four facts that Jesus shared about Satan that many do not know Jesus said a good deal about Satan number one he called him the enemy and the evil one in Matthew Chapter 13 Verse 39. Jesus called Satan the enemy in the parable of the weeds Matthew chapter 13 verses 24 through 30. here is another story Jesus told the Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field but that night as the workers slept his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat then slipped away when the crop began to grow and produce grain the weeds also grew the farmer's workers went to him and said sir the field where you planted that good seed is Full Of Weeds where did they come from an enemy has done this the farmer exclaimed should we pull out the weeds they asked no he replied he will uproot the wheat if you do let both grow together until the Harvest then I will tell the Harvesters to sort out the weeds tie them into bundles and burn them and to put the wheat in the barn Matthew chapter 13 verses 36 through 39.
then leaving the crowds outside Jesus went into the house his disciples said please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field Jesus replied the son of man is the farmer who plants The Good Seed the field is the world and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom the weeds are the people who belong to the evil one the enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil the Harvest is the end of the world and the Harvesters are the Angels an enemy dislikes or despises another person and seeks to harm contradict or fight the person he is set against thus an enemy of God opposes God's presence and purposes in this world the Bible names Satan the devil as God's specific adversary as God's enemy throughout history Satan has sought to thwart God's plan harm humans and lead them away from God scripture names many other enemies of God and his people besides Satan in the Bible an enemy of God is also referred to as an adversary or a foe anyone who disobeys the Lord's commands is designated as God's enemy throughout the Bible the devil is referred to as the evil one John chapter 5 verse 19. we know that we are from God and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one Believers are in God despite most Humanity lying in Satan's power Christ has come and he has imparted spiritual insight 1 John chapter 5 verse 18. we know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning but but he who was born of God protects him and the evil one does not touch him 1 John chapter 2 verse 13.
I am writing to you fathers because you know him who is from the beginning I am writing to you young men because you have overcome the evil one I write to you children because you know the father number two the prince of this world when Jesus was predicting his death he made the statement now is the time for judgment on this world now the prince of this world will be driven out John chapter 12 verse 31. he said the world was about to crucify the Lord of life and glory in doing so it would condemn itself and the punishment would be passed upon it for its terrible renunciation of Christ tomden nation was about to be passed on guilty Humanity the ruler of this world is Satan in an authentic sense Satan was utterly conquered by cavalry he believed he had succeeded in doing away with the Lord Jesus once and for all instead the Savior supplied a way of salvation for men and vanquished Satan and all his hosts simultaneously the devil's sentence has not yet been carried out but his Fate has been sealed he is still going about his evil business in the world but it is only a matter of time before he is cast into the Lake of Fire when the Lord knew that the time for his betrayal was coming and that he would not have much more time to talk with his own Satan was drawing near but the Savior knew that the adversary could find no shame of sin in him there was nothing in Christ to respond to the devil's evil Temptations it would be silly for anyone else but Jesus to say that Satan could find nothing in him I will not say much more to you for the prince of this world is coming he has no hold over me John Chapter 14 verse 30. Satan rules a world that includes men and angels separated from God this world engulfs false religionists and threatens to defeat the true children of God 1 John Chapter 2 verses 15 through 17 New International Version do not love the world or anything in the world if anyone loves the world love for the father is not in them for everything in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life comes not from the father but from the world the world and its desires pass away but whoever does the will of God lives forever his impact extends to the world's ideologies education and commerce he controls the world's thoughts ideas speculations and false religions which arose from his lies and deceptions Matthew chapter 12 verse 24 Amplified Bible but the Pharisees heard it and said this man casts out demons only by the help of beelzebel Satan the prince of the Demons Romans chapter 8 verses 7 through 8.
Amplified Bible the mind of the flesh with its sinful Pursuits is actively hostile to God it does not submit itself to God's law since it cannot and those who are in the flesh living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses cannot please God this Cosmos is Satan's counterpart to God's Rule and Kingdom his desire to be like God this led to his sin and now he heads over all Rebels who like him have fallen into sin Isaiah Chapter 14 verse 14 Amplified Bible I will Ascend above the heights of the clouds I will make myself like the most high this world aims to defeat the true children of God John chapter 8 verse 44 Amplified Bible you are of your father the devil and it is your will to practice the desires which are characteristic of your father he was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him when he lies he speaks what is natural to him for he is a liar and the father of lies and half truths number four that he is desired to have Peter Peter's life is perhaps the most excellent Redemption story ever written he was a fisherman and fisherman was stereotypically Men of action very physical and unafraid of others which Peter demonstrates in the Bible however Peter faced a significant challenge as the devil had a mark on him and Jesus informed him of this to give authority to this quandary at the Last Supper Jesus warned Simon Peter that a test of faith was coming Simon Simon indeed Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat Luke chapter 22 verse 31. the outspoken disciple appeared to be in a predicament Satan wanted to sift Peter as wheat which means he tried to shake Peter's Faith so violently that he fell demonstrating that God's faithful servant lacked confidence but it wasn't just Peter who was in danger in Luke chapter 22 verse 31 the word for you is plural Jesus told Peter that Satan had set his sights on all disciples some translations like the Berean Study Bible specify the whole group Simon Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat this passage gives us a glimpse into an Unseen World it raises many questions but it also affords many assurances the chief of which is the chain of command God is clearly in control and the devil is on a short leash did you notice the verb that followed Satan's name ask Satan has asked the outspoken disciples seem to be in the same predicament as job when Satan sought to put him to the test job chapters one through two Job chapter 1 verse 10. Hast not Thou made a 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 nothing was demanded resolved or decided by the devil he was curious and requested permission to tempt Simon Peter in the same way he asked to tempt job doesn't it change our perception of the old snake God will use all beings for the sake of his kingdom the word Satan means adversary or accuser he charges God's people with doing wrong Zechariah Chapter 3 Verse 1.
