FRIDAY - JULY 3

Read. Acts 8:4-25
4 Those who had been scattered moved on, preaching the good news along the way. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria[a] and began to preach Christ to them.6 The crowds were united by what they heard Philip say and the signs they saw him perform, and they gave him their undivided attention. 7 With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many people, and many who were paralyzed or crippled were healed. 8 There was great rejoicing in that city.

9 Before Philip’s arrival, a certain man named Simon had practiced sorcery in that city and baffled the people of Samaria. He claimed to be a great person.10 Everyone, from the least to the greatest, gave him their undivided attention and referred to him as “the power of God called Great.” 11 He had their attention because he had baffled them with sorcery for a long time. 12 After they came to believe Philip, who preached the good news about God’s kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Even Simon himself came to believe and was baptized. Afterward, he became one of Philip’s supporters. As he saw firsthand the signs and great miracles that were happening, he was astonished.

14 When word reached the apostles in Jerusalem that Samaria had accepted God’s word, they commissioned Peter and John to go to Samaria. 15 Peter and John went down to Samaria where they prayed that the new believers would receive the Holy Spirit. (16 This was because the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 So Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 When Simon perceived that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. 19 He said, “Give me this authority too so that anyone on whom I lay my hands will receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 Peter responded, “May your money be condemned to hell along with you because you believed you could buy God’s gift with money! 21 You can have no part or share in God’s word because your heart isn’t right with God. 22 Therefore, change your heart and life! Turn from your wickedness! Plead with the Lord in the hope that your wicked intent can be forgiven, 23 for I see that your bitterness has poisoned you and evil has you in chains.”

24 Simon replied, “All of you, please, plead to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said will happen to me!” 25 After the apostles had testified and proclaimed the Lord’s word, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the good news to many Samaritan villages along the way.

Reflect. Here we begin to read about the ministry of Phillip. Phillip, like Stephen, was one of the seven chosen in Acts 6:1-6 to help provide leadership in the growing Christian community. As Phillip and others spread out from Jerusalem, they take the message of life change in Jesus with them. 

• The power of God is so evident in Phillip that a powerful practitioner of sorcery named Simon came to believe in Jesus and was baptized. 
• When Simon sees the power of the Holy Spirit through Peter and John he asked to pay to receive this same power to share with others. Peter reprimands him and says that wanting to buy God’s gift is a mark of wickedness. Then Simon repents and pleads for forgiveness. 
• Even though Simon had received the faith of Jesus, he still had his sinful nature. Though he was trying to follow Jesus, he did so in an un-Godly way. When you accept faith in Christ, sin still remains. In what ways are you like Simon? How does your sinful nature threaten your closeness to God? Reflect on your sinfulness and the things that keep you disconnected from God and others. Ask God to remove them from your life and heart. 
• Pray. Life-giving Spirit, I search my heart and name my sinfulness before you; forgive me of these ways. Fill me with your Spirit, so that I can be renewed and turn from all sin. Amen

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST

Doug. Bobby. Collier. Glenn. Adam.  Mary.  Clyde.  Linda. Betty Carolyn. Jeff. Albert. Richard. Lois. Ross. Tiny. Donald. Bill. Barbara. Andreas. Helen. Bonnie Brenner. Baker Family. Robert McKenzie Family. Terry Kibler. Carolyn Harlow. Jeremy. Jeff Green. Lyric. Earl Graves. Gail & Mickey Huff