Is the Spirit of God a product up for purchase if only you will make the right sacrificial transaction? According to Is Not Satire, some charismatic leaders think so. Get a load of this:
Jennifer LeClaire and Jeremy Gibson are helping to bring the mentality of Simon the sorcerer from Acts 8 right into the 21st century church.
In Acts 8 Simon the sorcerer acted like the work of the Holy Spirit was something he could own and control if only paid the right price. Peter rebuked him, and informed Simon that his heart was not in the right place.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” (ESV)
Jennifer LeClaire and Jeremy Gibson have the same mentality about the work of the Holy Spirit. They treat the Holy Spirit’s activity and anointing like a possession to be owned, or a good to be obtained if only you will pay a price. Here are two recent Facebook posts.