BUT I HAVE PRAYED---Luke 22:31-32

1-The Lord had just said that he was going to die and that one of his disciples was going to betray him.

2-Then there was an argument about who was going to be the greatest.

3-Then He comes to our passage to show that He was not only going to be our Redeemer but also our great Intercessor.

4-The Lord knew there was an Enemy, Satan. God has never been Surprised.

I.                   SATAN HAS DESIRED OPPRESSION (Not Possessed)

Direct Attack against Peter—vs. 31 “Satan hath desired…you”

A-The Vision of our Lord’s Prayer--God has never been surprised.

1-He knew Peter would slip, fall, and fail.

      2-But our Lord never entered into a decision unless it was

preceded by prayer.

3-Satan will ATTACK you—“BUT I HAVE PRAYED”

4-Satan, being finite, did not take into consideration our great

OMNISCIENT Lord who knows all.

B-The Virtue of the Lord’s Prayer--The Lord never mentioned the matter PUBLICLY until He won the battle PRIVATELY.

1-Before there ever was an attack known to Peter, He had already won the battle for Peter’s Soul. (Past Tense)

2-Satan will surprise you, but he has never surprised God. “BUT I HAVE PRAYED.”

II.                SATAN HAS DEMANDED OWNERSHIP

Desire—definition is demand for Trial—Satan wants to own Peter in order to show you up for what you really are.

A-Demand Is Attack About Ownership

      1-The term “sift you as wheat” describes ownership.

      2-In the East, when grain was sold, the actual sifting of it

became the duty of the buyer, not the seller. The buyer had to see to it that the wheat and the chaff  became separated.

3-Satan wanted total control over Peter.

a-Satan  may demand, produce his forged legal documents, and impose false claims of ownership.

b-“But I have prayed” implies “completed action.”

c-“I purchased you before Satan  thought about it.”

4-Sifting of wheat is certain and essential but the ownership makes an eternity of difference.

a-Satan would sift us, keep the chaff and blow the wheat away.

b-Jesus would sift us, keep the wheat and blow the chaff away.

c-Satan, not being All-Powerful, would like to own you but he did not consider our Great OMNIPOTENT Lord who conquers all—“BUT I HAVE PRAYED”

III.             SATAN HAS DESIGNED OBLITERATION

Satan has designed a plan to destroy—“lion”—“destroy” In sifting wheat—Satan was seeking to destroy Peter.

A-The Value of Our Lord’s Prayer—Jesus prayed two things:

1-“That thy faith fail not”—The time will come when it looks like you CANNOT believe, but when it looks like you “DO NOT” believe-Remember “BUT I HAVE PRAYED.”

2-“And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” The time will come when you will look backslid, defeated, and whipped. You will think, I’ll never be able to come back, be used of God—Remember—“BUT I HAVE PRAYED.”

                   B-The Victory of Our Lord’s Prayer

                        1-Sure Enough, Peter denied the Lord, The Rooster

crowed three times and Peter ran out into the night disgraced and ashamed.

2-But nowhere do we see a worried look or a discouraging word from the Saviour’s mouth for the work had already been done. “But I Have Prayed” Past Tense.

3-Satan, not being everywhere, would like to destroy us  and put us in HELL. But he did not consider our Great OMNIPRESENT Lord who will never leave us.

4-Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Defined it means “He will never leave us, and He will never let us leave him.”

5-Mark 16:7 “…tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee” Peter probably said “I remember, BUT I HAVE PRAYED.”

6-Later on the day of Pentecost, the Lord looked out of Heaven and was glad He had prayed for Peter.

Conclusion: Doesn’t it stand to reason that if God is Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent that we are saved eternally and will eventually overcome down hear because of His Priestly Ministry.