Day 1063: The intent of the heart - Acts 8 vs 18 – 25

18-19 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20-21 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22-23 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” 25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. Acts 8:18-25 English Standard Version

Simon was the man who had amazed the people of Samaria with his magic crafts to the point where they said “this man is the power of God that is called Great!” But he was so deeply impressed by the miracles God did through Philip, and how the new disciples had received the Holy Spirit through the apostles Peter and John, that he offered money to them, and said “give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

I don't hesitate to say that Simon was the forerunner of many who plague the Church even today. Preachers who make a rich living by performances where their hearers are overcome with all sorts of phenomena that go way beyond speaking in a strange tongue. Some bark like dogs or roar like lions, others are overcome in hysterical laughter or fall down as if struck with some sort of paralysis. The common denominator in these preachers is that, like Simon of old, they claim to be great, and they are very wealthy. Yet what was Peter's response to Simon's desire to 'control’ or ‘manipulate' the Holy Spirit? (vs 20-21)

Peter didn't mince his words. There are times when truth must be stated bluntly. The gospel isn’t for sale to the highest bidder. The Holy Spirit isn’t a commodity to market. We are never called to seek personal fame and fortune. The apostle Paul made this clear when he said of himself and his fellow missionaries “We are not like so many others, who handle God's message as if it were cheap merchandise; but because God has sent us, we speak with sincerity in his presence, as servants of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:17 Good News Translation) This is no light matter. Look again at Peter's words in vs 22-23!

He says that Simon's desire revealed the deepest intention of his heart. It's like the warning in the Old Testament about dining with a stingy person. It says: “Don't eat the food of a stingy host . . . for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost. ‘Eat and drink,’ he says to you, but his heart is not with you.” (Proverbs 23:6-7) Think too of what Jesus said of adultery. It's not just the physical act, but “everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)

This is why we need to read and hear God's word. As the writer of Hebrews said: “Let us make every effort to enter (the rest God calls us to) . . . for the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.” Hebrews 4:11-13

See how serious the condition is of anyone who is “in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity”, Peter urged Simon to repent so that 'if possible' the intentions of his heart could be forgiven. If possible! Oh let us not trifle and toy with sin. Let us confess any intentions of our hearts which are far from God's good and perfect will. But let us cling to Jesus' words. After telling the disciples it was easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, they cried out “who then can be saved?” Jesus replied: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26.