Acts 8:14-25

¹⁴ When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. ¹⁵ When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.¹⁷ Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹ and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” ²⁰ Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. ²² Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ²³ For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

²⁴ Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” ²⁵ After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.

Come!

Two men have the same name “Simon” with contrasting personal characters.

One is Simon the Sorcerer who did things inspired of his human desire. The other is Simon Peter who did things inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Simon Peter experienced God’s grace because he was obedient to the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 11:28 the Lord Jesus offered His help to those who have recognized their need. ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

Christ has been given all the power to know that all people need His help. Nothing is hidden from the Lord because He knows everything single need.

But why did Christ promise to give rest only to those who come to Him and not to all?

We can only avail of Lord’s grace when we come to Christ and ask for His help.

Believers know that God will give grace to anyone who approaches to His throne of grace. Yet, many have no intention at all to avail of the abundance of God’s grace, why?

Our human tendency is when we are extremely helpless, that’s when we remember God. More of God’s blessings, one after another, come to us when we seek the Lord’s help.

Not everyone can recognize his/her spiritual helplessness.

Our passage transpires how people respond after hearing the word of God.

¹⁴ When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. ¹⁵ When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.¹⁷ Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

They heard and accepted the word of God but they did not receive the Holy Spirit, why?

The phrase “accepted the word” is more of showing some kind of welcoming reception. They welcomed and not rejected God’s word but did not necessarily put it into practice.

Believers in Samaria showed their interest in God’s word and joined the baptism ceremony. Why did the Samarian believers get baptized but have not received the Holy Spirit?

They believe in the word of God but they did not acknowledge Jesus as Lord. The filling of the Holy Spirit helps the believer to acknowledge Jesus as Lord.

To claim “I believe” is one thing; to be filled with the Holy Spirit is another thing.

The life of Simon the Sorcerer shows how a person can claim he believed but not necessarily filled with the Holy Spirit.

1. Simon the Sorcerer

¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹ and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Simon believed and appreciated the word of God and thought that he can purchase it. Simon the Sorcerer offered money to Peter to teach him the ability to give the Holy Spirit. He thought that having the Holy Spirit is like learning the ability to do sorcery or magic arts.

Those who believed in Samaria were baptized but they didn’t receive the Holy Spirit, why?

One might say, “I thought that once you believe and accept Christ you would instantly receive the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Christ?

Let us not be very quick in assuming that when a person prayed to receive Christ, He has also received the Holy Spirit. Many have compromised and decided to accept God’s word not because they have faith.

Everyone, [genuine believer and pretender] has personal reason of getting baptized. We cannot assume who among the believers have received the Holy Spirit unless we can see the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their life. Even when a believer is actively involved in the ministry, we should not come to a quick conclusion that that believer is a true and genuine believer.

Judas has 3-year discipleship training under Christ but still did not believe. Church history tells us that elected church leaders have acted like the unbelieving Judas. This is why Christ commanded us to go and make “disciples,” not go and make “believers!” The main goal is to “make disciples” and not to be satisfied in just converting believers.

The fruit helps to distinguish a tree; our disciple helps us to distinguish if we are true disciple. Blessed life is experienced by the mature disciples more than the new believers.

On Time

Long time employees receive more benefits than the new employees. Yet not all those long time employees are given opportunities to be promoted, why?

Many employees rush going to work on time and rush going home on time out. They don’t want to be late going to work and they don’t want to be late going home. They ask for grace when they are late but they are very angry when their salary is late.

Only a few would go to work earlier than check in time and go home later than check out time. Few are those who would sacrifice their time for the betterment of the company.

The boss observes his employees dedication and promotes those who have shown dedication.

God is also observing all believers and knows the pretenders and the dedicated ones. It is great to have many believers involved in the church but we cannot deny that there are those who just want to be recognized like Simon the Sorcerer. Simon the Sorcerer believed not because he wanted to become a disciple of Christ but because he wanted to have the miraculous power.

²⁰ Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 

God does not need human’s help to accomplish His purpose but why is it then that we encourage everyone to get involved in the ministry?

When we invite church members to get involved in the ministry, it is an open opportunity for each believer to discern which ministry God has prepared for him/her. Motivation or driving force should be the Holy Spirit and not a desire to be recognized. If the motivation is to show off to others, there will always be frustration or disappointment. When you experience frustration in the ministry, sensitively check your personal motives.

When motivated by the Holy Spirit, like Simon Peter, there is willingness to witness.

2.  Simon Peter

²² Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ²³ For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

²⁴ Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” ²⁵ After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.

The Holy Spirit was mightily at work in Peter’s life and he discerned wickedness and sins.

Check this: You met someone the first time and you sensed if he is friendly or unfriendly. Where did that sense come from; what made you think of your opinion to the person?

When the Holy Spirit is actively at work in your life, you can easily discern if the person is pretending or if he is telling the truth.

Peter, by the help of the Holy Spirit discerned the hypocrisy of Simon the sorcerer. The Holy Spirit in Peter’s life brought fear into the heart of Simon the Sorcerer. The Holy Spirit is very powerful that the Sorcerer was very afraid of what Peter said.

For sure, Peter and John had known that Simon was a powerful person in Samaria. They did not worry if Simon was offended, not worry about what Simon might do to them. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and it was the Holy Spirit who spoke through him.

Simon who was a sorcerer in Samaria was alarmed and asked Peter to pray for him. The Holy Spirit touched the life of Simon the Sorcerer to be afraid of Peter’s word.

The Holy Spirit gives confidence to the believer to speak, to witness before others.

New Believer Prayed

A Bible study leader ended his class by asking the newest believer to close in prayer.

The new believer answered, “I do not know how to pray!”

Anyone can easily assume that, perhaps, the new believer was very much nervous.

The Bible study leader encouraged her to make it simple prayer. Without so much hesitation she started praying and giving thank to God. She thanked God for her opportunity to study God’s word; thanked God for her Bible study leader; she prayed also for her family and friend.

Have you ever prayed in public yet? Do you remember the first time you prayed before many people?

You know that the Holy Spirit is at work in your life when you are given the courage to testify even in saying a prayer before many witnesses.

When the Holy Spirit is at work in the believer’s life, He would give the right words. When the Holy Spirit is at work in our life, there is rejoicing even during difficult times.

When we are frustrated and disappointed during difficult times, for sure we forgot to ask for the help of the Holy Spirit.

Keep asking God’s help and don’t stop asking until your heart is filled with peace and joy.

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