- 2 weeks ago
Speaker: Conrad Mbewe 康拉德·姆貝韋
Location: G3 Ministries
Channel: G3 Ministries
Source: https://youtu.be/PFXQAOEVb28
Join the conversation—visit RenewOurMinds.com to connect and follow us on social media.
All rights go to respective owner of the video/publisher/organization.
Location: G3 Ministries
Channel: G3 Ministries
Source: https://youtu.be/PFXQAOEVb28
Join the conversation—visit RenewOurMinds.com to connect and follow us on social media.
All rights go to respective owner of the video/publisher/organization.
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LearningTranscript
00:00As we turn your Bibles to Luke 22, one small addition to our earlier presentation on the
00:15African Christian University that we forgot to add is that out there where you have the
00:23various organizations displaying, we also do have a stand for the African Christian
00:29University, where if you want to get regular bulletins, you can sign in, and as information
00:36flows, you will be getting that as well.
00:39We have someone manning the stand.
00:43Luke 22.
00:47Luke 22.
00:48And we will read but two verses, verse 31 and verse 32.
01:01I'll perhaps go up to verse 34 to give just a little bit more of context.
01:07Luke 22 and verse 31.
01:09Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat.
01:23But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail.
01:31And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
01:36Peter said to him, Lord, I'm ready to go with you both to prison and to death.
01:45Jesus said, I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day until you deny three times
01:57that you know me.
02:00This conference has been special because it's the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
02:13There were two realities that stood out in the minds of the Reformers like two peaks of
02:23a mountain range.
02:24One was the reality that Satan is real.
02:30And the second was the reality that God is sovereign.
02:38Sadly, with secular education, with the effect of liberalism and modernism,
02:49with the effect of popular psychology, we are not only losing the first, but also the second.
02:57The second was the fact that God is sovereign.
02:59Somehow, science now, false science, reigns supreme.
03:05It cancels out spiritual reality.
03:10The devil is meant to have simply been a scarecrow to get kids to behave themselves.
03:18And as for God, he doesn't exist.
03:24The Christian church, consequently, is losing out on facing some of these biblical realities,
03:34and consequently, the same evil one who is purported to be non-existent is having a field day.
03:43It wasn't so in the days of the Reformation.
03:49The story is often told of Martin Luther working away in his study in the Wartburg Castle,
03:59and in the process of that is so tormented by the evil one that it is as though he sees him right in front of him,
04:12and consequently picks an ink bottle and throws it at him.
04:17And in the process, it breaks on the wall.
04:21Well, whether that is true or not, the point is, Martin Luther was conscious of the evil one,
04:32of the devil, sufficiently to have included him in his most popular hymn,
04:38A Mighty Fortress is Our God.
04:41He puts it this way,
04:43A Mighty Fortress is Our God,
04:46A Bulwark never failing,
04:48Our Helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
04:53Listen to this.
04:54For still, our ancient foe
04:58doth seek to work us war.
05:03His craft and power are great,
05:06That is an expression of what Martin Luther believed.
05:23Fast forward to the Puritan era,
05:26they did not lose sight of this reality,
05:29that the devil is real.
05:32There is a book that's been written entitled,
05:39Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Brooks.
05:45And again, when you read that book clearly,
05:52Richard Brooks is mindful of the fact that the devil is real,
05:58the devil is cunning,
05:59the devil is deceitful,
06:01and he often ends up tripping genuine believers into sin.
06:11I remember when reading that book,
06:14being moved by one of his illustrations,
06:18when he speaks about the fact that one of the devil's tricks
06:21is that he shows us the worm but hides the hook.
06:27He shows us the worm but hides the hook.
06:30Being an individual who once went fishing using worms and hooks,
06:40it did make sense.
06:42That he often shows us the sweetness,
06:45the pleasure that we'll get from the sin that is tempting us towards,
06:51and hides the fact that having sinned,
06:54we will pay dearly for it for quite some time to come.
07:01It wasn't just the Puritans.
07:03As you especially read your hymns again and again,
07:08and sing your hymns again and again,
07:11you notice how Christians across the ages have believed in the fact that the devil is real.
07:21I was just going through my phone a few moments ago and seeing hymn after hymn that clearly bring out this reality.
07:31And one of them that I finally thought at least I could quote for you because it's a popular one,
07:37is the hymn,
07:40Onward Christian Soldiers.
07:42And in one of the stanzas,
07:44the hymn writer says,
07:45The reality is we've got a real devil that we have to put up a gallant fight with.
08:02What we have in the passage of scripture that we have just read is truth.
08:15And Jesus did not think about the devil as some mathematical X that is meant to try and explain why people do bad things.
08:26He was conscious,
08:28He was conscious, no doubt, even in his life on earth,
08:32that he has an arch enemy among the fallen angels.
08:40Satan.
08:41And so he says to Peter,
08:44Simon, Simon, behold,
08:46Satan has demanded to have you.
08:51It was a very difficult period for the disciples.
08:58In the period leading up to Jesus' crucifixion,
09:04he began to speak more and more about the fact that in a few days' time,
09:10he was going to be handed over by the Jewish leaders to the Roman government
09:17and that he would be made to suffer and finally die.
09:23The disciples found it difficult.
09:25They had just poured three solid years into a relationship with this man.
09:31They had literally pegged all their hopes upon him.
09:37And now he was speaking in very clear terms,
09:40I'm about to go.
09:43A painful death.
09:45A painful departure.
09:47And consequently,
09:49individuals like Peter, as you know,
09:52would every so often, at least on one occasion,
09:56rebuke him for speaking that way.
10:02Let's face it.
10:04It was a time of discouragement.
10:07I would add,
10:08a time of despair
10:11for them.
10:12To make it worse,
10:16Jesus peeps behind the curtains of physical reality
10:21and peeps into what's happening in the spiritual realm
10:26and tells them the truth.
10:29Looks Peter in the face
10:30and says to him behind the scenes,
10:34Satan has asked for you.
10:37Now, brethren,
10:42the discouragement and despair
10:44that these disciples were going through at this moment
10:48was not limited to them.
