The Power that Inspires Faith in Christ

But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed (Acts 8:9-13).

God blessed Philip’s gospel preaching with such powerful signs and miracles that the entire city of Samaria was impacted… “For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed” (Acts 8:7). This was not the first time the Samaritans had seen such supernatural power. They were familiar with Simon; whose magic was so good they considered him to possess… “the power of God that is called Great”. But something was different about the power of Philip’s miracles. They did not point to Philip. While Simon’s magic attracted people to Simon, Philip’s message and power pointed to the… “good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ”. When our words and actions reflect the gospel of Jesus Christ, God releases His grace and we experience the power that inspires faith in Christ.

Miracles can manipulate faith. Everyone is looking for power. The devil’s great deception is to offer power to the people… “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). Simon’s magic appealed to this hunger for power that drives fallen men and women. Like Eve, our hunger for power greater than ourselves makes us vulnerable to the manipulation of our faith and we are tempted to pay attention to and follow deceptive philosophies and people that promise this false power. But when God’s grace quickens our spirit, our hearts begin to seek the kind of power to forgive our sin and restore us to fellowship with our Father that is only available in Christ… “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5). God’s grace sets us free from those who would manipulate our faith to trust in Christ.

Miracles can mislead faith. When people are desperate, they are compelled to seek quick and easy solutions to their problems and needs. We too are vulnerable to becoming so focused on our trials and troubles that we forget about who Christ is and who we are in Him. When Philip… “preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ”, God’s grace set the crowd free to refocus their faith on Jesus Christ, who calls His true disciples to keep our faith properly set on Him… “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). God’s grace compels us to grow closer to Christ through our trials and protects us from those who seek to mislead our faith.

Miracles can magnify faith. The signs and miracles performed by both Simon and Philip attracted crowds, but after hearing the words and experiencing his power, Philip’s crowd had a different faith. Their faith was refocused from the miracle workers Simon and Philip to… “the name of Jesus Christ”, the Son of God who became their Savior. Believing in Philip would make no eternal difference, but believing in the name of Jesus Christ changed their eternal destiny… “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Words and actions that reveal Jesus Christ have power to offer life in the most desperate situations… “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). May our words and deeds increasingly point to Jesus Christ as His grace magnifies the faith that compels the lost to discover and receive life in His name.

As we grow up into Christ, our words and actions increasingly reflect Him as we trust and experience…

The Power that Inspires Faith in Christ.