Number 51: May 13, 2006
 
The early church historian Eusebius speaks of a man, Simon Magus, as one who was renown throughout the Roman Empire as the great power of god. Magus means worker of magic. It was believed that he possessed special powers and had unique insight into the mysteries of the universe. He was the great power of God until Phillip the evangelist entered into Simon’s home town of Samaria boldly proclaiming Christ and utilizing the power of the true God.
 
Acts 8:5-13:
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
And there was great joy in that city.
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
 
There have been many false teachers and prophets throughout history. Many have operated spiritual power thinking it was developed mental energy from within themselves. Actually, it is spiritual power from the wrong god using them to further his deceptions to try to trick people away from the true God. Their fraud brings gain and fame to themselves, not to the true God.
 
It is well documented that Simon Magus is the father of a sect called Gnosticism. His teachings differed from what the original apostles of Christ believed and taught as recorded in the book of Acts. Simon’s followers wrote many of the psuedo-gospels that, because of the interest in the Gospel of Judas and the Da Vinci Code, are prevalent again. When “new” revelations are offered, go back to an old source, the Word of God, to authenticate what is being presented.
 
I Thessalonians 5:21:
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
 
The Adversary wants to confuse and dishonor Christ and his accomplishments. He continues to try to shroud the truth with historical nonsense by utilizing people’s lack of understanding of the Bible. As workman of God’s Word, we need to rightly dividing the truth and boldly proclaim it.