OzThoughts Friday 14th August 2009.

OzThoughts Friday 14th August 2009.

```````````````````````````````````````````
If you know anyone who may benefit from receiving OzThoughts, please send their email address to OzThoughts at: OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au and an invitation will be sent. This address goes only to the writer and not the whole group. Thank you.
Thanks to those who are sharing OzThoughts with their family and friends.

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Right in the middle of the story of Philip in Acts Chapter 8 is the story of Simon the Sorcerer. We are told that Simon was very popular and was known as the “Great Power”. Now it seems that Simon continued to practice sorcery although he became a Baptised Christian. I notice that Luke as he writes Acts does not comment on this.

However, Luke tells us that when Peter and John come from Jerusalem to investigate this successful Samaritan crusade, they began to pray and teach about the Holy Spirit and many people responded to their ministry.

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John down
15 to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
16 Up to this point they had only been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit hadn't yet fallen on them.
17 Then the apostles laid their hands on them and they did receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8 The Message)

Now Simon was a keen observer of the success and methods of Peter and John. He noted, Luke tells us, that the Holy Spirit was given with the laying on of hands. He approached Peter and asked that they sell him the secret of their success.

18 When Simon saw that the apostles by merely laying on hands conferred the Spirit, he pulled out his money, excited,
19 and said, "Sell me your secret! Show me how you did that! How much do you want? Name your price (Acts 8 The Message)

Peter did not miss Simon for his misguided intent in his reply and Simon seeks to be saved from the wrath his actions caused.

20 Peter said, "To hell with your money! And you along with it. Why, that's unthinkable--trying to buy God's gift!
21 You'll never be part of what God is doing by striking bargains and offering bribes.
22 Change your ways--and now! Ask the Master to forgive you for trying to use God to make money.
23 I can see this is an old habit with you; you reek with money-lust."
24 "Oh!" said Simon, "pray for me! Pray to the Master that nothing like that will ever happen to me!" (Acts 8 The Message)


PRAYER:
Father, forgive me if I ever try to duplicate success of another person’s spiritual ministry by turning to the methods and strategies of men. Help me always to seek the Holy Spirit’s action in me and through my actions for the sake of your Kingdom. Amen.

Kneeling before thee, Lord, I am praying,
Claiming a closer communion with thee,
Longing to sever from selfish ambition;
Break thou each fetter and set my soul free.

Chorus
Into thy hands, Lord, take me and mould me,
E'en as the potter handles the clay;
Make me a vessel fit for thy service;
Cleanse me and fill me, and use me today.

Fruitless has been the way of my choosing;
Now I am leaving the future with thee;
Treading the pathway of joyful obedience,
Lord, see me ready thy servant to be.

Not in my own strength can I accomplish
An thou art planning for me, day by day;
Owning the limit of human endeavor,
Humbly I seek, Lord, the grace to obey.
Author: Jessie Mountain (1895-1981)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 501

```````````````````````````````


Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.

If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).


`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:

SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/




Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au

Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au

OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au