10:52Discouragement and despair
10:54often comes into the lives of believers,
10:59into the lives of God's servants,
11:01into the lives of pastors.
11:05Every so often,
11:07when you look at the reality
11:09of what's happening
11:10in the context of the Christian church,
11:13we look at the reality
11:14of what may be happening immediately
11:16in your marriage
11:17and in your family life.
11:19You cry out to God.
11:27Lord, do something.
11:30And it is as though your cry
11:31is simply bouncing off the ceiling
11:34and falling to the ground
11:35because situations are only going from bad to worse.
11:41And no doubt if you are biblically informed,
11:44you have no doubt
11:47that you are undergoing
11:50a major onslaught of the evil one.
11:55These two realities,
11:58the reality of the devil
12:01and the sovereignty of God.
12:04I want to emphasize the second part.
12:06The sovereignty of God
12:09ought to help you
12:11to be buoyant
12:12in the midst of your afflictions.
12:15And that's what the Lord Jesus Christ does here.
12:20He doesn't only speak
12:21about the reality of Satan,
12:24he also speaks about God's sovereignty
12:27that Peter may face reality,
12:31but in facing reality,
12:34may still go forward
12:35with real trust
12:37and solidity in his steps.
12:41Let's quickly learn something
12:43from these words.
12:47First of all,
12:48we learn from here
12:49that we do have an arch enemy,
12:54the devil.
12:56Satan demanded to have you
12:59that he might sift you like wheat.
13:05We have an example of this
13:08in the book of Job,
13:10in Job chapter 1.
13:14We read about
13:15Satan appearing
13:18before God
13:19and God consequently
13:22challenging him
13:23about his servant, Job.
13:26And the conversation
13:30as it takes place there
13:32results in
13:34God
13:35permitting
13:37Satan
13:38to tempt
13:40Job.
13:42Let me quickly read
13:43that account
13:44to you.
13:47Job chapter 1
13:49and verse 6.
13:50Now there was a day
13:51when the sons of God
13:53came to present themselves
13:54before the Lord
13:55and Satan
13:56also came
13:57among them.
13:59The Lord
14:00said to Satan,
14:01from where have you come?
14:03Satan answered
14:04the Lord
14:05and said,
14:06from going to
14:06and fro
14:07on the earth
14:08and from walking
14:08up and down
14:09on it.
14:11And the Lord
14:11said to Satan,
14:12have you considered
14:14my servant Job?
14:15There is none
14:16like him
14:17on the earth,
14:19a blameless
14:20and upright man
14:21who fears God
14:22and turns away
14:23from evil.
14:25Then Satan
14:26answered the Lord
14:27and said,
14:28does Job
14:29fear God
14:30for no reason?
14:33Have you not
14:34put a hedge
14:35around him
14:36and his house
14:36and all that he has
14:37on every side?
14:40You have blessed
14:41the work of his hands
14:42and his possessions
14:43have increased
14:44in the land.
14:46But stretch
14:47out your hand
14:48and touch
14:49all that he has
14:50and he will
14:51cross you
14:52to your face.
14:55And the Lord
14:56said to Satan,
14:57behold,
14:58all that he has
14:59is in your hand.
15:00Only against him
15:02do not stretch
15:03out your hand.
15:05So Satan
15:05went out
15:06from the presence
15:07of the Lord.
15:09And although
15:09I end my reading
15:10there,
15:11you know the story.
15:14It was
15:16the beginning
15:17of trouble.
15:19One thing
15:20after the other
15:21went wrong.
15:22His businesses
15:23collapsed.
15:25His children
15:26were killed.
15:27And on and on
15:29things went
15:30to the point
15:31where Job
15:32realized
15:34he was
15:35under
15:36serious
15:37attack.
15:38Well brethren,
15:40that hasn't
15:40ended
15:41with Job.
15:42It didn't
15:43end
15:43with Peter.
15:45It continues
15:46to the present
15:47day.
15:49The evil
15:50one
15:50uses
15:51the world,
15:53the evil
15:53one
15:54uses
15:54our very
15:55fallen
15:56nature
15:57in order
15:58to bring
15:59us to the
16:00point of
16:01despair,
16:02in order
16:02to bring
16:03us to
16:03sin
16:04against
16:05the living
16:06God.
16:08He's
16:09bent
16:10on it.
16:13When the
16:14Lord Jesus
16:14Christ
16:15uses the
16:15word
16:16that he
16:18might
16:18sift
16:19you
16:19like
16:20wheat,
16:22he's
16:23not
16:23referring
16:24to the
16:25effect
16:25of a
16:27process,
16:28but he's
16:28referring
16:29to the
16:29process
16:30itself.
16:33In other
16:33words,
16:34the bringing
16:34of trouble
16:35into our
16:36lives,
16:37the bringing
16:37of trials
16:38into our
16:39lives,
16:39and consequently
16:40those
16:41testings
16:42bring about
16:43a period
16:44of
16:44intense
16:46temptation.
16:49Many years
16:50ago,
16:52when still
16:53a young
16:53lad,
16:54I
16:54accompanied
16:55my parents
16:57to the
16:57village.
16:58I had
16:59never seen
17:00the process
17:00of sifting
17:01before until
17:02then.
17:04My grandmother
17:05was sitting
17:07pounding
17:08millet
17:09as she
17:12would be
17:13talking to
17:13us.
17:14And in due
17:14season,
17:15she emptied
17:16everything
17:18into a
17:19basket.
17:21And then she
17:21went and
17:22stood by a
17:24place where
17:24there was
17:25a drift,
17:27wind
17:27passing.
17:29And all
17:29she did
17:30was throw
17:31everything
17:31into the
17:32air,
17:33and as
17:33she was
17:34doing so,
17:35the skin
17:36of the
17:38kennels
17:39was being
17:40thrown onto
17:41the floor,
17:42while that
17:43which we
17:43would induce
17:44season in joy
17:45as a meal
17:46kept falling
17:47back into
17:48the basket.
