Let’s learn something very important from the story of “Simon the Sorcerer”. We said that he lived in Samaria, where he was well-regarded by the people who were far from God. Check out the previous message here.

Simon saw the difference between what he did and what Philip, preaching the Gospel in Samaria, did. After that, Peter and John, the apostles, came down from Jerusalem to Samaria so that the people may receive the Holy Spirit.

Simon supposedly also “believed”, but it was with a “faith of demons” (read more about it here), the faith that knows the truth and does not practise. Simon wanted for himself that same fame, power, and renown. Thus, he could continue to be and have what he brought up until that moment in Samaria: social prestige. This reminds me of those people who are looking for a church that accepts their lifestyle. There, they are not challenged to change.

However, Peter and John reprimanded Simon. He wanted to buy what came from God, and the apostles told him what he needed to do to get out of that spiritual condition. Peter’s advice was that Simon should regret thinking about what he was talking about because it showed how much he was lost and far from God.

“Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me” (Acts 8:24). In other words, Simon has already disobeyed what the Holy Spirit, through the apostles, commanded him to do, which was to pray for himself. The Bible teaches us to pray for each other, but in the context that we must have the responsibility and freedom to pray for whoever we want. However, it is a bad habit to ask around for people to pray for you.

The phrase “pray for me” implies the belief that God does not hear you (which is a lie because He hears you) and spiritual laziness (outsourcing your faith, throwing one’s spiritual responsibility on someone). Simon was spiritually deaf. He wanted to throw his problem at Peter.

Do not put your salvation, eternity or life in the hands of another human being. You can access God through the Name of the Lord Jesus, which is available for you to cry out. Perhaps you don’t deserve it, but the distance from the Pastor to the God-Father is the same as anyone: the Name of Jesus. It is not his holiness that will give you access to God; it is the Name of the Lord Jesus.

Be humble, and do not outsource your faith. Get rid of gurus and spiritual guides. God wants you to have a personal relationship with Him. He gave His Son. He paid a high price for it. Don’t give this to anyone.

Meditate on it by following the message in the video above.