Jesus, take me into the life of a person who was using witchcraft and magic to run his life. Help me see how he was trying to impress the people around him with his tricks. Then, like me, he found You and started seeing the real, true power. Show me that he became so impressed with You and Your power that, at first, he decided to go Your way. BUT, he didn’t totally give up his old methods, systems, and philosophies. Help me unlearn world training so I can learn how to be healed from my struggles with guilt.

Acts 8:9-11 (NIV) Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. Jesus, help me see that Simon was getting money, posessions, positions, popularity, power, prestige, pleasure, and accomplishments through sorcery. Teach me that sorcery is a process of getting power through Satan. Help me understand that Satan and You are enemies; You came to defeat the works of the devil. Heb 2:14-15 (NIV) Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Acts 8:12-13 (NIV) But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. Jesus, teach me that there is a huge difference in Your motives and the motives of Satan. Teach me that Satan uses bait and traps to try to lure me under his control. But, You are real, true, and honest; You love me and want the very best for me. John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Make it clear to me that one of the major reasons I can’t use human effort and world training in Christianity is because of the power and motives behind them.

Acts 8:14-17 (NIV) When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, teach me that once I am born again by accepting You as my Savior, Lord, and King, the Holy Spirit comes inside me. Make it clear to me that He provides me with direct contact with God so I am able to have a relationship with Him all day long. But, also teach me that there is another aspect of the Holy Spirit that I need to experience.

Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Teach me that at salvation He comes into me; but, through You baptizing me into Him, He comes on me. That is when I get God’s power to live a life that changes me and leads those around me to want what I have. I now ask You to let Your Holy Spirit COME ON me so I can have the power I need to live the victorious Christian life.

Acts 8:18-19 (NIV) When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Jesus, show me that Simon had based his whole life on money and posessions, which is what the world taught me. When he came to You, he was supposed to establish his relationship with You based on gifts. Simon believed in You and was forgiven of all the wrong, bad, and evil things he had done to himself and those around him. BUT, help me see that he didn’t give himself to the study of the Bible and the teachings of Christianity. He accepted the FREE GIFT of salvation; but, he didn’t study and grow in the truths of God. So, he tried to use world training to advance himself in Christianity. Protect me from making that mistake.

Acts 8:20 (NIV) Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could BUY the GIFT of God with money! Jesus, help me be like the other people who were saved and born again. Help me receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit with joy. Help me be like them and receive the power to start living a righteous life. Make me ready to allow the power of the Holy Spirit to transform my behavior so I can be a good example of what Christianity is all about. Help me follow their example and NOT try to mix my old way of life with my new one. Help me let my old life go and embrace my new one. 2 Cor 5:17 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Acts 8:21 (NIV) You have no part or share in this ministry, because YOUR HEART is not right before God. Jesus, teach me that when Simon believed, You healed and cleansed his heart. He got a new life; but, show me that Simon didn’t embrace his new life AND let his old life go. Help me not do like him and receive my new life and then try to hang on to my old life. Teach me that this is like trying to mix light with darkness. The purpose of light is to drive out darkness; they aren’t compatible with one another. So, help me understand that when Simon tried to hold on to some of his old methods rather than studying the Bible and receiving Your teachings, he LOST his relationship with You. Teach me that You will step back and let me use world methods and human effort to go my own way, if I do this. Empower me to never do anything like this.

Mat 6:24 (NIV) No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Jesus, teach me that You have a grace and gift relationship with me. I may have to use money to establish business relationships with people; but, money, possessions, resources, and accomplishments will not work with You. Show me that Simon could have learned that, if he had completely given up his world training and accepted Your teachings. Teach me that salvation is just the door into Christianity. Help me see that the Bible and Your teachings are similar the education I had to get in order to live successfully as a human.

Acts 8:22 (NIV) Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. Jesus, while I am studying these things with You, help me realize that I will discover that I am doing things You are against. I will feel a God-given guilt in my emotions; teach me that this is the Holy Spirit telling me that I need to REPENT. Teach me that to repent means I turn around and go in the opposite direction mentally and physically. Show me that my philosophy on the matter has to change; and, my behavior has to change. However, make it clear to me that I cannot change my philosophy or my behavior. I MUST pray and ask You to forgive me for what I am doing and empower me to change in my philosophies and behavior. Teach me that my OLD method was to find out what I did wrong and try to change it. Help me understand that, that WILL NOT work in Christianity!

Acts 8:23 (NIV) For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” Jesus, teach me that You do not allow mixture; show me that it is an all or nothing relationship. Teach me that, that is what You are saying in Matthew 6:24 (NIV): “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Help me see that Simon tried to mix Christianity with sorcery and ended up with his old life back. One minute he was cleansed from all sin and the next he was full of bitterness and captive to sin. BUT, If I confess my sins, You are faithful and just and will forgive me my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness. Empower me, so that just as soon as I realize I have tried to mix the sins of my old life with the righteousness of my new life, I will realize that if I confess my sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive me my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness.

Acts 8:24 (NIV) Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” Jesus, teach me that it was good that Simon asked for prayer; but, that isn’t what he was told to do: Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Show me that the instructions Peter gave him was to repent and pray for HIMSELF. Teach me that people can pray for me and it does help; but, when it comes to my relationship with You, they can’t repent for me. I must repent and pray for myself; I must invite You into my situation myself. Teach me that repentance plays a very important part in me being helped and healed from my struggles with guilt.

Jesus, make it clear to me the You have given me a perfect record with God; help me understand that right now I am in a right relationship with Him. If I make a mistake, sin, fail, do wrong on purpose, or commit a misdeed, if I confess my sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive me my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness.. But, help me NOT try to use this as a lifestyle. Teach me that this is only for those who are DESIRING to live the right way. If Simon still DESIRED to mix his old life with his new one and tried to use this confession system to live on the fence, he would have automatically got his old life back. BUT, empower me to sincerely DESIRE to go totally with You. And, if I fail in some way, help me to repent, confess my sin, and You will forgive me and empower me to REMAIN in my new life.