We have many demands on our time. Many are the voices which clamor for our attention. The person on the phone wants you to purchase. The person at the door wants you to donate. So many demands so little energy.
Is there anyone who makes demands in your life? Anyone who demands something from you? Does anyone in your life have that kind of permission - to ask or call for with authority?
The Bible records on occasion where Satan makes an incredible demand. Incredible for two reasons. First, that he actually made the demand. Second, that he made a request with such authority.
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32 (NASB)
This text raises several questions in my mind, the least of which is “has Satan ever demanded permission to sift me like wheat?”
What I want you notice is that Satan demanded and God said “yes.” With the answer in the affirmative Jesus also gives Simon Peter a specific glimmer of hope. Jesus said “Satan demanded, he was given permission, I’ve prayed that your faith may not fail so, when you have turned again (or returned) strengthen your brothers.”
Two divergent thoughts. First, Jesus knew what would happen, even told Simon Peter what would happen, but that did not change what happened. The foreknowledge of God does not change the actual events.
Second, if Satan is so bold to make such demands of God and have his demands granted how much more will God hear us when, those He loves, cry out to him. Is there not a lesson here for us regarding boldness and prayer?
10 Responses to “113319273510888418”
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November 28th, 2005 at 10:54 am
In a similar line of thought (good blog, by the way!), I’ve always thought the opening scene of Job with Satan in the presence of God discussing his plot to bring down Job was a chilling scene. If God and Satan were to ever have another “chat” I would hope my name would not come up! But then I’m hardly the righteous person that Job was, save the blood of Christ.
November 28th, 2005 at 11:01 am
Makes me think of “in this life, you will have trouble, but I have overcome” (paraphrased). He knows what’s going on in our lives and the lives of those we love, and He cares. And, as Greg says, through the blood of Christ, He will make it okay in the end.
November 28th, 2005 at 12:10 pm
And then Jesus prayed for him and he still messed up‚Ķ But he never gave up. Maybe that’s how the Father answered his prayer.
Good job. Keep us in your prayers as we work out the final arrangements for the house and church here.
November 28th, 2005 at 12:36 pm
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November 28th, 2005 at 12:37 pm
Great post. It reminded me of the power of faith and in these days of tsunamis’, hurricanes, home-wrecking cars, and powerful winds, we need the power of faith in Jesus to persevere through the trials Satan can throw at us.
szzqdgk (a very hot qdgk)
November 28th, 2005 at 1:02 pm
I love how you guys bring up sections of scripture…words of scripture…that I’ve never paid attention to. Peter and Paul, flawed as they were, were afflicted by Satan’s torments more than perhaps anyone else. I aspire to that level of faith, but I lean heavily on what Greg said: we are righteous by his blood.
Good thing.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:37 pm
I tend to think we are so blessed in this nation that we have no idea what it really means to be “sifted by Satan.”
November 28th, 2005 at 11:47 pm
Just like Stoogelover, the “opening scene” in Job springs to mind with the Devil appearing together with the “children of God”.
Also, Satan’s stint as the accuser of the brethren and the seeming Lion seeking whom to devour are quite instructive.
What about the “Prince of Persia” holding up Angel Gabriel for 21 days before Michael comes to the rescue in the book of Daniel.
I remember being told by an older friend that the Devil is worthy of emulation in one respect - He never quits nor gives up.
November 29th, 2005 at 12:40 am
What’s even tougher than the fact that he never gives up, but he knows what our weaknesses are. He sifts me in the things that I am weak in. But thanks be to God that “He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world!” By the grace of God I claim the victory over Satan by the blood of Jesus. That is my only hope!
tntnoeck - a new necklace for fireworks dealers.
November 29th, 2005 at 9:41 am
Oh to be about the business of God’s kingdom, to stumble but recover again and again, to call people to have an answer for the hope they have in Jesus, to be cut from the same rock on which the Church is built so that Satan would regard sifting me like wheat a worthwhile endeavor.