17:50You know,
17:51when you are
17:51young,
17:53you get
17:53tempted to
17:55do what you
17:55see your
17:56parents doing,
17:56don't you?
17:58That's what
17:58I did.
18:01When she
18:01went away
18:02somewhere,
18:03I got the
18:03basket and
18:07tried to do
18:07the same
18:08thing,
18:08and everything
18:09fell to the
18:10ground.
18:11You don't
18:11need to
18:12guess that
18:13I had
18:14sore
18:14bottoms a
18:17few moments
18:18later.
18:21Maybe that's
18:21why I've
18:22never forgotten
18:22it, but
18:23still, the
18:24point was
18:24the point
18:27was that
18:28I saw
18:28something of
18:29this process
18:30of safety.
18:32And so
18:32when I
18:33studied this
18:33passage for
18:34the first
18:34time as a
18:35believer, I
18:36began to
18:37visualize
18:37something of
18:40a process in
18:41which you
18:42are going up
18:43and down
18:44and up
18:44and down
18:45and up
18:45and down
18:46and you
18:46just can't
18:47stop the
18:48process.
18:49Providence
18:50is frowning
18:51against you.
18:53If it was
18:53in your
18:54power, you
18:55would, as
18:55it was, switch
18:56off the
18:57machine and
18:58stop this
18:59up and down
18:59process.
19:00But now you
19:01are beginning
19:02to despair
19:03in the
19:04process that
19:04on one of
19:05the ups,
19:06you might
19:07find yourself
19:07down on
19:08the floor.
19:12That's what
19:13the devil was
19:14about to do
19:15to Peter.
19:16That's what he
19:17was about to
19:18do to the
19:18rest of the
19:19disciples because
19:20that you
19:21there is
19:22in the
19:23plural.
19:27And we
19:28know what
19:28happened.
19:29When Jesus
19:30was arrested,
19:32they all
19:32fled.
19:35What is
19:36worse,
19:39Judas
19:40himself was
19:41a means of
19:42that arrest
19:42and in
19:43due season
19:44he committed
19:44suicide.
19:47Peter
19:48who at
19:50this point
19:51we shall
19:51see in a
19:52moment was
19:52showing
19:53levels of
19:55courage that
19:56would make
19:57all of us
19:58wish we
19:58were like
19:59him,
20:01ended up
20:02being the
20:03worst of
20:03cowards when
20:04even a
20:06female
20:07young
20:08slave
20:10pointed at
20:12him and
20:13said,
20:13hey,
20:14you were
20:15with the
20:15Nazarene.
20:17And he
20:17began to
20:18curse and
20:20deny totally
20:23having anything
20:23to do with
20:25the Lord
20:25Jesus Christ.
20:27That's what
20:27he was
20:28pointing to,
20:29that this
20:29trial is
20:31about to
20:32happen.
20:33It is
20:34coming.
20:37Brethren,
20:38we don't
20:39see what
20:40happens in
20:41the background.
20:42We don't.
20:42in the
20:44spiritual realm,
20:45we don't
20:45have eyes
20:46to see.
20:47We are
20:48like Job.
20:49One day,
20:52one day,
20:55someone
20:56tells us
21:00bad news.
21:01my fellow
21:05pastor sent
21:05a message
21:06early this
21:07morning from
21:08Zambia saying
21:09that his dad
21:10has just
21:11died.
21:13That wasn't
21:14the worst.
21:15It was the
21:16narration he
21:17gave,
21:18saying last
21:19year in
21:20February,
21:21my elder
21:21brother died.
21:23In August,
21:24my mother
21:25died.
21:27Now in
21:27January,
21:28my father
21:28has died.
21:29and I
21:31could sense
21:32the
21:33bleeding
21:33heart
21:34as he
21:37said,
21:39I believe
21:39God is
21:41sovereign,
21:43but I'm
21:45bleeding.
21:49Pray for
21:49me.
21:51I don't
21:52know what
21:52situations you
21:53might be in
21:54today.
21:56What
21:56situations are
21:57causing you
21:58to wrestle
21:59in the
22:00depth of
22:01your own
22:02soul?
22:04What
22:04situations are
22:05causing you
22:06to begin
22:06to doubt
22:07not only
22:08the love
22:09of God,
22:09but the
22:10God of
22:11love?
22:11Does he
22:12really exist?
22:14I do
22:15not know.
22:18But here's
22:18one thing I
22:19want you to
22:19know.
22:21Satan
22:22is real.
22:25And he
22:26hates you
22:27absolutely
22:27that if
22:30it were
22:30completely
22:31in his
22:32power,
22:33yes,
22:34you would
22:35be beyond
22:36despair
22:36itself.
22:38You would
22:38be snuffed
22:38out.
22:39He is
22:41real.
22:46And where
22:47he can
22:48obtain the
22:49permission,
22:51he will
22:51make you
22:52so on
22:54the
22:54inside.
22:56But
22:57secondly,
22:57we learn
22:58from this
22:58text that
23:00Satan has
23:01opposition that
23:03he must
23:04reckon with.
23:06And that
23:07opposition is
23:08not you.
23:11It's the
23:12Lord Jesus
23:12Christ.
23:14Listen to
23:15this text.
23:17Luke 22
23:18and verse
23:1821.
23:19Simon,
23:19Simon,
23:20behold,
23:21Satan
23:21demanded to
23:22have you
23:23that he
23:24might sift
23:24you like
23:25wheat.
23:26But I
23:26have
23:27prayed
23:28for
23:29you
23:30that
23:31your
23:31faith
23:32may
23:32not
23:33fail.
23:35I
23:36have
23:37prayed
23:38for
23:39you.
23:42There
23:42ought to
23:43be a lot
23:43of comfort
23:44for Peter
23:45at that
23:45point
23:46to
23:47realize
23:48that
23:49my
23:50savior
23:51has
23:53my
23:54situation
23:55in mind.
23:57And not
23:58only so,
23:59but he
23:59has
24:00done
24:01something
24:02about it.
24:03And he
24:03is doing
24:05something
24:06about it
24:06even now.
