Be Not Afraid - Spiritual Fraud

It isn’t difficult to misuse the Gospel for our own liking. We like to sprinkle Jesus on the things and thoughts we like, rather than let him change us. As we look at Simon the Magician in Acts 8:9-24, we see that the same temptation that overcame him is real for us. Simon wanted the Holy Spirit in order to perform miraculous signs, and presumably remain held in high regard. Yet Peter condemns him for this attitude and allows him to repent.