In October 2018, I received a certificate for completing a course called The Essential Guide to Healing by Randy Clark and Bill Johnson. The course was hosted at a church in Louis Trichardt. I vaguely remember receiving the certificate. What I don’t remember is the content.
And that speaks volumes.
Over the years, I’ve taken many of these courses—ones on anointing, healing, prophecy, blessing, spiritual impartation. My family and I spent a lot of money. Some of it we paid. Some of it was paid on our behalf. We believed the promises: That these courses could teach us how to walk in the gifts of the Spirit. That if we just followed the teachings of people like Bill Johnson, Randy Clark, or John Paul Jackson, we too could operate in power.
Looking back, it breaks my heart. Because we were chasing something that couldn’t be bought. And God had already spoken clearly about that, if we had just opened our Bibles.
A Biblical Wake-Up Call
The book of Acts gives us a sharp warning through the story of Simon the Sorcerer. He was amazed at the power of the Holy Spirit moving through the apostles, and he wanted that power too. So he did what made sense to him—he offered them money:
“Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:19)
The Apostle Peter’s response was swift and stern:
“May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!” (Acts 8:20)
That rebuke hits deep. And it should.
I wish someone had said those words to me back then. But the truth is, I had the Bible the whole time. The rebuke was already there. I just didn’t read it—and if I did, I didn’t apply it.
The Danger of Spiritual Consumerism
We followed the formulas: Attend the conferences, practise the techniques, go on outreach, give financially. We obeyed the so-called apostles and prophets. We did what they said—and paid what they charged—in hopes of learning to perform miracles, heal the sick, and hear God with clarity.
But the gifts of the Spirit are not commodities. They are not techniques. They are not for sale.
And when you try to buy what God gives freely—or only to those He sovereignly chooses—you don’t walk in power. You walk in deception.
The Bible is not unclear about this. What’s truly needed to live a life pleasing to God is not hidden in a course or locked behind a paywall. It’s already been given:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:16–17)
Scripture is sufficient. You don’t need an impartation. You need truth. You don’t need a prophetic activation. You need the Word. You don’t need a healing course. You need the Gospel.
Wolves in the Marketplace
If someone offers you access to spiritual power—for a fee—run. If they sell miracle training, prophetic guidance, or anointing upgrades, they are not teachers. They are merchants in the temple courts, and Jesus already drove them out once.
God’s gifts are not for sale. And anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to you.
Final Words
We were not meant to live in spiritual confusion, chasing charismatic highs and prophetic promises. We were meant to be grounded in the truth, made complete by the Word of God, and conformed to the image of Christ.
So if you’re tempted by another spiritual workshop, activation school, or power impartation—pause. Open your Bible.
And remember the rebuke Peter gave Simon: “You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.”
Let your heart be right. Let your discernment be sharp. Let your hope be rooted not in man’s promises, but in God’s truth.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God… that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
