If you were to search online for ways to activate prophetic gifts, you would find numerous sites offering e-courses and webinars on how to “activate new levels of the prophetic and prophesy with confidence.” These courses offer insight and training in understanding the prophetic ministry and even receiving an impartation for prophesying. Many of these teachers claim that they can help others unlock their potential to prophesy and to use spiritual gifts. There are even courses available to aid in moving in “authentic modern-day apostolic ministry”. These courses are offered at a monthly price at tens of dollars to yearly courses for hundreds of dollars.

These types of paid services are becoming more prevalent among those who are affiliated with the belief in modern-day apostles and prophets with governing authority. Though it may seem benign to some and even beneficial, this appears akin to the sin of simony, which is associated with Simon Magus in Acts 8. In this account, we find that Philip ministered to the people of Samaria and preached Christ to them, and many of them became converts in the church. One of those converts was Simon the sorcerer who had practiced magic in Samaria and had amazed the people there, being labeled as a man who was called “the Great Power of God.” (Acts 8:10) Simon was among those who believed and was baptized, and he was amazed when he saw the signs and miracles done by Philip.

Acts 8:14 tells us that when the apostles heard what had occurred in Samaria, Peter and John went there so that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit. It was in this act that Simon offered money saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:19) Isn’t it interesting to observe how Simon noted the authority the Apostles of Christ in relation to the Holy Spirit and that he desired that same power? It seems very similar to what we see today in the movement of restoring Apostles and Prophets with governing authority in the church, otherwise known as the New Apostolic Reformation. The desire to have perceived power from the Holy Spirit is alluring to many. Unfortunately, there is a contortion and misinterpretation of His power and what that looks like the in the life of a born-again believer.

Peter’s response to Simon is sobering, “May your silver perish with you, because you supposed you could obtain the gift of God with money!”(Acts 8:20) It would seem to resonate with what is transpiring today in the modern selling of such online courses claiming to activate and impart spiritual gifts to those who desire to have them. Those who would do such things today are arguably engaging in this very same sin of simony recognized by the church. According to Ligonier, “Simon Magus became a great enemy of the church and a forerunner of the arch heresy of Gnosticism.” Peter rebuked Simon further by telling him that he had no part in what they were doing and that his heart was wicked before God. He called him to repentance and to earnestly seek forgiveness from the Lord. However, Simon did not do this and instead, implored Peter to pray for him that the things he said would not happen to him.

The call to repent is the loving yet firm call that we should make to those who practice such things and offer courses for spiritual gifts in exchange for financial gain. There should be a call to repent from such practices. Spiritual gifts are not imparted or activated, and it would seem clear from the text in Acts 8 that receiving the Holy Spirit from the Apostles of Christ during this time in the church was significant and for a specific time in the history of the church. We are reminded in Acts 1:8 that the Apostles of Christ would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. This would take place after the Holy Spirit had come upon them on the day of Pentecost. The account in Acts 8 correlates with the accounts in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost, Acts 10 in the house of Cornelius, and Acts 19 with the followers of John the Baptist. We can appreciate the unity of the church being established, and God used His Apostles and the receiving of the Holy Spirit to confirm this.

The Holy Spirit gives gifts as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11). God does not need people to fine tune another’s gift since He gives gifts without lack and without deficit. The Holy Spirit does not need activation in the life of a born-again believer, let alone with this modern-day version of simony. It is also concerning that divine extrabiblical revelation is being encouraged beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6), which is akin to Gnosticism. Individuals are claiming to provide spiritual services with the end result of activating operations of the prophetic and apostolic in individuals. Where is this practice taught in Scripture? If those who hold to such beliefs claim that the apostolic and prophetic do not hold the same level of authority as those in Scripture, then what purpose do they serve and why do we need them?

For those of us familiar with these beliefs, we recognize that those who espouse to be modern-day apostles and prophets actually do believe that they carry great authority and weight in the church, and the practice they promulgate in providing such services as these affirms this belief. They are attempting to mirror the very thing the Apostles of Christ did as recorded in Scripture as far as operating in the authority of God in others receiving the Holy Spirit and the evidence of specific gifts. We need to be asking if they have such authority to do these things, and if they do, why they are receiving money in return. For those who would give their money to such things and would perhaps read this blog post, I hope you will consider the gravity of such actions and what Scripture has to say on the matter. I hope that you will find contentment in the sufficiency of God’s written Word and in God Himself.

Listen to this episode discussing modern prophetic ministry and the selling of courses in order to activate prophetic gifts: The Lovesick Scribe Podcast: The Modern Prophetic Sin of Simony on Apple Podcasts