(Luke 22:31-34) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. (KJV)
Once again, we find the need to examine the events which took place on the night of the feast of the Passover. Earlier in the day, Jesus had sent Peter and John ahead into the city of Jerusalem to prepare for the Passover supper. After the feast of the Passover and the institution of the Lord’s Supper, we find a dispute breaks out among the apostles as to whom should be the greatest. Jesus settles the dispute and then proceeds to make a startling statement to Peter. He gently informs Peter that Satan has wanted to get to Peter to “sift” him like wheat. Jesus does not say much that would reassure Peter. He merely tells him that He has prayed for him that his faith would to fail. Peter’s reply shows his usual enthusiastic arrogance. He states he is ready to follow Jesus anywhere, even to prison or death. Jesus’ reply greatly shakes Peter. He tells him that before the day is over, he will deny Him not just once, but three times.
The purpose of this prayer is quite plain and simple. Its purpose is to strength Peter’s faith, which is to soon be greatly tested.
Jesus was concerning that Peter’s faith would not pass the test he was to face. Therefore, Jesus said He had prayed for him.
66
REVISED EBOOK EDITION
The examination of this prayer is quite difficult because of the fact it is not recorded. In the text, Jesus is not even praying. Jesus instead makes a statement referring to a past action. He said, “…I have prayed….” In order to examine this prayer, we must instead consider the results of the prayer and the example Jesus set by it.
To properly understand the situation, we must closely examine verse thirty-one. To begin, let us consider it in the light of the Greek text.
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, lo, Satan demanded to have you, for the sifting as wheat; but I besought for thee, that they faith may not fail; and when thou hast turned back confirm they brethren. Luke 22:31 (smooth translation by author).
There are some key words in this verse which need close attention. In the King James the word
“desired” is used, but in the above translation, the word is “demanded.” In the English the latter denotes a stronger action. Satan did not just ask, he DEMANDED that he be given permission to deal with Peter. Satan apparently had been given permission to “have a go” at Peter. Jesus did not try to hinder Satan’s action. Instead of keeping Peter from undergoing the ordeal that he would be facing, Jesus said He had prayed for him that his faith would not break down and fail under the pressure that would soon be coming his way.
This strikes at the very heart of the suffering of God’s children. Satan had to go to Jesus to get permission in order to even touch Peter. What a comforting thought! There is nothing that can happen to the child of God without it being allowed by God. Everything is checked by God before it is allowed to happen. This is clearly taught in the case of the Old Testament saint, Job.
(Job 1:6-22) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD
said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the 67
REVISED EBOOK EDITION
sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (KJV) We find that this first attempt at Job resulted in failure as demonstrated in verse twenty-two. Satan again gets permission to try again.
(Job 2:1-10) Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.
What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. (KJV)
Some might think this is terrible. Here is a faithful man having to suffer greatly. The outstanding thing about Job is that he remained faithful and loyal to God even after he had lost everything. He did not understand why all these things had happened to him but he never once turned against his Lord. He never once said, “Why is this happening to me, Lord?”
68
REVISED EBOOK EDITION
Satan had to have permission to get to Job at all. There was not one thing Satan or all of the demons of hell could do to Job until the Lord removed His protection. Note Satan’s words in verse ten of the first chapter.
(Job 1:10) Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. (KJV)
God had placed a hedge of protection around Job and all that he had. All the demonic power available could not even dent that hedge until God the Son gave His permission. Many times, we moan and groan when troubles and calamities come upon us. We feel we do not deserve what happens to us. Job did not deserve what happened to him either, but God knew what the end result would be. Consider the results of Job’s faithfulness throughout the terrible ordeal that came his way.
(Job 42:10-13) And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. (KJV) (Job 42:15-16) And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. (KJV)
What a blessing! Job did not think so when he was enduring the troubles. Peter did not think so, either, when Satan began to “sift” him.
Peter was like every one of us when we are first born again. He was a diamond in the rough. Peter was a rough, hard-working fisherman. His language was rough. His life was rough. His work was rough. Everything about him was ROUGH. The fact is, Peter was so rough that the Lord needed some of those rough edges knocked off him so that he could become a profitable servant for Him.
Satan though there would not be anything left of Peter after he finished with him. Jesus knew what the end result would be. He knew that in his present state, Peter was an unprofitable servant.