24:09Sadly,
24:09in the
24:10moment of
24:11discouragement
24:12and despair,
24:13we often
24:13lose sight
24:14of that.
24:15so did
24:16Peter.
24:18Peter
24:19could not
24:19process
24:20this.
24:21Now,
24:21in a sense,
24:23we are in
24:23a better
24:24position.
24:25Because at
24:26that point,
24:27to Peter,
24:28the crucifixion
24:30of the
24:31master
24:31was the
24:32greatest
24:33tragedy
24:34that could
24:35ever happen.
24:36As he
24:37saw him
24:38arrested,
24:39being taken
24:40through a
24:41mock trial,
24:42his
24:43heart
24:44was
24:45despairing.
24:47There
24:47is the
24:48end.
24:51That's
24:51not the
24:51case with
24:52you.
24:55Two
24:56thousand
24:56plus years
24:57later,
24:58we know
24:59that
25:00the death
25:01of the
25:02Lord Jesus
25:02Christ
25:03was,
25:04in fact,
25:04the greatest
25:05triumph
25:06on the
25:07part of
25:07God.
25:08it had
25:10been planned
25:11from
25:11eternity.
25:13At the
25:14dawn of
25:14history,
25:16God made
25:16it clear
25:17that
25:20the
25:21woman's
25:22seed
25:22was going
25:24to crush
25:25the
25:25serpent's
25:26head
25:26as the
25:28serpent
25:29bruises
25:30his heel.
25:32And that's
25:32what was
25:33now to be
25:34played on
25:35the stage
25:36of history
25:37for all
25:39humanity
25:40to finally
25:41behold.
25:44It was
25:44not
25:45defeat
25:46on his
25:47part.
25:48No,
25:49he triumphed
25:50over the
25:51evil one
25:52by
25:53the
25:54cross.
25:57You and
25:57I know
25:58that after
26:00his death
26:01and his
26:02resurrection,
26:04Jesus
26:04went into
26:06the
26:08holy of
26:08holies
26:09in
26:11the
26:12eternal
26:13place
26:14where God
26:15dwells
26:15with
26:17his
26:17own
26:18blood,
26:20having
26:20made
26:21atonement
26:22for our
26:23sins.
26:25That he
26:25would
26:25therefore
26:26be able
26:27to speak
26:28to the
26:29Father
26:30on our
26:31behalf
26:32and make
26:33his
26:34own
26:34atonement
26:35the
26:35ultimate
26:36basis
26:37by which
26:38God,
26:39who was
26:40against
26:41us,
26:42should now
26:43be God
26:44acting for
26:45us for
26:46our good.
26:48The
26:48blood of
26:49atonement
26:49has
26:50reconciled
26:51us to
26:52the living
26:53God.
26:56Brethren,
26:57we are in a
26:57better position
26:58than Peter
26:58was in
26:59here.
26:59God
27:01by his
27:02spirit
27:03resident
27:04within our
27:05hearts
27:05has
27:06burnt
27:07this
27:08reality
27:09in us.
27:16To
27:16borrow the
27:17words
27:17of
27:19Martin
27:21Luther,
27:23did we
27:24in our
27:24own strength
27:25confide
27:26our
27:26striving
27:27would be
27:28losing?
27:29we're not
27:30the right
27:30man on
27:32our
27:32side,
27:33the man
27:34of God's
27:35own choosing.
27:37Doast
27:37ask who
27:38that may
27:38be?
27:40Christ
27:40Jesus,
27:41it is
27:42he.
27:43Lord
27:43Sabaoth
27:44is his
27:46name.
27:47From
27:47edge
27:48to
27:48edge
27:49the
27:49same.
27:51And
27:51he
27:52must
27:53win
27:54the
27:54battle.
27:55is
27:58that
27:59your
27:59faith
27:59today?
28:01That
28:02in the
28:02midst
28:03of
28:03all
28:04the
28:04onslaught
28:05of the
28:06evil
28:06one
28:07upon
28:07you,
28:08upon
28:08your
28:08marriage,
28:09upon
28:09your
28:09family,
28:10upon
28:10your
28:11church,
28:11upon
28:11your
28:12community,
28:12at the
28:16right hand
28:17of the
28:17majesty on
28:18high
28:19is
28:20he
28:21who
28:23is
28:23there
28:24for
28:26me,
28:27for
28:28me,
28:29for
28:30me.
28:32Let's
28:33go back
28:33to Job.
28:39Job
28:40chapter
28:4116.
28:43Here's
28:44a man
28:44who is
28:45in the
28:46midst
28:46of
28:47intense
28:48suffering.
28:52Intense
28:53suffering.
28:55He did
28:56not have
28:57the full
28:57revelation
28:58that
28:59you
29:01and I
29:01have.
29:02He
29:02didn't.
29:04But
29:04clearly,
29:05the spirit
29:06of the
29:06living
29:07God
29:07was
29:08revealing
29:09things
29:09to him
29:10that
29:11could
29:11not
29:12be
29:12natural.
29:13Listen
29:14to his
29:14words in
29:15Job
29:1516
29:16and
29:16verse
29:1718.
29:19In the
29:19heart
29:20of the
29:23crucible
29:24of
29:25suffering.
29:27Oh
29:28earth,
29:30cover not
29:30my blood
29:32and let
29:33my cry
29:34find no
29:34resting
29:35place.
29:36But even
29:37now,
29:37behold,
29:38my
29:39witness
29:39is in
29:40heaven
29:41and
29:42he
29:43who
29:43testifies
29:44for me
29:45is
29:46on
29:47high.
29:49Wow!
29:52Chapter
29:5319
29:54and
29:57verse
29:5723.
29:59Oh,
29:59that my
30:00words were
30:00written,
30:01oh,
30:02that they
30:02were inscribed
30:03in a
30:03book,
30:04oh,
30:04that with
30:05an iron
30:05pen and
30:06lead,
30:07they were
30:07engraved in
30:08the rock
30:08forever.
