industry 01:04:43.720 --> 01:04:44.760 how about that 01:04:45.420 --> 01:04:47.680 where they accumulate two to four 01:04:47.680 --> 01:04:49.140 trillion dollars globally 01:04:49.960 --> 01:04:51.800 by literally keeping people 01:04:51.800 --> 01:04:52.540 on drugs 01:04:53.420 --> 01:04:54.900 right you know 01:04:54.900 --> 01:04:57.000 keeping people on anti-depressants 01:04:57.760 --> 01:04:59.640 causing you know bewitching them 01:04:59.640 --> 01:05:01.180 into thinking that they're getting better 01:05:01.760 --> 01:05:03.520 or that they're maintaining their sanity 01:05:03.520 --> 01:05:05.240 when really they're just getting worse 01:05:05.800 --> 01:05:07.200 like how do people fall for that 01:05:07.200 --> 01:05:08.720 they're sorcerers 01:05:09.500 --> 01:05:10.140 pharmacaya 01:05:10.880 --> 01:05:12.740 go to Revelation 21 01:05:12.740 --> 01:05:13.720 Revelation 21 01:05:13.720 --> 01:05:22.010 and that's the major culprit today 01:05:22.010 --> 01:05:23.430 when it comes to sorcerers 01:05:23.430 --> 01:05:24.910 we would call them sorcerers 01:05:24.910 --> 01:05:26.550 but you know that's exactly what they are 01:05:26.550 --> 01:05:27.950 they're basically performing 01:05:28.810 --> 01:05:30.070 enchantments and charming 01:05:30.070 --> 01:05:32.210 these are the 01:05:33.250 --> 01:05:35.170 evil apothecaries of this world 01:05:35.170 --> 01:05:37.710 who are using the knowledge of good 01:05:37.710 --> 01:05:40.170 in order to make money off of it 01:05:40.170 --> 01:05:41.890 of the misery of others right 01:05:41.890 --> 01:05:43.590 people are struggling with anxiety 01:05:43.590 --> 01:05:45.330 they're struggling with depression 01:05:45.330 --> 01:05:47.130 you know they're struggling with whatever 01:05:47.130 --> 01:05:49.550 whatever mental problems that they have 01:05:49.550 --> 01:05:50.970 here's drugs to fix it 01:05:50.970 --> 01:05:52.010 okay 01:05:52.010 --> 01:05:55.190 you know oh you're struggling with depression 01:05:55.190 --> 01:05:56.370 you feel sad 01:05:56.370 --> 01:05:58.930 and look there's even an anti-depressant out there 01:05:58.930 --> 01:06:01.290 that's even they're starting to coin as the divorce 01:06:01.290 --> 01:06:01.690 drug 01:06:02.310 --> 01:06:04.690 because women who are going through these hormonal 01:06:04.690 --> 01:06:07.390 changes end up taking these anti-depressants 01:06:07.390 --> 01:06:09.090 and then they're just like 01:06:09.090 --> 01:06:10.750 I want to leave my husband this is literally something 01:06:10.750 --> 01:06:12.590 that's been trapped and proven 01:06:12.590 --> 01:06:15.050 you know because it messes with your mind 01:06:15.830 --> 01:06:16.950 messes with your mind 01:06:16.950 --> 01:06:18.910 it's all these psychedelics and drugs 01:06:18.910 --> 01:06:20.930 that are being used and causing you to 01:06:20.930 --> 01:06:22.930 think that you're getting better look we 01:06:22.930 --> 01:06:24.870 need to just go back to just eating good 01:06:24.870 --> 01:06:25.290 food 01:06:26.110 --> 01:06:27.890 you know exercising 01:06:28.930 --> 01:06:30.710 and the majority of people who are like 01:06:30.710 --> 01:06:32.950 on these drugs is like you've never seen a gym 01:06:32.950 --> 01:06:33.850 in your life my boy 01:06:35.870 --> 01:06:36.350 like 01:06:36.950 --> 01:06:38.830 you