Are You Willing to Look Foolish for Jesus?

I clearly remember the day I was sitting on my couch panicking and praying that God would give me a clever and eloquent sermon for an upcoming speaking engagement. I was a young minister, and I would be speaking to thousands of people—many of them pastors with years of experience. Fear began to creep in, and I was afraid I would not measure up.

But something wonderful happened as I sat there with my nerves frazzled and my mind going in every direction imaginable. The sweet and precious voice of the Holy Spirit whispered in my ear something that came to change my whole outlook.

He simply asked, “Are you willing to look foolish for me?”

I hesitated for a moment wondering exactly what that would entail. It’s not a popular thing to look foolish.

As I looked down at the Bible laying open in my lap, these two highlighted passages leapt off the page at me:

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For observe your calling, brothers. Among you, not many wise men according to the flesh, not many mighty men, and not many noble men were called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And God has chosen the base things of the world and things which are despised. Yes, and He chose things which did not exist to bring to nothing things that do, so that no flesh should boast in His presence” (1 Cor. 1:25-29).

“Brothers, when I came to you, I did not come with superiority of speech or wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:1-5).

After reading those words, a definitive “Yes!” arose in my heart. I declared, “Yes, Jesus, I am willing to look foolish for you!”

As I went on to prepare my sermon for that congregation, God gave me one of the simplest messages I had ever received. It certainly wasn’t clever or eloquent. But the Holy Spirit moved in power that day like I had never witnessed before. I stood in awe as the Holy Spirit swept through the congregation and performed absolute miracles. Out of a simple message devoid of human wisdom—one that many would consider foolish—God’s power was displayed.

There are still times when I long to come up with an earth-shattering, intellectual sermon that will amaze the hearers. I have to battle with my flesh often. I have to remember that being obedient is far more important than sounding like a famous theologian. I have to remind myself to be obedient to speak what God wants me to speak, no matter how simple I might think it sounds. I would much rather speak with the Holy Spirit’s anointing and see a demonstration of the Spirit’s power than rely on my own human wisdom.

As we continue moving forward in 2021, I have some questions for you. Are you willing to look foolish? Are you willing to speak truth when it’s not popular? Are you willing to lunge out in faith when it would be much easier to play it safe and save face? Are you willing to look foolish for Jesus?

I’m ready to see God move in power like He longs to! I believe the remainder of 2021 will be a time of miracles for those who dedicate themselves to studying the Word and praying like they never have before.

I’m ready for an end-time revival of epic proportions. Jesus is coming soon. It’s not time to merely step out in faith; it’s time to leap out in faith!

I’m making a promise to God to seek His face more than in the past, to look foolish for Jesus and to do whatever it takes to see the lost and broken come to Him.

How about you? {eao}

Donna Sparks is an Assemblies of God evangelist, podcast host and author of the popular books Beauty from Ashes: My Story of Grace, No Limits: Embracing the Miraculous and her latest book, The Masquerade: Deception in the Last Days. A sought-after speaker for women’s conferences and retreats, Donna travels extensively to minister in churches and other venues. She also leads a vibrant and fruitful women’s prison ministry, through which she has seen God perform countless miracles in the lives of the ladies to whom she ministers. Donna boldly shares the Bible’s unchanging truths with an intense desire to equip and encourage others to step forward into the things God has planned for them. She has been married for 23 years to the love of her life, Bryan, and they have two lovely young adult daughters. Donna and her family reside in Lexington, Tennessee. Learn more at donnasparks.com.

Read articles like this one and other Spirit-led content in our new platform, CHARISMA PLUS.