Transforming Mindsets: Surrendering to God's Kingdom
Summary
The call today is to cultivate a deep passion for those far from Christ, to pray daily that our lives would be so filled with Jesus that others are drawn to Him. The best is yet to come, both for us individually and as a church, if we keep Jesus at the center. The story from Acts 8 about Simon the sorcerer reminds us that the things of God—His presence, power, and gifts—are not for sale. Spiritual realities cannot be acquired through natural means or human effort; they are freely given by God, but they require our full surrender. Jesus paid the price, but following Him means daily yielding our lives, picking up our cross, and letting go of control.
The early church faced persecution, rejection, and hardship, yet the power of God moved mightily among them. Sometimes, God uses rejection and closed doors to push us into the right direction, just as persecution pushed the disciples out of Jerusalem and into Samaria, fulfilling Jesus’ command to take the gospel to all people. We are reminded that the gospel is for everyone, not just those we prefer or expect. God often calls us to reap where others have sown, and to trust that He can flip any situation, no matter how bound it seems.
Simon’s story is a warning: we cannot bring old mindsets into the new kingdom. He tried to buy spiritual power, bringing his manipulative, transactional thinking into his new faith. But the kingdom of God operates on transformation, not transaction. We must renew our minds daily, letting go of control and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead. Proximity to spiritual things—being in the right place, hearing the right teaching—is not enough if our hearts are not aligned with God. The right attitude and a surrendered spirit matter more than position or access.
We are called to seek transformation, not just outcomes or blessings. The Holy Spirit is not a commodity to be managed or manipulated, but a person to be known and surrendered to. The sacred things of God are not for sale, and treating them as such cheapens our faith. True repentance restores what money and effort cannot buy. Instead of doubling down in pride or control, we are invited to bow down in humility, seeking God’s mercy and transformation. Our lives, our worship, our families, our very identities are not for sale—they belong to Christ, who bought us with His blood. Let us return to the heart of worship, seeking not what God can do for us, but who He can make us to be.
Key Takeaways
- Old Mindsets Cannot Enter the New Kingdom
Transformation in Christ requires more than a change of behavior; it demands a renewal of the mind. Like Simon, we often try to bring our old ways of thinking—control, manipulation, self-reliance—into our walk with God, but the kingdom operates on entirely different principles. Only by daily immersing ourselves in God’s Word and allowing the Spirit to reshape our thinking can we truly experience the fullness of life in Christ. [20:25]
- Surrender Means Giving Up Control
We are naturally inclined to want to control outcomes, even in our spiritual lives, but true surrender means letting God take the wheel. Faith is not trusting in our plans or methods, but in God’s wisdom and timing—even when He works in ways we do not expect or understand. The Holy Spirit is not our assistant; He is our leader, and we must yield our plans, opinions, and control to Him if we want to walk in His power. [27:38]
- The Right Attitude Matters More Than the Right Place
Being in the right environment or having access to spiritual things does not guarantee transformation. Simon was close to the apostles and witnessed miracles, but his heart was not aligned with God. God honors a humble, contrite spirit over mere proximity or position; it is our posture before Him, not our placement, that invites His presence and power into our lives. [31:54]
- Seek Transformation, Not Transaction
God is not interested in deals or bargains; He desires surrendered hearts. When we approach God with a transactional mindset—seeking blessings, gifts, or outcomes—we miss the deeper work of transformation He wants to do in us. The Holy Spirit’s power is not a commodity to be acquired, but the fruit of a life yielded in relationship and devotion to Christ. [36:14]
- Repentance Restores What Money Can’t Buy
When we realize we have tried to buy, control, or manipulate the things of God, the answer is not to try harder, but to repent and surrender. Repentance is the divine reset that reopens the flow of grace and restores what pride and sin have blocked. Instead of doubling down in our own strength, we are called to bow down in humility, trusting that God’s mercy and transformation are freely given to those who seek Him with their whole heart. [46:16]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Praying for Passion and Revival
[02:30] - Declaration of Faith and Scripture Reading
[05:04] - The Things of God Are Not for Sale
[10:07] - Rejection Leads to Right Direction
[13:46] - Jesus Sows Seeds in Samaria
[14:42] - The Harvest Is for Everyone
[17:45] - The Power of the Holy Spirit and Simon’s Error
[20:25] - Old Mindsets in a New Kingdom
[23:17] - Renewing the Mind for Kingdom Living
[26:23] - Surrendering Control to the Holy Spirit
[30:24] - The Importance of Attitude Over Position
[33:48] - Humility and the Right Heart
[36:14] - Transformation vs. Transaction
[39:46] - Treating the Sacred as Sacred
[43:26] - The Cost of the Oil
[46:16] - Repentance and Restoration
[48:13] - Living a Life Not for Sale
[50:07] - Returning to the Heart of Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "It's Not For Sale"
---
### Bible Reading
Acts 8:9-24 (ESV)
But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone 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! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
---
### Observation Questions
1. What was Simon the sorcerer’s background, and how did the people of Samaria view him before Philip arrived? (Acts 8:9-11)
2. After Simon believed and was baptized, what did he do that revealed his old mindset was still at work? (Acts 8:18-19)
3. How did Peter respond to Simon’s offer, and what reason did he give for his rebuke? (Acts 8:20-23)
4. According to the sermon, what is the difference between being in the right place and having the right heart? [31:54]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Simon tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit, even after believing and being baptized? What does this reveal about the challenges of leaving old mindsets behind? [20:25]
2. The sermon says, “The kingdom of God operates on transformation, not transaction.” What does it mean to approach God with a transactional mindset, and why is this a problem? [36:14]
