Simon Wants to Buy Power

October 21, 2012 Background Scripture: Acts 8:2 – 25 Lesson Passage: Acts 8:9 – 25 It appears to me that many people today have an insatiable appetite for power. In other words, they want to be the one person who has the final say in a multitude of situations. On the other hand, a brief conversation with some of them will quickly reveal that they have no knowledge of the very power they are hoping to obtain. How dangerous the thought that someone would be allowed the privilege of controlling something but have no desire to be held accountable for the consequences of the decisions they make. This should sound, at least, vaguely familiar to anyone who has ever had the privilege(?) of raising teenagers. Privilege without responsibility is reckless power that is bound to hurt some innocent person sooner or later. This inordinate desire for power is not restricted to the secular world. Too often it finds its way into the religious community. There it can fester and transform into cults and various other sects that spin off from the mainstream faith. When we hear or read about these situations after they go bad, we often ask, How could people be so gullible to follow such nonsense? The answer can be complex but no doubt some of the individuals had the same thirst for power as the leader of those groups. It behooves us to take a very close look at the lesson for today. After Stephen was martyred and laid to rest, the second of the seven men that were set aside by the Jerusalem congregation and ordained by the apostles to serve the church began his ministry of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and working miracles. This man was Philip and his ministry took place in the city of Samaria. Meanwhile, there was a man in Samaria who had deceived the people there into believing that he was a man of God. This man’s name was Simon. Simon had used sorcery—or magic—to convince the people that he was endowed by God with special powers. Apparently his deception worked since the bible says that the people of Samaria both small and great believed that Simon was indeed a man sent from God and endowed with power. The bible goes on to say that Simon had tricked the people for a very long time. When Philip showed up preaching the gospel and working miracles by the power of the Holy Ghost, the people believed the preaching and were baptized in the name of Jesus—as was Simon. Whether the people understood the difference between the sorcery of Simon and the miracles of God by Philip we do not know. The fact that Simon was baptized is at least an indication that he knew the difference. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard what was going on in Samaria, they went there and prayed for the people and laid their hands on them and they received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. This got Simon’s attention. Simon greatly desired the ability to lay hands on people and they subsequently be baptized in the Holy Ghost. He offered the apostles money to give him this power. Peter soundly rebuked him and explained that the gift of God is not for sale. Also implied in Peter’s response is that the working of the gift requires a heart that is right in God’s sight. This is a heart of faith and prayer. This is a heart that looks to God for directions as to when and how to use the gift. No amount of money could take the place of a righteous heart. God was not seeking individuals to receive the gift and use it at their own discretion but those who would yield to Him. This type of heart places responsibility ahead of power. Robert C. Hudson October 10, 2012