Acts 13:4-12 Darkness for Children of the Devil

Acts 13:4-12 NIV
Bar-Jesus (Elymas the sorcerer) was spiritually blind. He was a Jew; in spite of the fact that Jews were forbidden to participate in any type of sorcery. Bar-Jesus worked hard at keeping Proconsul Sergius Paulus from accepting the truth about Jesus the Christ that Barnabas and Saul (also called Paul here) proclaimed. Paul confronted the sorcerer; calling him a child of the devil. He cursed Bar-Jesus with physical blindness for a time.

Of all people, Paul would have understood what it meant to have been spiritually blind. For once his eyes were shut to the truth, as well. His spiritual blindness had been healed as God had given  him physical blindness for a time, as well. The scriptures do not say whether Bar-Jesus came to accept the truth about Jesus the Christ. But, his physical blindness due to Paul's confrontation definitely convinced Sergius Paulus of the truthfulness of Paul's proclamation.

The inability to accept spiritual healing and wholeness sometimes leads to physical ailments even today.  It is not all that unusual for the darkness within us to overwhelm our physical beings, as well. When we choose to act like children of the devil, by undermining the Word of God, we should not be surprised when darkness surrounds us, either.

May God grant us healing and wholeness of body, mind and spirit.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 8:4-25 Simon the Sorcerer

Acts 8:4-25 NIV
It takes time to really get to know the LORD. We may hear the message and believe; but, it still takes time to really get to know; to have a relationship, with the LORD. There are many lessons to learn along the way in order to grow in Christ. Some take longer than others to learn the lessons.

Simon, the sorcerer, did not understand fully when he was first baptized. The people thought that he had great power; that is, until Philip came to town. Philip was busy proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Even this sorcerer, Simon, heard Philip, believed and was baptized. Simon was impressed with the great signs and miracles that were performed through Philip.

When Peter and John came to town, they prayed and laid hands on the new believers because they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. In his zeal, Simon wanted this power to lay on hands so that people might receive the Holy Spirit. Whether he wanted it to make himself look good or so that even more people might come to know the Holy Spirit or both, we do not know. It may have been a noble quest or it may have been a self-centered request. A real problem was that Simon thought that he could buy this gift. He did not yet know Jesus enough to know that the gifts that are given us were purchased by His blood. They cannot be bought.

A few years ago, I tried encouraging an elderly woman to return to worship now and then, as she was able. She had no problem getting around; but, no longer drove so I promised to pick her up. She did not want to go. Her response was "I paid my dues." I reminded her that we cannot buy salvation. She was a very lovely woman and it made me very sad to think that her relationship with Jesus all these years had been a relationship built on the law and not the graceful love of God. She, had indeed been very faithful in attendance when she was younger. But, I wondered, had she really heard and understood the message of God's gift of love to her, in His Son, Jesus the Christ. Had she accepted Jesus Christ as her one and only savior?

When Peter and John pointed out Simon's sin in thinking he could purchase God's gifts, it appears that he repented and grew from the lesson, as he asked for prayer. May we all be willing to accept that our works will not purchase for us any of God's gifts. May God help us to, day be day, grow in relationship with Him, our Father, our Savior, our Counselor.

God's Peace - Pr. J.