Jesus, as I look at a person that is qualified to You; but, they don’t sound qualified to me, help me understand why. Help me not be one of those who are trying to understand the things of God with my inadequate brain; and, help me lead others away from it as well.

Jesus, when I come to people, help me not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaim to them the testimony about God. Help me resolve to know nothing while I am with them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Let me come to them in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. Let my message and my preaching not be with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that their faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power (1 Cor 2:1-5).

Jesus, since faith comes from hearing the message, help me use it to help people be born again. And since the message is heard through the word of Christ, help me know what Your words are for each person (Rom 10:17). Since people can’t believe in You on a spiritual level through human reasoning, help me present a message that builds faith in them. Jesus, when I come to people, help me not come with eloquence or superior wisdom.

Since it is true that the moment a person believes because they are convinced by human reasoning, is the moment they make a mental accent to the things of God, teach me how to present Your message through spiritual power. The thing that is wrong with trying to understand the good news message through reasoning is, it won’t last. When a person sees some aspect of Christianity that appeals to their brain, they come because it makes sense to them at the moment; and, as long as it makes sense to them, they continue to head in that direction by means of their own power. Let me help people have a lasting relationship with You.

Jesus, help me put on my shoes of the gospel of peace in such a way that I can see whether or not a person is ready to hear Your message. Since the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor 2:14), I want to be led to the right people. Then, once You lead me to them, help me not use eloquence or superior wisdom to convince a person to become a Christian. If I do, they will come to You for their own reasons and those reasons will not head them in the right direction. They will want to come to You without being WILLING to be changed from the inside out. 2 Cor 5:17 (NIV) Therefore, IF anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Instead of the new birth happening to them, they will be the same old person trying new things.

Jesus, when I come across people like Simon the sorcer who for some time have practiced sorcery and amazed people, when they have been filled with pride as they boast that they are someone great, and all the people, both high and low, give them their attention and exclaim that they are some kind of divine power, help me know how to help them. When people are following these kinds of people because they have amazed them for a long time with their magic, empower me to lead them out of it.

Jesus, when people believe me as I preach the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, and they are baptized, both men and women, help me take special notice of people like Simon. When people like Simon believe and are baptized, help me not think it is a finished work in them. When I see them following me everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles they see, help me take note of it (Acts 8:9-13).

Jesus, it sounded like Simon had been born again. He believed and was baptized as if he were really wanting to become a transformed person. Even when someone like Philip preached without using eloquence or superior wisdom, Simon was still able to come into Christianity with bad motives of his own. Help me know what is wrong with people who have motives like Simon’s. Show me when they come into Christianity to empress people rather than help them.

Jesus, I like seeing people come to You and would do almost anything to help them do it. I know this is a good attitude; but, help me remember this principle: I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were NOT with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. Help me keep in mind that the moment I leave the weakness and fear, and much trembling, and start using worldly, human techniques (men’s wisdom); I start getting pseudo-converts like Simon.

Jesus, empower me be able to lay hands on new believers and Your Holy Spirit come on them. Let it be like when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, and they sent Peter and John to them. Show me how do as they did when 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. Since we all need to receive Your Holy Spirit, let me help like when Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-24).

Jesus, as I get this opportunity to take a look at what was really going on in Simon’s heart, it shows me a whole different perspective. 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.” When things like this happen, help me understand what is going on in the person’s heart. Let me be able to tell them where they need to repent and let You set them free.

When Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” make me ready to point out where people are in danger in their relationship with You. And, when Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me,” let me know what You want me to do next.

Jesus, it looks like Simon’s last statement indicates that Peter’s rebuke may have turned him around. Your revelation to Peter at least gave Simon a chance to repent. But, if I don’t have this flow revealing these things to me, the people I am around won’t get this chance. This gives me a good example of how people like Simon can come into Christianity for personal, selfish reasons. Help me have You working in and through me to be there so they can have a chance to know how to change.

Jesus help me come to people in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. Let my message and my preaching not be with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of Your Spirit’s power, SO THAT people’s faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, BUT on God’s power. Flow through me so that they are brought to a place of repentance which is a desire to turn around and go in the opposite direction (make a U-turn). Keep me aware of the fact that the good news message (gospel) isn’t an improvement or remodeling of a person’s life, it is a new birth into a whole new way of life.

Jesus, if I live according to the sinful nature, I will die; BUT IF BY THE SPIRIT I put to death the misdeeds of the body, I will live, BECAUSE those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For I did not receive a spirit that makes me a slave again to fear, but I received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him I cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with my spirit that I am God’s child (Rom 8:13-16).

Jesus, teach me that this isn’t done by a brain being convinced. This happens when a spirit person is convinced. Show me that it is in my inner being that I delight in God’s law (Rom 7:22). Reveal to me that the Holy Spirit testifies with my SPIRIT that I am God’s child. Let it be true of me that my message and my preaching are not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that people’s faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

Jesus, if a person’s faith rests on men’s wisdom, then their faith isn’t in God’s power. If I preach with wise and persuasive words, then their faith will probably rest on men’s wisdom. If I preach with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, then their faith can rest on God’s power. Teach me and empower me to preach the right words with Your power.

Make me a preacher that is preaching “with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” When this happens, people’s faith will be turned toward the power of God and through that faith You will heal their heart in a miraculous way. From that miracle on, they will start WANTING to do good things to people and start WANTING to stop doing bad things to those around them. Their areas of selfishness will get changed into compassion for themselves and others. Help that to start happening in a great and mighty way.