“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to Me again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22: 31-32 NLT)

Tears fell, and this time, I didn’t hold back. Maybe I needed a good cry. “Jesus, help me!”

After a few moments, I heard God speak, not in an audible voice, but a definite impression. “This is warfare. Be strong.”

Satan knows which buttons to push, and daily, he had pushed those same buttons. As soon as God warned me, I realized God has something prepared for me in ministry that Satan is fighting.

We can pick Peter’s story apart, but would we do any better ourselves? Probably not, but let’s sift through Peter’s attack.

Jesus warned Peter, but Satan planned to attack each disciple. As the leader, Peter caught the brunt of it. Jesus explained that Peter should strengthen his brothers. as the leader, Peter needed to rally the other disciples.

Does a flour sifter pop into your mind when you read our verses? The Greek indicates “shaking someone apart or breaking them down.” *

Peter responded with a bold statement of loyalty to Christ. Then Jesus warned Peter that before the rooster crowed in the morning, he would deny Him three times.

Peter just had to make it through the night, and he still failed.  His first mishap came in the garden when Jesus asked the disciples to pray with Him, but they fell asleep.

Next, Peter made a bold move when he cut the ear off of the servant of the high priest. Jesus rebuked Peter, and healed the ear of a man ready to arrest Him. Afterward, things went downhill for Peter, as he denied knowing Christ three times.

Didn’t Peter listen to Jesus’s warning?  If Jesus Christ needed to plead in prayer for him, it had to be serious. Didn’t Peter heed the part about having to repent and return to Christ?

Peter’s attack came just prior to his greatest fall. After Christ restored Peter, he rose to one of his greatest victories when he preached on the day of Pentecost. That’s when Satan attacks us too.

In two days, I’ll speak to my first live audience in eighteen months. I expect spiritual warfare all weekend, but I also expect it after the event. I plan for this, and I am prayed up, but the enemy catches us in our weakest moments.

Spiritual attacks surround our spiritual   victories. Always expect and be prepared.

Lord Jesus, I never believe I am prepared because the enemy is clever, but Your wisdom and power outsmarts him every time. Cover us with Your protection. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

DIG DEEPER

Read John 21:4-19.

HIKING THE TRAIL

Can you learn any lessons from Peter’s life that are applicable to you? We don’t learn for information. We must apply this knowledge to help us live victorious.

RELATED RESOURCE

I understand the armor of God, but how do I apply it? That was my question, so I sought for an answer. I created a 7-day prayer guide focusing on dressing in the armor of God. Get it free now.

Originally posted on April 25, 2022 @ 3:00 am