“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” (Luke 22:31-32).
Jesus often was in very close association with His disciples. He stayed with them and they stayed with Him. He taught them. He spoke words of caution and wisdom to them. He mingled with them from day to day and mentored their faith. Jesus, from the place of spiritual infilling and strength (being alone with God the Father in prayer, meditation, and study of God’s word), frequently came to His disciples with the words of life and insightful truth to fill their minds and hearts with that true bread from Heaven which would surely strengthen their faith against the terrible storms coming in the hours of trial.
Christ knew well about the plots of Satan for the Father had fully enlightened His mind to the spiritual workings and warfare surrounding Him! Jesus was not in the dark as to these things at all! He was given that spiritual discernment and understanding which was so necessary to stand faithful and true to God against the vicious attacks of Satan!
Christ knew also that He himself was training up a small force of powerful soul-winners who were, after His leaving, going to shake the world with the truths of Heaven, and to begin the movement known as His church! Though neither Peter, nor the others onlooking, nor perhaps we, at that time, could tell of the great plans which God had for Peter and the others, both the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and Satan knew of the plan! Satan discerned in Peter the makings of a fierce enemy who was later going to wreak immense damage upon his kingdom (though Satan could not tell to what extent exactly—he only knew that Jesus had invested a very special interest in Peter, James, and John, even an interest somewhat beyond the other disciples). Jesus knew well that Peter, as one of His own chosen apostles, was going to be a strong and fiery preacher (though he was yet, and even after, still a man with faults, which Jesus was continually working to cleanse away). Christ even knew that Peter had been chosen to proclaim through the power of the Holy Spirit, the great sermon upon the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) that was going to lead to the conversion of thousands of Jews in a single day!
Satan was angry and was well ready to pounce upon Peter as a maddened Lion seeking his victim. Jesus knew this and He prayed strongly for Peter! The Father moved with the might of Heaven to work upon Peter’s heart and to give the protection that was needed! Jesus spoke to Peter to warn him of the danger that was lurking for him, but also to reassure Him of the powerful prayers that were being offered for him and of the power of God that would be His help and stay. Peter had yet to experience a much stronger faith and to be converted into the soul-winning, surrendered, humble, and useful vessel that God wanted him to be. Jesus said to him, “When you ARE converted, strengthen your brethren (v.32).” This is also the call of God to us today! When you are converted, then strengthen your brethren (because Satan also wants to sift them out too).
We should take away several overall lessons from this instance. Remember that Satan hates above all, those who are God’s faithful soul winners (even “yet to be” soul winners), and especially those whom he knows God has especially chosen for a greater, more far reaching, and special work of God! Remember that Satan has it out for us all and we all need prayers, desperately! Pray for each other a lot (even as Jesus prayed for Peter)!! Remember also that some of us are struggling yet in their faith trying to find their strength in God! They may not yet be a powerhouse of faith or a strong warrior for God, but if they remain and let Christ do His work in them (with their cooperative permission), then they will surely become the converted soul-winner and Christian warrior that God wants them to be! Once we are converted to God, we have a very special work to do! We MUST strengthen our brethren in the faith too! If you start to become stronger in God, then you must share your strength to strengthen others who are yet weaker in the faith and ability to serve God! Together, you will both and all, grow into the stronger members of the household of faith, that God desires you to be! We are to strengthen our brethren by meeting together about spiritual things “…and so much the more, as you see the Day [of God’s return] approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
Also, please take away from this, one last thought. You may be a little bit weak in the faith today (actually we all have our weaknesses and are at various places in our walk with Jesus right now), but do not EVER underestimate what you can become through a close connection with Jesus Christ! God has a plan for your life whether you see it all or know it all right now. You may think, “O but I am just a weak little child in God.” That may be true in our case as of now. It may be. But, that means nothing to stop you from your future destination of becoming a great faith-warrior in God! Don’t underestimate your value to God! Jesus is praying and interceding before God the Father on your behalf right now! And others of your Christian brothers and sisters are praying for you right now too! Good things are coming in Christ Jesus and if you choose today to pray and be faithful to Jesus Christ, you had better look out, because you don’t yet even know exactly the height in life to which God will take you! Therefore, “…be strong in the Lord” Jesus Christ “and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). The best things are yet to come and Jesus will make you into one of His faithful soul winners if you’ll be converted to God fully and accept the call!
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