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by Sandy Shaw
Peter was going to have a wild 24 hours, and be in tremendous turmoil over these next three or four days, but Jesus had prayed for him that his faith would not fail.
We are reading and studying in Luke Chapter 22 and we move on from verse 31.
Jesus knows that Peter is going to have a very difficult few days ahead of him and Jesus reassures Peter that He has prayed for him. It is so good to know that Jesus Christ intercedes and prays for us and it is particularly reassuring to have that confidence when we are going through a challenging season.
Peter is to be sifted and tested and put in the most awkward situations, and have it all written down for all to see. The wheat was being separated from the chaff, in the life of the man who was to arise and lead that young Church during the first few years of its dynamic exciting life.
In a sense it is not what you are that counts. It is what God can make of you. It is what God can do with you and in you, before He can work through you.
Satan's desire is to destroy Peter before his real work and ministry can start.
See his tactics. See how he works. Know how he works. This is why it is so vitally important to know what is in the Scripture, and to be aware of the riches and resources that are available to each of us who are ‘in Christ’. It was going to be tough for Peter, not just for these next few days, but it was going to be tough for Peter for the remainder of his life.
This type of experience is not limited to Peter only! Many would testify to this truth down through the centuries. In fact, if it not tough and difficult and challenging we need to question as to whether we are serving Jesus Christ as he has called us to serve. Why? Because there is an enemy of God who will do what he can to oppose you as you seek to serve and please the living God.
What had Jesus prayed? We can use our sanctified imaginations. "Father, before the storm breaks out, before the powers of hell are released against this fisherman, keep him strong. Keep him safe. Keep him Father during these days when I am dead."
What a battering Peter took. Jesus did NOT rescue Peter from the sifting - from the pummelling - from the embarrassment of falling asleep when he should have been praying - from his wild swordplay - and from the emotional trauma that must have resulted when he denied Jesus three times.
Jesus goes on to say, and when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
Peter came through it, and strengthened his brothers and led that early church inspiring many and seeing people ‘born again’. He made sure that those coming into the church repented of their sins as they believing in Jesus Christ and were baptised in water and received the Holy Spirit, just as he had done on the day of Pentecost, with the same consequences and with similar evidence. Peter was an able spiritual midwife!
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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