MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE COMMITTEE

We visited a committee of church leaders in one of the African countries. Our intention was to discuss the possibility of holding a crusade. During the meeting, one of them asked me a strange question saying, "Sir, we want to know if raise offering and sell items".

Now, I wasn't expecting that. I told them I don't raise special offerings in crusade neither do I sell handkerchief, water and tokens in the name of anointing. They were pleased to hear that and they gave me the right hand of fellowship. They asked that question probably because of certain experiences they've had with those who merchandize the anointing.

Simony is the term that comes from Simon Magus, the magician who tried to buy the power to bestow miracles from the Apostles (Acts 8:18).

Simony is the practice of buying or selling of something spiritual or closely connected with the spiritual. Simon Magus thought God's power could be bought with money but he was totally wrong.

Thank God Peter was quick to let him know God's power and anointing can't be bought with paper currency. If Peter was covetous, he could have told Simon Magus to sow into the anointing to attract the anointing as some do today. I see alot of people deceived into Simony today.

Telling someone to sow into the anointing to attract the anointing is fraudulent. It is not different from what Simon Magus attempted to do. Thank God Peter put things straight as a record for this deceived generation that is constantly told to sow into the anointing to attract the anointing.

Spiritual things are priceless and can't be bought with money. The moment you understand this, you'll be free from manipulations. I have read several cases of people who were deceived to sow a seed to attract a particular anointing.

They sold their properties or borrowed. When they didn't get the promised result, they felt deceived. Some returned demanding a refund.

If anointing can be bought with money, only the rich would be anointed.

There are those who will tell unfounded stories about how someone sowed into their lives and got miracle money. Most of these are gimmicks to empty people's pocket. I am not saying God doesn't bless people miraculously but principally, money is made by principle which is why unbelievers can make money without fraud.

Our blessing in Christ is spiritual and the blood of Christ purchased it for us, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ"(Ephesians 1:3).

Beware of merchants on the pulpit. If you have to pay a certain amount to attract a kind of blessing, just know it is not from the throne of grace.

The price for anointing is paid with personal consecration not with human currency.