DAILY BREAD OF LIFE

(KJV.)  LUKE 22:31-32

(31)  And the Lord said,  Simon, Simon,  behold,  Satan hath desired to have you,  that he may sift you as wheat:

(32)  But I have prayed for thee,  that thy faith fail not:  and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

JESUS, PRAY FOR US!

(31)  And the Lord said,  Simon, Simon,  behold,  Satan hath desired to have you,  that he may sift you as wheat:  Brethren,  as believers of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, there will times in our lives when the enemy will obtain permission from our Father to pester with our souls;  (i)  First of all, let us be aware that, there is nothing that the enemy can do to harm obedience children of our Father, unless permission is granted to him from our Father himself; (Job 1:6-12);  (ii)  for example, Job was perfect, upright and feared our Father, always cautious not to offend him;  it is written, that when sons of our Father presented themselves before him, and Satan came also among them:  the question is,  what was Satan doing among righteous children of our Father?  (iii)  let us beware that Satan is also son of our Father and was once loved by him but when he rebelled against our Father with his demonic angels, they were thrown out of heaven down to planet earth. (Isaiah 12:14);  (iv) Satan was there to talk about righteous souls, that he desires to pester with on earth and to obtain permission from our Father, to touch those souls: in the case of Job, our Father gave permission to Satan, to put forth his hands on all that Job has, but not on his soul. (Job 1:12).

Brethren, in the above context;  Jesus Christ, warned Simon to beware of the enemy!  because, he knew that Satan had sought permission from our Father, to destroy him by drilling his faith during Jesus trails, crucifixion, death and resurrection:  when the enemy desires to destroy our souls in the faith of his righteousness;  (i)  firstly, he will transform himself in our dreams and visions into angel of light to bring fake messages and manifestations, to lure us to believe his lies, that they are truths; (ii)  he will start his dirty works by attacking our faith foundations with infiltration spirits;  (iii)  he will use craftiness and dubiousness, to make us believe his schemes in other to derail us from the faith; at times, he will touch lives to points whereby only our Father can prevail against him;  today, if we find ourselves in trails and tribulations, (iv)  let us be strengthen with faith to know that nothing can happen to us, unless our Father gave the enemy permission to pester with our souls, if he gave his permission to him; then, he will also bring us out in due times;  (v)  let us also know that trails are seasonal;  the enemy cannot pester with our souls more than seasons allotted to him by our Father; (vi)  during trails and tribulations, our Father uses our pains and sufferings to further his will in our lives;  therefore,  let us also be patient during trails and tribulations, that when our troubles are over and done with, we may be perfect entirely, wanting nothing. (James 1:4);  (vii)  when in trails, let us pray without ceasing, praise and give thanks our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and wait for deliverance, when our souls are established, gratified, settled with multiple blessings forevermore.

(32)  But I have prayed for thee,  that thy faith fail not:  and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.  Brethren,  Jesus knew that the enemy had obtain permission to pester with Simon's soul;  therefore, he prayed for him; in other words, he spoke to our Father on Simon's behalf, as an advocate and permission was granted that the enemy should not shake his faith but live him alone;  I believe that Jesus intended to use Simon mightily to feed his lambs, after his death and resurrection and would not allow his faith to be destroyed by the enemy. (John 21:15-17);  he also said to Simon, "and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."  the question is, was not Simon converted when he was with Jesus Christ?  let us look deeply into this statement;  (i)  let us remember;  it is written,  "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26);  therefore,  Jesus mention his conversion in reference to the Holy Ghost baptism, which was to come upon his disciples, to transform and empower them after his suffering, death and resurrection; and after the Holy Ghost transforms their lives; they are to encourage other believers to continue with the ministry of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,(Acts 1:8);  after Simon Peter's conversion, he preached the gospel of repentance, baptism, remission of sins..... (Acts 2:38);  Simon, was also used mightily to convert unbelievers unto salvation and life everlasting.  

CONCLUSION:

Dearly beloved,  today we learn from this context, how to maintain our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior;  let us beware that, if we believe in Jesus Christ, we qualify as candidates for trails and tribulations from Satan, to shake up our faiths, to move us against our believes in Jesus Christ with fear, doubts and discouragements;  however, no matter what is going on in our lives today; let us pray to be strengthen in the faith, to persevere, forbear and not backslide from the faith;  if we call upon Jesus Christ our advocate, he will plea to the Father on our behalves; and the enemy will be rebuked, we will be delivered from his hands forever and evermore.  Have faith in Jesus, Come unto him! Amen and amen!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:   

(KJV.)  Romans 8:34  Who is he that condemneth?  It is Christ that died,  yea rather, that is risen again,  who is even at the right hand of God,  who also maketh intercession for us.