PRAYER JOURNAL 11/25/19
Acts 8:18-20 And when
Simon saw that through the laying on of the Apostle’s hands the Holy Spirit was
given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, “Give me this power also that anyone
on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your
money perish with you, because you thought the gift of God could be purchased
with money!”
To get an understanding of the working of the Holy Spirit in
the Church, read the Book of Acts. There
were miracles, signs and wonders on a daily basis; people were healed of all
varieties of disease and infirmities, demons were cast out, chains broken and
many delivered from years of torment.
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS NOT CHANGED, God still desires to work through Men and Women, healing, delivering, restoring, and providing through miracles, signs and wonders. No, God has not changed and it would seem that mankind has not changed over the last two thousand years either.
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS NOT CHANGED, God still desires to work through Men and Women, healing, delivering, restoring, and providing through miracles, signs and wonders. No, God has not changed and it would seem that mankind has not changed over the last two thousand years either.
Acts 8 gives an interesting account of a Revival in
Samaria. Philip had preached Jesus and
witnessed many believing and coming forward to be baptized, including one of
the local celebrities, a man named Simon.
Simon was a Sorcerer; through trickery, sleight of hand, and
manipulation, he had gained quite a following, so much so, that his followers
had set him up as the authority in their lives.
As Simon listened to the preaching of Philip and witnessed the Power of the Holy Spirit working miracles, signs and wonders, he was intrigued, here was a Power greater than himself and he came forward to be baptized also.
THEN IT GOT EVEN MORE INTERESTING….
Peter and John came to town to help Philip. Many had been baptized but none had yet
received the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
Simon witnessed an event that he had never been able to pull off, when
the Apostles laid hands on the baptized believers, they received the Holy
Spirit. Now that was just too much…think
of the crowd that would gather if he could do that; the power; the money that
would be his…Simon wanted what the Apostles had and he had the means to acquire
such power. But, what Simon didn’t understand…
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT
FOR SALE!
Yes, Simon believed and was even baptized in the Name of
Jesus, BUT…what was the real root of
Simon’s belief? Rather than recognizing
his sinful state and need for salvation; rather than laying down his life to
follow Jesus, Simon desired the POWER;
the ABILITIES; the MANIFESTATIONS, that came with the Gift
of the Holy Spirit.
Today, we have Prophetic Conferences, Prophecy Crusades and “Glory
Cloud” Revivals to which people flock.
Some are hungry for God, while others are hungry for the show; to see
the miracles, signs and wonders and then there are those who are constantly
seeking for someone to give them a “WORD.”
If you seek, you will find….there are plenty of “Sorcerers” ready to give a “word” to anyone willing to “grease their palm” or shower them with
flattery and set them up as an authority figure to be consulted and obeyed.
Oh these followers are Believers, BUT…in what are they believing?
This is an excerpt from an article by Jennifer LeClaire,
entitled, “This Shocking Prophetic Practice Needs To Stop Right Now.”
“Just recently, a young man is branding himself as a prophet, shared
with me how he had prophesied over a number of people starting a business and
they are wildly successful. That should
have been reward enough, but the young man was complaining that none of them
returned with an offering in hand for his ministry. He told me he felt led to start a consulting
business to prophesy into people’s business for a PRICE.”
Here we have two different situations and God will deal with
both. We have a young man willing to SELL the Gift of God and a following
willing to BUY whatever he is
selling. And God says, “YOUR MONEY
PERISH WITH YOU!”
THE GIFT OF GOD IS NOT FOR SALE!
SAVE YOUR MONEY or even better give it to MISSIONS that are spreading the Gospel in places you can’t go. Get on your knees and ask THE WORD to speak into your life. God is talking, if you will take the time to listen. He has a WORD for your day and a WORD for your future. And you can “take it to the bank”…no sorcery or travel involved; JESUS IS THE REAL DEAL!
