Jun 13 – 2 Samuel 20, 2 Samuel 21 Acts 8:4-40 Proverbs 14:25-35

Acts 8:18-19

Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit lives within us to glorify God, not to glorify us. When we start to get confused about that we run into serious trouble.

In verse 9 we are told Simon was calling himself “great”. In there lies his problem, he was making it all about himself… and about the money. We are not told outright that he was making money from his schemes, but the fact he thought Peter would respond so quickly to a financial incentive shows that money must have been a large part of his thinking.

He believed – that we are told, but he was more taken with the idea of the miraculous than the gospel. Sadly, he’s not the only person ever to make that mistake.

He wanted power and fame… but Peter corrects him and what we see instead is humility and repentance.

Many chase miracles even when their heart is not right. But God is looking at our hearts.

Acts 8:36

And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptised?”

This Ethiopian beloved in Jesus Christ as Lord. He sees the water and is baptised by Phillip.

What prevents me from being baptised?

What qualifications do you need to be baptised? Do yo need to do a foundation course? No. DO you need to have converted at least one sinner? No. Do you need to get good marks of a bible quiz? No. Do you need to regularly attend church for a a good amount of time? No. 

There’s only one qualification, that you’ve been born again. That you’ve received Jesus as Lord. So if you’ve made that decision and you’ve not been baptised…. what are you waiting for?

Prov 14:29

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

There’s another way to stay this. Blowing your top and having a temper is stupid.

Taking your time, having measured response and getting angry in the correct manner at the correct things… is wise.

If you are the sort of person who immediately takes offence and gets furious it not a case of “that’s just the way you are…” no – it’s folly. It’s stupid.

So get some wisdom…. and learn to control your temper.

I’m wondering how many people got angry and offended reading this… calm down… it’s a wise person who takes things calmly and thinks them through first.