Fan the Flame - A Journey Through ActsSample

Day 18 - Simon the Sorcerer

One of the large expenditure items in our government’s annual budget is Mental Health-related expenses. The need for that is growing, despite the fact that we are a prosperous and peaceful country. Yet, politicians, legislators, sociologists, and practitioners state that the money is not the answer. People need people. Often, the cause of poor mental health is loneliness, not having a friend, not being able to share a burden, and spend quality time with friends and family. In New Testament times, people had many physical and spiritual needs. And hence there were those who were profiteering on peoples’ misery.

In Acts 8:9-25, we meet Simon the Sorcerer, a man who had amazed the people of Samaria with his magic. For a long time, they believed he had divine power, calling him the Great Power of God. But then Philip arrived, preaching the gospel and performing true miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit. The people began to believe in Jesus, and even Simon himself was baptized, following Philip closely, amazed by the real power of God.

Then Peter and John came to Samaria. They laid hands on the new believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. Simon, seeing this incredible gift, thought he could buy it. He approached Peter and John with money, asking them, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit”.

Peter rebuked him sharply: “May your money perish with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!” (Acts 8:20). He warned Simon that his heart was not right before God and urged him to repent. Simon, realizing his grave mistake, asked for prayer so that he might not suffer judgment.

Simon had spent his life using magic to gain influence, but he failed to understand one key truth: God’s power is a gift, not a commodity. It cannot be earned, bought, or controlled. True power comes from God. The Holy Spirit is not a tool for personal gain but a divine presence that transforms hearts and empowers believers for God’s work. Even today, people try to manipulate God’s blessings, whether through money, status, or empty religious acts. But God looks at the heart. He desires surrender, not transactions. There are areas where money can do nothing or very little, so we need God’s supernatural work.

We might need to ask ourselves whether we are seeking God’s gifts for His glory or personal benefit. Do you trust that God does freely give to those who seek Him with a pure heart? And how might we shift from striving for power to surrendering to God’s will?

God’s gifts, including His Spirit, are given by grace. They cannot be bought, but they are freely available to those who come with humility and faith. Let’s pray that we can have the right posture of heart today, so we can receive God’s gifts freely for His glory and fame.

Written by Emil Rahimov