30:09For
30:10I
30:11know
30:11that my
30:12Redeemer
30:13lives,
30:14and at
30:14the last
30:14he will
30:15stand upon
30:16the earth,
30:16and after
30:17my skin
30:18has been
30:18thus destroyed,
30:20yet in
30:20my flesh
30:21I shall
30:22see God,
30:23whom I
30:24shall see
30:25for myself,
30:26and my
30:26eyes shall
30:27behold and
30:28not another.
30:29My
30:29heart
30:29yearns
30:31within
30:31me.
30:34Somehow
30:34Job
30:35believed,
30:36my
30:38redeemer
30:39lives.
30:43He
30:43has my
30:44issue
30:44on his
30:45hands,
30:46and
30:46consequently,
30:48victory
30:48in the
30:49end
30:50is
30:51certain.
30:53It is
30:53certain.
30:56I'm
30:57saying
30:57victory
30:58in the
30:58end
30:59because
31:00the
31:02advocacy
31:04of our
31:05Lord Jesus
31:06Christ
31:07does not
31:08preclude
31:09sin
31:10on your
31:11part.
31:12It
31:13doesn't.
31:16Look at the
31:17way he
31:17prays here.
31:18He says
31:18back to
31:19Luke 22,
31:20but I
31:21have prayed
31:22for you
31:22that your
31:23faith may
31:24not fail
31:25and when
31:27you turn
31:28again,
31:31when you
31:33come
31:34back,
31:36Jesus is
31:36dropping a
31:37hint there
31:38that you
31:39will go
31:40away.
31:42I've
31:42prayed that
31:43your faith
31:43may not
31:44fail,
31:46but there
31:47will be a
31:48season when
31:50you will
31:50go away.
31:51And that's
31:52exactly what
31:52happened.
31:54What his
31:54praying did
31:55was to
31:56guarantee
31:57his return.
32:00To
32:01guarantee
32:01his
32:03return.
32:04In other
32:05words,
32:06even
32:07at the
32:08point of
32:09denying
32:10the Lord
32:10three times
32:12over,
32:14that he
32:15knew
32:15him,
32:18his
32:18faith
32:19that gift
32:20of God
32:21may have
32:22been at
32:23its weakest
32:24level,
32:25but it
32:26had not
32:26been snuffed
32:27out.
32:29And that's
32:30what makes
32:30the major
32:31difference
32:32between Peter
32:33and Judas.
32:34Judas,
32:34on the other
32:35hand,
32:36was not
32:37a child
32:38of God.
32:39He was a
32:40child of
32:40the devil.
32:42And
32:42consequently,
32:43when he
32:44sins,
32:45yes,
32:45he is
32:46grief-stricken,
32:47again,
32:47but what
32:48does he
32:48do?
32:49He goes
32:49and kills
32:49himself.
32:52The son
32:53of
32:53petition
32:54has gone
32:55where he
32:55belongs,
32:56Jesus said.
32:58On the
32:58other hand,
32:59when Peter
33:00sins against
33:01the Lord
33:02in this
33:02way,
33:03he denies
33:04him three
33:04times over.
33:05He is
33:06so convicted
33:08of his
33:08own sin
33:09that he
33:12thoroughly
33:13repents
33:14suffering.
33:15Thoroughly!
33:18And the
33:18Lord,
33:19in a
33:19gracious
33:19way,
33:20when the
33:21ladies
33:22come to
33:23his tomb
33:25and find
33:26it open
33:26and he's
33:28not there,
33:30he causes
33:30his angel
33:31to say
33:32to them,
33:33you go
33:34and tell
33:35my disciples
33:36and Peter.
33:39And Peter.
33:40what you've
33:44just seen
33:44here.
33:47He is
33:48risen.
33:49Because if
33:50he hadn't
33:51said,
33:51and Peter,
33:52I know
33:52exactly what
33:53would have
33:53happened.
33:54The moment
33:54Peter hears
33:56that this is
33:56what Jesus
33:57has said,
33:58indeed,
33:59through his
33:59angel,
34:00that we
34:02should come
34:02and tell
34:03you that
34:03he's risen,
34:05it's,
34:05oh no,
34:07I'm in
34:08trouble.
34:10but nay,
34:14he actually
34:14mentions you
34:15by name.
34:16He said,
34:17we should
34:18tell you
34:19Peter,
34:19yes,
34:20you,
34:21that he's
34:22risen.
34:24And what
34:24it comes
34:25for that
34:25would have
34:25been to
34:26realize
34:26that Jesus
34:28had Peter
34:29in mind,
34:30especially
34:31knowing my
34:32child,
34:33his bruise,
34:34his conscience
34:35is screaming
34:36at him
34:37concerning his
34:38failure.
34:39He needs
34:39assurance,
34:40comfort,
34:41he needs
34:41to know
34:42that I
34:43have done
34:44all this
34:45for him.
34:46I know
34:47all the
34:47details of
34:48his life.
34:50And I
34:51have risen
34:51in order
34:52to bless
34:53him,
34:54to bless
34:55him,
34:56to bless
34:56him.
35:02Brethren,
35:03it's
35:06obvious
35:07one of
35:08the lessons
35:09that Peter
35:09needed to
35:10learn
35:10was
35:15to kick
35:17at his
35:18self-confidence.
35:22He was
35:23too self-confident
35:24to be a
35:26humble
35:27servant
35:28of God.
35:29you know
35:30that.
35:33Remember
35:33him saying,
35:34Master,
35:35all these
35:36may give
35:37up on you.
35:38All these
35:39may run
35:39away from
35:40you,
35:40but not
35:40me,
35:41not me.
35:45And the
35:46Lord needed
35:46to squeeze
35:47that out
35:48of him
35:48so that
35:50henceforth
35:51he may be
35:53a broken
35:54and humble
35:56child of
35:58God
35:59who relies
36:00upon
36:01the grace
36:02of God.
36:04There's no
36:05doubt about
36:05it.
36:08Could I
36:10suggest
36:10that
36:12that could
36:13be one
36:14reason why
36:15the Lord
36:16might be
36:17sifting
36:17you?
