MONEY CANNOT BUY THE GIFTS OF GOD

PROCLAMATION

“And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands The Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, may receive The Holy Ghost.’  But Peter said unto him, ‘Thy money perish with thee, because thou thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.’ ”  Acts 8:18-20 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the acts of the apostles of Jesus, The Christ, as written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke records that on the day that Stephen was stoned to death, a great persecution of believers began in Jerusalem.  Saul began to destroy the church putting believers in prison. (Acts 8:1-3)  The disciples, except for the twelve apostles, scattered throughout Judea and Samaria but they preached the gospel wherever they went. (Acts 8:4-7)  In Samaria a man named Simon, who practiced sorcery, heard the gospel, believed, was baptized, and began to follow Philip wherever he went. (Acts 8:9-13)  When Simon saw that the apostles could lay their hands on people and they would receive The Holy Spirit, he offered them money to give him that ability.  Peter told him that he had no part in their ministry because his heart was not right.  He needed to repent of his wickedness and pray to be forgiven. Then Simon asked Peter to pray for him. (Acts 8:18-24)  Afterwards, the angel of The Lord spoke to Philip and told him to go south, on the road which leads from Jerusalem to Gaza.  On the way he met an Ethiopian eunuch who was sitting in his chariot reading the scriptures from the prophet Isaiah.  Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading. (Acts 8:26-30)  The eunuch said, “How can I , unless someone explains it to me?”  Then Philip got into the chariot and explained the scriptures to him.  As they travelled, they came to a large body of water and the eunuch asked what prevented him from being baptized.  They stopped, Philip baptized him, and as they came up out of the water, The Holy Spirit took Philip away. (Acts 8:30-40)

 

APPLICATION

Simon, who considered himself to be someone great, (Acts 8:9) did not want to buy ability to heal others, he wanted the power to give others the ability to heal.  This causes his motives to be questioned.  The gifts of God cannot be bought nor earned.  The Lord God gives them to us, or to whomever He chooses, based upon our ability to handle them. (Matthew 25:15)  Some people think that they can get whatever they want with money.  The love of money can control and ruin a person. (1 Timothy 6:10)  Our service for The Lord God is not for our personal or financial gain.  Our service should be done because we love of God and want to glorify Him.