There is a growing trend in our culture to place faith in everything but Jesus. More and more people are seeking healing and identity in modern mysticism, energy healing, crystals, astrology, and even witchcraft—yet they are missing the life-changing power of the risen Christ.
We Dishonor God and Jeopardize Our Faith by Relying On “Something Else”
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This morning, we’re going to look at a powerful story in Acts 8 where the gospel collides with spiritual deception. And in doing so, we’ll be reminded that the power of God is not only real—it is the only true power that brings freedom.
People often ask me what I think about demons, spiritual warfare, and the strange things we sometimes hear about or experience. They ask why we don’t talk more about it or why we don’t see it like they did in the Bible. Here’s what I believe: we don’t see the works of darkness because we’ve trained ourselves not to. We’ve rationalized evil into normal behavior, explained the spiritual away with psychology, and stuffed the supernatural into a safe, manageable box.
In an article printed by the Washington Times in October of 2024, this was written.
“Indeed, astrology’s influence is growing, especially among younger Americans. According to YouGov’s 2022 poll, more than 1 in 4 Americans say the stars influence their lives. That includes 37% of adults younger than 30. The astrology market, in particular, has grown significantly from $2.2 billion in value in 2018 to $12.8 billion in 2021. By 2031, it is expected to reach $22.8 billion, Allied Market Research said.”
A 2023 survey from the Pew Research Center explores details of this growing interest in “spirituality.” It said 42% of adults believe the dead can communicate. Nearly half of the respondents said they believe the dead can lend the living a helping hand, and 45% said they had experienced a profound sense of wonder about the universe and a deep “spiritual peace.”
We ignore how our culture—through music, movies, and media—normalizes and even glamorizes the very things Jesus died to deliver us from. If you listen to interviews and testimonies from former witches and ex-occultists, they’ll tell you plainly: it starts small. Horoscopes. Crystals. TikTok trends. Ouija boards. They seem harmless—until they’re not.
Another article that I found is from the United Kingdom, written in August 2023, and the title caught my eye. The title is The Witchcraft Generation: Get Z is swapping traditional faiths for magic spells. In the article, it also stated that now the UK, statistically speaking, is one of the least religious countries in the world according to recent polls. But this was even more mind-boggling for me, it read.
“Witchcraft is one form of alternative spirituality in the ascendant: #witchtok has more than 45 billion views on TikTok. Witch influencers proliferate on social media. Eight million #witchcraft Instagram posts detail the how, what and when of magic: moon rituals, hexes, tarot cards, herbal potions, spells. Reddit pages such as r/witch (101,000 members) and r/witchcraft (383,000) garner hundreds of sincere comments each day. Advice is sought and given: how-tos on friendship spells, drying herbs, charging crystals, candle divination. What was for centuries fringe and at times heretical is becoming accepted, even revered, particularly among the young.”
Part of the problem is this: many Christians have a hard time believing in the full power of God because they’ve never seen it firsthand. Yes, we’ve felt His comfort and peace, but we’ve stopped short of acknowledging the spiritual battles others are facing all around us. So instead of leaning into faith, we default to reason and logic.
Let’s be honest—anyone who’s watched Star Wars has probably tried the Darth Vader choke or the Obi-Wan mind trick on their spouse to get out of yard work. It’s funny in fiction. But in reality, there is a very real spiritual line. A line between curiosity and captivity. Between imagination and influence. And when believers dabble in other religions, magic, spiritualism, or even astrology, we are not just flirting with danger—we’re dishonoring the God who alone holds all power.
Person of Peace In the Land of Spiritualism
Acts 8:4-8
As we turn to Acts 8, we see the Gospel beginning to spread—just as Jesus said it would in Acts 1:8: from Jerusalem to Judea… and now to Samaria. But this wasn’t random. The groundwork had already been laid. Many of us remember the story from John 4—Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well, and her life was radically changed. She ran back to her village and said, “Come see a man who told me everything I ever did.” Because of her testimony, and Jesus staying a few days, many believed.
That visit planted a seed in Samaria—and now, Philip is there to water it.
Gossiping the Gospel Connects People to Jesus Christ
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Too often, we treat Jesus like an over-the-counter medicine. A little dose of Him for anxiety. Another for loneliness. Just enough to get us through the day. But what if we didn’t take a partial dose of Jesus? What if we took the full dose of the Gospel?