36:20In
36:21order to
36:22break
36:24that
36:25stubborn
36:26self-confidence?
36:29To
36:29make you
36:30an
36:31individual
36:31who
36:32rests
36:34upon
36:35the Lord
36:35himself
36:36in a
36:37very,
36:38very
36:38real way?
36:42The
36:43words of
36:44the hymn
36:44that we
36:45often sing,
36:47Oh,
36:48to grace
36:48how great
36:49a debt
36:50a daily
36:50I'm
36:51constrained
36:51to be.
36:53Let
36:53that
36:54grace
36:54Lord
36:55like a
36:55feta
36:55bind
36:56my
36:56wandering
36:57heart
36:57to
36:58thee.
36:59Prone
36:59to
37:00wander
37:00Lord
37:01I
37:01feel
37:01it.
37:02Prone
37:03to
37:03live
37:04the
37:04God
37:04I
37:05love.
37:05Take
37:06my
37:06heart
37:06Lord,
37:08take
37:08and seal
37:09it.
37:10Seal
37:10it for
37:10thy
37:11courts
37:11above.
37:12That
37:12those
37:12words
37:13may be
37:13very,
37:14very
37:14real
37:15to
37:15us.
37:17That
37:17I
37:17know
37:17that
37:18if
37:18the
37:18Lord
37:19doesn't
37:19shower
37:20me
37:20with
37:20his
37:20grace
37:21I'm
37:21undone.
37:22Not
37:23tomorrow,
37:23today.
37:27I
37:28recently
37:28bought
37:29the
37:31daily
37:32devotions
37:33that have
37:34been compiled
37:35from the
37:35writings of
37:36John
37:36Newton.
37:38I saw
37:38a copy
37:39in there
37:39in
37:40Lifeway
37:41yesterday
37:42and a
37:43few days
37:44ago
37:44John
37:45Newton
37:45from his
37:47writings
37:47was saying
37:48that one
37:49of the
37:50biggest
37:50trials
37:51that he
37:51often
37:52undergoes
37:53is
37:54that he
37:55wishes
37:55he didn't
37:57have to
37:57depend
37:58on
38:00God's
38:00grace
38:00so much.
38:04That
38:04perhaps
38:05when he
38:05was a
38:05younger
38:06believer
38:06it could
38:07be
38:07understood
38:08because
38:08he was
38:09a
38:09young
38:09believer.
38:11But
38:11he says
38:12in my
38:12foolish
38:12moments
38:13I
38:13often
38:13say
38:14Lord
38:14why
38:15can't
38:15I
38:15now
38:16as it
38:16were
38:16using
38:17modern
38:17language
38:18fly
38:18off
38:19from
38:19this
38:20dependence.
38:21After all
38:22I've
38:22learned
38:22so many
38:23lessons
38:23by now
38:24I
38:25should
38:25have
38:25some
38:26level
38:26of
38:27self
38:27confidence
38:27I
38:28can
38:28do
38:29it
38:29I
38:29can
38:30manage.
38:32And
38:32he says
38:33but the
38:33Lord
38:33in his
38:34wisdom
38:34keeps
38:36me
38:36there.
38:38Keeps
38:39me
38:39there.
38:39that
38:41even
38:41now
38:42so
38:43many
38:43years
38:44later
38:44in my
38:44Christian
38:45life
38:45I
38:47know
38:47I
38:48know
38:49I
38:50need
38:51him.
38:52I
38:52desperately
38:53need
38:54him
38:54now.
38:58And
38:58if
38:59a
38:59Christian
38:59sitting
39:00in here
39:00this
39:01morning
39:01you know
39:01what I'm
39:02talking
39:02about.
39:04You
39:04know
39:04how
39:07with
39:08all
39:08the
39:09accolades
39:10that
39:10people
39:10have
39:11and
39:11sing
39:12about
39:13you
39:13you
39:14know
39:14that
39:15you
39:15are
39:16nothing
39:16but
39:17a
39:17child
39:18in
39:19desperate
39:20need
39:21of
39:23the
39:23grace
39:24of
39:25God.
39:26The
39:27grace
39:28of
39:28God.
39:30Well
39:30Peter had
39:31to learn
39:31it the
39:31hard
39:32way.
39:32And
39:34may
39:34we
39:35not
39:35learn
39:35it
39:35the
39:36hard
39:36way.
39:37Let
39:38me
39:38ask
39:38how
39:39is
39:40your
39:40prayer
39:40life?
39:42How
39:43is
39:43it?
39:47Is
39:48it
39:48real?
39:51Is
39:51it
39:51real?
