Calvary and the Cross were close at hand. Jesus shared the Passover meal with His closest friends and revealed that one among them would be His betrayer. v.22 His disciples, understandably, began to ask who among them would do such a thing to Jesus, v.23 but their conversation quickly turned to who among them was the greatest! v.24
Jesus had to remind them that His Kingdom is not about greatness but service. V.25-30
Then Jesus tells them the shocking news that no matter how great they think they are, because of Calvary & the Cross, they will all fall away. Jesus knew the sheep would be scattered when the shepherd was struck. (Matt 26:31-35, Zech 13:7)
Peter, perhaps stirred because of the earlier dispute about who is the greatest disciple, makes his Big, Bold, Passionate statement,“If all fall away, I will never.” “I will even die with you,” “I will go to Prison for you.” Before we are too hard on Peter, all the other disciples said the same. (Mark 14:31)
Jesus replies, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." vv 31,32
Jesus, in saying, “Simon, Simon” was not being patronising. It was concern and compassion because Jesus knew what was coming.
We can make Big, Bold, Passionate statements that “we’ll never get sick,” “never give into temptation” or “never fall away” and then one day we may find ourselves facing what we have proclaimed, predicted and pronounced will never happen to us.
The Authorised Version says Jesus said to Peter, “Watch out.” Most translations say “Behold.” The Message says, “Simon, stay on your toes.” The NIV seems to miss Jesus’ warning is to alert the disciples to Satan’s desire to attack Peter.
Are you watchful of what comes across the path of your life? Are you testing and asking will this bring glory to God or make me great among men? Will this take me closer to God or far from His church, from His word, from His presence? (Luke 21:8, 36, Acts 20:28, Gal 6:1, 1Tim 4:16)
People of ECC, “watch out!” Satan is cunning and crafty and he is out to get you today, to rob you of your future and those you will influence for Jesus. (2Cor 11:3)
Five Tactics of Satan
Doubt: Makes you question God's word and His goodness.
Discouragement: Makes you look at your problems rather than God.
Diversion: Makes the wrong things seem attractive so you want them more than the right things.
Defeat: Makes you feel like a failure so you don't even try.
Delay: Makes you put off something, so it never gets started or completed. ---- Courtesy of Life Application Bible (SEE BELOW FOR FULL STUDY)
Jesus said, “Satan has asked.” Satan can’t do whatever he wants to you; otherwise we would be finished before we get started. Satan has to seek permission from the Lord, as revealed in the story of Job, before he can test you. (Job 1:6-12, 2:1-6 Zech 3:1-5)
Sometimes God says “no” to Satan’s requests to test you, and sometimes God says “yes.” God said “yes” to Satan’s request to sift Peter as wheat.
Satan wanted to prove that when Peter’s world was rocked, it was simply full of chaff, rubbish, full of big, bold, passionate statements and he would simply be blown away.
When your world is rocked by disappointment or crisis, the chaff will be blown away and what is from the Lord in you life will help you stand firm.
God saying “yes” to Peter’s sifting, was not to bring Peter down a ‘peg or two.’ It was so Peter, like Job, would come back stronger.
You must believe that if God is allowing you to be tested you’ll come back stronger.
If Satan is sifting you with Troubles, Trials, Temptations and Tests, take this comfort: Jesus has already prayed for you. Jesus is watching over your life and His prayers for you precede your trials. Because Jesus knows what is going to happen, He is praying for you to come through and to come back stronger.
Jesus’ prayer is not that you will avoid the trials; you will go through the fire. (SEE SECRIPTURES BELOW ABOUT CHRISTIANS FACING TRIALS)
Jesus’ prayer for you is not that you will never fail; you will fail and the rooster will crow in your life. You have had, and will have, the Cock-a-doodle-do moments. They are those cutting feelings that remind you that you messed up, that your character and reaction has not been Christ like, that you have curried men’s favour rather than God’s, that you have been draw away from the Lord, from His word, His people and His presence.
For Peter, it was simply “you are one of Jesus’ disciples,” which reminded him in his heart that he had run, walked away, failed to keep his big promises. A simple question cut deep into his heart, then he heard “Cock-a-doodle-do!”
If you are hearing the Cock-a-doodle-do of failure, God wants you to know:
Jesus’ prayer for you is that “your faith will not fail.” Your faith will see you through when you fail, if sinking faith helps you reach out to Jesus. It’s your faith that will draw you back to the Lord.
