Have you ever wondered how satanic attack is orchestrated against God’s children?
In Luke chapter 22:34 Jesus is talking and He states:
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.”
And he said, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
He said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know me.”
Of course we know that the Lord’s prediction came true and Peter failed His Master (prior to regaining His faith and cherishing it even to death).
Have you ever wondered if Satan has demanded to sift you? I believe he has done so with me; in fact my wife and I spent all of 2015 suffering excruciating pain and fighting devastating health issues which immobilized us for a solid year. Was this Satan’s sifting? Did Satan demand to attack me and my family and was he granted permission to do so?
Take note that Satan “DEMANDED”. The word “you” is actually plural. (This is obvious in Greek, not English.) Jesus is telling Simon Peter that Satan has demanded to have all of the disciples in order to sift them.
Who gives him the right to do that?
It would have to be God, no one else has that ability. A similar incident is recorded in Job 1:9 “Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for naught? Have you not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face!” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself do not put forth your hand.”
Satan worked Job over, stripping him of his possessions and all that he had, and when that didn’t succeed, he returned to God and said in Job 2:4
“Skin for skin, all that a man has he will give for his life. But put forth your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face!” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold he is in your power, only spare his life.”
Satan was then allowed to torment his flesh and that didn’t work either. Job remained faithful just as Peter had and then he was restored by God.
One thing to note here is that both in Job and in the words of Jesus that Satan had to go to God for permission before he could attack the lives of God’s children.
However lest we become overconfident, we must keep in mind always that Satan has a tremendous amount of power in this world.
- Jesus calls him the “prince” or “ruler of this world” – John 16:11
- Paul calls him the “god of this age” – 2 Cor. 4:4
- The “ruler of the authority of the air” – Eph. 2:2
- He blinds the minds of unbelievers – 2 Cor. 4:4
- Holds them in his snare until God releases them through the gospel – Timothy 2:25
- He can take life, as with Job’s children; ruin health, as with Job’s body – Luke 13:16
- He can torment with demons – Luke 11:18
- Provoke evil deeds – Luke 22:3
- And cause natural disasters – Job 1:19
The fact that Satan has such power in the world means we should be clear-headed and we must be very determined to tirelessly pray, always being conscious that we need God’s power and have FAITH. However we should not be scared out of our wits.
Remember that in both the account of Job and in the words of Jesus that Satan must first go to God for permission before he can create havoc in the lives of God’s children. Jesus prayed for Peter and that prayer was answered. Guess what? The Holy Spirit is praying for us today in words and power that we cannot even fathom.
Our Lord granted Satan the power to sift Peter and Job, but, in response to Jesus’prayer, he did not let them fall through the sieve. Nor will he ever let any of his children fall. God is absolutely going to save all of us who trust Jesus to the end. We are not left without a shield against the enemy, nor are we left to hold this shield of faith merely by our own strength. God will always see to it that faith has the victory and that his children have faith.
Psalm 30:5
“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning”
June 6, 2016 – Click here to listen