Thank God, we too have been equipped with the good news of the gospel, and it’s our responsibility wherever we go. Now these disciples were in Samaria, where there was no dealing between the Jews and the Samaritans, as we heard, and as in the scriptures.

It costs something to be in the kingdom of God and to experience the benefits and the blessings of God. Last week pastor spoke about Zacchaeus, and how incredibly transformed Zacchaeus was because of his encounter with Jesus Christ. Just being in the presence, he was convicted.

He was a rich man, but most of that money he got, because he did not get it in an honorable way, he was willing to share and to give back. As a result of his humility and his repentance, Jesus said to him, this day—he was up in the sycamore tree—He said, come on down. I’m going to your house today. And as a result, salvation came to Zacchaeus’ household, no doubt, it came also not only to him and to his family.

And then Jesus had an encounter with a rich young man, in Matthew 19:16-26 this young man said, good Master, and he looked like he was all in with Jesus, but Jesus tapped his possessions. Jesus told him, you want to come into the kingdom of heaven? Sell all you have. Give it to the poor. But this young man, rather than making that decision, like Zacchaeus did, he went away sorrowful. Why? Because his possessions held him.

So, again, Jesus said in Matthew 19:24, “Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter into the kingdom of God.” Does your money or your possessions have you?

How are you thinking about money? When you hear about money, when you hear about giving, when you hear about a need? How do you feel about your money, whether it’s corporately, whether it’s individually, in the house of God, as when needs are great. The needs are great, we know, but God is not going to ask any of us for anything that He has not already supplied. He gives to us and then gives us the opportunity to sow into the kingdom of God so He can keep on blessing us. So that we can in turn bless the kingdom of God. What is our attitude? We don’t want to have a spirit of, I’m holding on to what I have for a rainy day, whatever.

The word of God lets us know that the people paid attention to Simon the magician because he amazed them. The enemy also has power, right? The enemy also has power as we see in Exodus 7:10-12. You can read it on your own, where Aaron’s rod, when it was cast down, became a serpent. And when the magicians that served Pharaoh, his magicians, cast down their rods, the rod, or the serpent, ate up the other serpents.

What God does can be imitated, but it can’t be duplicated. Can I say that again? What God does can be imitated, but it cannot be duplicated. God is distinct, He’s different, He’s greater, He’s mightier than the enemy.

Philip came with true power, and he received it on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost had come upon them, and they received power to be witnesses, they received power to heal the sick. They received power to raise the dead.

Philip, because of the persecution that came upon the church, wound up going to Samaria, and this power could not be denied.

Simon was among the men and women who heard the gospel, who believed, who were baptized, they saw the miracles, and, you know what, there’s no one that’s too far from God that God cannot draw towards Himself.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s witchcraft or idolatry or perversion or whatever. God can take the most reprobate mind, the most hardened heart, and He has the power to call whoever it is out of darkness into light.

Some of us may have been there ourselves. It doesn’t matter what the sin is. Sin is sin. Romans 3:23 says “the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life.” It doesn’t matter what the sin was.

Sometimes we look down on people, whether they’re half dressed, or whether they’re, half drunk, or snatching somebody’s wife, going with somebody’s husband, and some of us forget. Some of us know what God did, in mercy, He covered our sins.

So let’s not give up on our loved ones. Pastor Rod said, don’t stop praying for your loved ones because the enemy has discouraged some of us because we’ve been praying for a long time, and what do we see?

Let me share something with you. Most of the times, when we have loved ones in sin and we’re praying, we pray fervently, we pray. We are sweating. And sometimes we’re praying for a while, and it looks like they’re just going from bad to worse.

God didn’t give us a set time when He’s going to deliver them. I was thinking about the prodigal son this morning. I don’t believe he turned around in two weeks or two months. It may have been two years. But his mother kept looking for him, kept believing he would come back, and there came a time when he came to his senses.

And we have to believe God. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, that one day our prodigal sons and daughters will come to their senses and come back. Come on, let’s not stop praying. Let’s continue to intercede. The fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous man or woman avails much, God says.

Cultivate a life of prayer. Cultivate a life of intercession. Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” We have to keep on seeking the face of God on behalf of our loved ones.

We need to pray for somebody besides ourselves. It’s not always my prayer request. Pray for me, pray for me. No, let’s sometimes forget about ourselves and pray for somebody else. God turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends. Amen?

So the Jews and the Samaritans didn’t have any dealings with each other. And when Peter and John witnessed them, they received the Holy Ghost. God is no respecter of persons. God can take a prostitute out there, pick them up out of the gutter. They can come out of the bed of fornication and adultery, and what else, and clean them up, and save them, sure enough saved. Many, many, many, many have been saved.

What about the woman caught in adultery? That wasn’t the first one. The men that left and accused her had to walk away with their heads bowed down. Why? Jesus said, Let him that is without sin cast the first stone. And none of them could pick up a stone and stone her. She may have been, by the law, should have been stoned, but not a one of them could have picked up a stone. Why? They were guilty.

So Simon did not understand the cost of the kingdom. You can’t buy salvation. You cannot buy intimacy with God. We all have to put time in with God besides 6a.m. prayer, mind you. You have to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s number one. You have to have intimacy, to fellowship. With who? With Jesus.

Simon wanted the power, but he didn’t want to put the work in. He wanted the connection that comes with intimacy, but he wanted to pay for it. He didn’t want to do anything.

Many of us, see somebody that’s anointed, somebody that’s preaching the word—you want to preach like them. Somebody that’s singing, somebody that’s witnessing—are you willing to put the time in? Are you willing to put the work in and get into the word of God? Pray.

Money is important, Pastor Rod said,but it’s not the most essential thing in your life. Seek first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness, and all the other things will be added.

Everything has a price, but not everything can be bought. You got that? Everything has a price, but not everything can be bought.

Whoever does not bear his own cross and follow the Lord is not worthy of Him. Matthew 10:38. So if any man will be the disciple of Christ, pick up that cross. Deny yourself whatever you need to deny yourself. Let’s follow God.

In the end, God will say, what did you do with my Son? That’s the cost. That’s the real cost. What did you do with the precious blood that was shed for your salvation, for your redemption?

Now unto him, who was able to keep us from stumbling, and or from falling, and present us blameless before His presence with great joy, to the only God, wise God and Savior, be glory and majesty, both now and forever.