A Christian Converted Series

Can a Christian be converted? Yes, and not only can a Christian be converted, but it is often

essential before he becomes an effective servant of Jesus Christ. Conversion means to turn again

to the ways of the Savior from the ways of self and sin. We are only born again once, but we need

to be converted as often as we find ourselves going in the wrong direction. In many Christian's

lives there are several conversions. Many make their first decision for Christ at an early age, and

then as they get older they begin to realize they are being shaped by the world. The Holy Spirit

convicts them, and they turn again in renewed dedication to the things of Christ.

So often people accept Christ as Savior without realizing that it means one must give Him

Lordship over life, and so there is a time of ineffectiveness and failure until the Lordship of Christ

is recognized and one is converted again. You can call it dedication, renewal or commitment, but

it is a turning again, which is a conversion. There is, in a sense, a continuous conversion of the

Christian, for there is a constant work of the Holy Spirit to keep us turned in the direction God

would have us go. As the world gets worse, the believer is to become better. The great need of the

world is for Christians to be converted, for until they are the church will fail to win the world.

The truth of this is illustrated for us in the experience of Peter. In verse 32 Jesus indicates

that Peter needed to be converted, or to turn again, from the path of failure he was going to follow

to the path of confidence and faith in Christ, and that the purpose of this is that he might strengthen

the others. This, of course, was so that they too might be strong instruments to reach the world.

We want to examine this experience of Peter in 3 stages, for it illustrates a pattern, which most

Christians will go through.

I. THE DANGER OF SATAN. v. 31-34

The very fact that Jesus warned Peter by the double use of his name indicates the seriousness

of the danger. In only one other place did Jesus use a name like this and that was when He said,

"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things." She too was in great danger

of letting Satan have control of her life. Whenever Jesus said something extremely important He

said, "Verily, verily," and all through the Bible the double use of a word reveals deep emotion.

David cried out, "Absolom, my son, my son." And Jesus cried out, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem." The

point is, Jesus was trying to impress upon Peter the great danger he was facing.

Peter, however, was too self-confident to be bothered about any danger. His attitude was,

don't worry about me. All the others might forsake you but not me. I will go to prison, or even

face death, where there is no danger that I cannot face. Peter had a hard lesson to learn, but we

know that after this experience he never again underestimated the danger of Satan's power. In I

Peter 5:8 he warns his brothers in Christ to beware, "For Satan as a roaring lion walks about

seeking whom he may devour." Those he devours are those who are so proud and self-confident

that they feel they do not need to heed the warnings of Christ. Peter learned the hard way, and

now he warns fellow believers to learn from his experience.

This warning was for all of the disciples. They were all to be sifted and shaken up, but Peter

needed special prayer, for he alone, because of his self-confidence, was going to get himself in a

situation of great danger. Satan was going to sift Peter like flour in a sifter. He wants to take

Peter the rock and grind him to sand. Satan charge against all believers is that same charge be

brought against Job. He is only faithful because he has no problems and no dangers in life. You

protect him, and that is why he serves you, but let me bring trial on him and he will cast you off.

Satan knows that in many cases this is true that men serve God only when all is well, and they

forsake him in times of trial. God allows Satan to test true believers and thereby illustrate that,

like Job, a true believer will cling to God and trust Him though all the flames of hell be kindled in

his life. They will say with Job, "Yea though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."

This means that every one of us are in danger of being tempted to deny Christ. Satan may be