What's Going On

converted

Attention Grabber

We like to know what’s going on, I like to know what’s going on

operation - what? why? who? alternatives? procedure? recovery?

many of us are going through a spiritual procedure and we don’t know what’s going on

Luke 22:31–32 KJV 1900

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Background

Scripture background 14-30

Cross is near, Lord’s Supper, predicted betrayal

disciples are trying to figure out who the betrayer is

Then the disciples argue on who will be the greatest disciple (funny and natural)

Lord teaches about being great in the kingdom, being a leader in the kingdom, and turns to one of his leaders and says

Luke 22:31 KJV 1900

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Jesus tells Simon Peter that Satan wants to destroy him

If you are on God’s side, you have the same enemy, an active enemy, Satan

Who wants to steal, kill, and destroy you and anything connected with you . . . that’s what’s going on

This verse says “desire to have you” because Satan cannot do anything to you without God’s permission

he wants to get to you real bad

Satan is asking with emphasis, demanding that God let him get to you

that’s what’s going on

Satan wants to Sift you like wheat – act of separating the chaff (unusable) from the wheat (usable)

discard the chaff and use the wheat

Satan wants to prove that you are nothing but chaff: useless, no good, and that God needs to discard you

he wants to demonstrate to God that you are not real

service to God is not real

your love for God is not real

your worship of God is not real

your profession of faith is not real

that’s what’s going on

and just like he did with Job, Satan, the accuser of the bretheren, tells the Lord God don’t bless, don’t protect, don’t help, don’t save

they are only serving you because

times are good, and who wouldn’t serve you in good times . . . watch what happens in bad times

times are bad and they have no where else to turn . . . let me tempt them with a little money, and they will forget about you

they are young, and don’t have the freedom to do what they want . . . put them in a position where their parents can’t watch them 24/7, and watch how they act

they are old, and are physically unable to do anything but serve you . . .let me convince them that they still got it and watch how they respond

they are lonely and bored, and have nothing else to do anyway . . . let me place some new people in their lives, and watch them disappear from service

What’s going on? Satan desires to sift you like wheat!

Luke 22:32 KJV 1900

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

V 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:

How would Jesus pray for someone, when satan was on their track

What would Jesus say we need?

He who knows everything, what’s best, what’s most important, all the tricks of the enemy

Money? Healing?, Peace? Joy? Long life? Deliverance? deep spiritual understanding?

No, Jesus prayed for Peter’s faith!

Jesus did not pray that Peter would not have to go through

Prayed that his faith would not fail, when he went through

What’s going on in your life? . . . Whatever it is, good or bad, it’s a test of your faith

“Do you really trust God?”

“Do you really believe in His Word?”

“Do you believe that God is and that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him”

it’s a faith thing, because If your faith is ok, then you’ll be ok

If your faith doesn’t fail, you don’t fail

You are not in trouble, until your faith is in trouble

you are not in jeopardy, unless your faith is in jeopardy

Simon Peter, I have prayed that your faith fail not!

This provides a good lesson

Some of us are praying for everything but faith!

We pray for finances, health, deliverance, rescue, peace of mind, joy, a breakthrough . . . good prayers . . . but those things come by faith

faith comes first!

we can’t get to finances without faith

we can’t get to deliverance without faith

joy, peace of mind without faith

What’s going on is that one of our first prayers should be, “Lord increase my faith!”

strengthen my faith!

I need a little more faith

Don’t let my faith fail!

side note: and when you pray for me, intercede for me, stand in the gap for me

call out everything that you think I need, but please don’t forget to pray for my faith!

V 32b and when thou art converted,

Let’s talk about this converted thing, Peter is already a follower

He left his fishing job to follow Jesus

He said, thou art the Christ

when a large group of followers left, Peter said, you have the words of life

Of the many followers he was one of the 12

of the 12, he was chosen to be in the inner circle of 3

Thus, he was there to see Jesus on the Transfiguration (God has been revealed)

Jesus himself, trusted Peter with his secrets

Peter is a true follower of Jesus Christ

so converted here does not mean to get saved, Converted means to turn again, turn back

in other words, the trial you are about to go through will reveal your shortcomings

show your weaknesses

you will see that you have overestimated your dedication

you will slip up, mess up

before the rooster crows in the morning, Peter, three times you will deny that you even know me

Peter you WILL fail, but you will also convert . . . repent and turn back to me

you will slip up . . . but you will turn back to me

mess up, . . . but also turn again to me . . . because I have prayed for your faith

Remember, Jesus did not pray that peter would not fail, but that his faith would not fail

fail means to cease, end, give out, die out

After Jesus was arrested, Peter’s faith became very shaky, but it did not die out, cease, or end

his faith was shaken but not shattered . . . because Jesus prayed for his faith

And what’s going on is that some of us have had our faith shaken and need to turn back to God

there is a fine line between shaken and shattered, so how can you know the difference?

well, the proof is in the pudding . . .What’s going on is that we need to realize that

yes, we fell short

yes, we let God down

yes, we failed . . . but our faith did not fail, if there is a mustard seed sized faith in our hearts . . . enough faith to turn back to God, and know he will accept me, still use me

if you convert, if you turn back to God, if you repent and turn again to God, then your faith was shaken, but not shattered

if you never turn back, your your fake faith was indeed shattered

I don’t have to look at Peter, I can testify that your faith can been shaken but not shattered

I am a witness that your faith can be so low, but yet not lost

I’ll be honest, sometimes my faith was only hanging on by a thread, but there was a thread

and by the grace of God, each time that thread of faith enabled me to turn again to the Rock of my salvation

are you between shattered and shaken? Then it’s time to convert!

turn to him again!

Lord, I failed, but please restore me

Lord, during the storm, I took my eyes off of you, but Master, save me from sinking

my faith is not where it ought to be, but I still have enough faith to call on your name

but convert also means to change

Peter, satan desires to sift you, but I desire to convert you,

satan desires to destroy you, I desire to change you

take you higher, grow you, mature you, increase your spiritual level

where you are now is not good enough for what you are called to do

What’s going on is that satan is trying use what is happening to you, take you lower, God is trying to take you higher

convert you, change you!

why is God trying to change you?

let’s be honoest, you have run into a spiritual wall, and are satisfied being at the wall . . . proud

“at least I know he is the Christ, son of the living God”

“at least I go to church”

at least I give

at least I try to treat most people right”

old folks used to say, “just as pleased as punch” . . . totally satisfied with our spiritual growth

How many of you would be satisfied with your child to stop developing at 5? 12? 22?

or be thirty but have the mindset of a fifteen year old

God is not satisfied with stunted spiritual development

Peter needed to grow, we need to grow, be converted

Peter gives us some examples

some of us need, like peter, need a Conversion from being religious but not spiritual

at mount of transfiguration – Peter wanted to do something religious

responded with Let’s build 3 temples

he missed (slept through) fact they talked about his upcoming death

like some go to church every Sunday – but still missing the point

we have the membership, t-shirt, talk that Christian lingo

but miss the important part that Christianity is a whole lifestyle of how you live, think, act, talk, help somebody,

some of us, like Peter, need Conversion from almost knowing the word, to really knowing the word)

Peter said, “how many times shall I forgive up to seven times?”

Always close to being on target with spiritual things, but not quite on target

cause we still live by traditional sayings instead of the word of God

still rely on common misinterpretations of scripture

Conversion from a double mind, to a steadfast mind

Peter: believing to walk on the water, and then doubting and sinking in the water when the wind begins to blow

on fire for the Lord on MOnday, lukewarm on Tuesday

Give what God told you to give one month but not the next

step out on faith on, until we meet a tough challenge

Conversion from being a private Christian to a public Chrisitan

Peter said, “You are the Christ” in private but denied him in public

We’ll talk about jesus all day long at church, but others don’t even know we go to church

They don’t know where we stand and who we stand with

oh yes, we need to be converted

so after you are converted . . . after you turn back . . . after you have changed . . .

V32d strengthen thy brethren.

When you come through, when you return, you are going to be better, stronger, wiser, more humble, and now be in a position to strengthen your brothers

You’ve got some work to do

Make your brothers and sisters stronger

Somebody will need your testimony, voice, wisdom

Don’t let this trial that you are going through be just about you

God wants you to strengthen someone else

some of us have been converted but we don’t want the extra responsibility of strengthening our fellow brothers and sisters

Why do I have to be the one to strengthen my brothers? –It’s not about you!

and if Jesus gave himself for us, we should be willing to give ourselves for our brothers/sisters

We needed his testimony of a pure life

We needed his teaching of the Word

We needed his sacrifice on the cross, shedding of his blood, dying for us

so strengthen your brothers!

Rest of the Story

peter denied Jesus three times, but that’s not the end of the story

he indeed was converted! He returned to Jesus again

in fact, he was in a boat, and saw Jesus on the shore . . . he dove back in

some of you need to dive back in to followoing Jesus

Jesus asked three times if he loved him

a repentance for each denial

Jesus told him to feed his sheep - encourage our brothers

the third time, Peter said, “Lord, you know all things”

growth from when he thought he knew everything

now he goes by whatever the Lord syas

now you know, what’s going on . . .Satan is trying to destroy you, but you are being converted!