Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me” (Acts 8:20-24).

Whatever did Simon say that earned him such a scorching rebuke from Peter?

This week we consider two Scripture passages that remind us that not everything supernatural comes from God.  

The first passage (Acts 8:9-25) tells the story of Philip’s ministry in Samaria.  The second (Acts 16:16-34) recounts Paul’s releasing a slave girl from a demonic spirit that enabled her to foretell the future (and enabled her owner to make serious money).  We visited the Acts 16 passage not all that long ago, so we’ll focus this morning on the passage in Acts 8.

When we talk about living supernaturally, the “supernatural” part often has a lot to do with power:  Power over our circumstances, over our health, the future, malign forces, enemies.  Life really is quite fragile, and anything that might give us a leg up on all the uncertainties and dangers must be worth looking into, right?

Simon is the local “sorcerer” in Samaria.  He apparently had built a nice reputation and life for himself, keeping the locals enthralled by his “magic.”  In other words, if you needed something in your life “fixed,” Simon, for a fee, was your fixer.  Who wouldn’t want access to the powers supposedly “under the control” of the one who styled himself The Great Power?

Scattered by the persecution that broke out in Jerusalem following the martyrdom of Stephen, Philip and some companions go to Samaria, about 50 miles to the north.  Along the way, they share the Good News of Jesus, and the Spirit works through them to heal many and to release many from spiritual oppression of various kinds (see verses 5-7).  Simon is impressed, and perhaps a bit jealous and threatened.  He becomes a believer and is baptized (verse 13).

We can believe, be baptized and still be vulnerable to various kinds of power-seeking deceptions. 

Simon is power-aware and power-hungry.  To him, it doesn’t matter what kind of “power” or where it comes from: power is power and what’s wrong with seeking as much personal power as possible?  When the church leaders from Jerusalem arrive in Samaria, Simon offers them his services and a deal: “I’ve got money.  What’s the price to give me also this ability (power) so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit” (verse 21)?

What Simon wanted was to add one more “power” to his sorcerer’s toolkit, and he was willing to pay good money to get it.  He was happy to “accessorize” his work by buying a bit of that Jesus-and-the-Holy-Spirit mojo.  

Peter is blunt: “To hell with you and your money!” is how The Message puts it.  The power of the Holy Spirit is not for sale and woe to all who imagine they can use their purchasing power to turn God into some kind of personal pet or genie-in-a-bottle.

Interestingly, Acts does not tell us what became of Simon.  Instead, it keeps our eyes on Philip (and Peter, Paul and others), who understands what it means to be empowered by the Spirit to set people free to love and serve Jesus the King.

For free.

The bad supernatural promises us power over; the Spirit promises us power for obedience, service, worship and love. Where are you vulnerable to seeking power over circumstances and difficulties, perhaps even from the bad supernatural?  What kinds of obedience, service, worship or love would you like to receive the Spirit’s power for?  How is the power of the Spirit leading you to pray about this?