Buying Blessings?

Acts 8

17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

i have to wonder if some of the prosperity preachers are not guilty or nigh guilty of a Simon spirit? As much as they preach about giving money in order to receive the blessing of God, which in these days is administered and dispensed by the Holy Spirit, does that not seem like they are having people buy the power of God or the blessings of the Spirit? "If you want God to move in your life, invest your seed money into this ministry and the Spirit will be released unto you." Selling the blessing of God ought to be as bad as trying to buy the power to be able to give the Holy Spirit to someone.

I watched a video that was given to me about some people who just walked the streets of various places and healed people randomly and freely. There was never any mention of money and the one guy told an atheist that he was healing by the power of Jesus and not his power so the atheist could be as unbelieving as he wanted to be. Jesus would heal him because He loved him, atheist or not.

You may not agree with the theology, but you have to admire the method. No planned big crowds, no pleas for money, just healing people for nothing but the love of Christ. Note also how many healers will blame the person they are trying to heal for not having enough faith for it to happen if it fails. Tell that to the lame man in Acts 3 who was looking for a hand out and got a hand up and was healed.

I admire the guy who told the atheist to just keep on being one because God will do what He does by His power what He wants to do. If it failed, it would not be the atheist's fault. That takes boldness and faith to accept the accountability rather placing blame on the atheist or even worse on God.

Yes, I know ministries need money to operate, but I also know George Mueller operated an orphanage by faith for many years. He never told anyone, but God, about what was needed. God provided many wonderful miracles and the kids never lacked for anything that was needed. They once had an empty cupboard and empty bowls but Bro Mueller had them sit down and thank God for their breakfast. At the end of the prayer a knock was heard and it was a man whose wagon had broken down and he offered them milk and flour. The kids ate a good breakfast.

If God can do things like that for Bro. Mueller for years, He can do that for these big ministries if they are ordained of Him and not by some man or group. He can also do it for small ministries and you. If He is not providing then possibly folks are not listening to His guiding voice.

So, don't try and buy a blessing lottery ticket by listening to those hawking such things. Besides, some of these guys could downsize their house or sell their jet to pay for whatever they are asking you to give in faith to achieve.

Want God's blessing? Have faith and be faithful and He will give His child what that child needs. God's blessings are not bought by seed money, candles, shower caps with hand prints, rituals or whatever else. God's blessings flow to those who are His in a love relationship with Him by receiving the gift of salvation by trusting in Jesus' sacrifice for their sins on the Cross. He proved that He paid the debt by His resurrection. He could only do that because He was the Son of God in the flesh. The pure died for the impure, the innocent for the guilty, the sinless for the sinner. Call out to Him for that gift and then watch for His blessings.

Shalom! Maranatha!!