Siblings, our God will not be mocked! Let us be abundantly clear. Should we have questions about that, let’s consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Acts 8:18-20, 22 NIV
[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!
[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.
Not for Sale: Consequences
Offering to purchase the gifts of God’s Spirit treads very closely to blasphemy. Without a doubt, it grieves God’s Spirit. Ephesians 4:30-32 speaks about grieving God’s Spirit. It is understandable that Simon the Sorcerer thought he could purchase the gifts of God’s Spirit. It’s what he learned with the enemy of our souls, and these were early moments of his conversion. But ignorance is no excuse for the law. This was no exception. Before going further into the application, let’s look inward.
Self-Check
Read Galatians 5:17-21. Have we grieved the Spirit of God with our words, thoughts, or actions? If we even wonder if it’s true, let’s repent right now.
Application
This feels like one of the 3 main temptations that Y’shua faced in the wilderness (see Luke 4). If that was the case, we need to guard against similar temptations in our time. As harsh as it was, I sometimes feel that the immediate response to sin was its own prohibition. For, if left unchallenged, others would feel justified in taking God’s Spirit for granted.
Let’s ask ourselves the question: What would our places of worship be like if we each were punished like that when we grieve God’s Spirit? I am wholly thankful that it isn’t effected like that in our time. But we can not allow that to be our portion. Let’s not be ‘nearer to church and further from God’. Let us guard against our souls perishing, and also against leading others astray.
We ought to realize that the battle between the enemy and God is still being waged on earth. Those of us who are unlearned about the spirit realm need to understand how God operates in our lives through God’s Spirit so that we discern how to respond in similar situations. All our actions must first be filtered by God’s Spirit, lest we respond in the flesh.
Point to Ponder
The enemy of our souls NEVER takes vacation. We ought to always be on our guard, lest we, or those under our spiritual care, fall into temptation.
How might we ensure that new converts are not misled by the enemy?
What measures do we have in place to edify ourselves and others about the schemes of the enemy?
—
May all we seek be found in Christ
