The Discovery Courses

Textbook For
“Finding The Right Method”


Trying To Use World Training
Unlearning And Relearning
You are now ready to let Jesus take you into the life of a person who was using witchcraft and magic to run his life. He was impressing the people around him with his tricks. Then he found Jesus and started seeing the real, true power. He became so impressed with Jesus and His power that at first he decided to go Jesus’ way. BUT, he didn’t totally give up his old methods, systems, and philosophies. Jesus will have to help you unlearn your world training so you can learn how to be healed from your struggles with marriage.


Using Satanic Methods
Acts 8:9-11 (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, 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.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. Simon was getting money, posessions, positions, popularity, power, prestige, pleasure, and accomplishments through sorcery. Sorcery is a process of getting power through Satan. Satan and Jesus are enemies; Jesus came to defeat the works of the devil. Heb 2:14-15 (NIV) Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.


The First Step Into Salvation
Acts 8:12-13 (NIV) 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. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. There is a huge difference in Jesus’ motives and the motives of Satan. Satan uses bait and traps to lure you under his control. Jesus is real, true, and honest; He loves you and wants the very best for you. John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. One of the major reasons you can’t use human effort and world training in Christianity is because of the power and motives behind them.


The Second Step Is To Receive The Holy Spirit
Acts 8:14-17 (NIV) When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Once you are born again by accepting Jesus as your Savior, Lord, and King, the Holy Spirit comes inside you. He provides you with direct contact with God so you are able to have a relationship with Him all day long. But, there is another aspect of the Holy Spirit that you need to experience. Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” At salvation He comes into you; but, through Jesus baptizing you into Him, He comes on you. That is when you get God’s power to live a life that changes you and leads those around you to want what you have. Ask Jesus to let His Holy Spirit to COME ON you so you can have the power you need to live the victorious Christian life. .


Not Taking The Third Step Into Study
Acts 8:18-19 (NIV) When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Simon had based his whole life on money and posessions, which is what the world taught you. When he came to Jesus, he was supposed to establish his relationship with Him based on gifts. Simon believed in Jesus and was forgiven of all the wrong, bad, and evil things he had done to himself and those around him. BUT, he didn’t give himself to the study of the Bible and the teachings of Christianity. He accepted the FREE GIFT of salvation; but, he didn’t study and grow in the truths of God. So, he tried to use his world training to advance himself in Christianity, this can happen to you.


Mixing Old Systems With The New
Acts 8:20 (NIV) Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could BUY the GIFT of God with money! The other people who were saved and born again received the baptism in the Holy Spirit with joy. They received the power to start living a righteous life; they were ready to allow the power of the Holy Spirit to transform their behavior so they could be good examples of what Christianity is all about. They didn’t try to mix their old way of life with their new one. They let their old life go and embraced their new one. 2 Cor 5:17 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!


You Must Let The Old Go
Acts 8:21 (NIV) You have no part or share in this ministry, because YOUR HEART is not right before God. When Simon believed, Jesus healed and cleansed his heart. He got a new life; but, Simon didn’t embrace his new life and let his old life go. He received his new life and then tried to hang on to his old life. That is like trying to mix light with darkness. The purpose of light is to drive out darkness; they aren’t compatible with one another. So, when Simon tried to hold on to some of his old methods rather than studying the Bible and receiving Jesus’ teachings, he LOST his relationship with Jesus. Jesus will step back and let you use world methods and human effort to go your own way.


Hold On To The New
Mat 6:24 (NIV) No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Jesus has a grace and gift relationship with you. You may have to use money to establish business relationships with people; but, money, possessions, resources, and accomplishments will not work with Jesus. Simon could have learned that, if he had completely given up his world training and accepted the teaching of Jesus. Salvation is just the door into Christianity. The Bible and Jesus’ teachings are similar to the education you had to get in order to live successfully as a human.


Make A U-Turn
Acts 8:22 (NIV) Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. While you are studying these things with Jesus, you will discover that you are doing things He is against. You will feel a God-given guilt in your emotions; that is the Holy Spirit telling you that you need to REPENT. To repent means to turn around and go in the opposite direction mentally and physically. Your philosophy on the matter has to change; and, your behavior has to change. However, YOU cannot change your philosophy or your behavior. You MUST pray and ask Jesus to forgive you of what you are doing and empower you to change in your philosophies and behavior. Your OLD method was to find out what you did wrong and try to change it. That WILL NOT work in Christianity!


Getting It All Back
Acts 8:23 (NIV) For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” Jesus doesn’t allow mixture; it is an all or nothing relationship. That is what He is saying here in Matthew 6:24 (NIV): “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Simon tried to mix Christianity with sorcery and ended up with his old life back. One minute he was cleansed from all sin and the next he was full of bitterness and captive to sin. BUT, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Just as soon as you realize you have tried to mix the sins of your old life with the righteousness of your new life, if you confess your sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive you your sins and purify you from all unrighteousness.


Get Prayed For; BUT, Pray
Acts 8:24 (NIV) Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” It was good that Simon asked for prayer; but, that isn’t what he was told to do: Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. The instructions Peter gave him was to repent and pray for HIMSELF. People can pray for you and it does help; but, when it comes to your relationship with Jesus, they can’t repent for you. You must repent and pray for yourself; you must invite Jesus into your situation yourself. Repentance plays a very important part in you being helped and healed from you struggles with marriage.


Finding The Right Methods
Jesus had given you a perfect record with God; right now you are in a right relationship with Him. If you make a mistake, sin, fail, do wrong on purpose, or commit a misdeed, if you confess your sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive you your sins and purify you from all unrighteousness.. But, don’t try to use this as a lifestyle. This is only for those who are DESIRING to live the right way. If Simon still DESIRED to mix his old life with his new one and tried to use this confession system to live on the fence, he would automatically get his old life back. BUT, if you sincerely DESIRE to go totally with Jesus and you fail in some way, repent, confess you sin, and Jesus will forgive you and empower you to REMAIN in your new life.







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