GOD'S GIFTS ARE FREE AND NOT FOR SALE

-
In the Bible Book of Acts of the Apostles, we are told of a man Simon who had once been a sorcerer deceiving the people of his city with his magic but having heard the Gospel preached by Philip, he gave his life to Jesus and was baptized (Acts 8:9-13).

However, Simon was so stunned by the miracles the Apostles performed by the power of God's Holy Spirit that he offered Peter and John money to get the same power to lay hands on believers to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:18-19).

In response to this request, Peter responded in Acts 8:20-22 "May you and your money go to hell, for thinking that that you can buy God's gift with money. You have no part or share in our work, because your heart is not right in God's sight.

Repent, then, of this evil plan of yours, and pray to the Lord that He will forgive you for thinking such a thing as this. For I see that you are full of bitter envy and are a prisoner of sin."

Dear friend, here was a believer who still thought wrong based on his old way of life - he wanted to buy God's free gift with money.

We find so many gullible people these days like Simon the ex-magician being deceived of their monies by fraudsters posing as men and women of God offering prayers in exchange for money.

This is a grave sin against God and whoever is engaged in it claiming to work for God and whoever gives such monies for prayers are both guilty before God.

Let me make it clear here: if a person asks you for money to pray for you, he is not serving God. If you, of your own free will, give money and gifts to your pastor or priest not for prayers but just to appreciate them for their work in God's service, that is a different thing.

However, it is pertinent to note that a believer MUST pay tithes, first fruits and offerings because God has commanded it in support of the work of the Gospel and has promised to bless those who do it (Malachi 3:6-12). Freewill donations in support of the Gospel work are also welcomed because nothing done in God's service is useless (1 Corinthians 15:58).

It is pertinent to note that God's free gifts to mankind such as Prayer, Grace, Mercy, Holy Spirit, Faith, Hope, Charity, Repentance and Salvation are borne out of His immeasurable love because no human being can pay the price our Lord Jesus Christ paid, who as God, left His Glorious Throne in Heaven and came to die such a horrible death on the Cross of Calvary for our sins to open heaven to everyone who qualifies to enter.

This is why our Lord Jesus Christ told His Apostles in Matthew 10:8b "You have received without paying, so give without being paid."

ONLY those who believe and receive Jesus' free gift of genuine Repentance and Salvation and live according to His commands in His Word, the Holy Bible, qualify to enter heaven. It is ABSOLUTELY FREE and can never be bought.

Jesus loves you and I and continues to invite us to accept His invitation before it is too late. Anyone who misses heaven can never miss the ONLY alternative, ETERNAL damnation in hell fire FOREVER AND EVER.

God bless you as you heed His Word today, act on it and share with others in Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen.



Gabriel Ama.

Popular posts from this blog

ARE YOU A STUMBLING BLOCK TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST?

-
Romans 14:12-13 (AMPC)   “ And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in reference to judgment] to God.   13 Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavour never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.”   Dear people of God, a few years ago, we were asked to share invitation flyers to the public in an area where one of our local church parishes was to open newly.   I recall giving one of the flyers to a lady who asked me the name of the church and when I mentioned it, she said “God forbid.” When I asked why she rejected the flyer, she did not respond.   Obviously, some member of the church she knows must have caused her offence and this stirred up hatred in her for the church.   Recently, a friend told me how in his church the pastor made a commitment towards a church project but never fulfilled it.   It ha...
Read more

HOW DO YOU CONTROL VIOLENCE IN PEOPLE?

-
Hebrews 12:14 (AMPC)  “ Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration  and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.”   Dear people of God, I read sometime in December 2019 ago of a police inspector in Nigeria who shot and killed his colleague, a corporal, and the same shot injured another colleague, a deputy Superintendent of police after which the police inspector took his own life.   What could have led to such violence?   I also read of another unfortunate story of a lady killed December 25, 2019, Christmas Day, by her husband who had beaten her to a coma and then ran away after discovering what he had done. The police have since found and arrested him.   Reports have it that the man was fond of beating his late wife at the slightest provocation, which has eventually led to her death in this latest incident.   Again, what could have caused this incessant violence?   Medical experts claim that humans have 2 s...
Read more

GOD CANNOT VIOLATE HIS WORD

-
  Psalm 89:34  “My covenant I will not violate, nor will I alter the utterance of My lips.” Dear people of God, today’s lead Bible text in Psalm 89:34 is a profound statement by God Almighty and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What this statement from God means is that there is nothing He has said in His Word that He will fail to perform. A sensible Christian who understands this will look for what God has said by careful, meditative study of God’s Word found only in the Holy Bible, thank God joyously for it, claim it and God will surely perform what His Word has stated. I make bold to say here that the Christian who does not study the Word of God in the Holy Bible to claim the promises therein is only cheating himself of herself. Jesus Christ in one of His divine visits to late Pastor Kenneth E. Hagin (while alive on earth) told him that there are many Christians who are sincere and living right but they do not get what they ask for in pra...
Read more