Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: BUY - BYE (01/19/23)
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TITLE: What Money Can't Bye | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
01/24/23 -
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Simon, a believer (1), had previously received much attention for his ability to generate supernatural activity via magical arts (2). Following his conversion, Simon was amazed by the miracles performed through Phillip (3).
“Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! But Peter said to him, “MAY YOUR SILVER PERISH WITH YOU, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money (Acts 8: 20 NASB).”
The record of performing supernatural activity with the power of magical arts goes far back into Biblical History.
When Moses’ staff was turned into a serpent in the presence of Pharaoh with the power of God, Egyptian magicians came in and did the same thing using their magical art (4).
These “magicians” did the same thing with some (5), but not all (6), of the other miraculous activity that God performed through Moses during his interaction with Pharaoh.
When the magicians saw that they could not duplicate all the miraculous activity (7) being performed through Moses, they were convinced that God was behind the miracles performed through Moses (8).
They advised Pharaoh accordingly, but Pharaoh, with his ever-hardening heart, was not yet persuaded to release the enslaved people of God.
Human beings have a tendency to have an open ear to the things of God in the midst of crisis, but turn a cold shoulder once the crisis is resolved.
Sorcery, in it’s many forms, for financial gain is nothing new.
Paul had to deal with a girl involved in the sin (9) of fortune telling.
Fortune telling leads to spiritual adultery and idolatry, as it competes for the place of God in the lives of His people.
When the fortune-teller was relieved of her trade, it motivated those who had financially benefited by it, to rise up against Paul, accusing him of stirring up confusion in the city (10).
Producing supernatural activity is among the things that the forces of evil have used, are using, and will use (11), to deceive both unbelievers and Christians that lack discernment.
The devil will gladly prosper and promote any individual, group, or organization, including apostate (12) groups within the Christian Community-at-large, to promote false gospels (means of salvation), false doctrines, and accompanying practices.
. . .
One of Luther’s contentions with the Roman Church of his day was the practice of selling and buying indulgences to secure the release of a departed soul from Purgatory.
For God to require further payment of any kind in any place would be to deny the atoning work that Jesus finished (13) on the cross. He bought our salvation with His shed blood (14), stamping our sin debt paid in full.
Putting enough money in enough hands can “work wonders” here in the devil’s world, but will gain nothing in the Court of Heaven.
. . .
A human body immediately becomes a corpse the moment the soul departs at physical death, ending all opportunity to say goodbye to the departed soul.
A corpse on a deathbed, in a casket, or in a grave can not hear.
The departed soul is no longer present.
Attempting to communicate with departed souls was strictly forbidden (15) during the Old Testament dispensation.
Details of the one séance that was recorded in Scripture, did not bring good news to the one seeking its guidance (16).
The one request, made by a departed soul in Hades to have a message of warning sent to the family members that he had left behind, was denied (17).
There is nothing that can be said or done by clergy or laymen, that can change what a departed soul has already begun to experience in Eternity.
A departed soul can not be prayed out of Hell or into Heaven.
The things of God can not be bought with cash.
Salvation must be secured and our Earthly goodbyes must be expressed before the window of opportunity closes, when the soul departs.
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(1) Acts 8: 13 (2) Acts 8: 9 (3) Acts 8: 13 (4) Exodus 7: 11 (5) Exodus 7: 22 (6) Exodus 8: 18 (7) Exodus 8: 18 (8) Exodus 8: 19 (9) 1Sam. 15: 23 (10) Acts 16: 19, 20 (11) Matt. 24: 24 (12) 1Tim 4: 1/2Tim. 4: 3, 4 (13) John 19: 30 (14) 1Pet. 1: 18, 19 (15) Deut. 18: 11 (16) 1Sam. 28: 19 (17) Luke 16: 27-31
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Good teaching. Thank you.
An insightful commentary.
I speculate as to the judge's interpretation of 'goodbye' being a passable derivation of 'bye'.
I think they will.