Acts 8: 18 “When (the magician) saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. 19 “Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.” 24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
There is a story about a rich man who was obsessed with taking his gold with him to heaven. This man prayed and prayed, and finally, God granted his request. So, the man arrived in heaven, dragging a wagon of gold behind him. Now according to the Bible, the streets of heaven are paved with gold. So, the man reached the pearly gates, and St. Peter allowed him to enter. “But,” St. Peter asked, ” what do you have in the wagon?” “Oh! That’s all my gold,” the man replied. “Gold?” St. Peter asked. “Why did you bother bringing common paving material to heaven?” And the man had no answer.
Philip had preached in this Samaritan city, and Simon the magician had gotten converted – presumably a true change of heart. But Simon had spent years manipulating people by deception. Perhaps Simon had been able to do pseudo miracles by getting power from demons. Now the disciples were demonstrating a kind of power that Simon had never seen before! And Simon reverted to his previous way of thinking and behaving. Perhaps Simon had actually thought about his request quite a bit before he made it. Perhaps Simon had rationalized his request by telling himself that REALLY, he just wanted to help people have a deeper experience of God and to become closer to God. But one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is discernment, and Peter immediately realized Simon’s true motives. Peter refused Simon’s request but also went on to advise Simon that Simon was “poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
Simon was rich and probably influential. One of the striking things about this story is that Peter did not hesitate but instantly refused Simon’s offer to pay for the ability to transfer the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, throughout the history of the church, there have been times when some leaders have been willing to compromise for the sake of money. There is no doubt that an offer of support may initially look quite attractive. And really, all one has to do is just to compromise a tiny bit.
Peter told Simon that Simon’s heart was not right before God and that Simon was poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity. We are not told about the rest of Simon’s history but Simon may have become a magician in the first place because he felt weak and powerless and wanted to get revenge on someone. At any rate, Peter called Simon to repent. Please notice that Peter did NOT say Simon was beyond the reach of the grace of God! Peter seemed fully confident that if Simon would repent and pray, that God would forgive him. Simon, suddenly realizing how badly he had erred, also begged that Peter pray for him as well, indicating that Simon accepted Peter’s warning.
What Simon failed to realize was that his request was actually an impossible one. Nobody, not Peter, not John, not anybody apart from God could give the Holy Spirit. As the third member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is not bounded by either time or space and is not under the control of any man. God gives the Holy Spirit to those whose hearts are pure because they have confessed their sins and have asked for the Holy Spirit. But nobody controls the Holy Spirit.
God is not impressed with money! Psalm 50:10 tells us that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. God spoke the universe out of nothing. God can care for those who love Him.
This morning you may be very worried. The COVID – 19 pandemic is threatening to destroy your means of livelihood and you don’t know how you will feed your family. Take heart! God knows. God sees. And God can still provide. Go to the Lord, ask Him to show you any sin you need to confess, and then tell him your problems. Rest assured, He has the answers.
PRAYER: Father, thank you that you are a good Father and that you love us! Thank you that you give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. And thank you that you are a God of infinite resources. Save us! Defend us! And provide for us! In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen and Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment