And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” – Luke 22:31-32

The schemes of the devil are subtle and ensnaring. Without the Lord, we all have no chance against them. 

We feel so spiritually strong and impregnable, because we know our word and pray a lot. People recognize our spiritual vitality and maturity. They respond with respect and come to us for counseling. When the allegation came against that brother for sexual impropriety, who else could they appoint to lead the investigation than us? 

We breeze through the case without mercy. “How could he do such a thing after the Pastor’s excellent teaching and recent sermon series? And he is not even repentant enough.” So, we recommend the harshest disciplinary action and move on.

Three months later, you travel on business. A meeting lingers, and you dine late and alone in the dimly lit hotel restaurant. The lady across your table sends you an occasional bouquet of smiles. You pay no attention at first, but she persists. You sit there with confidence and give her a cocky smile in response, “Not me, lady! Go get one of your type somewhere.” 

The next day, you are on a flight back home, lost in your thoughts. “How did it happen? How can I face my wife today? Do I have the guts to confess it? How will the church react if they hear about it?” 

The fact is, we are very human and weak in this world without our Savior. Until we acknowledge this and humble ourselves under His Sovereign protection and constant intercession for us, we will always fall (Rm. 8:34). Pride is our worst enemy, but we hardly acknowledge we are swimming in its warm pool. 

Follow with me, the discourse of Jesus with the disciples at the last supper table, as Dr. Luke tells the story, and we can together, note certain points. 

Jesus warned the disciples against the leadership style of the world and recommended His servanthood model in its place (Lk. 22:24-30) and addressed Peter in his self-confident posture. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail” (31-32).

To appreciate the force of Jesus’s statement, walk with me through Peter’s failures after this event. He slept in Gethsemane, cowardly followed the Lord at a distance after His arrest, denied the Lord three times as the Lord predicted, hid through the crucifixion, failed to grasp the resurrection report from the women, and went back to his old business. It was all downhill until the Lord intervened and restored him after the fishing fiasco on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias (Jn. 21:15-19). Do you see how worse things could have been for Peter without the Lord’s intercessory prayer? 

David got it right when he said, “If the Lord had not been on our side—let Israel say… when the enemy attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive… they would have engulfed us, the raging waters would have swept us away” (Psalm 124:1-5). 

Appreciate His current intercessory ministry in heaven on your behalf, and bless His glorious name, somebody!