don't make any gains on 01:06:38.830 --> 01:06:41.230 you've never touched a weight in your life 01:06:42.410 --> 01:06:44.690 you know have you do you know what the sun even 01:06:44.690 --> 01:06:47.030 looks like have you touched 01:06:47.030 --> 01:06:49.130 grass have you ever ate 01:06:49.130 --> 01:06:50.050 a t-bone steak 01:06:51.130 --> 01:06:52.650 I eat chicken tenders you know 01:06:52.650 --> 01:06:55.190 they're the ones who just eat chicken tenders all the time 01:06:57.170 --> 01:06:59.310 you know and then it's just like oh I'm just depressed 01:06:59.310 --> 01:07:00.930 yeah you're depressed because you're just gaming 01:07:00.930 --> 01:07:01.710 all night 01:07:02.350 --> 01:07:04.670 you're just gaming all day all night 01:07:04.670 --> 01:07:06.710 drinking energy drinks 01:07:06.710 --> 01:07:08.810 all day long you're not eating 01:07:08.810 --> 01:07:10.710 any healthy dose of protein 01:07:10.710 --> 01:07:12.890 you're not lifting any weights you're not 01:07:12.890 --> 01:07:15.050 getting outside you're not socializing with others 01:07:15.050 --> 01:07:16.710 you're doom scrolling 01:07:17.370 --> 01:07:19.110 and then you're like I need pills to make me better 01:07:20.250 --> 01:07:21.010 I feel depressed 01:07:21.010 --> 01:07:21.670 and I don't know why 01:07:22.710 --> 01:07:25.050 and look obviously we know that there are seasons 01:07:25.050 --> 01:07:26.410 when hormones just you know 01:07:26.410 --> 01:07:28.530 they kind of go crazy on women 01:07:28.990 --> 01:07:30.650 men we don't know that 01:07:30.650 --> 01:07:31.530 and if you know that 01:07:34.290 --> 01:07:34.870 you better 01:07:34.870 --> 01:07:35.490 change that 01:07:37.110 --> 01:07:39.350 there's women who you know that's a fact right 01:07:39.850 --> 01:07:40.730 women go through 01:07:40.730 --> 01:07:42.370 hormonal changes throughout the month 01:07:42.370 --> 01:07:44.530 right and you know 01:07:44.530 --> 01:07:46.410 even with pregnancy 01:07:46.410 --> 01:07:47.990 it's just skyrockets 01:07:47.990 --> 01:07:50.250 okay so husbands you know be patient 01:07:50.250 --> 01:07:52.830 with your wives when they are pregnant 01:07:53.670 --> 01:07:54.750 you're just like 01:07:54.750 --> 01:07:56.470 you know who are you 01:07:56.470 --> 01:07:58.390 you know she's just crazy 01:07:58.390 --> 01:07:59.410 I just don't want to do 01:08:00.470 --> 01:08:02.250 she's making a human being 01:08:02.850 --> 01:08:04.510 you know she's making an eyeball 01:08:04.510 --> 01:08:05.770 she's making two 01:08:06.370 --> 01:08:07.890 making elbows and stuff like 01:08:07.890 --> 01:08:09.150 you gotta like be patient 01:08:09.150 --> 01:08:10.950 alright it takes a lot of work 01:08:11.510 --> 01:08:13.470 and you're like dinner's not ready 01:08:14.830 --> 01:08:16.330 well you're sleeping all day 01:08:17.250 --> 01:08:18.910 you know they go through a lot of changes 01:08:18.910 --> 01:08:20.970 and let me just prepare you 01:08:20.970 --> 01:08:23.050 they cry a lot 01:08:23.050 --> 01:08:23.890 it's just what they do 01:08:23.890 --> 01:08:25.730 let them cry 01:08:25.730 --> 01:08:28.390 and you're like what's the problem 01:08:28.390 --> 01:08:29.610 and they're just like nothing 01:08:30.550 --> 01:08:31.490 believe it 01:08:32.870 --> 01:08:33.710 it's true 01:08:35.530 --> 01:08:36.570 