39:55Are
39:55you
39:55as a
39:56child
39:56of
39:56God
39:57on
40:00your
40:01knees
40:02crying
40:04for
40:04grace
40:05crying
40:07for
40:07grace
40:08crying
40:09for
40:09grace
40:10knowing
40:11that
40:12if
40:13you
40:14oh
40:14Lord
40:15do
40:16not
40:16visit
40:17me
40:17and
40:18uphold
40:18me
40:19I
40:19will
40:20make
40:20shipwreck
40:21of my
40:22faith
40:22of my
40:23life
40:23I
40:23will
40:24bring
40:24this
40:24grace
40:25to
40:25your
40:25name
40:25oh
40:26Lord
40:26help
40:29me
40:30uphold
40:31me
40:32and
40:34receive
40:34me
40:35in
40:35heaven
40:35as
40:37the
40:37hymn
40:37writer
40:37says
40:38well
40:40there's
40:42good news
40:43and it
40:45is this
40:46that
40:48God
40:48is
40:48sovereign
40:49even
40:51Satan
40:52is
40:55in
40:55his
40:56hands
40:56he's
40:58not
40:58sitting
40:59across
41:00the
41:01chess
41:01board
41:02making
41:03moves
41:04that are
41:05making
41:06God
41:06scratch
41:06his
41:07head
41:07wondering
41:08what to
41:09do
41:09next
41:09and
41:11every
41:11so
41:11often
41:12hearing
41:12the
41:12devil
41:13going
41:13check
41:13check
41:14check
41:15and
41:17running
41:17his
41:17pieces
41:18around
41:18to
41:18avoid
41:19the
41:19check
41:19mate
41:20no
41:21God
41:23is
41:24in
41:24absolute
41:25control
41:26of
41:27everything
41:28Satan
41:29included
41:29back
41:32to the
41:33statement
41:33here
41:33look
41:34at
41:35the
41:36confidence
41:36with
41:37which
41:38Jesus
41:38speaks
41:39about
41:40Peter's
41:40future
41:40the
41:42second
41:43part
41:43of
41:43verse
41:4332
41:43says
41:44and
41:45when
41:45you
41:45have
41:45turned
41:46back
41:46strengthen
41:47your
41:48brothers
41:49when
41:51you
41:51have
41:51turned
41:52back
41:53not
41:56if
41:56you
41:57ever
41:57turn
41:58back
41:58but
42:00when
42:00you
42:00do
42:01so
42:01Jesus
42:05is
42:08God
42:08he
42:10is
42:10in
42:11full
42:11control
42:12this
42:13was
42:13an
42:13episode
42:14to
42:14teach
42:14Peter
42:16a
42:16lifelong
42:17lesson
42:17but
42:19no
42:19doubt
42:19about
42:20it
42:20God
42:22was
42:23still
42:23with
42:24a
42:24purpose
42:24that
42:25was
42:25going
42:25to
42:25be
42:25accomplished
42:26now
42:28brethren
42:28sin
42:29is
42:29bad
42:29it's
42:29terrible
42:30it's
42:30outrageous
42:31but
42:34but
42:34the
42:35God
42:35of
42:35heaven
42:36is
42:36so
42:37sovereign
42:37that
42:38he
42:39even
42:40uses
42:41our
42:42sin
42:42our
42:43failure
42:43our
42:44weaknesses
42:44for
42:46his
42:47glory
42:48now that
42:52blows
42:53my
42:53mind
42:54Peter
42:57himself
42:58having
42:59undergone
43:00all
43:01this
43:01remember
43:02his
43:02meeting
43:03with
43:04the
43:04Lord
43:04recorded
43:05for
43:05us
43:05by
43:06John
43:07when
43:09the
43:09Lord
43:09called
43:10him
43:10aside
43:10and
43:11asked
43:13him
43:13the
43:14question
43:14Peter
43:14do
43:15you
43:15love
43:16me
43:16three
43:19times
43:20do
43:20you
43:20love
43:20me
43:21now
43:22if
43:22it
43:23wasn't
43:23for
43:23the
43:24fall
43:24that
43:24took
43:25place
43:25here
43:25Peter
43:26would
43:26have
43:27been
43:27strutting
43:28like
43:29a
43:29peacock
43:29you
43:32know
43:32how
43:33I
43:33love
43:33you
43:33Lord
43:34I'm
43:34compared
43:34to
43:34all
43:35this
43:35bundle
43:36them
43:36all
43:36together
43:36their
43:37love
43:37is
43:38nothing
43:38compared
43:39to
43:39mine
43:39well
43:42maybe
43:42it's
43:43in the
43:43apocrypha
43:44but not
43:44in your
43:44Bible
43:45in your
43:50Bible
43:50Peter
43:52is
43:53broken
43:53he's
43:55broken
43:56he
43:58knows
43:58the
43:59Lord
43:59knows
44:00my
44:01heart
44:01Lord
44:04you
44:05know
44:06that
44:08I
44:08love
44:09you
44:10that
44:12initial
44:15earlier
44:16self
44:17confidence
44:18is
44:19destroyed
44:19Lord
44:23have
44:24mercy
44:24help
44:26me
44:26to
44:27love
44:28you
44:28more
44:29think
44:32of
44:33David
44:33King
44:34David
44:35yes
44:37after
44:38his
44:38sinned
44:39with
44:39Bathsheba
44:40and
44:40connived
44:42for the
44:42death
44:43of
44:43Uriah
44:45his life
44:46was never
44:47the same
44:47never
44:48the same
44:49and in
44:50that
44:50sense
44:51we
44:51ought
44:51to
44:51be
44:51warned
44:52not
44:53to
44:53play
44:54with
44:54sin
44:55it's
44:58got
44:58destructive
44:59elements
45:00as part
45:01of it
45:02don't
45:03but
45:06look
45:07at
45:07some
45:08of
45:09the
45:09psalms
45:10that
45:10David
45:11wrote
45:11after
45:12that
45:12haven't
45:14we
45:14gone
45:14there
45:15for
45:16our
45:16own
45:17strengthening
45:17psalm
45:2032
45:20psalm
45:2251
45:23haven't
45:24we
45:24gone
45:25there
45:25and
45:26wept
45:28and
45:28wept
45:29and
45:29wept
45:30until
45:31we are
45:31almost
45:31drowning
45:32ourselves
45:33in our
45:33own
45:34tears
45:34haven't
45:35we been
45:36grateful
45:37to
45:37God
45:38that
45:39in
45:39the
45:40whole
45:40of
45:41the
45:41Bible
45:42we
45:42have
45:43those
45:44psalms
45:45you
45:47can
45:47then
45:47well
45:47understand
45:48why
45:48Jesus
45:48says
45:49to
45:49him
45:50when
45:50you've
45:50returned
45:51strengthen
45:52your
