Scripture:
Acts 8:14-23 NKJV
[14] Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, [15] who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. [16] For as yet, He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [17] Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. [18] And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, [19] saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” [20] But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! [21] You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. [22] Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. [23] For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
Observation:
The Book of Acts contained some of my favorite portions of scripture. I’m not sure how many times I have been brought to chapter 2 or 3 by the Holy Spirit to write about. Bit this morning, chapter 8 was brought to my attention. It was brought to the attention of Peter and John that the gospel was spreading all over it had found its way from the hill of Golgotha to Samaria. So Peter and John were sent to see how this took place and what they could do to help. When they had gotten there, they found that yes, they had heard the gospel, but no one knew anything about the Holy Spirit. One of the very promises of Jesus when HE had ascended to heaven. The Samaritan had been baptized but only in the name of the LORD. So Peter and John began to pray for them that the Holy Spirit would fall on them and the would receive it. Laying their hands in them and praying, that’s exactly what happened. But not everyone who was there had confessed Jesus to be their LORD and SAVIOR. A man standing in the background named Simon, who had practiced sorcery, saw that the Holy Spirit was received by the laying on of hand, took it as some kind of parlor trick, and thought that he could pay Peter and John to teach him how to give people the Holy Spirit. Simon’s motivation was not the gospel. He wanted people to think that he was someone special. In a sense, he wanted to elevate himself, and he saw the Holy Spirit as a way to do so. However, Peter saw through all that and rebuked him, saying, ” Your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of the Holy Spirit could be purchased with money.” It was easy for Peter and John to see that Simon’s heart was not right with the LORD. The offer of money to receive the free blood bought gift was the tell-all for Simon. It was easy to see what he had asked got under Peter’s skin just a little bit because Peter’s response was pretty sharp and to the point. Peter was well aware of what it had cost and the purpose behind the canceled debt to receive the blood bought gift of the Holy Spirit, and money was not the answer. His sharp rebuke got Simon’s attention, but the damage had already been done as Peter continued his words of observation, saying that it was clear that Simon had not surrendered to Jesus as LORD and SAVIOR telling him to repent and ask the LORD to forgive him. Peter went one step further just like he always does by calling out the bitterness and iniquity that was in Simon.
Application:
When you surrender to Christ, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit. It’s like GOD’S stamp of approval. It can’t be received any other way. You can’t do enough ministry to receive you can’t read enough literature to receive it and your sure don’t have enough money to buy it. It’s just not for sale. Although Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. The only way you will receive HIM is to surrender. There is no other way. I remember when I was a kid. My dad and mom used to send me to church on the bus so that they could stay behind and do whatever parents do that don’t have kids in the house for 2 or 3 hr. After Sunday school, we would go to the Sanctuary and fall asleep listing to the Baptist preacher speak the word of GOD to his hearts content. But what I recall most of all is that in that church, there were some people who seemed to have a glow about them. It was as if they had a light that shined around them that I could see as a child. Now I have to explain it was not everyone in the church, but it was a select few. Not only did they have this glow, but they acted differently. They were full of joy, and they seemed to draw people to them. It was very intriguing. In fact, it became so appealing to me that later on in life, as I figured out that it was the presence of the Holy Spirit. It became something that I desired. But as a child, I was not ready to give my life to Christ. I saw church as the boring babysitter for Sunday morning. It wasn’t until I was truly broken that I remembered the glow those individuals had, and even then, I was still completely unaware that it was the presence of the Holy Spirit in their life. All I knew is I wanted what they had. The day I surrendered, I felt it for the first time. A peace came over me that I could not explain. It was just like GOD had wrapped HIS arms around me and said I got you. It’s OK, let go. It was like no high I had ever experienced. I had been able to obtain money and drugs and things, but that feeling of peace could not be bought. Now, to be honest, I never want to let it go. It’s a blood bought gift. No amount of money can purchase it. My favorite pass time has gone from seeing how bad I can destroy my life to watching the Holy Spirit cone to life in others. I get joy out of watching men and women surrender to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. I can see why Simon was so interested. He just didn’t realize it’s a free blood bought gift. You have to just receive it, no amount of money can purchase it.
Prayer:
Father, from the very beginning of time, you had a plan. A plan to reconnect man to you. You knew it all along that we would need a helper. You knew that we could not do this alone. You made the statement in Genesis, and you made a way to dwell inside of us. Sending your son to pay the price for our sins, you then sent a councilor an advocate someone to guide us. A part of you. Now buy your grace the same Spirit that rose your son from the dead lives inside of us. HE has taken up residents in us. Thank you, Father, for the Holy Spirit. All we can ask this morning is that we be so full of the Holy Spirit that there is no room for anything else. Fill our cups to overflowing. We want everything we do and save to make it evident that we have been in your presence. Give us fresh anointing. We know that it costs you everything to give us something that money can’t buy. May we receive it with gladness. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.