100% true 01:08:36.570 --> 01:08:38.830 you know they just cry 01:08:39.730 --> 01:08:40.490 and you know what 01:08:40.490 --> 01:08:41.350 I'm cool with that 01:08:41.350 --> 01:08:43.990 what I'm not cool with is when a dude does that 01:08:45.990 --> 01:08:46.710 you know 01:08:46.710 --> 01:08:47.930 if you are a man 01:08:47.930 --> 01:08:49.290 and you're just crying for no reason 01:08:49.290 --> 01:08:50.290 and I ask you why are you crying 01:08:50.290 --> 01:08:52.010 you say for no reason I'm gonna sock you in the gut 01:08:52.010 --> 01:08:54.350 and give you a reason to cry 01:08:55.050 --> 01:08:56.390 we can't have that slide 01:08:57.150 --> 01:08:58.030 can't have that slide 01:08:58.450 --> 01:08:59.470 I'm doing you a favor 01:09:00.210 --> 01:09:01.370 so when other people see you 01:09:01.370 --> 01:09:03.310 like why are you crying like the pastor just sock me in the gut 01:09:07.330 --> 01:09:09.410 you know it's normal for women to do that 01:09:09.410 --> 01:09:11.010 it's normal for women to feel that 01:09:11.010 --> 01:09:13.670 okay and here's the thing folks 01:09:13.670 --> 01:09:15.050 is that sometimes people think oh man 01:09:15.050 --> 01:09:16.790 I'm going through these hormonal changes 01:09:16.790 --> 01:09:19.070 I need to go to the doctor and get some drugs 01:09:19.070 --> 01:09:21.550 in order to fix my you know how I'm feeling 01:09:21.550 --> 01:09:22.610 just no 01:09:23.230 --> 01:09:24.430 this is just part of life 01:09:25.150 --> 01:09:27.810 and let me just be very frank with you 01:09:27.810 --> 01:09:28.630 it's part of the curse 01:09:30.410 --> 01:09:31.270 it's part of the curse 01:09:31.270 --> 01:09:33.570 and you know what it's wrong 01:09:34.130 --> 01:09:35.370 to resort to 01:09:35.830 --> 01:09:36.630 you know drugs 01:09:37.210 --> 01:09:38.270 in order to take away 01:09:39.210 --> 01:09:40.650 the institution of what God said 01:09:40.650 --> 01:09:41.390 forth in the body 01:09:42.310 --> 01:09:44.010 okay God wants you to wait it out 01:09:44.010 --> 01:09:46.590 now look if you are on antidepressants right now 01:09:47.190 --> 01:09:48.430 I'm not telling you to get off 01:09:48.430 --> 01:09:50.990 cold turkey it's the worst thing you could possibly do 01:09:50.990 --> 01:09:52.870 you know you need to 01:09:52.870 --> 01:09:54.690 you know talk to someone 01:09:54.690 --> 01:09:55.630 to help you to get off that 01:09:55.630 --> 01:09:57.190 I would recommend that you would event 01:09:57.190 --> 01:09:59.590 gradually very gradually 01:09:59.590 --> 01:10:01.330 depending upon whatever doses you're taking 01:10:01.330 --> 01:10:03.390 I'm talking about those who are tempted 01:10:03.390 --> 01:10:05.510 to take antidepressants in order to fix themselves 01:10:06.050 --> 01:10:07.450 okay mentally or whatever 01:10:07.450 --> 01:10:09.590 maybe because a lot of the times folks 01:10:09.590 --> 01:10:11.550 we're Christians and you know what we need to deal with 01:10:11.550 --> 01:10:13.390 things in a spiritual way okay 01:10:13.390 --> 01:10:15.670 and I'm all for just eliminating 01:10:16.470 --> 01:10:17.510 what possibly 01:10:17.510 --> 01:10:19.170 may be the problem 01:10:19.170 --> 01:10:21.390 you know naturally through 01:10:21.390 --> 01:10:23.390 exercise eating red meat 01:10:23.390 --> 01:10:25.490 getting