Focus : Youth and Temptation
Day 1 : First Sabbath
Following from a Distance
Bible Text: Luke 22: 31–34
Suggested Opening Hymn: Draw Me Nearer
Be ready for a great time of deep discussion to show up when you least expect it. Don’t assume that because you don’t see anything substantive happening on the outside that it isn’t. Just plant the seed! 16 Reclaim! first sabbath :
Day 1 : First Sabbath
Following from a Distance
Bible Text: Luke 22: 31–34
Suggested Opening Hymn: Draw Me Nearer
Be ready for a great time of deep discussion to show up when you least expect it. Don’t assume that because you don’t see anything substantive happening on the outside that it isn’t. Just plant the seed! 16 Reclaim! first sabbath :
Following from a distance
Duron and Janet were brother and sister in their late 20s who were Their parents were committed members of the Church who were real standard bearers. Growing up, Duron demonstrated great love for the church and was actively involved. As a teenager, he developed a passion for computers and everything electronic; by the time he became a young adult he was a genius in creating applications for social media, and was known for his innovation and creativity. As his interest and success in com-puters and electronics grew he became more and more sporadic in his church attendance and his active participation became virtually non–xis-tent. The sudden, accidental death of his mother added to the weakening of his faith and encouraged doubts about God. He eventually questioned the necessity and importance of church. However, he felt that just in case there is a revelation to come, he would continue his style of church atten-
dance. On the other hand, Janet liked to be with people. She was always in the crowd, leading out in activities at church, jovial, caring, especially to those more advanced in years, and quite popular among the members. Unlike her brother, the death of her mother did not seem to cast a shadow on her involvement at the onset. However, as time elapsed, she grew colder and colder in church, less active, and warmer and warmer to out–of–church friends and non–Christian activities. Responding to queries of church members about the apparent waning of her faith, she would always say, “I am still a Christian, do not worry.” She became passively disengaged while her brother was actively disengaged. born in the Church and later got baptized in their early childhood.
www.gcyouthministries.org 2015 young adults week of prayer 17
Forecasting Turbulence
dance. On the other hand, Janet liked to be with people. She was always in the crowd, leading out in activities at church, jovial, caring, especially to those more advanced in years, and quite popular among the members. Unlike her brother, the death of her mother did not seem to cast a shadow on her involvement at the onset. However, as time elapsed, she grew colder and colder in church, less active, and warmer and warmer to out–of–church friends and non–Christian activities. Responding to queries of church members about the apparent waning of her faith, she would always say, “I am still a Christian, do not worry.” She became passively disengaged while her brother was actively disengaged. born in the Church and later got baptized in their early childhood.
www.gcyouthministries.org 2015 young adults week of prayer 17
Forecasting Turbulence
Like Janet, Peter was always in the crowd, leading from the front, helping and caring, making commitments, walking on water to Jesus and exuberant and excited to share his faith. In one of those special interviews that Jesus had with all the disciples, Peter was quick to exclaim, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). In Luke 22:31–34 we read the dialogue between Jesus and Peter, “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.” But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”Jesus saw beyond the emotion and the immediacy of the moment. He saw the future with the temptations, challenges, difficulties and attractions that would appeal to the disciples and influence their allegiance. That reality led Him to engage them in discussion and to share with them His approaching betrayal and how those who were closest to Him would be impacted. He saw that they would renounce Him and turn back from following. The outspoken Peter vehemently and passionately exclaimed; “Lord, I am ready to go with you, both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33–34; Matthew 26:31–33). In response to Peter’s emotional outburst, Jesus told him that before the cock crew three times he would betray Him. Peter was sure that nothing, not even the threat of death, could shake his faith in Christ and commitment to Him. Jesus insisted however, and reinforced the message. From Peter’s experience we learn that the realities of life are powerful enough to shake our faith in God, influence discouragement, and induce us to become spiritually indiffer-ent and disengaged. And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed,
“Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan desires to have you and to sift you as wheat” (Verse 31) was Jesus’ prediction to Peter. Here He painted a metaphorical picture to illustrate how by sieving, Satan desires to shake the faith of the dis-ciples. Jesus used Peter’s “pre–Christian” name instead of “Peter,” the name he was given as a disciple. He was probably intentional, since he knew Peter would shortly revert to an earlier life–style and behavior, predating his follow-ing Jesus (6:13–14). The interpretation of this verse can be found in the anal-ogy of Job 1–2, where Satan is permitted to test Job. Satan was seeking to shake the disciples violently as one sieves wheat and cause them to fall. The use of this metaphor was and is intended to indicate that there is a coming time of testing by Satan to unsettle the disciples and people of God to cause them to become unfaithful to the Lord. Every youth should be aware of this and make sure that they are covered under the prayer of Jesus. Satan the accuser accused the disciples as he does us, pointing out their sins and frailties before God, just as he did with Job (Job 1:6–12). The sifting of Peter was an attack on him both physically, and spiritually in order to lead him to apostasy and loss of salvation. That is a cosmic strategy of the devil. Jesus with the power of his intercession stands on one side interceding while the accuser is shaking. Many young people who are members of the Church are under the devil’s attacks. Their spiritual interests and involvement in the Church are getting weak and Faith in God is being gambled for a season of pleasure and exchanged for the popular demands of a secular and materialistic world. As we look around we see many who are being sifted or shaken by the crafty maneuvers of the devil. It should be frightening that we ourselves could likewise be sifted. It is in moments and experiences like these that young people need to spend more time focusing on Jesus, the interces-sor, to develop a closer relationship with Him. His power is greater than that of the sifter and Satan’s sifting power is limited and doomed!
www.gcyouthministries.org 2015 young adults week of prayer 19
The Fulfillment
“Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:54-62, NIV). Jesus told Peter that he was a target of the devil. Similarly, every youth as well as children and adult in Church today are targets of the devil. He utilizes the most appealing methods to attract attention and influence Christ’s followers to gaze, and become disinterested in spiritual things (1 Peter 5:8). He was suc-
cessful in influencing Peter. The once energetic, defensive, outspoken support-
er, Peter, was now following Jesus “afar off” or from a distance (v. 54). That was not the end, he sunk so low in his spiritual walk with Christ, that he even denied knowing Christ. He lost his self–confidence, went to sleep when he should be praying (v. 45) and ended up sitting among the accusers of Christ (v. 55). He felt that if he followed from afar, many would not recognize him as one who is a follower of Jesus and might escape criticisms and eventual persecution. He even adopted and manifested behaviors of the secular crowd to dem-onstrate that he was not a follower of Jesus. Peter did not understand Jesus’ comment “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it” (Matt. 16:25). 20 Reclaim! first sabbath : following from a distanceSatan was so committed to destroying Jesus that anyone who believed in Him and followed Him was targeted. When the maid said: “This man was also with him,” Peter vigorously replied: “Woman, I know him not.” Jesus is looking for young people who will identify with Him and not deny Him irrespective of the consequences. He enables such young people to stand for Him. He wants them to be loyal supporters who are His voice, to witnesses to others of his grace, so that they may accept Him as their Savior. What impact Peter might have had on the crowd if he stood up for Christ and answered positively, yes I am a follower? Instead, he denied him. Are you in that company of deniers? Or are you among the vast group of young people around the world who are standing up for Him and making His glory known? Are you among the young people in the global community who are stepping out of the backgrounds and out of buildings and out of secular crowds to become the Sermon, by proclaiming to those in local communities, towns, and cities that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and He will return any day now to take His people home to glory?With all his good intentions, Peter turned back at a crucial moment when his testimony was needed. His confident, “Lord, I am ready to go with you, both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33–34; Matthew 26:31–33) was just an emotional outburst. “...Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times’” (Luke 22: 60, 61). The crow of the cock was signifi-cant in the life of the gazing Peter. It called his attention to another look at Jesus, who never gazed. His eyes are always upon his children, even those who are not able to see Him because of the distance they are from Him. When the eyes of Peter and Jesus met; Peter did not see anger, reproach or condemnation. Instead he saw grief, mercy, love, forgiveness, compassion acceptance and tenderness. Then he remembered the words. “But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not: And when thou art converted, strength-en thy brethren” Luke 22:32. Ellen White said; “He had denied his Lord, even with cursing and swearing; but that look of Jesus’ melted Peter’s heart and saved him. He wept bitterly and repented of his great sin, and was convert-ed, and then was prepared to strengthen his brethren” (Early Writings, p. 169).
