Did you know - that right now - Jesus is in deep prayer interceding for you? That means He speaks to the Father on your behalf, bringing specific needs and particular situations that you are facing before God in prayer. From the life of Jesus, there is a beautiful illustration of this, Jesus knew Peter would come under great pressure during the arrest and trial of Jesus, and Jesus knew that Peter would be tempted to deny Him. Jesus said to Peter, "Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail" (Luke 22:31,32).
But you may say, "Peter did fail." Yes he did! Three times Peter failed most miserably! Three times Peter denied his LORD! But take careful note that avoidance of failure is not what Jesus prayed for His disciple. Rather Jesus prayed that his FAITH would not fail. Failure is a consequence of our sinfulness, our fallenness - - we will fail! The enemy does attack, and we do at times fail - and fail quite seriously, but our faith does not fail if we are in Christ - we will continue in faith despite our failure.
Let me prove this from the Narrative we find here in Luke 22. Satan really worked Peter over, and Peter failed big time! And that would have been the end of Peters story if Christ had not interceded for him. But Jesus did pray for Peter, and Jesus' prayers are always answered. And for Peter, and for us who are in Christ, failure becomes an opportunity to discover the great depth of Gods mercy. It also became an experience with the Grace of God that became useful as God ministered through Peter to others.
What Jesus did for Peter, He still does for you and I. So when you are weak - even when you fail, be not troubled! for there is an intercessor pleading your case. Our Jesus is the great victor over every enemy that may face us - - and in Him we too are victors! "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" (Romans 8:35).
But you may say, "Peter did fail." Yes he did! Three times Peter failed most miserably! Three times Peter denied his LORD! But take careful note that avoidance of failure is not what Jesus prayed for His disciple. Rather Jesus prayed that his FAITH would not fail. Failure is a consequence of our sinfulness, our fallenness - - we will fail! The enemy does attack, and we do at times fail - and fail quite seriously, but our faith does not fail if we are in Christ - we will continue in faith despite our failure.
Let me prove this from the Narrative we find here in Luke 22. Satan really worked Peter over, and Peter failed big time! And that would have been the end of Peters story if Christ had not interceded for him. But Jesus did pray for Peter, and Jesus' prayers are always answered. And for Peter, and for us who are in Christ, failure becomes an opportunity to discover the great depth of Gods mercy. It also became an experience with the Grace of God that became useful as God ministered through Peter to others.
What Jesus did for Peter, He still does for you and I. So when you are weak - even when you fail, be not troubled! for there is an intercessor pleading your case. Our Jesus is the great victor over every enemy that may face us - - and in Him we too are victors! "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" (Romans 8:35).
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