Simon the sorcerer attracted people by his street magic. His show brought him popularity and he boasted that he was someone great. When Philip came to Samaria and preached, the people followed him. No one can lead people with some street show and magics.Today or tomorrow they will reach out truth.
Don't try to be great without having a real outlook. Whatever our performance it may be, if don't have a social outlook, people will kick us out. The numbers we performed would be in vain.Without basic life principles, we cannot succeed in any calling . Now we can see that even strong monarchs and autocrats are in the shadow of death threat.
Here, when the new order came, Simon tactfully changed his stand and decided to follow Philip. Philip was not a performer, but what he preached was a doctrine, he motivated people to follow that doctrine, not him. And when Peter and John did something with holy spirit, Simon lost his control and the real person stayed in him came out. He tried to bribe Apostles to get what they had inherited as their spiritual quality and ability.
Don't think that with money everything is possible. Money dominates wherever quality and ability fails. Money cannot make everything. We cannot substitute spiritual qualities with money. Simon convinced that he didn't have such an ability or quality even to follow Philip, then what about became a prominent figure?. So he decided, any way he wanted to become one of the prominent figure among them. Why? The feeling of being inferior among them.That gave birth to bitterness in his mind and that evil drove him to bribe Apostles.
We cannot become some one great with street magic and shows.Such greatness will disappear like morning mist. We need some qualities and abilities produced by our life principles. Those who became greats are not with the power of money. With their qualities. Jesus, Gandhi, Benjamin Franklin...................... then recently passed away genius Steve Job all are examples.
Acts 8: 9-23
Acts 8: 9-23
9Now
for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and
amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,
10and
all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and
exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.”
11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.
12But
when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom
of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and
women.
13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized intoc the name of the Lord Jesus.
17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money
19and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.
23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
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