Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0245A recorded on November 9, 1980 teaching from Acts 8:18-19 – Beware of the Superficial.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens issues a stern warning to beware of the superficial, urging believers to move beyond a shallow, performative faith. He illustrates this danger through the biblical figure of Simon the Magician, who attempted to purchase the power of the Holy Spirit with money, demonstrating a heart trapped in bitterness and iniquity. Stevens argues that true Christianity requires a total surrender of the will and a rejection of legalistic rituals in favor of a vital, experiential relationship with Christ. Ultimately, Pastor Stevens calls for spiritual authenticity, reminding the audience that God’s gifts cannot be bartered for and that genuine conversion must be rooted in humility rather than intellectual or emotional pretense.