Understanding the Battle

Peirazo- trial, testing, Peirazo- trial, testing, temptationtemptation

NeutralNeutral

Determining Factor: desired Determining Factor: desired outcomeoutcome

Satan= sin, followed by the sin Satan= sin, followed by the sin spiralspiral

““Steal, Kill, Destroy”Steal, Kill, Destroy”

God= growth, maturity, purify, God= growth, maturity, purify, gloryglory

““Predestined to be conformed to the Predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ”image of Christ”

God uses peirazo for our God uses peirazo for our growth and his glorygrowth and his glory

God usesGod uses Satan’s peirazo his Satan’s peirazo his purposes, too!purposes, too!

Simon, Simon, Satan has Simon, Simon, Satan has askedasked to sift you as wheat- to sift you as wheat- Luke 22:31Luke 22:31

Permission!Permission!

Why?Why?

What does that mean?What does that mean?

……But I have prayed for you, But I have prayed for you, Simon, that Simon, that your faith may not your faith may not failfail. And when you have turned . And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers”- back, strengthen your brothers”- vs. 32vs. 32

What did Jesus pray for?What did Jesus pray for?

What did Jesus not pray for?What did Jesus not pray for?

……But I have prayed for you, But I have prayed for you, Simon, that Simon, that your faith may not failyour faith may not fail. . And when you have turned back, And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers”- vs. 32strengthen your brothers”- vs. 32

Jesus knew Peter would betray Jesus knew Peter would betray himhim

Did Jesus reject Peter? Did Jesus reject Peter?

Why not? Why not?

What does that say about you?What does that say about you?

What’s God’s plan for Peter What’s God’s plan for Peter after he returns to the Lord? after he returns to the Lord? Why him?Why him?

But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to go with you to prison and to death”- vs. 33death”- vs. 33

Peter replied, "Even if all fall away Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will”- on account of you, I never will”- Matt. 26:33Matt. 26:33

How would you characterize How would you characterize Peter’s attitude?Peter’s attitude?

Pride deceivesPride deceives

Can mask as many things: Can mask as many things: loyalty, commitment, love, loyalty, commitment, love, concern, etc. concern, etc.

In the end, pride always In the end, pride always leads to a spiritual fallleads to a spiritual fall

Why?Why?

Peter denies Christ three Peter denies Christ three timestimes

Peter denies Christ three Peter denies Christ three timestimes

After the resurrection, Peter After the resurrection, Peter still doesn’t restore the still doesn’t restore the relationshiprelationship

Why not?Why not?

““Go ahead, lots of people do. God Go ahead, lots of people do. God loves you- you have grace. You can loves you- you have grace. You can confess it later…”confess it later…”

““I can’t believe you just did that! How I can’t believe you just did that! How can you call yourself a Christian?”can you call yourself a Christian?”

““You don’t You don’t deservedeserve to be forgiven. to be forgiven. God’s very disappointed in you. You God’s very disappointed in you. You might as well give up”might as well give up”

Causes:Causes:

IsolationIsolation

HypocrisyHypocrisy

Works-Oriented ReligionWorks-Oriented Religion

CondemnationCondemnation

BToL: No one is an island. Our BToL: No one is an island. Our sin always affects otherssin always affects others

Sin leads to loss of purpose, call, Sin leads to loss of purpose, call, the sense of love and security in the sense of love and security in relationship with Godrelationship with God

Peter goes back to fishing- with Peter goes back to fishing- with a bunch of the disciplesa bunch of the disciples

Satan is rejoicingSatan is rejoicing

Peter faced peirazo- and failed miserablyPeter faced peirazo- and failed miserably

He didn’t repent quickly, but bought the He didn’t repent quickly, but bought the lielie

He forgot his calling and wallowed in He forgot his calling and wallowed in guilt and self-pity, taking others with guilt and self-pity, taking others with himhim

But God is planningBut God is planning

Even Satan is simply a tool God Even Satan is simply a tool God uses to accomplish his greater uses to accomplish his greater purposepurpose

Jesus chases Peter down- shows Jesus chases Peter down- shows up at his workplaceup at his workplace

When they had finished eating, When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, son of John, do you truly love medo you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, "you know that I love you.” said, "you know that I love you.” Jesus said, "Feed my lambs”- John Jesus said, "Feed my lambs”- John 21:1521:15

Not:Not:

Are you sorry?Are you sorry? Do you feel guilty?Do you feel guilty? Told you so!Told you so!

Do you love me? Do you love me? The issue is The issue is NOTNOT:: Forgiveness- cross takes care of thatForgiveness- cross takes care of that

Sorrow- Peter wept bitterlySorrow- Peter wept bitterly

Reparations- he can’t pay enoughReparations- he can’t pay enough

The issue is love- turns failure into The issue is love- turns failure into redemptionredemption

Love is unconditionalLove is unconditional

Love never leaves or forsakesLove never leaves or forsakes

Love accepts the prodigal when Love accepts the prodigal when he returnshe returns

Love finds joy in the object of Love finds joy in the object of lovelove

Feed my lambsFeed my lambs

Get back in the game! Get back in the game! Why?Why?

That was a huge part of Satan’s That was a huge part of Satan’s plan- take Peter out, make him plan- take Peter out, make him ineffective and apatheticineffective and apathetic

Strength and confidence don’t Strength and confidence don’t come from sitting on the come from sitting on the sidelines, watching the gamesidelines, watching the game

Strength and confidence come Strength and confidence come from following the call of God from following the call of God on our lives to minister as he on our lives to minister as he has gifted each of ushas gifted each of us

Why would Jesus want Peter to Why would Jesus want Peter to do anything- esp. in do anything- esp. in leadership?leadership?

Why wasn’t the call on Peter’s Why wasn’t the call on Peter’s life revoked?life revoked?

Jesus knew Peter would betray Jesus knew Peter would betray him before he ever placed the him before he ever placed the call on Peter’s life- yet he still call on Peter’s life- yet he still called himcalled him

What does that tell us about God?What does that tell us about God?

What does that tell us about us? What does that tell us about us?

How would Peter change as a How would Peter change as a result of the peirazo and his result of the peirazo and his fall into sin?fall into sin?

How might that affect future How might that affect future ministry?ministry?

Gal. 2 vs. Paul and co-laboring in Gal. 2 vs. Paul and co-laboring in the gospelthe gospel

Peter Became…Peter Became…

HumbleHumble Sure of the CallSure of the Call A Man of Impact for Christ in A Man of Impact for Christ in

the Early Churchthe Early Church Committed and Ready to Die Committed and Ready to Die

for Christfor Christ

Where am I right now in Where am I right now in testing and temptation?testing and temptation?

Do I honestly believe God can Do I honestly believe God can use my failures for my growth use my failures for my growth and his glory?and his glory?

Am I willing to let him?Am I willing to let him?

What is my call? (Bigger than What is my call? (Bigger than self)self)

What experiences does God want What experiences does God want to use to bless others?to use to bless others?

What gifts and abilities has God What gifts and abilities has God given me for his glory and the given me for his glory and the encouragement of his people?encouragement of his people?

Questions, Comments, Questions, Comments, Disagreements?Disagreements?