Living on a Prayer

Luke 22:33-34
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

In this story of the bible, there are three things I would like to talk about:

Petition from Satan

Luke 22:31
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you all as wheat"

Job 1:6-8
One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

Matthew 4:1
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin.

Prayer from our Savior

Who did he pray for? He prayed for Peter. Peter has been the disciple that has been noted for having the most failures. Failures can either be an event or an identity. 

Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind (watch and pray). Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:9
Resist him, standing firm in the FAITH…..

The Promise of Success

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV)

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.