Not To Serve My Desires
Acts 8:13 (ESV) Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
Simon was a former magician who placed his faith in Christ, or so it seemed after Philip the former Deacon turned evangelist came to the Samaritans and preached Christ. It is evident that Simon from the first was one of those people awed by the supernatural. Of course, he was a magician, and carried a notable reputation before Philip arrived.
But Simon is case in point that the supernatural is not something God wants to awe us with. It is to assist in leading people to Christ! When the supernatural supersedes the Gospel, we fall prey to envy, pride, and self-centered "religion." And we need to repent.
Notice what happens after the Apostles come and lay hands on people who receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues...
Acts 8:18–19 (ESV) 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 power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Simon believed in order to be important. Here he is resorting to bribery to be someone important in the eyes of the people. Those obsessed with the supernatural are easy prey to this same kind of attitude. Notice Peter's rebuke...
Acts 8:20–22 (ESV) But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
And then this stinging castigation:
Acts 8:23 (ESV) For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
In the Old Testament, bitterness stemmed from idolatry. This was Simon's main problem. His idol of self-importance and value based on what others thought of him. The Spirit of God will not be the subject of our self-serving plans! Like Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:8 (ESV) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Simon would have done well to remember the first convert in Samaria was a woman who no one thought well of. A five time divorce whose chance encounter with Christ triggered a community revival. Even after they believed, we hear no more of her. She disappears.
Thankfully, we see a humble response from Simon. He asks for prayer and seeks salvation from the curse pronounced by Peter.
PRAYER:
Father, I want Your Spirit not for my glory but for Yours! That Christ may be glorified in my life and through my life. Forgive me for any envy of others. I thank You that You know where I should be and what I should have and do. Make me faithful. Amen.
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