What if our conversations weren’t just about the weather, sports, or news—but about what Jesus has done in our lives? What if we said things like:
“Did you hear what Jesus did in that family?”
“Did you hear how He delivered that person?”
“Did you hear how she gave her life to Christ and everything changed?”
We Can’t Spread Joy Without Speaking Jesus
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That’s not weird—it’s witness. That’s gospel gossip—and we need more of it.
So let me ask you: When was the last time you gossiped about Jesus?
When’s the last time you were so excited about what God did that you couldn’t wait to tell someone?
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Jesus is Greater Than Any Spell
Acts 8:9-13
There’s a dangerous reality we must face: many people want a version of Jesus, but not the genuine Jesus. They’re drawn to the idea of His power and peace—but on their terms. They want the blessings without the Lordship.
They were mesmerized by a man named Simon, who had practiced sorcery and claimed to be “someone great.” Scripture says the people had been bewitched—deceived and captivated by his power. Look at how the KJV puts it:
“9 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: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. (Act 8:9-11 KJV)
The meaning of the word “bewitched” as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, “extremely attracted to something, or completely controlled by something:”
Merriam-Webster defines the word this way, “controlled or affected by or as if by a magic spell: influenced, attracted, or charmed as if by magic”
The Greek word is translated to mean, “to put (stand) out of wits, i.e. astound, or (reflexively) become astounded, insane:—amaze, be (make) astonished, be beside self (selves), bewitch, wonder.”
Difference Between Something that has Power Over Our Life and a Power that Gives Life
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Don’t Just Be Amazed By Jesus, Be Changed By Jesus
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Bewitched Into Belonging
Acts 8:14-17
Gospel Expansion & Church Unity is the Context
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Two big questions usually come up here:
Why hadn’t the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit yet?
Why did the apostles have to come to approve what was happening?
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. 21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Matthew 16:13-23 NKJV
Jesus Blessed Peter with the Keys to Open Heaven’s Doors, Not Bar Them Shut
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Peter was the one who preached at Pentecost, opening the door of the Gospel to the Jews (Acts 2). Now in Acts 8, Peter arrives in Samaria—opening the door for Samaritans. And in Acts 11 it’ll be Peter again who brings the Gospel to Gentiles, starting with Cornelius.
Peter Blessed the People with the Spirit to Unite not Divide
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Confusion of the Power of God
Acts 8:18-25
The Power of the Gospel is Not for Personal Prosperity
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Peter’s Rebuke was a Gift Filled with Grace
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We have God’s Word—a powerful and often neglected treasure.
We have the Holy Spirit—who comes to dwell in us the moment we believe, confess, and accept Jesus as Lord.
We have the local church—a place to live on mission and be known in the community.
We have discipleship groups—spaces for growth, truth-telling, and Gospel transformation.
We have prayer—not just a ritual, but an intercession through which the Spirit himself speaks on our behalf.
But here’s the key: Peter gave Simon a gift—his rebuke was an invitation to repentance. He didn’t condemn Simon. He called him to turn, to pray, and to get right with God.
Let me leave you with this: When the Holy Spirit reveals your sin, don’t look for someone else to pray for you. Fall on your knees. Cry out to Jesus. Because He’s not looking for people who want to use His power—He’s looking for people who want to be transformed by it.
Who Has Captured Your Heart?
“KM Tepe’s involvement in the occult began in college, leading her to identify as a self-proclaimed witch and later as a Satanist. Her practices included rituals, spellwork, and invoking demonic entities. The turning point came after the death of her mother, which prompted KM to purchase a Bible with the intent of disproving God’s existence. Instead, she found herself drawn to its teachings, leading her to seek guidance from a pastor. Through this journey, KM embraced Christianity, was baptized, and now participates in ministry efforts aimed at reaching individuals involved in similar practices. She emphasizes that God’s love and forgiveness are accessible to everyone, regardless of their past.”
Simon could’ve had that. But he didn’t repent.
Today’s Takeaways:
Am I Chasing God’s Hand or Seeking His Heart?
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It is the same Spirit that Moved in Jerusalem that is still moving Today
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Website/Sources:
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/oct/29/young-women-gravitate-toward-modern-witchcraft-psy/
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/religion/2023/08/strongfaith-faithless-age-strong
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1839/kjv/tr/0-1/
https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/michael-foust/former-satanist-shares-her-remarkable-journey-to-finding-christ.html