3. Peter tells Simon to repent rather than try harder or offer more. What does this teach us about how God wants us to respond when we realize we are wrong? [46:16]
4. The early church faced persecution and rejection, yet God used these hardships to move them into new places. How might God use closed doors or rejection in our lives to fulfill His purposes? [10:07]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenges us to pray daily for a passion for those far from Christ. Who is one person in your life you can begin praying for this week, and what would it look like to let Jesus shine through you to them? [01:10]
2. Are there any “old mindsets” (like control, manipulation, or self-reliance) that you find yourself bringing into your walk with God? What is one practical step you can take this week to renew your mind in that area? [20:25]
3. The message says, “Surrender means giving up control.” Is there a specific area of your life where you are struggling to let God take the wheel? What would it look like to yield that area to Him? [27:38]
4. Think about your attitude when you come to church or spend time with God. Are you seeking position, blessing, or outcomes—or are you coming with a surrendered heart? How can you shift your posture this week? [31:54]
5. The sermon warns against treating the things of God as if they are “for sale.” Are there ways you have tried to “earn” God’s favor or blessings? How can you move from a transactional relationship with God to a transformational one? [36:14]
6. When you realize you’ve messed up or tried to control things, do you tend to double down or bow down? What would it look like for you to practice true repentance and humility in your current season? [46:16]
7. The pastor said, “Our lives, our worship, our families, our very identities are not for sale—they belong to Christ.” Is there an area of your life where you need to declare, “Not for sale”? What would it mean for you to live that out this week? [48:13]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for surrendered hearts, for the Holy Spirit to transform mindsets, and for boldness to live lives that are “not for sale.”
Devotional
Day 1: The Things of God Are Not for Sale
The gifts, presence, and power of God cannot be bought, earned, or acquired through natural means; they are given freely by grace but require a posture of surrender and a heart fully devoted to Him. Attempting to transact for spiritual things, as Simon the sorcerer did, is not only futile but offensive to God, who desires transformation, not transaction. The true currency of heaven is not money or effort, but a surrendered life—one that is yielded to the Holy Spirit, seeking His presence above all else. Let us remember that the sacred cannot be merchandised, and that the power of God is stewarded by those who have been transformed by surrender, not those who try to purchase it. [05:04]
Acts 8:18-23 (ESV)
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone 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! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
Reflection: In what area of your life have you been trying to “earn” or “buy” God’s favor or power, rather than simply surrendering and seeking Him with a humble heart?
Day 2: Old Mindsets Don’t Work in a New Kingdom
When we come to Christ, we are made new, but our old ways of thinking often linger and can hinder us from experiencing the fullness of God’s kingdom. Like Simon, we may try to bring manipulation, control, or worldly paradigms into our walk with God, but the kingdom requires a renewed mind—a daily transformation by the Word of God. The mindset of the world is self-centered, but the mindset of the kingdom is Christ-centered, marked by humility, service, and surrender. Only by intentionally renewing our minds can we break free from the ruts of old thinking and truly live as heirs with Christ, walking in victory and purpose. [20:25]
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Reflection: What is one old mindset or habit you need to surrender to God today so you can fully embrace the new life and thinking He offers?
Day 3: Give Up Control and Yield to the Spirit
We often try to control outcomes, people, and even God Himself, but true surrender means letting go of our need to manage and manipulate, and instead trusting God’s ways—even when they don’t match our expectations. When we insist on our own plans, we end up stressed, anxious, and frustrated, but when we yield to the Holy Spirit, He leads us into peace, provision, and purpose beyond what we could orchestrate ourselves. God is not looking for co-pilots; He is looking for surrendered vessels who will hoist their sails and move wherever the Spirit leads, trusting Him with the journey and the destination. [27:38]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Reflection: Where in your life are you still holding tightly to control, and what would it look like to practically “hoist your sail” and let the Holy Spirit lead you today?
Day 4: Seek Transformation, Not Transaction
God is not interested in deals or bargains; He desires hearts that are being transformed into the likeness of Christ. When we approach God with a transactional mindset—“If I do this, God will do that”—we miss the deeper work He wants to do in us. True spiritual growth comes from seeking relationship with the Holy Spirit, not just the gifts or outcomes. As we pursue transformation, our lives become a fragrance that impacts everyone around us, and Christ is formed in us, not just for our benefit but for the blessing of others. [37:54]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Reflection: What is one area where you have been seeking a “result” from God instead of inviting Him to transform your heart—how can you shift your focus to relationship and transformation today?
Day 5: Repentance Restores What Money Can’t Buy
Repentance is the divine reset that reopens the flow of grace and restores what pride, sin, and self-effort have blocked. When Simon realized his error, he didn’t try to negotiate or justify—he humbled himself and pleaded for mercy. True repentance is not about doubling down in our own strength, but bowing down in surrender, allowing God to heal, restore, and renew us. There are things in life—intimacy with God, anointing, peace, and purpose—that money and effort can never buy, but repentance and surrender unlock. [46:16]
Psalm 51:16-17 (ESV)
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Reflection: Is there an area where you need to stop “doubling down” and instead “bow down” in repentance before God—what step can you take today to humble yourself and invite His restoration?
Quotes
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jul 15, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?