“Jesus Will Set Us Free”

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” Acts 8:18-24

Last Sunday in our sermon series in the book of Acts, we were introduced to Simon the Magician. Simon wanted to buy the ability to give the Holy Spirit. Peter told Simon, “No”. The Holy Spirit is God and God is not for sale. Peter also told Simon that the reason he would make such a perverse request was that his heart was “captive to sin”. Peter then called Simon to repent and seek the Lord’s forgiveness.

All of us struggle with sin. Sometimes we are even held captive to sin. Simon was held captive to the sin of loving money. He wanted to own God in order to make money by conferring the power of God on others. Sometimes we struggle with being held captive to the sins of lust, judgementalism, pride, arrogance, unforgiveness, idolatry, the love of money, and so on.

But there is Good News! Jesus came to set captives free.

Whenever we find ourselves entangled in a sin and unable to escape, there is help. We can follow Peter’s guidance and pray to the Lord. Jesus will set us free from our captivity to whatever sin has overcome us. All we need to do is ask the Lord for help.

The Lord will help us to repent of our sin and experience His forgiveness. The Lord will help us to walk out of our imprisonment to sin and live in the freedom of His grace and forgiveness.

We are never alone as we struggle with sin. Jesus will set us free.

In Christ, 

Pastor David

If you missed this Sunday’s sermon, click here to listen now!