Day 33: Philip and Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8: 1-24)
The death of his beloved friend, Stephen, clouded Philip’s thoughts. How he mourned this dear man. Philip had come to know Stephen as they took meals every day to the widows, taking care of their sisters who were alone. “Stephen had such a pure heart. How could they stone him?” Philip lamented in his troubled mind. This one thing he was sure of—these evil men would never be able to stop the spread of the gospel. Stephen’s death served only to make Philip and the other followers even more determined to carry out their individual calls to ministry. The Voice of the Spirit even seemed to be speaking more loudly and clearly.
Hearing that Saul, one of the men who had been present at Stephen’s stoning, was now ravaging the church, Philip was compelled by God to leave and go to Samaria and preach the gospel of salvation. Ministering in the Spirit and by His power, many Samaritans believed and were baptized. One such man was Simon, a former magician who had made great claims about himself in the past. He believed and was baptized when he realized that people were no longer amazed at his magic. How he longed to do the powerful things that Philip was doing, so that the people would be amazed with him again.
When the disciples came from Jerusalem to see what was happening in Samaria, they laid hands on all the new converts, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw this great sign, he came forward seeking what the disciples had. But Simon’s heart was not right with God. It was clearly focused on the wrong things. He did not ask for the Holy Spirit to come to him because he needed the Holy Spirit and desired Him. Instead, his heart was “Simon-centered.” He offered to pay the disciples money if they would give him the gift that they had. Simon was seeking the power of laying his hands on people so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. He was not seeking the Spirit Himself. Simon had believed the gospel message and had been baptized, but his heart had not been resurrected. He was still in bondage to sin and pride.
Do you desire gifts you have not been given because they are more visible to others and seem more important? Are you jealous of those who have what you want? God knows every intention of every heart. What does He see in yours?
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