your vitamin D from the sun 01:10:25.490 --> 01:10:27.590 taking walks socializing with people 01:10:27.590 --> 01:10:29.890 you know get off the video games 01:10:29.890 --> 01:10:31.130 stop doom scrolling 01:10:31.130 --> 01:10:33.090 people message me all the time they're just like oh man 01:10:33.090 --> 01:10:34.990 I feel so anxious I'm just so fearful 01:10:34.990 --> 01:10:36.930 I'm like how much time do you spend on social media 01:10:36.930 --> 01:10:38.390 they're like well I'm only on social media 01:10:38.390 --> 01:10:39.890 yeah that's why 01:10:40.750 --> 01:10:43.310 you know if you're constantly on social media 01:10:43.710 --> 01:10:44.790 and you're constantly 01:10:45.370 --> 01:10:47.290 putting in the narrative 01:10:47.290 --> 01:10:48.270 of politics 01:10:48.270 --> 01:10:50.530 and all that stuff that's going on around the world 01:10:50.530 --> 01:10:51.770 it's going to drive you crazy 01:10:52.370 --> 01:10:52.890 yep 01:10:53.750 --> 01:10:55.110 it's going to drive you mad 01:10:56.130 --> 01:10:57.510 this is what you got to do 01:10:57.510 --> 01:10:59.290 delete instagram if you have to do that 01:10:59.290 --> 01:11:02.470 delete twitter delete x delete facebook 01:11:02.470 --> 01:11:04.390 delete whatever and you know what start living 01:11:04.390 --> 01:11:05.470 just a normal life 01:11:05.470 --> 01:11:07.850 read the bible pray 01:11:07.850 --> 01:11:10.390 go to church strengthen yourself spiritually 01:11:10.390 --> 01:11:12.410 and physically as well 01:11:12.410 --> 01:11:14.530 you know don't fall prey 01:11:14.530 --> 01:11:16.610 to the sorcerers of this world 01:11:16.610 --> 01:11:18.430 who are just trying to drug 01:11:18.430 --> 01:11:21.110 you up and keep you dependent on them 01:11:21.110 --> 01:11:22.610 don't fall prey to the 01:11:22.610 --> 01:11:24.810 simon the sorcerers of this world 01:11:24.810 --> 01:11:26.350 who are bewitching you 01:11:26.350 --> 01:11:28.570 through drugs they're bewitching you 01:11:28.570 --> 01:11:29.890 through the pharmaceutical industry 01:11:30.230 --> 01:11:32.050 trying to keep you dependent on them 01:11:32.050 --> 01:11:34.150 it's like oh man I need a higher dose for what 01:11:34.950 --> 01:11:36.410 you know and now you have 01:11:36.410 --> 01:11:38.610 like young kids were on these drugs 01:11:39.730 --> 01:11:40.590 young kids were 01:11:40.590 --> 01:11:42.450 on antidepressants and they just got 01:11:42.450 --> 01:11:44.430 social anxiety deal with it 01:11:44.430 --> 01:11:46.130 we had social anxiety growing up too 01:11:46.130 --> 01:11:48.270 we just had to deal with it this is how you get over it 01:11:48.270 --> 01:11:49.250 go socialize 01:11:50.050 --> 01:11:51.250 increase your confidence 01:11:51.930 --> 01:11:54.230 you know you know lower the caffeine 01:11:54.230 --> 01:11:55.510 intake if that helps 01:11:56.210 --> 01:11:58.150 if you come into a crowd and you have 01:11:58.150 --> 01:11:59.970 so much social anxiety 01:12:00.490 --> 01:12:02.190 you know obviously you need to 01:12:02.190 --> 01:12:04.030 reduce some of that caffeine intake 01:12:04.030 --> 01:12:06.410 but also just practice how to socialize 01:12:06.410 --> 01:12:08.130 as well okay and 01:12:08.130 --> 01:12:10.170 look you say well it's easy for you to say 01:12:10.170 --> 01:12:11.370 you just