31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” 34 And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me (cf.Lk.22:52-64).”

Luke 22:31-34 NASB

***This devotion will help you embrace Jesus in the midst of your duality between obedience and disobedience. You will identify the value of  faith, hope, love and purpose in the midst of your greatest disappointments. The personal Intercession of Jesus overcomes the inconsistencies of your choices and turns you around to go and help others.  This Gospel narrative can completely transform the way we view failure in ourselves and in others, how we conduct spiritual warfare and how we pray for others.

This intense exchange between Jesus, Peter and Satan is during the Passover meal in the Upper Room (around 9pm). The disciples were discussing who would betray Jesus (Luke 22:21-23) and who was “regarded as the greatest” among them (Luke 22:24-27). Sometime between Midnight-3am, in  the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus would be betrayed with a kiss by Judas, all the disciples would desert Him and he would be arrested. 

Lessons of The Great Reversal:

• “Simon, Simon”: We are tempted at our points of weakness. “Simon” is that part of us that is prideful, lustful, greedy, bitter, flimsy, fickle, cowardly, judgemental, angry,  etc.  If we are not careful and humble, The “Simon” in all of us, is the foothold that we can give to Satan to build a stronghold of resistance to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

• “Behold”: We need to “STOP” and listen carefully when Jesus is warning us about spiritual warfare and pending potential failure.  Listen carefully for the “whispers” of the Spirit, the “shouts of the Spirit” and “embrace the rod of correction” by the Holy Spirit. We can stop the maturing of sin in our lives by humble submission to God (James 4:4). 

• “Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;”: In similiar fashion to ancient Job, Satan approaches Jesus and insists that Peter be given into his hands to cast like wheat and chaff before the gale winds of adversity.  This word for “has demanded permission” is only used here in the New Testament. Satan is requesting Jesus  to completely let go of Peter, allowing Satan full power over Peter.  

Click link below “Sift Wheat by Hand”: 

https://youtu.be/jleK4pHtQIw

Satan is limited and constrained at all times by the hand of God. Evil can only advance as far as the goodness of God allows. The Sovereign Good of God always checkmates evil. Rejoice in the victory of Jesus over sin, death and Satan.  Do good today in word and deed by the power and love of the Holy Spirit.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom.12:21).

“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38)

• “But I have prayed”: “BUT” is the beginning of or the source of the Great Reversal! The intercessory ministry of Jesus will always prevail over the accusations, condemnation and weapons of Satan.  Focus on Jesus, the originator and consumator of your faith (Hebrews 12:1-3).  Jesus is our Advocate/Intercessor before the Father.  There is no higher authority or more influence than the intercession of Jesus on your behalf.  Satan’s authority, though rebellious, is derived from God. Our lives are always in the hand of God, no matter what! 

If you are praying for a rebellious child or grandchild or friend…pray they will “turn around” in repentance, their faith will not fail and they will discover immediate purpose to help others. DO NOT focus on the failure or the details of the struggle itself.

• “That your faith may not fail”: Jesus allows the testing of our faith to purify our character and prepare us for His purpose. Peter failed but his faith did not! 
  “Fail” means to cease, quit or fade into obscurity. Satan wants to steal the seed/wheat kernel of faith that produces fruit unto the glory of God.  Satan wants to steal our confidence, he wants us to give up.  The devil seeks to pin us down beneath the crushing weight of personal disappointment in ourselves or in others and self-pity and self-loathing. Jesus protects “the faith” in us to promote humility and grace.  Satan wants to destroy our faith to promote the ‘chaff’, the activities that will not produce any eternal treasure.  Our faith must be refined in the fire to remove the impurities of pride, self-reliance…”faith”, according to the older Peter, is THE MOST valuable possession we have! 1 Peter 1:7, “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; “

Faith may be eclipsed for a season but not extinguished.  Faith is always God’s gift (Eph.2:8-9) based on His word about Jesus Christ (Rom.10:17).  Remember FAITH is the ‘inner persuasion of God” to trust Him and the whole of His proven character (Heb.11:6). Repentance shortens the season of ecliptic failure. Confession is the agreement that we are saved by grace not works.  Faith focuses exclusively on the free gift of  righteousness of Christ from God (2 Cor.5:20-21)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, martyred German-Theologian-Pastor during the Third Reich, said in his writings, ” Falling away is far more serious than falling down. The most brilliant virtues of the apostates are as dark as the night compared with the darkest weaknesses of the faithful.” (Ethics)

• “When you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. ”: Godly sorrow with conviction of sin leads to repentance, recovery and restoration of ministry purpose…Peter heard the “cock” crow, locked eyes with Jesus and “went out and wept bitterly”.  On the other hand, Judas was filled with remorse and “went out and hung himself”. 

Jesus saw past the failure toward the results.  Prophetic Grace may see failure but provides repentance and redemption.  We can actually become more sufficient in God’s love to bring stability and strength to others!  Your best ministry can follow your worst moments!  We know we are being restored when we deeply desire to love as we have been loved by God.  Our eyes switch from excessive self-absorption to trying to figure out each day how we might be a source of strength to others.

• Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” 34 And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me”:  The “rooster” and  Satan did not have the final say in Peter’s life. The intercession of Jesus is the final word over our lives. Jesus switches from “Simon” to “Peter”, in fact, Peter would be imprisoned and be crucified upside down for the love of His Lord and friend Jesus!

 

Rooster Crowing Compilation Plus: Click Below Link…this is kind of funny!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3CenN7d30Y

May each of us rediscover the presence, purity, power and purpose of Jesus in the midst of the inconsistency and duplicity  of our lives. May we by His grace and truth be turned again toward Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength to make a difference in the lives of those around us!  Amen

Influence is the mark of true leadership not necessarily crowds. Godly Leadership under the pressure of a crisis requires the character of Jesus. This devotion will point you to the influencing presence and truth of Jesus in His darkest and most difficult hours. You will be filled with His love, joy, peace and courage to face a transition, rejection, hostility, misunderstanding, loneliness, and suffering.