www.gcyouthministries.org 2015 young adults week of prayer 21
Why Do People Follow From a Distance?
Obviously, Peter’s distance was both physical and spiritual. It was about self-preservation, weakness and fear, because he had an innate desire to be with Jesus just like many who are here today. For Peter, it was about living in two worlds at the same time. So often we try to do that but it does not work! Jesus wants us to live in the spiritual world with Him and to identify with Him at all time as we journey through this secular world. He wants us to be willing to suffer for Him and He will provide causes for us to rejoice. In the flesh, Peter’s faith was weak. This was a weakness born of human frailty; however, he had interest in a personal relationship with Christ. He also literally wanted to have an up front and close view of the treatment that would be meted out to Jesus and to see how the Savior would react. After the Last Supper when Jesus took the disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane in anticipation of His arrest, He asked them them to stay awake and pray while He would go by himself to pray. Upon His return, He found them fast asleep. At that moment, He entreated Peter to remain awake and to pray, because even though he might have felt capable and strong, his flesh was weak. In spite of the coun-sel of Jesus, Peter went back to sleep. When the mob arrived to arrest Jesus, it was too late to pray for the strength to endure the test. As he wept at his denial, he was probably cognizant of his failure to appropriate prayer, which was the means to shore up his own weakness. He eventually learnt the lesson taught by Jesus about being watchful to the extent that he exhorts us in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be on the alert, because your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” He was “devoured” in part due to his weakness because when he should have been praying he was sleeping and underestimated his own weakness.Peter must be credited somewhat, because while all the other disciples fled (Mark 14:50), he remained within the environment as he followed Jesus from a distance (Mark 14:54) after His arrest. He was fearful of the consequence he would have paid if he presumptuously identified with Jesus. He was gripped by fear. He watched Jesus being falsely accused, beaten and insulted from the courtyard. He was concerned about the fate of Jesus, but he was also fearful for his own life. He knew that Jesus was hated by his detractors and he not prepared to face similar ridicule and persecution that Jesus was suffering. The caution that Jesus gave the disciples while He was with them is applicable to us as well: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 16:18; Matthew 24:9). As Peter observed the ordeal that Jesus faced, he quickly realized that he was far from being as bold and courageous as he thought. Fear led him to deny the Savior. When we fast forward to the young people of the 21st century, the question is; why do so many follow from a distance? The responses are diverse: There is the belief that some church members are intolerant of their curiosity; they do not feel the loving embrace of many members of the church; and there are too many restrictions that the church upholds in terms of what they should and should not do. While there are merits in all those excuses, self-preservation, human weakness and fear are basic and foundational to their mode of operation. Prayer is still the way forward in helping to overcome these human maladies.Jesus knew how Peter would react before the actual situation. He did not accuse those who would be His accusers and Peter detractors. He did not justify Peter’s would be reaction and neither did He condemn him. Instead He ex-tended to him an open arm. He affirmed him and embraced him. Today, that affirmation and embrace are also extended to every youth, child, and adult. Whatever the reality of our situation, these words should be like music to our ears: “I have prayed for you.”I Have Prayed For Thee The assurance that Jesus gave to Peter was, “I have prayed for you.” In the actual prayer that Jesus prayed in John 17: 9 He said to the Father, “praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” In verse 15 He specifically said, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one”. When He said to Peter, I have prayed for you, it is a part of His nature to hold us up in prayer before