Simon Repents of Selfish Power Grab

God's Urgent Call
Calling of Prophets

Called to Break Down Barriers

Acts 8:14-25 Amplified Bible 

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that [the people of] Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 They came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 16 for He had not yet fallen on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus [as His possession]. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them [one by one], and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 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 authority and power too, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your money be destroyed along with you, because you thought you could buy the [free] gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart (motive, purpose) is not right before God. 22 So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are [a]provoked by bitterness and bound by sin.” 24 But Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me both of you, so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me.”
25 So, when Peter and John had given their testimony and preached the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, preaching the good news [about salvation] in many Samaritan villages [along the way].

For Reflection

One cannot buy salvation.  It is a blessing from God, freely given to those who confess to the one true God.

The power to heal is in all of us.  All that is required for us to access such power is to acknowledge your sinfulness, deny sin the power to control your behavior, to love God with all your heart, mind and soul, and to love others as you love yourself.

Pray

Pray that the power of sin will not contaminate your soul.  Pray prayers of confession.  Pray for the courage to deny sin.  Praye for the wisdom to honor God in every action.