MONEY CANNOT BUY THE GIFTS OF GOD

PROCLAMATION

“When Simon saw that The Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, ‘Give me also this ability to that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive The Holy Spirit.’  Peter answered: ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!’ ”  Acts 8:18-20 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were 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 give them 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. (Acts 8:18-23)

 

APPLICATION

Simon did not want the 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)  Unfortunately there are people in the church today who are like Simon.  They claim to believe and have been baptized but their heart is not right.  Some people think that they can get whatever they want with money.  People like that hurt the church from the inside.  The love of money can control and ruin a person. (1 Timothy 6:10)  Remember, Judas was an insider when he betrayed Jesus, The Christ, for money. (Matthew 27:3)  We need to make sure that our service for The Lord God is not for personal or financial gain.  Our service should be done because we love of God and want to glorify Him.

 

MONEY CANNOT BUY THE GIFTS OF GOD

Proclamation:

“When Simon saw that The Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, ‘Give me also this ability to that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive The Holy Spirit.’  Peter answered: ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!’”  Acts 8:18-20 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were 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 give them 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. (Acts 8:18-23)

Application:

Simon did not want the 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)  Unfortunately there are people in the church today who are like Simon, they claim to believe and have been baptized but their heart is not right.  Some people think that they can get whatever they want with money.  These kind of people hurt the church from the inside.  The love of money can control and ruin a person. (1 Timothy 6:10)  Remember, Judas was an insider when he betrayed Jesus, The Christ, for money. (Matthew 27:3)  We need to make sure that our service for The Lord God is not for personal or financial gain, but is for the love of God and for His glory.

MONEY CAN'T BUY THIS

Proclamation:

“When Simon saw that The Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said ‘Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive The Holy Spirit.’  Peter answered: ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!’”  Acts 8:18-20

Explanation:

These words were recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent traveling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Simon was a well-known user of sorcery and when he saw what the apostles could do, he also wanted that power.  However, when Peter pointed out the sin in his heart and told him to repent, there is no record that he repented of his sin.  He just asked Peter to pray that he would not have to pay the consequences for his sin. (Acts 8:24)

Application:

Unfortunately there are people who join the church for the wrong reasons.  They join because of what they see and they are seeking personal glory.  Some join the church because they want to avoid the consequences of their sins and to avoid going to hell.  They do not truly believe The Word of God and their thoughts, words and actions reflect their unbelief.  We all commit sins daily, consciously and unconsciously, intentionally and unintentionally. (1 John 5:17)  If what we think, say, or do does not give God glory then it is a sin.  We should all pray and ask The Lord God to forgive us for our sinful thoughts, words, and actions.  As believers, we will be forgiven of our sins if we ask Him. (1 John 1:9)  However, the ungodly non-believers will not survive the judgment of The Lord. (Psalm 1:5-6)  Those who do not believe are lost in their sins and they will spend eternity in the fire of hell. (Revelation 20:15)  Salvation cannot be bought with money, or with anything else.  It is a gift from God and by the grace of God to those who believe. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  If we are to spend eternity with The Lord God in heaven, we need to make sure that our name is recorded in The Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:27)