FWD: Morning Manna (Feb. 23); BP: Acts 8:5-25; RBTTY: Mk. 4:1-20; Num.

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:21:54 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Feb. 23); BP: Acts 8:5-25; RBTTY: Mk. 4:1-20; Num.
 

February 23                                                                                                “On Repentance and Prayer”

 

“But, Peter said unto him, ‘Your money perish with you because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. . .Repent, therefore, of this, your wickedness, and pray to God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you’.”

                                                                                                                                               Acts 8:20, 22

     Our “pipeline of prayer” will continually be blocked until we confess and repent of our sinfulness.

     Have you ever notice how casually some folks view the things of God?  They wear a cross around their neck while drinking like a fish or engaging in immoral conduct.  Or, consider the person who’s a leader in his church, but feels no conviction or remorse over cheating on his income tax or taking advantage of others in his business.

 

     Likewise, there are those who use “religion” as some type of status symbol, hoping to impress others by their membership in a certain church.  And, there are those who can pray “the prettiest prayers,” but can take God’s Name in vain in a split-second tirade if someone crosses them.

 

     That’s why today’s Manna ought to be required reading for everyone that professes to be a “Pilgrim of the Way.”  Why is that?  Because it’s possible to be a “professor,” but not a “possessor” (Mt. 7:21-23).  And, woe to anyone who thinks he/she can engage in wholesale sin during the week and expect God to hear his/her prayer.

 

     Simon was a sorcerer who lived in the city of Samaria (vv.5, 9).  He’d convinced the people into believing he was “some great one, who had special power from God” (vv.9b, 10-11).  However when Philip came ”preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ” (v.12a), there were many who believed and were baptized (v.12b).

 

     And, one of them was Simon (v.13).

     Although it said “he also believed” (v.13a), his subsequent actions reveal he was either deceitful or deceived.  After his baptism, he followed Philip around “and wondered (Grk. ‘existemi’—‘to be astounded, amazed, astonished, in awe of, etc.’), beholding the miracles and signs which were done” (v.13b).

 

     Then, when Peter and John arrived and realized the folks didn’t understand anything about the Holy Spirit, they “prayed for them and laid hands on them, causing them to receive the Spirit” (vv.14-17).  Amazed at this, Simon offered them money and said, “Give me also this power, that on whomever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit!” (vv.18-19).

 

     It was at this point that Peter rebuked him with today’s Manna. And, we shouldn’t be surprised that he called Simon to repentance and then added, “And pray to God.”  Oh, dear Pilgrim, it’s impossible for the Heavenly Father to hear and answer our prayers when we’re sinning and think nothing of it.  May the Holy Spirit reveal to us today any “hidden sins” that are preventing our prayers from rising above the ceiling.

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