EPISODE 615 – THE DEVIL DESIRES TO SIFT YOU 2

THE DEVIL DESIRES TO SIFT YOU 2

“And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.”

Luke 22:31 (NKJV)

Beloved, as you can see in the opening verse, what the Lord Jesus said to Peter wasn’t some hoax or a mock alert.

Now since it wasn’t the interest of the Lord not to divulge such information from Peter, then you should know it was going to happen. But the good news is that the Lord showed us how He intercepted.

If not for the Lord’s interception, the devil would have achieved his intention. You will later find out how within some few hours after these words of the Lord, Peter denied being a disciple of Jesus.

“Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:54-62 (ESV)

Peter denied his association with Jesus in front of a servant girl. Just in case you don’t know, it was this same Peter who when Jesus was being arrested by the men from the high priest, drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus (a servant of the high priest).

Peter was actually trying to prove his loyalty to Jesus. When Jesus told Peter how the adversary had plotted to sift him, he thought it would take the strength of the flesh to withstand against the devil.

Even when Jesus had said he had prayed for him, Peter still thought it would take his self-generated ability to stand in the Lord. His confidence was in himself and not the Lord.

This was what Peter told the Lord:

“Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” Luke 22:33-34 (ESV)

Peter’s confidence failed. He denied the Lord three times and after He realized the words of Jesus, he felt disappointed and wept bitterly.

Nevertheless in the resurrection, Jesus sent a message to the disciples specifically to Peter, for him to know that He the Lord wasn’t disappointed in him but still took interest in him.

“And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” Mark 16:7 (KJV).

You can tell the joy that will be on Peter’s face hearing those lovely words.

You don’t have to assume that the adversary wouldn’t attempt to sift you. And you don’t have to think you can remain strong in the Lord by the efforts of the flesh.

James in his epistles gave a secret to the brethren:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (KJV).

Until you humble yourself before the Lord, you will not be able to take advantage of His supply to prevail.

And when you humble yourself you will be prayerful at all times. It takes humility to be prayerful (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Jesus knew it would take the strength of God received through prayer to resist the plotting of the devil. So He prayed for Peter.

Beloved, the adversary desires to sift you, however, you must yield to prayer and not your self-confidence.

Selah!