Simon the Magician in Samaria in ACTS 8 is saved. He is baptized by Philip, and yet this was not sufficient to move him to renounce to esoteric.
“Then Peter and John laid their hands on them [one by one], and they received the Holy Spirit” (verse 17). As Simon saw the effects of the baptizing with the Holy Spirit he wanted to buy it. He is rebuked by Peter vigorously (verse 20).
And here I want to make some remarks and invite you to comment on it:
Peter asks Simon to repent. But the Magician, instead of repenting and becoming humble, he “delegated” again the prayers for repentance to Peter & John.
Scripture does not continue the story. I think this an invitation for us to reflect on it.
Some thoughts on it:
• Is this not a kind of “intercession” we are often asked for, because some Christian Fellows are too “occupied” (aka “lazy”) to pray for themselves?
• Simon recognized the spiritual authority of Peter and John. However, for personal repentance, you neither need the spiritual authority of another person, nor money, as he thought it might “buy” a solution.
• Peter makes a clear reference to the root cause of his twisted way of thinking and acting: bitterness and bondage to sin. If Simon would proclaim before God that he personally wants to tear out the roots of bitterness, than God would respond. The effect would be that he might have more light, more clarity to do the next step: repent, turn his back to the sin of buying a gift of God through money.
• Is this not a kind of allegory of the status of some Christians around us, who are saved but not motivated, or maybe not warned by their Leaders, to continually sanctify themselves and invite the Holy Spirit to transform them into a more and more accurate image of God of that Christian, as they are an image of God?
• For me this clear statement and warning of Peter is a clear invitation to excellence, as Jesus has taught us in His teachings in the Gospels.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I kindly invite you to “shake” us, to shake everything that can be shaken, and lead us in “the everlasting way”, so that we will be found “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:27). In Jesus holy mighty Name! Amen!
Bible References:
ACTS 8 [AMP]
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this authority and power too, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your money be destroyed along with you, because you thought you could buy the [free] gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart (motive, purpose) is not right before God. 22 So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are [d]provoked by bitterness and bound by sin.”24 But Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me both of you, so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me.”
“Then Peter and John laid their hands on them [one by one], and they received the Holy Spirit” (verse 17). As Simon saw the effects of the baptizing with the Holy Spirit he wanted to buy it. He is rebuked by Peter vigorously (verse 20).
And here I want to make some remarks and invite you to comment on it:
Peter asks Simon to repent. But the Magician, instead of repenting and becoming humble, he “delegated” again the prayers for repentance to Peter & John.
Scripture does not continue the story. I think this an invitation for us to reflect on it.
Some thoughts on it:
• Is this not a kind of “intercession” we are often asked for, because some Christian Fellows are too “occupied” (aka “lazy”) to pray for themselves?
• Simon recognized the spiritual authority of Peter and John. However, for personal repentance, you neither need the spiritual authority of another person, nor money, as he thought it might “buy” a solution.
• Peter makes a clear reference to the root cause of his twisted way of thinking and acting: bitterness and bondage to sin. If Simon would proclaim before God that he personally wants to tear out the roots of bitterness, than God would respond. The effect would be that he might have more light, more clarity to do the next step: repent, turn his back to the sin of buying a gift of God through money.
• Is this not a kind of allegory of the status of some Christians around us, who are saved but not motivated, or maybe not warned by their Leaders, to continually sanctify themselves and invite the Holy Spirit to transform them into a more and more accurate image of God of that Christian, as they are an image of God?
• For me this clear statement and warning of Peter is a clear invitation to excellence, as Jesus has taught us in His teachings in the Gospels.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I kindly invite you to “shake” us, to shake everything that can be shaken, and lead us in “the everlasting way”, so that we will be found “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:27). In Jesus holy mighty Name! Amen!
Bible References:
ACTS 8 [AMP]
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this authority and power too, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your money be destroyed along with you, because you thought you could buy the [free] gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart (motive, purpose) is not right before God. 22 So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are [d]provoked by bitterness and bound by sin.”24 But Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me both of you, so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me.”
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