Strengthen your Brother
Luke 22:32
3/4/09
But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
At this time Jesus has just finished having communion with His disciples. Jesus makes a statement that someone is going to betray him. Then in verse 31 it says “And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
Jesus did not use his common name “Peter” but uses his birth name. Whenever my Mom wanted to get the attention of her children, she would use our middle name. Debra Kay, Brenda Sue, Rachel Margret, she very rarely had to say Richard Rueben!
Remember Satan is on a mission to take us out – But the great news is that Jesus is on our side and He is still praying for us!
1. Jesus praying for you Jesus knew what was facing Peter and He prayed for him. Hebrews 7:25. "He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through him, because he always lives to make intercession for them".
The prophecy about Christ stated that "He himself bore the sin of many and interceded for the transgressors" (Isa 53:12). There is only one priest among men who can go to God in his own right and intercede for us – It is only Jesus!
ROMANS 8:34 = Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Jesus prayed at His water baptism, Jesus prayed before choosing His apostles, He prayed instead of ministering at times, Jesus prayed at Gethsemane, He prayed at the transfiguration, Jesus prayed for children, and guess what Jesus is praying for you right now!
2. No failure
Satan in his temptations strikes principally at the faith of God’s people – Because faith is our foundation of our spiritual house. By faith we believe that Jesus is the Son of the living God – By faith we believe that His blood covers all of our sin – By faith we believe that He arose on the third day – By faith we believe He is at the Father’s right hand, By faith we believe that He will come again for His children who love and serve him, and by faith we believe that Jesus Christ one day will thrown Satan in the Lake of Fire forever and forever!
Losses and mistakes happen in life but don’t let it cause eternal failure!
Peter has days when he fails miserably – But at the end he was not known as failure – But as a powerful man of God who is used when the Crippled Beggar is healed, when Tabitha is resurrected, and preaches a powerful sermon before the Sanhedrin.
3. Repentance is needed
Repentance is the number one thing need in the world today. Greed, pride, and exploiting the poor are things that got us into the financial mess that the world is in today.
John the Baptist only sermon title he ever preached was “"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
The disciples ministry theme was the same – “They went out and preached that men should repent”
Some people think repent means "to get your act together" or to "get religion". True repentance requires taking in a whole new point of view; looking at it God’s way. God simply asks us to turn. This is the way we accept His gift. When we do, promises that are found in scripture can be ours.
Isaiah 55:6-7 = Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
4. Strengthening those around you.
Jesus tells Peter that his first spiritual job duty is to strengthen other believers.
Hebrews 12:12 = Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.
Another duty that you are to do as a follower of Jesus is to strengthen those around you.
Who are you strengthening with your words, actions, and deeds? If you can’t think of at lest three people, you need to get to work. The true way that the church body is strengthen - Is by one on one encouragement.