you know 01:12:11.930 --> 01:12:13.690 you're a social person and 01:12:13.690 --> 01:12:16.170 yeah but I actually talked to people who had 01:12:16.170 --> 01:12:17.290 social anxiety 01:12:17.290 --> 01:12:20.070 they were major introverts and they're not like that anymore 01:12:20.070 --> 01:12:21.650 because they actually put themselves out there 01:12:21.650 --> 01:12:23.930 they put these things into practice and they're not like that 01:12:23.930 --> 01:12:24.910 they're a little weird still you know 01:12:26.570 --> 01:12:28.150 can't get rid of the whole thing 01:12:28.150 --> 01:12:28.390 you know 01:12:30.010 --> 01:12:31.670 can't fix them 100% but hey they 01:12:31.670 --> 01:12:32.050 you know 01:12:33.610 --> 01:12:35.750 now people don't think they're autistic or anything like that 01:12:35.750 --> 01:12:37.530 you know they're just like hey 01:12:37.530 --> 01:12:39.690 this person you know and often just what it 01:12:39.690 --> 01:12:41.810 is and you know everyone thinks that they're autistic 01:12:41.810 --> 01:12:44.110 I get that and it's true that that does exist 01:12:44.110 --> 01:12:45.810 okay I'm not trying to 01:12:45.810 --> 01:12:47.770 look at anybody you know it is 01:12:47.770 --> 01:12:49.550 it's a it's a legitimate thing 01:12:49.550 --> 01:12:51.730 but some people just want to say that only 01:12:51.730 --> 01:12:53.530 because they're just not social at all 01:12:55.030 --> 01:12:55.910 okay and 01:12:55.910 --> 01:12:57.870 you know what church does for you it normalizes 01:12:57.870 --> 01:12:58.190 you 01:12:59.610 --> 01:13:01.770 okay like am I not normal well if people are 01:13:01.770 --> 01:13:03.950 accusing you of being autistic and you're 01:13:03.950 --> 01:13:04.290 not 01:13:06.230 --> 01:13:06.850 you know 01:13:07.810 --> 01:13:09.430 socialize put these things into practice to 01:13:09.430 --> 01:13:11.010 eliminate the possibility if you are 01:13:11.010 --> 01:13:11.290 not 01:13:13.190 --> 01:13:14.750 I know it's funny but it's true 01:13:15.290 --> 01:13:16.510 you're not going to get this anywhere else 01:13:17.890 --> 01:13:19.230 you're not going to get this advice anywhere 01:13:19.230 --> 01:13:20.830 else because everywhere else is a soothsayer 01:13:20.830 --> 01:13:22.230 who just wants to tell you what you want to hear 01:13:22.610 --> 01:13:24.790 and you know you're like I'm visiting town never coming back 01:13:27.890 --> 01:13:28.250 go 01:13:28.250 --> 01:13:29.390 back to the soothsayers 01:13:29.390 --> 01:13:31.150 go back to the charmers 01:13:31.150 --> 01:13:32.690 go back to the enchanters 01:13:32.690 --> 01:13:34.810 go back to the sorcerers 01:13:34.810 --> 01:13:36.670 that just got you under their spell 01:13:36.670 --> 01:13:38.910 and tell you everything is okay 01:13:38.910 --> 01:13:40.270 you can leave your spouse 01:13:40.270 --> 01:13:41.890 you can continue taking this 01:13:41.890 --> 01:13:43.330 continue doing drugs 01:13:43.330 --> 01:13:44.690 God's not mad at you 01:13:44.690 --> 01:13:46.370 good God, good devil, good hell 01:13:48.670 --> 01:13:49.510 that's your choice 01:13:50.130 --> 01:13:51.590 but you know what we want 01:13:51.590 --> 01:13:53.410 we want Simon the sorcerer 01:13:53.410 --> 01:13:54.830 who actually was given the truth 01:13:54.830 --> 01:13:56.950 get saved and even