OUR SECRET WAR WITH GOD!

OUR SECRET WAR WITH GOD!

Acts 8:18-23 KJV

18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

          William D. Backus in his book Our Hidden Rift with God suggests that many of our human conflicts are actually a result of a deep animosity toward God. In the portion above a man named Simon saw the evidence of the Holy Spirit and immediately identified it as a marketable commodity. He was willing to pay money to get the “power” because he was certain he could quickly recover his investment by charging customers for the receipt of the Holy Ghost. In fact the merchandising of God is a big business today!

          Simon was unwilling to receive this “power” in the same way Peter received it. He did not want a relationship with God. He wanted a short cut. His focus was on himself because he wanted to be the one to determine who would be able to receive the Holy Spirit. He wanted the power to rest in his own hands. “Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”

Eph 4:17-19 KJV

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

          Wow! These are alienated from the life of God! The word means “to be estranged; to be a non-participant.” So it is with many who are in a church relationship. They are in church but they are not in Christ. Their church fellowship may be fine but they are estranged from God. They are a non-participant!

Dear Lord, let me search my heart so that I do not become estranged from you. AMEN