It’s your faith that:
Helps you fix your focus on author and perfecter Heb 12:2
Helps you lift the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Eph 6:16
Helps you look to the hills, from where your help comes. (Ps 121:1)
Helps you draw on the power and strength there is in God. (1Pet 1:5)
Helps you fight through the crowd to touch Jesus. (Luke 8:45)
Helps you call out, “Have mercy on me.” Matt 20:30-31
If you are feeling, “Oh God, I’ve messed up again” it’s the Holy Spirit challenging your faith to call on God for mercy and forgiveness; it’s the Holy Spirit challenging you to repent and to be restored.
God knows we’ll fail, but God is not making failures of us. If you are living in failure it’s not over yet. Failure is only half time, it’s time to come back.
Repentance & restoration are about being spiritually reinvigorated, coming back stronger and in a position to strengthen others.
Scriptures to Christians in Trials
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; test my heart and my mind. Psalm 26: 2
For You, O God, have proved us; You have tried us as silver is tried, refined, and purified. Psalm 66: 10
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tries the hearts. Proverbs 17: 3
But, O Lord of hosts, Who judges rightly and justly, Who tests the heart and the mind, let me see Your vengeance on them, for to You I have revealed and committed my cause [rolling it upon You]. Jeremiah 11: 20
For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering]. Hebrews 2: 18
But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the glad tidings (the Gospel), so we speak not to please men but to please God, Who tests our hearts [expecting them to be approved]. 1 Thessalonians 2: 4
Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. James 1: 2
Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. James 1: 3
As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. Psalm 18: 30
For in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation, their abundance of joy and their depth of poverty [together] have overflowed in wealth of lavish generosity on their part.
2 Corinthians 8: 2
So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed. 1 Peter 1: 7
And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Romans 5: 4
Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you. 1 Peter 4: 12
Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. James 1: 12
FIVE TACKETS OF SATAN TO DEAFEAT CHRISTIANS
[1] Doubt: Makes you question God's word and his goodness.
One of Satan's tools is Doubt. If he can get us to doubt God he knows that our doubt will drive us away from God. God desires us to trust and believe in His promises and the one trait that pleases God is Faith... faith in His promises and of who He is...
(Heb 11:6) and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
If Satan can get us to doubt God, then our current life and our life hereafter is in peril. Satan wants nothing more than to frustrate God's plan of redemption of Mankind and to destroy His creation, you and I.
(Heb 6:17) Accordingly God also, in His desire to show more convincingly and beyond doubt to those who were to inherit the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose and plan, intervened (mediated) with an oath.
(Heb 6:18) This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us]
... but as the prior scripture says, God is true to His word and promises, but Satan wants us to doubt and not have faith in God and His plan for our lives.
[2] Discouragement: Makes you look at your problems rather than God
We've all felt this tactic in our life. Discouragement is the playground that Satan loves to frolic in. We are most vulnerable when we are in a state of discouragement. This is the time when we question everything and this is the door that ushers in Satan's plans where he revels in his attacks and accusations against God. "Why did God allow this to happen?", "If God really loved you...", "God doesn't exist, so why pray to him?"...
Discouragement is a stepping stone to despair... and despair is the catalyst to hopelessness. It is in these realms of deep emotions that Satan can influence feelings and actions that can cause us to react in ways that sometimes have no remedy. Suicide is one false remedy that Satan loves to offer the confused, defeated and discouraged and for many he has been successful... But God will not allow despair into our lives if we Trust Him. Again, this is something that Satan doesn't want for us to do, to Trust God...
(2Co 4:7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;
(2Co 4:8) we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;
(2Co 4:9) pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed; with him.
God promises us that if we trust in Jesus, He will help us go through all things and even when we are at our lowest, he will give us a peace that we ourselves cannot understand, but will help us through our tough times.
(Php 4:6) In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
(Php 4:7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
God also promises that He will work the bad things in our life against Satan's plans and even our down times will benefit us since God will make all things work in our favor, good and bad...
(Rom 8:28) And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.
(Rom 8:29) For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:
(Rom 8:30) and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
[3] Diversion: Makes the wrong things seem attractive so you want them more than the right things Satan also likes to divert us away from things that are important to God.
He is always trying to make us think that what God wants for us is not as rewarding or enjoyable as things that displease God. Satan always offers counterfeits over the real thing.
