260 JOURNEY LUKE 22 PLOTTING SATAN AND PRAYING CHRIST

Welcome to the 260 Journey. We are entering into the Passion Week in Luke. While Jesus is with His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, He speaks some remarkable words to Peter the apostle, which will be important to all of us because it is what Jesus does right now for everyone of His children.

At the last supper, right after Jesus said that one of the 12 would betray Him, He then says these words to the apostle Peter.

Luke 22:31-32 (NIV) 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

SIMON, SIMON. Just like when you heard your parents use your full name when we were kids… this is what it means when Jesus repeats your name twice. THIS IS FULL NAME WITH MIDDLE NAME… that means trouble. What makes this interesting is Jesus goes back to the name, which He changed to Peter. Remember the story when Peter said to Jesus, “You are the Christ the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said, “Flesh and blood did not reveal that to you but My Father in heaven…you shall no longer be called Simon but Peter and on this rock I will build my church.” Now Jesus goes back to the old name and says it twice. Peter is not necessarily in trouble but is about to experience trouble… Satanic trouble.

Jesus said “SATAN ASKED.” Satan is God’s Satan, he is not an independent agent that can take your life without God’s permission. He is not an independent entity that does what he wants. In Job, Satan had to get permission to attack Job.

Try to imagine the picture Jesus gives Simon Peter. PICTURE THIS - SATAN ON ONE SIDE TRYING TO TAKE PETER, OBTAIN PETER, HAVE PETER, DEMANDING PETER and to SIFT him LIKE WHEAT.

AND ON THE OTHER SIDE JESUS PRAYING FOR HIM. “Satan has asked to have thee….but I have prayed for you.” At the same time that Satan is asking for Peter, Jesus is interceding for him. THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING! THAT ALTERS THE WHOLE CASE! There may be failure, defection, cowardly denial, and compromise but there can never be ultimate ruin. WHY? THE PRAYING CHRIST.

I thought it was all about me. I thought it was my prayer life. MY consistency in Bible reading. MY success secures me. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

THE PLOTTING OF SATAN CAN BE NO MATCH FOR THE PRAYING CHRIST

It’s not my prayers…. t’s Jesus’ prayers that secure me. I don’t think you can mention the praying Christ without referencing His post resurrection heaven ministry. Listen to it.

Hebrews 7:25 (Passion Translation) 25 So he is able to save fully from now throughout eternity, everyone who comes to God through him, because he lives to pray continually for them.

Satan does not get his way with me. Because I have a Savior that neither sleeps nor slumbers and is continually praying for me.

PETER DOESN’T JUST GET A PRAYING CHRIST. WE GET A PRAYING CHRIST

A man must get past the love of Christ for me, the cross of Christ that values me and he must get past the prayers of Christ before he can make his bed in hell.

When you get INTO Christ, not get INTO Church. You are secure.

I love this story… little Johnny would wake up every night. He would hear a bump, it was him. He would fall out of bed in his sleep. This happened 5 straight nights. Finally Johnny said, “Daddy, I am so tired of falling out of the bed, can you fix it?” His father said, “Son it is real simple, YOU NEVER GOT FAR ENOUGH IN.”

The reason you keep falling out of Jesus is because you never got far enough in. You got in church, now it’s time to get in Christ. IN CHRIST, YOU HAVE A PRAYING CHRIST.

Satan doesn’t just want Peter, Satan wants you. Let me give you some encouraging words. This is so powerful from the old Scottish preacher Robert Murray M’Cheyne When I read this I feel like I can walk in VICTORY!

“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference...(to Him). He IS praying for me.” - Robert Murray M’Cheyne

Just like He said He is praying for Peter, Christ is praying for you and me.

That’s good news for us on the 260 Journey.