Satans Strategy....by Dr. Charles Anthony Luke 22:31-62 All of us make tracks through the valley of failure. The question is, How are you going to respond? Plenty of people give up and exchange a vibrant kingdom-serving life for a defeated existence. But failure need not be an end. Its a chance for a new beginning living in Christs strength. Peter had a life-altering failure. Jesus warned that Satan had asked permission to sift the disciple like wheat (Luke 22:31)—vigorous shaking is required to separate wheat kernels from debris. The Enemy wanted to shake Peters faith hard in hopes that hed fall away from Jesus like chaff. Peter fervently believed the promise hed made to Jesus: Even though all may fall away, yet I will not (Mark 14:29). But Satan knows a few things about the power of fear. Whats more, he realized that the disciple would be wounded by his own disloyalty. A man with tattered pride cant help but question his usefulness. When Satan sifts believers, his goal is to damage our faith so much that were useless to God. He wants us shelved far from the action of the Lords kingdom. Therefore, he goes for our strengths—the areas where we believe ourselves to be invincible, or at least very well protected. And when the Devil succeeds, we are disappointed and demoralized. But we dont have to stay that way. If we are willing, God can use failure to do spiritual housecleaning. Peter laid down his pride and instead put on the Holy Spirits courage. Thereafter, he risked humiliation, persecution, and death to proclaim the gospel. Failure was the catalyst that brought forth greater faith and true servanthood.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 17:34:50 +0000
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