45:52brothers
45:53in other
45:54words
45:54Peter
45:55you will
45:55be
45:56now
45:56in
45:57a
45:57better
45:57position
45:58to
45:59be
45:59my
46:00servant
46:01a
46:02servant
46:02of
46:03comfort
46:04a
46:04servant
46:05who
46:05able
46:06to
46:06console
46:07the
46:07brethren
46:07because
46:10you
46:10yourself
46:11now
46:11know
46:12the
46:14sad
46:14reality
46:15concerning
46:16the
46:16power
46:17of
46:17Satan
46:18and
46:18the
46:18power
46:19of
46:20sin
46:20in
46:21other
46:22words
46:22God
46:23is
46:24sovereign
46:24and
46:26will
46:26often
46:26use
46:27our
46:27weaknesses
46:28our
46:28failures
46:29and
46:29our
46:30sins
46:30in
46:31order
46:31to
46:32sanctify
46:33us
46:33to
46:35make
46:35us
46:36better
46:36instruments
46:37in
46:37his
46:38hands
46:38for
46:40the
46:40good
46:40of
46:41his
46:41church
46:41and
46:42for
46:42the
46:43glory
46:43of
46:44his
46:44name
46:44well
46:45brethren
46:46let me
46:46hurry
46:47on
46:47to
46:47close
46:48Satan
46:49has
46:50asked
46:50to
46:51sift
46:51you
46:52what's
46:54your
46:54situation
46:55today
46:56if
46:57the
46:57sky
46:58is
46:58bright
46:59the
46:59sun's
47:00rays
47:00are
47:00coming
47:01through
47:01there
47:02are
47:02no
47:02clouds
47:03over
47:03your
47:03head
47:04and
47:04everything
47:05else
47:05take
47:06this
47:06sermon
47:07and put
47:08it in
47:08your
47:08pocket
47:08you
47:09need
47:09it
47:10one
47:10day
47:10it
47:13will
47:13not
47:13always
47:14be
47:14bright
47:15and
47:15shiny
47:15but
47:18if
47:19you
47:19are
47:19already
47:19there
47:20and
47:23the
47:24evil
47:24one
47:25is
47:25perfecting
47:26your
47:27soul
47:27and
47:29you
47:30are
47:30in
47:31a
47:31period
47:31of
47:31discouragement
47:32in
47:33a
47:33period
47:34of
47:34despair
47:35I
47:37want
47:37to
47:37say
47:37to
47:38you
47:38yes
47:38Satan
47:39is
47:40real
47:41but
47:42God
47:43your
47:43God
47:44the
47:44father
47:45of
47:45the
47:45Lord
47:46Jesus
47:46Christ
47:47your
47:47savior
47:48is
47:48sovereign
47:49on
47:57one
47:58hand
47:58do
47:58not
47:59be
47:59careless
48:00don't
48:01just
48:01go
48:02about
48:02life
48:03as
48:03though
48:03the
48:04decrees
48:04of
48:04God
48:05will
48:05protect
48:06you
48:06from
48:06all
48:07things
48:07even
48:09failure
48:09and
48:10sin
48:10no
48:11make
48:13sure
48:13that
48:14you
48:14are
48:15prayerful
48:16about
48:16your
48:17life
48:17you
48:18are
48:18making
48:19sure
48:19that
48:20the
48:20means
48:20of
48:21grace
48:21are
48:22being
48:22absolutely
48:23close
48:24to your
48:24own
48:24heart
48:25reading
48:26God's
48:27word
48:27being
48:28in
48:28prayer
48:28and
48:29being
48:29in the
48:29fellowship
48:30of
48:30God's
48:30people
48:31serving
48:33him
48:33together
48:34with
48:34others
48:34for
48:35the
48:35sake
48:36of
48:36the
48:36well
48:36being
48:37of
48:37your
48:37soul
48:38don't
48:39play
48:39near
48:40the
48:41edge
48:41don't
48:42that
48:47confidence
48:48that
48:49self
48:49confidence
48:50will
48:51cost
48:51you
48:52run
48:54away
48:54from
48:55sin
48:55I
48:56say
48:57again
48:57run
48:58away
48:58from
48:58sin
48:59flee
49:01is what
49:03the
49:03Bible
49:03says
49:04while
49:07you're
49:07also
49:07doing
49:08that
49:08remember
49:10at the
49:11right hand
49:12of God
49:12is your
49:14advocate
49:15on high
49:16this
49:17is
49:18what
49:19how
49:19Luther
49:20finishes
49:21and
49:22though
49:23this
49:23world
49:24with
49:24devils
49:24filled
49:25should
49:25threaten
49:26to
49:26undo
49:27us
49:27we
49:28will
49:28not
49:29fear
49:29for
49:30God
49:30has
49:30willed
49:31his
49:31truth
49:32to
49:32triumph
49:33through
49:33us
49:33the
49:34prince
49:35of
49:35darkness
49:36grim
49:36we
49:37tremble
49:38not
49:38for
49:39him
49:39his
49:40rage
49:41we
49:41can
49:41endure
49:42for
49:42law
49:43his
49:43doom
49:44is
49:44sure
49:45one
49:46little
49:46word
49:47from
49:48from
49:48God
49:49shall
49:51fail
49:51him
49:51and
49:53he
49:53ends
49:53with
49:54a
49:55note
49:55of
49:55confidence
49:56confidence
49:58not in
49:58himself
49:59but in
50:00God
50:01and it
50:02is these
50:02words
50:03that
50:03must
50:03pulsate
50:05in
50:05our
50:05souls
50:06if
50:07we
50:07believe
50:08Satan
50:09is real
50:10but
50:11God
50:11is
50:12sovereign
50:12this is
50:13what
50:13it
50:13says
50:14that
50:14word
50:15above
50:15all
50:16earthly
50:16powers
50:17no
50:17thanks
50:17to
50:17them
50:18abide
50:19death
50:19the
50:20spirit
50:21and
50:21the
50:21gifts
50:22are
50:22ours
50:23through
50:23him
50:24who
50:25with
50:25us
50:25sigh
50:26death
50:26let
50:27goods
50:28and
50:28kindred
50:29go
50:29this
50:30mortal
50:31life
50:31also
50:32the
50:33body
50:33they
50:33may
50:34kill
50:34all
50:34the
50:35sifting
50:35all
50:36the
50:36sifting
50:37yes
50:38he
50:38may
50:38permit
50:38them
50:39God's
50:41truth
50:41abided
50:43still
50:43his
50:44kingdom
50:45is
50:46forever
50:47let's
50:55pray
50:56let's
50:57pray
Recommended
56:30
50:31
1:29
0:46
2:11
2:55
11:13
1:00
2:50
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