When a cook takes flour to bake something, she has to put that flour through a sifter. Sifters may vary in design but they all are made for one purpose in mind—to purify the flour. The sifter gets out all the trash and foreign objects that get into the flour when it is milled. When the cook is finished sifting the flour, she knows she has good, pure flour to do her baking.
69
REVISED EBOOK EDITION
Satan probably thought he would be able to destroy Peter but Jesus knew that Peter needed to be put through Satan’s “sifter.” Jesus even told Peter what the “sifter” would be.
(Luke 22:34) And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. (KJV) Knowing this, Jesus said He had prayed for Peter. The word is translated “prayed” in the English.
The word can also be translated “besought.” In the English, “besought” is stronger in meaning than
“pray.” Because of what He knew he faced, Jesus earnestly entreated God in Peter’s behalf. He interceded in Peter’s behalf.
Peter did not at all believe what Jesus said. He thought he knew himself better than that. Surely, he of all people would never desert his Master. The others might, and let them if they wanted to, but Peter never would. Sadly, we begin to realize Satan already has the “sifter” out and is already in the process of putting the Fisherman into it.
The handle on the sifter begins to turn as Jesus and the disciples get to the Garden of Gethsemane.
Peter, James and John fell asleep during Jesus’s agonizing time in the Garden. He is arrested and taken away, but where is Peter? What has happened to him after he tries to take off the head of the high priest’s servant? Did he run, too?
(Luke 22:54-62) Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. (KJV)
So, Peter now understood what Jesus had tried to tell him. Through his bitter tears he realized he had indeed been “sifted” through Satan’s “sifter.” This proud, haughty, rough, tough fisherman was reduced to bitter, heart-breaking weeping. This must have thoroughly broken Peter for we later find Jesus giving specific instructions that Peter be informed that He has arisen from the dead.
(Mark 16:6-7) And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. (KJV) 70
REVISED EBOOK EDITION
Thus, Peter survived Satan’s “sifter.” Peter came out with many of the rough edges knocked off.
He went on to become one of the most profitable servants the Lord ever had because Jesus prayed an intercessory prayer for him.
Did Peter ever forget what he had done? We cannot know for sure. There is nothing mentioned in the Scriptures concerning it. Tradition says every time Peter heard a rooster crow, he would fall upon his knees and again cry to the Lord for forgiveness. There is no way of proving, to my knowledge, whether or not this is true. One thing is certain; however, the results of this intercessory prayer were tremendous.
By praying an intercessory prayer for Peter,
In praying for people in our offices,
Jesus was putting into practice an example
schools, and other everyday
that each child of God should follow. Jesus
was not the first to do this, though He is the
settings, we are living out a holy
best example to be had. Job practiced it
calling. It is both highly practical
with his children. Abraham practiced it for
and exceedingly eternal. God is
Abimelech. Moses did it for the rebellious
honored by this kind of praying.
children of Israel.
And because of it, His will is more
(Job 1:4-5) And his sons went and
readily and pervasively done.
feasted in their houses, every one
his day; and sent and called for
LIVING THE BATTLE PLAN DAY 57
their three sisters to eat and to
drink with them. And it was so,
when the days of their feasting
were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. (KJV)
(Genesis 20:7) Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. (KJV) (Exodus 32:11) And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? (KJV) (Deuteronomy 9:18) And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. (KJV)
71
REVISED EBOOK EDITION
Even into the New Testament we find Jesus’ example given. We, as God’s children, are instructed to intercede for others as Jesus did for Peter.
(1 Timothy 2:1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; (KJV) (James 5:14-15) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (KJV) (Philippians 1:3-5) I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; (KJV)
(Ephesians 1:15-16) Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; (KJV)
(Colossians 1:3) We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, (KJV)
In conclusion, when we study the book of Hebrews, we find that Jesus does not now use prayer to intercede for His children, He does it directly. He is now the high Priest Who intercedes constantly.
(Hebrews 7:25) Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (KJV) Every generation needs courageous
believers who will trust God at His Word
and pick up the baton of intercession.
LIVING THE BATTLE PLAN DAY 33
72
THE PRAYERS OF JESUS
REVISED EBOOK EDITION
