Satan Asked For You, And I Said Yes

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Luke 22:31–33 NASB95

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!”

Luke 22:54–62 NASB95

54 Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. 55 After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. 56 And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58 A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

Satan asked for you, and I said yes!

In our journey to develop a firm faith and deep devotion to our Lord, we must understand that this is not something that will please everyone and certainly, not the devil. There is a friction, a tension that exist between darkness and light, a friction that the devil hopes would result in your failure. He is roaming and roaring seeking someone to devour, and that someone is you. In our text Jesus shares that He “demanded permission” to sift Peter. “Peter” he asked for you, but I prayed for you.

Jesus is nearing His death, He is getting ready to leave His disciples and the dialogues are really interesting, they show how/if their thinking about Jesus and His teachings have changed over the course of the ministry.

Prior to Jesus’ statement to Peter, there is a quarrel over greatness in the Kingdom. Their place is not to be fighting, but to be serving.

APPL. This messgae is still relevant in the church today - our place is not to be fighting, but serving.

We know that this discussion has led to feelings of unease and tension in the group. Matthew 20:24 “24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.”

Quickly following this, Jesus turns His attention to Peter.

All the pronouns “you” are in the plural indicating that He is addressing the group. (vs. 26; 27; 28; 29; 30)

Which makes it interesting that in vs. 31 Jesus says, “Simon, Simon”

This “Simon, Simon” and “behold” are features of narrative writing, that seeks to grab the attention of the listener/reader. It is a shift in the narrative, and speaker wants to emphasize an idea to his hears.

The demand from Satan is to sift all the disciples (this you is plural), But discussion from Jesus is for Peter.

Maybe Satan realizes that if he could get to Peter, he could get to the rest. His desire is to sift all of them.

APPL. Satan is after purpose. He tried with Jesus, then tries through His disciples. “If I get just get them off purpose, I can get a foothold in their life” He must be thinking.

If he gets you of purpose he can get a foothold in your life. (Husbands, wives, preachers, deacons, elders, members.

WHAT’S your Purpose: TO GLORIFY GOD, YOUR FATHER!

The way I fulfill that purpose is the same way Jesus did, by doing the will of the Father.

That’s why Jesus says, “Not everyone that says, Lord Lord. . .”

So, Satan will get everyone of their purpose, and pick them apart - if he is successful with Peter.

Sifting was to pick apart the grain and separate the kernel from the chaff. The chaff was hollow, low in value, and light. The sifting involved crushing then throwing in the air; the weightier, more valuable kernel would fall back into the seive and chaff blown away. Satan wants to pick them apart, but Jesus does not address them, he addresses Peter.

Whatever Satan is going to do, Peter is going to be the key

APPL.

#1 There is Development in SIFTING

He calls him Simon, not Peter - destiny does not deny development, however, it invites it/His future task will not excuse the present trials. Sometimes the sifting is not a setback, but it’s a set-up - And sometimes God in His providence will allow the sifting but it will serve His purpose

So that sickness, that horrible boss, that opposition, those enemies, the attacks you face, the pressures and struggles that come your way, they are only their because God allowed it. If He allowed He can get you through it. It’s not for your destruction but it’s for your development -

EMBRACE IT - That God is working in your life is a great blessing, because He is interested in you. He has a plan for you, He wishes to use you for His glory and for His mission on the earth.

BE ENCOURAGED IT - Be encouraged because God will get you through it. Romans 8:31 “31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” God is so for you He can take what’s against you and make it work for you. Why? “All things work together for good. . .”

Today it’s your test, tomorrow it’s your testimony

Today it’s painful, tomorrow it’s your praise

Today you might suffer, tomorrow you will shout

Weeping may endure for a night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning so. . .

ENDURE IT

I’ll do like Job and wait until my change comes

I’ll say like David, I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined to me and heard my cry

I’ll state like Isa, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings like eagles

#2 There is Discovery in SIFTING

Sifting exposes weaknesses in character (loose threads - W.B. Curtis) - For Peter he was over-confident in his ability to remain committed, and it got exposed in the courtyard. Matthew 26:33 “33 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.””

When they asked about his affiliation with Jesus, he denies it three (3) times. Until Jesus looks him in the eye and breaks down crying - the same Simon that said I’ll die with you is now denying His existence.

Loose threads can show up in many forms (listen lesson)

Habits, people, personality traits, ignored sin, drive, compulsive behaviour, some need, obsession, an addiction. Pride or envy, uncontrolled anger - What is that loose thread hanging from the garment of your life? SIFTING WILL EXPOSE IT!

Loose threads should be dealt with if God’s grace exposes it.

Before your need to look good and need for praise and affirmation kicks in and causes you to hide what God wants to bring to the surface it, why not face it? Why not confront it? Why defend it? Why try to justify it? Why nuture it? Why is our need to look right, and look like we have it all together override our need for healing?

Be thankful God still gives you the grace to deal with flaws now, which might not be a problem RIGHT NOW, but could destroy you later! So God keeps throwing it in you face, don’t fight to keep it, cut it off and allow the Spirit to make the necessary changes

Loose threads must be dealt with now, so that they don’t hinder you later

This flaw might cause you to fail, but it does not mean you are failure

Satan has asked for you and I said yes. But because it was by my permission it will serve my purpose!

#3 There is Deliverance in SIFTING

The flaw didn’t result in Peter’s failure - Jesus said “I prayed for you”

On the day of Pentecost Peter got up!

Jesus has your back in the sifting so your faith will not run out

“when you are converted” [turned, come back to the point]

This convert needed a covnersion - this might be you

The reason why this might be you is because of what Jesus said in Luke 22:54 “54 Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance.” - But when you are converted.

God has a purpose for you, but satan wants to stop it. One of the ways he attempts that is by sifting (shaking you up, picking you apart)

But God cares, He cares enough to provide what you need to survive the sifting, and be fit for whatever He has for you.