the father. Jesus is the Advocate for Christians. He is our great Defender. He currently fulfills an intercessory role for all His children (1 John 2:1). You may have wandered away from Him, and are here today feeling despondent and discouraged. Peter had a similar feeling, but Jesus was his defense lawyer and he is yours as well. The Apostle Paul in Hebrews 7:25 says, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”. And in 1 Timothy 2:5 he says, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”.The prayer came before the sifting and even through the sifting the prayer was in place. To Peter as it is to every young person today it is a great assurance; The Lord Himself has prayed for you. Jesus is our Advocate and great High Priest. He assures us that He has already prayed for us. Before we face any temptation He has prayed for us. He has made provision for all the future challenges that we will encounter in that prayer already prayed. The prayers of our parents, Pastor, Church elder, friends and other during this week as well as before and after this week are very important. In fact Jesus encourages that we pray for others. That is one of the reasons we have these spe-cial times each year to focus on prayer. To pray for others! However, noth-ing brings greater joy and satisfaction than knowing that Jesus Himself has prayed for us. Even though we will be tossed about by the sifting of Satan, we know that the prayer of Jesus is powerful to carry us through the turbulence. If in the process our lives are taken, it does not end there because the Great High Priest, Jesus who has prayed for us will save us in His kingdom if we will only but submit our lives to Him and allow Him to nurture our faith. The chief object of the Prayer of Jesus is that our faith does not fail. It was Charles Spurgeon who said; “Faith is the standard–bearer in every spiritual conflict. And if the standard–bearer fall, then it is an evil day—therefore our Lord prays that the standard–bearer may never fail to hold up His banner in the midst of the fray” If our faith in the Lord fails then we lose courage, patience, hope, love, and joy. Jesus said, “I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not.” This also informs us of what to pray for during this week – Faith! Not emotional faith, but genuine faith.
“Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan desires to have you and to sift you as wheat” (Verse 31) was Jesus’ prediction to Peter. Here He painted a metaphorical picture to illustrate how by sieving, Satan desires to shake the faith of the dis-ciples. Jesus used Peter’s “pre–Christian” name instead of “Peter,” the name he was given as a disciple. He was probably intentional, since he knew Peter would shortly revert to an earlier life–style and behavior, predating his follow-ing Jesus (6:13–14). The interpretation of this verse can be found in the anal-ogy of Job 1–2, where Satan is permitted to test Job. Satan was seeking to shake the disciples violently as one sieves wheat and cause them to fall. The use of this metaphor was and is intended to indicate that there is a coming time of testing by Satan to unsettle the disciples and people of God to cause them to become unfaithful to the Lord. Every youth should be aware of this and make sure that they are covered under the prayer of Jesus. Satan the accuser accused the disciples as he does us, pointing out their sins and frailties before God, just as he did with Job (Job 1:6–12). The sifting of Peter was an attack on him both physically, and spiritually in order to lead him to apostasy and loss of salvation. That is a cosmic strategy of the devil. Jesus with the power of his intercession stands on one side interceding while the accuser is shaking. Many young people who are members of the Church are under the devil’s attacks. Their spiritual interests and involvement in the Church are getting weak and Faith in God is being gambled for a season of pleasure and exchanged for the popular demands of a secular and materialistic world. As we look around we see many who are being sifted or shaken by the crafty maneuvers of the devil. It should be frightening that we ourselves could likewise be sifted. It is in moments and experiences like these that young people need to spend more time focusing on Jesus, the interces-sor, to develop a closer relationship with Him. His power is greater than that of the sifter and Satan’s sifting power is limited and doomed!
