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