You Best Prayer Partner!


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 Luke 22:31-35 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.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

 It is the night of the Last Supper, soon Jesus will be praying in the garden and then arrested by the chief priests and the Pharisees.  Peter is feeling pretty confident that he will stay by Jesus' side no matter what happens to him tonight.  Jesus however sees what is going on behind the scenes.  He sees the spiritual reality, and specifically the battle Simon Peter will have with Satan.  Jesus reveals that Satan's purpose is destroy the disciples and Peter in particular.  In John 10:10 says, "The thief (Satan) comes to steal and destroy."  In particular, Satan wants to steal and destroy our relationship with Christ.  The devil knows of his own demise at the end of time, and he wants to take as many people down with him before that time. 

 But here is the good news. Jesus tells Peter he will pray for him.  If there was ever a prayer partner I would want it would be Jesus.  Jesus realizes that Peter is going to "falter" but he tells him his faith will not "fail".  We do fail in our faith.  We fail to trust Jesus in all of our decisions.  We disobey his leading, and do things we know aren't right.  But even though our faith can falter, it cannot fail because Jesus intercedes for us before the throne of God.  In fact not only does he tell Peter his faith will not fail, but even when it falters, he will restore him so he can strengthen the faith of others.  We see this happen in John 21, when the resurrected Jesus restores Peter to be the chief shepherd of the early church.

 As followers of Christ, we will fall down and stumble.  Satan's goal would be for us to stay down. He would rather have us wallow in guilt and shame than come clean and get back on our feet.  When you sin, confess it to Him and move on. When you are feeling down and distant from Christ, remember he prays for you.  He promises you that you are forgiven and he will restore you so that you may strengthen others with the same grace you have received in Him.    

 Most importantly remember, "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world!"

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