God wants man to perform honest work for honest wages and Satan offers thievery, and crime as his way of getting what you want. God wants to instil patience in His creation, Satan wants to install impatience in Mankind by wanting everything now. Patience is an asset that is earned over time, while Satan teaches "another way" contrary to God's will.. (Luk 21:19) In your patience ye shall win your souls.
(Rom 8:25) But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
(Rom 15:4) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.
(1Ti 6:11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
(Heb 6:12) that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
(Jas 1:3) Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience.
(Jas 1:4) And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.
[4] Defeat: Makes you feel like a failure so you don't even try
Another emotion most have felt is defeat. Through defeat, Satan limits and robs us of a future inheritance. Defeat has a cousin called disappointment. We've all been disappointed at some time in our lives. If Satan plays his cards right, he can overcome our future successes when he uses defeat to frustrate and stop our moves forward towards a goal we've set. All Satan wants is that we give up if we are met with defeat and Satan wants to place us in a state of despondency.
Through defeat, Satan can again bring question and doubt towards God. As mentioned in the section above, Discouragement, Satan has a powerful tool when used with defeat. (2Co 4:8) we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;
(2Co 4:9) pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;
(2Co 4:10) always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. (2Co 4:11) For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
(2Co 4:12) So then death worketh in us, but life in you.2Co 4:8-12 --- Life Application Study Bible Commentary Paul reminds us that though we may think we are at the end of our rope, we are never at the end of our hope. Our perishable bodies are subject to sin and suffering, but God never abandons us. Because Christ has won the victory over death, we have eternal life. All our risks, humiliations, and trials are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate his power and presence in and through us. We must ask ourselves, "Could I handle the suffering and opposition that Paul did?" When opposition, slander, or disappointment threaten to rob you of the victory, remember that no one can destroy what God has accomplished through you.
Take heart, if you fail at something do not accept the lie of defeat into your life. Even though this scripture was aimed at the Israelites, it still pertains to how God will work with you now...
(Deu 4:30) When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, in the latter days thou shalt return to Jehovah thy God, and hearken unto his voice:
(Deu 4:31) for Jehovah thy God is a merciful God; he will not fail thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swore unto them.
... and just as David was telling his son Solomon in the passages below, we can also know that if God has started a work in you, He will give you the tools and time needed to complete your goal if you trust in God. Allow the work of patience given by God to help move you towards your goal, even if you are "Temporarily" defeated...
(1Ch 28:20) And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed; for Jehovah God, even my God, is with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until all the work for the service of the house of Jehovah be finished.
[5] Delay: Makes you put off something so it never gets started or completed.
Procrastination, I'm sure most of us have done this. We simply put off something we know needs to be done by saying we'll do it at a later time. In a lot of cases, the task is never completed or is done in haste.
What does the Webster Dictionary have to say about the definition of the word delay:
1 - to put off to a future time; postpone
2 - to make late; slow up; detain
As you can see, this is a very powerful tool for Satan to use against you and I. So how does Satan use delay to his benefit. One way and his most favourite is to delay the acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. He always comes to those who are contemplating accepting Christ and temps them to delay their decision. i.e. "Wait till you clean up your act", "You're not ready to make a drastic change in your life", "What will your friends think of you" ... and other delaying tactics that will cause you to slip closer to eternity without Christ.
With delay, Satan knows that time is in his favor and a lot of those contemplating a decision for Christ will die before their acceptance, solidifying their doom after this life is finished.
With delay, comes laziness which can in some instances cause feelings of defeat and discouragement. Doubt: Makes you question God's word and his goodness.
Discouragement: Makes you look at your problems rather than God.
Diversion: Makes the wrong things seem attractive so you want them more than the right things.
Defeat: Makes you feel like a failure so you don't even try.
Delay: Makes you put off something so it never gets started or completed. ---- Courtesy of Life Application Bible
All these tactics work in accord with each other, by doubting God, discouragement creates a doorway into your life, through which Satan uses diversion to keep our eyes off the things of God and delays decisions that are advantageous to your life. When this happens, Satan can defeat your life.
One last note... Satan's main objective is the defeat of our life and trust in God for our salvation through His son Jesus. As I've mentioned before, Satan cannot defeat God so has unleashed his hatred for God onto Mankind. If he can't destroy God, Satan will destroy God's creation, you and I.
From http://www.roadtobetterliving.com/HTML/SatansTactics5Tools.html
