A Savior for Samaria

April 5

(Acts 8:14-15, 25 NIV) “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. {15} When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, {16} because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. {17} Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. - {25} When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.”

(John 4:3-10 NIV) ““When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. {4} Now he had to go through Samaria. {5} So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. {6} Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. {7} When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" {8} (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) {9} The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) {10} Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.””

(1 Timothy 2:1-4 NIV) “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- {2} for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. {3} This is good, and pleases God our Savior, {4} who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

News of what Philip was doing in Samaria reached Jerusalem, and Peter and John went to see what was happening. It wasn’t the miracles that impressed them; it was where the miracles were happening. The Jews looked down on Samaritans and considered them second-class citizens. Along with lepers and harlots, they were the “undesirables”, unacceptable to those in good and proper Christian society. They were certainly undeserving of God’s grace. But the Holy Spirit was working powerfully among them. The Lord was making it known that Christ is a Savior for all people. God so loved the world! The Lord has not changed His mind. Jesus wants all people “to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” Churches that install filters on their front doors (visible or invisible) are not walking in God’s will. The gospel is for all people. Find your “Samaria” and go there. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Apostle Meets Huckster

April 4

(Acts 8:9-13 NIV) ““Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, {10} and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." {11} They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. {12} But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. {13} Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.””

(2 Corinthians 11:12-15 NIV) "And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. {13} For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. {14} And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. {15} It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve."

(2 Peter 2:1-3 NIV) "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. {2} Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. {3} In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping."

As Philip preached in Samaria, he ran into a man named Simon. Simon was a guru/charlatan -- a religious huckster. He did magic and sorcery and was quite a celebrity in Samaria. People even said he had the Great Power, and treated him like a god. Simon ate it up, and boasted of his greatness to all who would listen. But when Philip came to town, Simon saw genuine power, and he was attracted. He “believed and was baptized”, but for the wrong reasons. He was more interested in the miracles than in the Messiah. Every generation has gurus, shysters, and charlatans, whose followers swoon over their power and charisma. The cash flows in, as people buy their books, diets, and videos. How do you tell the difference between a religious huckster and an apostle? The genuine apostle will never offer you a bag of tricks -- they will offer you a cross. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Portable Joy

April 3

(Acts 8:8 NIV) “So there was great joy in that city."

(1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV) “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, {9} for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

(Galatians 5:22-23 NIV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, {23} gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

When persecution scattered the early church, the disciples took the joy of the Lord with them wherever they went. As Philip moved through Samaria, joy followed in his wake. One would expect bitterness to dominate the spirit of a people who were driven from their homes. But joy followed those who had been displaced because of Jesus, and as more and more came to faith in Christ, Saul and his henchmen could not stifle this fruit of the Holy Spirit. That’s what you call “living beyond your means”. Christians, Jesus expects us to do more than just what we can do on our own. If we only do what we can do on our own, where is the glory for God in that kind of living? We are called to live in a way that brings positive attention to Jesus. With faith and hope, we are called to embody the joy of the Lord as we walk through persecution and opposition. What city will you bring joy to today? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Philip: the Antidote for Saul

April 2

(Acts 8:5-7 NIV) “Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. {6} When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. {7} With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.”

(Romans 12:21 NIV) “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

For every Saul, there is a Philip. Saul was into destruction -- Philip was into deliverance. Saul was into mayhem -- Philip was into miracles. Saul was into hurting people -- Philip was into healing people. Saul was into persecuting Christians -- Philip was into preaching Christ. For every tyrant like Saul, there is a saint like Philip. For every Christian intimidated into silence, there are others who will speak up for Jesus. They will confront evil, heal the sick, and take the gospel to the “Samaritans” of this world. You can kill these “Philips”, but more will rise up to take their place. The Jesus “genie” is out of the bottle, and the “Sauls” of this world cannot put Him back in. The only question left is, “Will you be a Philip?” Will you take God’s power with you, wherever the trials of life send you, and help people receive healing and freedom? For every Saul there is a Philip. Will you be a Philip? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day