What would you say to friends and family, knowing you would be arrested and put to death within 12 hours? Consider Jesus, the Last Adam…He warns about approaching trouble, scandal, offense, hatred and death. He points to those who influenced Him most…the person and work of the Father and the Holy Spirit. He points to the future,  promising immeasurable love, overflowing joy and deep peace in the midst of all hell breaking loose in the world. He assures his friends of absolute victory over sin, Satan and a hostile world…RESURRECTION is the predictable and unstoppable consequence of  voluntary obedient sacrificial love!

Under the night sky, The teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of John 14-17 were most likely delivered to the disciples during the Passover meal and/or enroute to the Garden of Gethsemane (John 14:31;18:1). He would have meandered through the streets of Jerusalem in the shadow of the Temple Mount area between around 9pm-midnight. He may have paused in a private corner of the temple court to deliver some of these eternal inexhaustible truths. He may have then exited Jerusalem at the southern Water Gate and followed the steep path outside the walls over the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives.

 

 

 

Six times Jesus repeats the phrase, “These things I have spoken to you”. Jesus, like Elijah, is weaving together a master tapestry, or a teaching-mantle to leave at the feet of the apostles to pick up, like Elisha, and call upon the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ in the difficult days that are upon them.  The Double-portion of the Spirit was promised and greater works would ensue following the necessity of the cross. 

 Contextually, Judas is absent, the Eleven are filled with sorrow, confusion is setting in like hypothermia, Jesus Himself is distressed. The Olive Press of Almighty God is beginning to crush the Son in accordance with His will and the impending cup of suffering.  Yet, Jesus is downloading the final words for His final moments before the hour of His crucifixion. The torches and the lanterns are about to be ignited and swords taken up by Jewish leaders, a brutal Roman cohort…all led by a satanic ambitious greedy friend who thought he needed to force the hand of Jesus to take control and assert His power and authority to throw off the Roman yoke of oppression. Judas,the friend, was thinking, a surprise military coup…the Ancient Foe was thinking death by crucifixion.

 

Suggested Devotional Exercise:

• Read each Chapter of John 14-16 Over the Next Week

• Go to each phrase “these things I have spoken to you” and meditate on the immediate verses surround each of the six repeated phrases

• Read aloud and meditate upon each Scripture and bullet point reflection

• Pray to Father in Jesus name whatever is on your heart

• Find someone to share these truths with and walk them through each of the six reflections

• Take Holy Communion together to “Remember Jesus”.

 

•  

• John 14:25
  25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

• Be assured Trouble is coming but you will not be abandoned.

• Help is on the way…the Father is for you!

• Truth will emerge as you merge with Jesus!

• You are smarter than you think…the Holy Spirit will not let you forget what matters most!

•  

• John 15:11
  These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

• Joy from Jesus is both internal and external.  Joy springs forth from the indwelling Holy Spirit and floods our spirit, soul and body with Resurrection life in all the vicissitudes of life!  Joy flows deeply regardless of the weather!

• Joy is the awareness, recognition and reception of God’s grace in our lives…thus, we can “Rejoice always!”

• Loving obedience is the watershed that determines the nature of our Christian experience…No love, No Spirit, No obedience, No Joy…ouch, help us Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner…to grow in grace is to manifest the fruit of joy (2 Pet.3:15) in the experience of Jesus’ Personal Presence!

• John 16:1
  “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling.2 They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. 3 These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. 

• (16:1 )I have told you all these things, so that you should not be offended (taken unawares and falter, or be caused to stumble and fall away). [I told you to keep you from being scandalized and repelled.] Amplified Version

• The teaching of Jesus prepares us to handle rejection by the world for the sake of His name and the cause of the Gospel. 

• The sober realization of the inevitability of persecution , while following in the steps of Jesus, frees us from being perpetually trapped in the misguided effort to accommodate the world so they will recognize and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior on their term of self-preservation.

• John 16:4
  But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

• The faithful words of Jesus couches the sorrow that fills our heart when we do not understand what is going on! (v6) Jesus anticipates our depression and proactively tells us the truth so  we can repent and move forward in freedom.

• When we internalize the teaching and promises of Jesus, we gain the advantage with the Holy Spirit who fights our battles for us to convince the world of their need for salvation in Jesus.

The angry mob tries to push Jesus over a cliff. (Luke 4:29)

• John 16:25
  “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.”

• 29 His disciples *said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. 30 Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 

• The language of Jesus, filling the heart and mind, is constantly pointing to the Father’s character with revelatory wisdom and revelation.

• The prophetic grace of Jesus’ words prepares us to deal with both failure and loneliness. Why?  So we don’t abandon all restraint in our isolation. Grace buys us time until He can rebuild our trust and be empowered by the Spirit to be His witnesses in this broken world of cold hate and unbelief.

• John 16:33
  These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

• Finally, the law of Jesus will turn pressure into peaceful access to the Father producing  character, hope and abundant love.

• Obedient students of Jesus run into the fray with courage and perpetual optimism born of the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. 

• The shout of the church to the world rings true with “God has reconciled you to Himself through Jesus Christ. Call upon Jesus and you will be saved!”

Father, we boldly come and humbly ask in the name of Jesus that you fill us with these words of Jesus. Burn them in our hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit to guide us through these dark and troubled days with love, peace and joy. We ask for the courage and the faith to follow in the footsteps of Your Beloved Son. May the World see our love and unity, opening their eyes to the Revelation of Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Amen