God's Gift Can't Be Bought

Acts 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

When I read this today, the first thing that came to my mind was, “they scattered once, they aren't doing it again.”

When we face certain circumstances all of us have made the wrong choice at one time or another. Many of us have made wrong choices over and over again. I think this is a great for us to meditate on and learn from the apostles. We need to make the choice to stand for Jesus no matter what the cost. In this country it won't cost us our life (yet), but it can cost us friendships, family, promotions, customers and maybe even a little mocking. Our mind needs to be fixed on Jesus and not on this world; if it is, we will choose righteousness when faced with various circumstances. For example, when our mind is fixed on Jesus we will be sensitive to conversations we shouldn't participate in, movies and shows we shouldn't watch, songs we shouldn't listen to, books and magazines we shouldn't read and so forth.

Act 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

This verse is amazing. Saul didn't care whether he imprisoned and killed men or women; he was going to get them all....and he thought he was doing God's work.

Acts 8:4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

THIS IS GREAT! Even though these people scattered in fear, they were still committed to sharing the Gospel.

Act 8:9-11 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,
10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God."
11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.

The people were deceived in to thinking that this man was of God because he was able to preform signs and wonders. Jesus warns us that in the latter times many will preform signs and wonders, and we are not to be deceived. This is a big reason why we need to know the Word of God. Just as we talked about above, setting our mind on Jesus and preparing our mind for action; we also need to prepare our mind for what is coming as to not be duped.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:
Mat 24:23-26 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
25 See, I have told you beforehand.
26 "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.

Act 8:14-15 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

This is very interesting. We have talked in the last week that there is a difference between receiving the Holy Spirit and being baptized (or filled) with the Holy Spirit. This verse makes it clear that there is a difference between receiving The Word and receiving The Holy Spirit. It reminds me of the parable Jesus shared in 13. If you read the beginning of Matthew 13 Jesus is sharing the parable, here He explains it:

Mat 13:18-23 "Therefore hear the parable of the sower:
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

Here's is one of the scariest exchanges in The Word:
Let's recap. This particular Simon practiced sorcery and people thought he did things in the power of God (he might have thought so too). Phillip preaches the Gospel and Simon believes. HE BELIEVES!! Simon follows Phillip, sees that everyone he lays hands on receives the Holy Spirit and Simon wants to offer him money in exchange for this gift.

Acts 8:20 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!

This reminds me of scientology and paying for “different levels”. Or the works righteousness “religions” out there. Or an abundance of “other gospels” we hear preached. In all cases, they are expecting to receive the gifts of God through another means.

Here's the scariest part. Remember, this guy believed when he heard the Gospel, yet look at what Peter says:

Acts 8:21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.

And what does Peter command him to do?

Acts 8:22-23 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."