WEDNESDAY March 29, 2023

A Purchase Proposal

And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 8:18-19

Through seeing the apostles laying hands and praying for believers in Samaria, Simon witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit personally. He wanted to purchase the gift of the Holy Spirit. So he decided to offer the apostles money for the power he witnessed, so he could do the same thing for a price. He failed to understand, the Holy Spirit is a Person, and the power of the Holy Spirit was not for purchase.

Now we begin to see the real heart of Simon. He was actually exposing his true heart to the apostles. He was not truly converted––a Christian. All he wanted to do was to make money for himself. This converted power could set him up for life! People would generously pay him for this kind of power.

Money was Judas Iscariot’s downfall. As one of the twelve disciples, he walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry, but what was in his heart? Betrayal! What was the root cause of his rejection of Christ? The Scriptures reveal his heart on this one occasion when Mary of Bethany used expensive oil to anoint Jesus:

But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it (John 12:4-6).

Seriously, not everyone who professes to be a follow of Christ is genuine.

No person, no matter how clever and deceitful, can indefinitely hide a character that is rotten and out of tune with God. John Calvin said, "Nothing is more difficult to counterfeit than virtue." It demands too much. It demands more than any person has in himself, and when God’s divine provision and power are absent the charade cannot last long.
~John MacArthur~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!