then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 8. be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour sift as wheat is a metaphor that can also mean Shake someone apart in biblical times wheat or grain was sifted through a sieve or large strainer as the grain was violently shaken the dirt and other impurities that clung to it during the threshing process separated from the good usable grain Satan's goal in sifting Peter and the other disciples as wheat was to crush them and destroy their faith in reality the adversary seeks to destroy every believer's faith John chapter 10 verse 10. the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy I have come that they may have life and Habit to the full Jesus guaranteed Peter I have pleaded in prayer for you Simon that your faith should not fail so when you have repented and turned to me again strengthen your brothers Luke chapter 22 verse 32.
the early Church's leadership demonstrated that the Lord's Prayer for Peter was answered Jesus made no promise to remove Peter's upcoming test and he prayed that his faith would not be shaken in the Christian Life trials are to be expected we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God said the missionaries in Acts Chapter 14 verse 22. God uses these experiences to shape our character strengthen our face and make us more like Jesus Romans chapter 8 verse 28 KJV and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose James chapter 1 verses 2 through 4. my brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience but let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing I Peter chapter 1 verses 6 through 7 nkjv in this you greatly Rejoice though now for a little while if need be you have been grieved by various trials that the genuineness of your faith being much more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be found to praise honor and glory and the revelation of Jesus Christ Jesus is there to strengthen us and intercede on our behalf whenever we Face a test Philippians chapter 4 verse 13.
for I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength it's reassuring that Christ's intercession limited Satan's ability to sift Peter as wheat when Satan pursues us we must remember that Jesus Christ is always present to intercede on our behalf Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25 nkjv therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him since he always lives to make intercession for them Jesus had faith that Simon Peter would recover and help the other disciples another reason the Lord allows us to go through trials is to teach us how to assist others in growing in faith 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 6 nkjv now if we are afflicted it is for your consolation and salvation which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer or if we are comforted it is for your consolation and salvation before his threefold denial Peter was overconfident relying on his strength however after being sifted like wheat Peter discovered that failure is possible due to the weakness of the flesh Mark Chapter 14 verse 38. Watch and Pray so that you will not fall into temptation the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak Peter would have compassion and mercy for others now that he understood how easy it is to fall while also assisting them in avoiding the same mistake true faith and perseverance are revealed through repentance and restoration rather than sinless Perfection we get up and keep going after we fall just like Peter when Satan comes to sift us like wheat we have an advocate in Jesus Christ who intercedes on our behalf John chapter 17 verses 9 through 11 nkjv I pray for them I do not pray for the world but For Those whom you have given me for they are yours and all mine are yours and yours are mine and I am glorified in them now I am no longer in the world but these are in the world and I come to you Holy Father keep through your name Those whom you have given me that they may be one as we are John chapter 17 verse 15 nkjv I do not pray that you should take them out of the world but that you should keep them from the evil one he will protect us so that the devil cannot destroy our Faith and Hope John chapter 10 verses 27 through 28 KJV my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25 nkjv therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him since he always lives to make intercession for them Jesus Christ began a good work in us and he will see it through to completion Philippians chapter 1 verse 6 being confident of this very thing that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ we all make our way through the valley of failure the question is how will you respond many people give up and trade a vibrant Kingdom serving life for a defeated life failure however does not have to be the end it is an opportunity for a fresh start in Christ's strength the enemy expected to shake Peter's Faith so hard that he would fall away from Jesus like chaff ETA was headstrong about keeping his promise to Jesus even if all fall away I will not even though all may fall away yet I will not Mark Chapter 14 verse 29. but Satan understands the power of fear Satan's goal in sifting Believers is to weaken our faith to the point where we are no longer useful to God he wants us to stay out of the Lord's Kingdom's activities as a result he focuses on our vulnerabilities the areas where we believe we are invincible or at least well protected when the devil succeeds we are disappointed and demoralized however this does not have to be the case if we are willing God can use failure to do spiritual house cleaning Peter put his pride aside and donned the courage of the Holy Spirit he then risked public humiliation persecution and death to spread the gospel failure was a catalyst for increased faith and true servanthood it is a great comfort to know that God is always stronger than Satan and that by trusting in Him we can avoid Satan's wrath and receive a Crown of Life but the text does not end there God's word of comfort and hope continues we require encouragement in our daily struggles so we will not abandon the faith and curse God in times of suffering and weakness we need some assurance that the ups and downs of our faith will not culminate in a permanent downfall in verse 32 Jesus gives us that encouragement and reassurance 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 it is reassuring to know that God is infinitely stronger than Satan and that if we trust God until the end he will grant us eternal life but it's doubly encouraging and hopeful that Jesus Christ and God the Father don't sit back and wait to see if we'll have the fortitude to persevere in faith notice Jesus prays to his father for Simon now the word you is singular in verse 32 I prayed for you that is Simon he asks God to do what he needs to be done to preserve Simon from destruction Jesus is confident that his father will answer his prayer because he says and when you have turned strengthen your brothers Jesus knows that Simon will deny him three times it is a temporary weakness brief confidence faltering but it is followed quickly by bitter tears of repentance Luke chapter 22 verse 62 and turning the father gave Satan the power to sift Simon despite in response to Jesus's prayer he did not let Simon fall through the sieve here is the double weapon of Hope and encouragement that he gives us we are not left without a shield against the enemy nor are we left to hold this Shield of Faith merely by our strength God will always see that faith has Victory and that his children have faith this is the meaning of that terrific text in 1 Peter chapter 1 verses 3 through 5.
