The Shield Of Faith

Luke 22:31-34

Wed. Night we concluded our study of the book of Ephesians. In chapter 6, Paul gives us the whole armor of God and tells us to put it on to be able to stand when the schemes of the devil come.

This armor is.....

The belt of truth that holds all the armor together.

The breastplate of righteousness that protects our vital organs

The feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel.....Firmly planted on the Gospel to share the Gospel

Shield of Faith the extinguishes all the fiery darts of the wicked (satan)

Helmet of salvation that protects our thoughts from doubts and keeps our hope secure.

The only offensive weapon The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

What I wanted to discuss today is the shield of faith.........That it extinguishes all the fiery darts of satan......ALL

What a powerful truth! Faith is spoken of in many ways......We say things like “we got to have more faith!” Adrian Rogers said that when you say that, it seems to him you are saying that your faith is in faith!

Our faith is in Christ........He is our Great Shield! The Captain of our salvation and He is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls!

I adore what Galatians 2:20 states.....“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” .......by the faith in the Son of God!

So many passages of Scripture states about faith.......Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Also, Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

In our text today, let us look at this in a real life situation and understand what Christ is telling us......Luke 22:31-34......

The disciples and Jesus are having their last supper together before Christ will be crucified. This supper is where Jesus taught us to remember what He has done for us by partaking of the bread/body and the cup/blood to remember His sacrifice!

Jesus tells of the upcoming betrayal by Judas.......The disciples argue over who will be the greatest in the Kingdom of God......can you imagine how God views are silly debates. We try to bring faith into our agenda or even make faith about us......in which faith is about believing God’s agenda, God’s essence, God’s truth!

Then Jesus speaks to Peter......what a moment that is recorded in all of the Gospels!......

Verse 31......Jesus warns Peter that the devil looks to sift him like wheat.......some say that the translation is “demanded”, in a sense that suggests that as satan asked to attack Job, he also asked to attack Peter and the other disciples, as well!.....1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” ......Revelation 12:10 “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” ...........

I asked this past Wed. night what do you think is after, by attacking us?........... John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” ..........As he told God when he was to attack Job, that he could get Job to “curse God to his face.”........That is the desire, that is what steal, kill, and destroy means to utter;y shipwreck any semblance of faith in Jesus that you might have! The hope, the trust, our standing before God (which is in Christ).......Romans 8:33–34 “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

This is an important moment for Peter, a powerful moment!

Verse 32-34......Jesus then tells him that “But I have prayed for you”.......The most comforting words that you can hear! Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” A powerful moment indeed! In a moment we will read of a prayer for us, from Christ! ......Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” .......He knows our weaknesses and Jesus also knows the most severe temptations that has ever been endured, yet without sin.

The prayer was that Peter’s faith would not fail.......now here is what I would like to nail down today......That our faith does not fail.......A lot of our “Christian talk” today is a lot of happy talk, not the heavy stuff that this evil world throws at all humans! The prayer that his faith would not fail, is for after that Peter had denied Jesus. Yes, Peter didn’t hit a home run even after Jesus told him that he would do it and Peter said no way, “I am willing to die with You”....Jesus telling him but “oh you will deny me 3 times before the cock crow.”.........Jesus quotes Zechariah 13:7 to them in Matthew 26:31 “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” .......and they did scatter........

This prayer for Peter was for his faith to not be overthrown after he had failed miserably! No compromises, no reroutes, but to come back again where he was, Jesus was still there and was still Peter’s Lord and Savior!.....Look with me at Verses 54-62 in the same chapter......The moment is bad enough for Peter, but add to it the look from Jesus, what a dreadful misery Peter must of felt.

We don’t know much of Peter’s coming back again (converted), only to know that he was waiting with the others after Jesus was buried and ran to the tomb with John finding it empty. There is a scene of Jesus’ reassuring/restoring of Peter in John 21:17 “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” ........We do know Peter came back, repented, turned back to Jesus where His strength lied!

I read this.......The prayer of Jesus is not merely the ability to endure trials but the sustaining power of God to keep believers in faith despite their weaknesses and failures. Jesus intercedes on true believer’s behalf, ensuring our faith is preserved! God’s sovereign Grace is seen in Christ’s prayer for Peter......Peter wrote this.....… 1 Peter 1:5 “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” ........That we are kept by the power of God, I believe Peter knew this to it’s fullest extent!

Peter’s confidence was not in his ability to persevere, but his confidence rested in the power of Jesus Christ to sustain him!

Jesus prayed for Peter that when he is restored that he would strengthen the brethren and that he did! Going back to this call for Peter again in John 21:17 “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” .......Feed My sheep! That he did!

Look with me at 2 Peter 1:12-19...........Before his decease to have the brethren (believers) in remembrance of what strengthens, that they know them and are established (strengthened) in the Light of Jesus Christ that shines in the darkness of this world!

Let us close this morning with the prayer of Jesus......John 17:6-26..........Jesus prays for you, intercedes for you! That quenches ALL the fiery darts that are meant to steal, kill, and destroy our faith in Christ!