Sermon Tone Analysis

I)       *When we walk with God, we will be tested.

Luke 22:31-34*.

A)    *File*:  luke 22v31to34 we will be tested.doc

B)    *Audio*:  When we walk with God, we will be tested.

C)    *Series*:  Walking with God

D)    *Preached*:  March 4, 2007

II)    Intro to the series:  Walking with God

A)    We can still walk with God by following Jesus.

B)    First: It’s all about the Father’s Business.

C)    Second: We must follow.

D)    Third: He will prepare the way.

E)     Fourth: we will witness division.

F)     Last time: we will witness miracles.

G)    Now: We will be tested

III) *READ Luke 22:31-34.*

A)    Context:  Judas, Passover meal~/last supper, who is the greatest, servant leadership,

B)    After:  Jesus arrested in the garden, trials~/Peter’s denial, crucifixion.

IV) *Satan’s demand*

A)    Not a light subject – *V31*, Simon, Simon, behold – a double emphasis.

B)    Satan demanded (NASB, ESV) …not a light term or a polite request, ἐξῃτήσατο, stronger word than asked.

KJV desired, NIV asked,

1)      To sift you like wheat…plural!

Talking about disciples.

(a)    To separate the wheat from the chaff.

Chaff in Old Testament represents those who oppose God.

(b)   Matt.

3:12, Luke 3:17, represents Jesus as a harvester, the wheat is gathered into barns but the chaff is burned with unquenchable fire

C)    Jesus clearly alluding to Job.  Reminiscent of Job 1 and 2: 

1)      *Job* – Satan presents himself.

God points out Job.  Satan says of course he’s good – you protect him but let me…

2)      Satan became known as the accuser.

Like it is his heavenly role to stand before God and point the finger at people.

(a)    *Zech.

3:1.*  a vision, “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.”

(b)   This is how Satan attacks, accuses – This INCLUDES US.

As we read the Bible, we must read ourselves into it.

We are in the precise situation as Job, Joshua the high priest, Peter, and the other disciples*…*

(i)     We are personally and specifically accused!

YOU!

D)    Peter to believers:  *1 Pet.

5:6*, “Be sober-minded; be watchful.

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Devil, false accuser, adversary.

1)      No doubt he thought of this.

Prowling, seeking, - at who, unbelievers?

No!  Believers!

2)      *Acts** 5* – Satan filled Ananias’ heart to lie.

3)      *Paul* was cognizant of Satan’s resistance to his ministry:  1 Thess.

2:18, we wanted to come but Satan hindered us.

(a)    Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a messenger (2 Cor.

12:7)

(b)   2 Cor.

2:11 we are not to be ignorant of his schemes so we are not outwitted.

4)      These examples about believers *Different for unbelievers*

(a)    *Luke 22:3*, *John 13:7*, Satan literally entered into Judas.

Why?  because he did not believe

(b)   *Mark 4:15*, Parable of sower – Satan steals the seed away from those along the path.

E)     Summary of Satan’s schemes –

1)      *For believers* – constantly accusing, prowling, seeking.

Unable to affect without God’s permission.

Job described as having a ‘hedge’ around him.

2)      *For unbelievers* – total possession like Judas.

They are totally unprotected – no hedge.

3)      What can we do against such an enemy?

V)    *Our defect* – odds are against us, we are only human.

A)    It would appear that we don’t have */power/* against Satan.

B)    Job was totally powerless to stop the devastation in his life.

C)    Peter was determined – said on more than one occasion he was ready to fight to the death for Jesus – but he failed.

D)    Why?

We lack the power because we battle not against flesh but spiritual powers, Eph.

6:12-13, “*12 *For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

*13 *Therefore take up the whole armor of God…”

1)      Key words:  “of God.”

E)     *V32* – Jesus turns specifically to Peter.

V31, plural – disciples.

V 32, singular – Peter.

1)      Encouraging – faith won’t fail, he will turn again, and strengthen brothers.

2)      But notice why – “I have prayed for you /that” /i.e.

/in order that/ your faith may not fail.

(a)    The only reason Peter’s faith does not completely fail is because of Jesus’ prayer, intercession.

This far only.

F)     Our defect is that we are unable to stand on our own

1)      This should not surprise us – remember John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches, apart from me you can do nothing”  Our defect is our total inability to defend ourselves – but these verses show us the solution

G)    The solution to our defect is Christ’s defense!

VI) *Christ’s defense  *

A)    Christ’s defense is His *intercession* for us.

B)    His prayer for Peter was for his faith not to fail

1)      Not an absence of the trial, not for Satan to go away, not for things to be easy for him.

2)      But it was for enduring faith that Jesus prayed:

(a)    Note *Eph.

6:16*, it is faith that is the shield that is used to extinguish Satan’s flaming darts

(b)   But the assumption is that you are in a battle!

It may extinguish the flaming darts but only to save your spiritual life – you may still be challenged, wounded.

C)    But how can we be sure that he intercedes.

1)      Later tells disciples to pray to avoid temptation

D)    *Prayer*:  promised that everything we ask in His name will be granted by the Father.

1)      What’s that got to do with faith?

Prayer and faith are joined together by Jesus Christ:

(a)     Luke 17:5, “Increase our faith!”

forgiving persistent sinner.

Mark 9:24 Father of a young demon-possessed boy “I believe, help my unbelief” - prayer and fasting.