Simon the magician had a large following. From what we can tell he really liked the attention. Acts 8:9-24 tells us that Simon had been practicing magic in Samaria and that he had amazed many people with the things he had done. The people said that he had the power of God and Simon himself boasted that he was someone great.

Philip came to the people in Samaria and preached Jesus Christ to them. Many of them believed including Simon. Back in Jerusalem the apostles heard about what happened in Samaria. They sent Peter and John to go and pray for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. Peter and John laid their hands on the people and they received the Holy Spirit.

When Simon saw that the power of the Spirit was given through the laying on of hands he started thinking. The next few actions show us what is in his heart. We already know that he is boastful and likes the attention of the people. He is used to having all of the people call him great and say that he has the power of God. Now he sees the real power of God and what does he do? He asks the apostles if he can pay them money to receive the ability to lay his hands on people to give them the Holy Spirit.

Peter answers him with a very direct blunt response. He tells him that his heart is not right before God. Simon is asking for this power from God for all the wrong reasons, with all the wrong motives.

We don’t see people offering money today to receive power from God but we do see people approaching God with all the wrong motives. People seeking power or significance through gifts of the Spirit are misdirected. God does not give out gifts of the Spirit for our glory, He gives them out for His glory. When we are praying and seeking more from God we must come with a clean heart full of pure motives. Stripped away of any selfish ambition or vein conceit.

God see’s clearly into our hearts. He knows our true motives. He doesn’t ignore that small sin that we will not address or let go of. We must come before The Lord with a clean heart and pure motives when we are asking for more of Him, His power or His Holy Spirit.