777.htm

(Cont. from Page 777 exegesis).

777.

"ARE WE STARTING AGAIN TO
RECOMMEND OURSELVES"?

"Are we starting again to recommend ourselves? Or do we, perhaps, like some men, need letters of recommendation to you or from you?" (2 Cor 3:1).

(1) "This man is the Power of God which can be called Great." (Acts 8:10). This praise was given to a man who exercised an uncanny power, before many people, from the least to the greatest. At that time, the Apostles had dispatched Peter and John to baptized believers in the good news of the Kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, but who had not received Holy Spirit. In verse 17 it says: "Then they went laying their hands upon them, and they began to receive Holy Spirit." On seeing this, Simon offering money said: "Give me also this authority, that anyone upon whom I lay my hands may receive Holy Spirit." Peter rebuked him and said, "You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not straight in the sight of God." (See Acts 8:9 21 NWT).

(2) The force of Holy Spirit that was in evidence among the disciples, and its purpose, was misunderstood by the newly-converted man Simon who had been baptized. Those who are anointed with Holy Spirit have knowledge of their anointing and its purpose. They would not therefore consider it as a power to be controlled, as did Simon, but a force for holiness that impels one. (Rom 6:19. Mark 1:12. 1 John 2:20,21). It is not a power for self glorification from others, but "to be made mighty in the man you are inside with power through His Spirit". (Eph 3:16).

Acts 8:9-21: "Now in the city there was a certain man named Simon, who, prior to this, had been practicing magical arts and amazing the nation of Samaria, saying he himself was somebody great. And all of them, from the least to the greatest, would pay attention to him and say: "This man is the Power of God, which can be called Great." So they would pay attention to him because of his having amazed them for quite a while by his magical arts. But when they believed Philip, who was declaring the good news of the Kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, they proceeded to be baptized, both men and women. Simon himself also became a believer, and, after being baptized, he was in constant attendance upon Philip; and he was amazed at beholding great signs and powerful works taking place.

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the Word of God, they dispatched Peter and John to them; and these went down and prayed for them to get Holy Spirit. For it had not yet fallen upon any one of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they went laying their hands upon them, and they began to receive Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the hands of the apostles the Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying: "Give me also this authority, that anyone upon whom I lay my hands may receive Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him: "May your silver perish with you, because you thought through money to get possession of the free gift of God. You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not straight in the sight of God."

"I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh: for even as you presented your members as slaves to uncleanness and lawlessness with lawlessness in view, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness with holiness in view." (Romans 6:19).

"And you have an anointing from the Holy One; all of you have knowledge. I write you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie originates with the truth." (1 John 2:20,21).

(1) & (2): What kind of authority was Simon seeking, and why was it refused him?

(Cont. on Page 778).

14/12/76.