after salvation 01:13:56.950 --> 01:13:58.250 he fixed himself 01:13:58.250 --> 01:14:01.430 he said you know I repent 01:14:01.430 --> 01:14:03.010 he wanted to get right with God 01:14:03.010 --> 01:14:03.650 and he did 01:14:03.650 --> 01:14:04.670 what's the sermon today 01:14:04.670 --> 01:14:07.970 let's read one more verse here 01:14:09.590 --> 01:14:10.470 I don't have notes 01:14:10.470 --> 01:14:11.690 I don't have really a structure here 01:14:11.690 --> 01:14:14.390 look at Revelation 21 verse 8 it says here 01:14:14.390 --> 01:14:16.530 but the fearful and unbelieving 01:14:16.890 --> 01:14:19.210 and the abominable and murderers 01:14:19.210 --> 01:14:20.930 and whoremongers and I want you to notice this 01:14:22.490 --> 01:14:23.210 and sorcerers 01:14:23.210 --> 01:14:24.770 and idolaters and all liars 01:14:24.770 --> 01:14:26.090 shall have their part in the lake 01:14:26.090 --> 01:14:27.270 which burned up with fire and burnstone 01:14:27.270 --> 01:14:29.010 which is the second death 01:14:29.010 --> 01:14:31.030 look folks this is not an exhaustive 01:14:31.030 --> 01:14:33.630 list of sins that take people to hell 01:14:34.110 --> 01:14:35.510 this is a minor list 01:14:35.510 --> 01:14:37.050 but you know what he adds in this minor list 01:14:37.050 --> 01:14:37.790 sorcerers 01:14:38.230 --> 01:14:39.910 it's kind of demonstrating to you and to me 01:14:39.910 --> 01:14:41.970 how God views this thing 01:14:41.970 --> 01:14:43.610 it's a sinful thing 01:14:43.610 --> 01:14:44.790 it's an abomination 01:14:45.530 --> 01:14:47.830 don't be a sorcerer but also don't be deceived 01:14:47.830 --> 01:14:49.930 by the sorcerers of this world 01:14:49.930 --> 01:14:51.890 Father we thank you so much for your word 01:14:52.970 --> 01:14:54.170 and I pray that you Lord 01:14:54.170 --> 01:14:56.390 you'd help us to gird up the loins of our mind 01:14:56.390 --> 01:14:58.310 and not to be susceptible 01:14:58.310 --> 01:14:59.310 to the deception 01:14:59.930 --> 01:15:02.230 of the sorceries of this world Lord 01:15:02.230 --> 01:15:04.450 the witches, the wizards, the so called 01:15:04.450 --> 01:15:05.630 wise men of this world 01:15:06.190 --> 01:15:08.010 we know that even social media is filled 01:15:08.010 --> 01:15:10.490 with gurus who claim to know 01:15:10.490 --> 01:15:11.410 the truth in a specific 01:15:12.230 --> 01:15:14.350 niche Lord and they can 01:15:14.350 --> 01:15:16.030 often operate as those who are 01:15:16.030 --> 01:15:18.050 soothsayers trying to convince us 01:15:18.050 --> 01:15:20.330 that if we do it their way that we'll be a lot happier 01:15:20.330 --> 01:15:22.290 more successful, have more 01:15:22.290 --> 01:15:24.390 money or whatever it is that we're trying to 01:15:24.390 --> 01:15:26.370 obtain. Help us to trust in you 01:15:26.370 --> 01:15:28.090 to acknowledge you in all our ways 01:15:28.090 --> 01:15:30.290 to go to the word of God and not allow 01:15:30.290 --> 01:15:32.330 ourselves to be spoiled by the 01:15:32.330 --> 01:15:34.150 philosophies and vain deceits of this 01:15:34.150 --> 01:15:36.230 world and I pray that Lord 01:15:36.230 --> 01:15:37.930 you help us to be grounded and rooted 01:15:37.930 --> 01:15:40.030 in the word of God we love you we thank you 01:15:40.030 --> 01:15:41.130 pray these things in Jesus name amen