Repentance (Acts 8)
· 19.06.2023 · 19:16:38 ··· ··· Monday ·· 1 (1)
Knox Church Waterdown In Acts 8 we find the story of Simon the Sorcerer. Simon practiced sorcery in Samaria. He amazed those from all walks of life. They gave him their attention and followed him. Simon boasted that he was someone great. Philip comes to Samaria and starts to preach the gospel of Jesus. People believe and begin to get baptized, including Simon. Simon follows Philip everywhere and is astonished by the signs and miracles he sees. Peter and John come to Samaria to see the new believers. When they arrive they lay their hands on these new believers and pray that they receive the Holy Spirit, which they do. When Simon sees this he offers Peter money to also receive the Holy Spirit. He wants this power. Peter says, "May your money perish with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money. You have no part in this ministry because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord that He would forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." Simon responds, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me." Simon's story gives us a good opportunity to look at repentance. We need a better understanding of what repentance means. At the end of the day Simon never really changes. He is only in it for himself. He doesn't allow the gospel to change the way he thinks about power and authority or the role it plays in his life. He just incorporates Jesus into everything he has been doing before, without any change. Repentance is allowing God to change your mind/heart on many different topics over and over again AND then to allow Him to change your walk. A change in your mind must lead to action, living in a different way. What do you expect to get out of your relationship with God? Yes, He is our Rescuer/Saviour, but if it ends there we can still be the most important person in our own lives. We must surrender our whole lives to Jesus. What would happen if you allowed Jesus to not only be your Saviour, but the King of your life as well?!
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