Good morning. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was
bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
saying, give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my
hands may receive the Holy Spirit. It does not say that they spoke with other
tongues, but how else would he know that they had received the Holy Spirit?
Remember that I said he did not ask for the ability to perform miracles which
he saw Philip do; but he is wanting the ability to impart the Holy Spirit with
speaking in tongues. But Peter said to him, may your silver perish with you,
because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no
part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if
possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you
are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity. But Simon
answered and said, pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what
you have said may come upon me. Simon had been the BMOC before Philip came. He
got all of the attention. He wanted that attention back. Christians have to be
careful about that today. Do they want these heavenly abilities so that they
may be glorified, or so that God may be glorified? Father help this to be a
glorious day for the reader. Help him/her to shine with Your love for others.
Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God
Good morning. While Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. Jesus was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men. Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. It doesn’t say, but I assume it is still during this time of the Passover. This man came to Jesus by night. Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do the signs that You do unless God is with him. It just said that the people believed in His name because of the signs He was doing; yet it does not say what those signs were. Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. That is why unbelievers cannot tell what is of the kingdom of God and what is not – they’re not born again. Nicodemus doesn’t have a clue. How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he? Unless one is born of water and the Spirit ...
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