The Anatomy of a God-buyer (When the Heart is not Right)
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- May 10
- 2 min read
Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 10 2025 | Acts 8:18-23
KEY VERSE: “¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹ and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:18-19 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
The English language has coined the word SIMONY, possibly from this biblical incident of Simon trying to trade in the free, gracious gifts of God. The Church must wake up to Simon in all his forms. Peter did the right thing by confronting the sin of Simon right there and then. Peter reached into the spirit of Simon and laid bare his true spiritual state, controlled by a materialistic worldview that thinks spiritual relevance and power can be purchased with money, though he had been born again.
When we try to use money to buy spiritual gifts and positions in the Church or to influence decisions of the Church, it shows that our hearts are not right, and we may not be truly part of God’s movement of the time, even though we may be truly born again. Simony has a close relative called cronyism, and they have two cousins called tribalism and racism. These are sinful attitudes and behaviours that rear their ugly heads wherever God’s Church is, and work through hearts that need some circumcision.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Lay your heart bare before God and find out if there are any seeds of manipulation by money or seeking to control God’s Church with the money that you give to the Church.
PRAYER:
Lord, I reject simony, racism, tribalism, pride, and all behaviours and attitudes that show my heart is not right. Cleanse my heart, O God, and let me be used mightily by you for your glory and honour and for the blessings of your people. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 130: Judges 15 - Samson Defeats the Philistines
DAILY word study: SIMONY
The term Simony comes from Simon Magus in Acts 8. The word entered church vocabulary by the 11th century, derived from Latin simonia and Old French simonie.
Simony refers to the sin of buying or selling spiritual gifts, church offices, or sacred things. Simon thought God’s power could be purchased like merchandise. His heart craved the benefits of the Spirit, not the Spirit Himself.
Reflection
This story presses a hard question: Do you want God or only His gifts? Whenever faith becomes a transaction instead of a surrender, we risk falling into Simon’s trap. See 1 Timothy 6:5–10 for Paul’s strong warnings about treating godliness as a means of gain.
Comments