Dear family in Christ, this was so strongly on my mind last night, so I felt the need to share it.
Remember Jesus' words to Peter, right before Peter fell into temptation and denied his Lord? He said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22:31,32)
The infinite wisdom and love and faithfulness in that sentence is just staggering. First, Satan asked permission from God that He could come against Peter like this, and we know from what followed, that God gave him permission to do so! It is certain that Satan wanted to utterly destroy Peter's faith by the temptations that he brought against him. But then, Peter belonged to Jesus, and Jesus assured him that He had already prayed that his faith would be upheld. Peter did stumble. He did succumb for a time to Satan's temptations. But because of Jesus' intercession, the grace of God brought Peter back, restored him, made his faith and devotion to Christ to be stronger than ever before, and used the whole ordeal to teach him how to strengthen the body of Christ.
Does it not not fill your heart with wonder and gratitude-filled worship, to know that Jesus intercedes for His own? Jesus is even now at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for His people! He will see to it that our faith does not fail, because He purchased our salvation with His own blood through the cross. This is such a certain and joy-filled fact! In His intercessory prayer just prior to the Crucifixion, Christ said, "All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." (John 17:10,11) The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are in perfect unity. What the Son asks the Father for, the Father joyfully gives, because the Son prays only according to the will of the Father; the will of God will be accomplished, for none can stop His hand (Daniel 4:35); and all His will is carried out by His gracious Spirit.
Do you know a christian whom Satan is sifting like wheat? Are you aware of a brother or sister in Christ who is struggling with temptation to lose their faith? Join with Jesus in praying for them! See the awesome privilege and joy that God has given us to pray according to the will of God a prayer that He surely will answer. After speaking of the armor of God which we are to wear in our fight against the enemy, Paul exhorts us to "pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18) We are one body, the body of Christ, who is our head. Let us hold fast to Him and do as He is doing, out of love, asking the Father to keep strong each and every member of the body.
After all that Peter went through, after all his failures, see the conviction and fervency with which He wrote these words, having learned by experience the immeasurable greatness of our Faithful God's power towards us who believe: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your Adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." (1 Pet 5:9,10) Let our prayers for one another be according to this.
Yes, the trials and temptations will come. We are in a battle. The enemy of our souls is out to devour us. But we must fight sin, we must resist Satan, we must fill our minds with the truth so that we may stay strong in faith and not be destroyed by doubt. We must intercede for one another, be watchful to see a need, to recognize someone who needs our prayers. And we have a sure and certain hope: God Himself, by his never-ending supply of grace will keep us and uphold our faith; and just like He did for Peter, He will leverage all these things for a greater good and glory. We can trust Him. He cannot lie.
Are you yourself in the middle of a trial of your faith? Is the enemy coming strong against you with temptations and lies? Don't isolate yourself. Don't try to get through it alone. Reach out to another Christian. Ask for prayer. We need one another. God will use this for your good. Keep strong in your faith, and don't give up the fight. God promises that He will provide a way of escape, a way to withstand the temptations, so that you may bear it! (1 Cor 10:13)