www.gcyouthministries.org 2015 young adults week of prayer 19
The Fulfillment
“Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:54-62, NIV). Jesus told Peter that he was a target of the devil. Similarly, every youth as well as children and adult in Church today are targets of the devil. He utilizes the most appealing methods to attract attention and influence Christ’s followers to gaze, and become disinterested in spiritual things (1 Peter 5:8). He was suc-
cessful in influencing Peter. The once energetic, defensive, outspoken support-
er, Peter, was now following Jesus “afar off” or from a distance (v. 54). That was not the end, he sunk so low in his spiritual walk with Christ, that he even denied knowing Christ. He lost his self–confidence, went to sleep when he should be praying (v. 45) and ended up sitting among the accusers of Christ (v. 55). He felt that if he followed from afar, many would not recognize him as one who is a follower of Jesus and might escape criticisms and eventual persecution. He even adopted and manifested behaviors of the secular crowd to dem-onstrate that he was not a follower of Jesus. Peter did not understand Jesus’ comment “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it” (Matt. 16:25). 20 Reclaim! first sabbath : following from a distanceSatan was so committed to destroying Jesus that anyone who believed in Him and followed Him was targeted. When the maid said: “This man was also with him,” Peter vigorously replied: “Woman, I know him not.” Jesus is looking for young people who will identify with Him and not deny Him irrespective of the consequences. He enables such young people to stand for Him. He wants them to be loyal supporters who are His voice, to witnesses to others of his grace, so that they may accept Him as their Savior. What impact Peter might have had on the crowd if he stood up for Christ and answered positively, yes I am a follower? Instead, he denied him. Are you in that company of deniers? Or are you among the vast group of young people around the world who are standing up for Him and making His glory known? Are you among the young people in the global community who are stepping out of the backgrounds and out of buildings and out of secular crowds to become the Sermon, by proclaiming to those in local communities, towns, and cities that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and He will return any day now to take His people home to glory?With all his good intentions, Peter turned back at a crucial moment when his testimony was needed. His confident, “Lord, I am ready to go with you, both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33–34; Matthew 26:31–33) was just an emotional outburst. “...Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times’” (Luke 22: 60, 61). The crow of the cock was signifi-cant in the life of the gazing Peter. It called his attention to another look at Jesus, who never gazed. His eyes are always upon his children, even those who are not able to see Him because of the distance they are from Him. When the eyes of Peter and Jesus met; Peter did not see anger, reproach or condemnation. Instead he saw grief, mercy, love, forgiveness, compassion acceptance and tenderness. Then he remembered the words. “But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not: And when thou art converted, strength-en thy brethren” Luke 22:32. Ellen White said; “He had denied his Lord, even with cursing and swearing; but that look of Jesus’ melted Peter’s heart and saved him. He wept bitterly and repented of his great sin, and was convert-ed, and then was prepared to strengthen his brethren” (Early Writings, p. 169).
www.gcyouthministries.org 2015 young adults week of prayer 21
Why Do People Follow From a Distance?
Obviously, Peter’s distance was both physical and spiritual. It was about self-preservation, weakness and fear, because he had an innate desire to be with Jesus just like many who are here today. For Peter, it was about living in two worlds at the same time. So often we try to do that but it does not work! Jesus wants us to live in the spiritual world with Him and to identify with Him at all time as we journey through this secular world. He wants us to be willing to suffer for Him and He will provide causes for us to rejoice. In the flesh, Peter’s faith was weak. This was a weakness born of human frailty; however, he had interest in a personal relationship with Christ. He also literally wanted to have an up front and close view of the treatment that would be meted out to Jesus and to see how the Savior would react. After the Last Supper when Jesus took the disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane in anticipation of His arrest, He asked them them to stay awake and pray while He would go by himself to pray. Upon His return, He found them fast asleep. At that moment, He entreated Peter to remain awake and to pray, because even though he might have felt capable and strong, his flesh was weak. In spite of the coun-sel of Jesus, Peter went back to sleep. When the mob arrived to arrest Jesus, it was too late to pray for the strength to endure the test. As he wept at his denial, he was probably cognizant of his failure to appropriate prayer, which was the means to shore up his own weakness. He eventually learnt the lesson taught by Jesus about being watchful to the extent that he exhorts us in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be on the alert, because your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” He was “devoured” in part due to his weakness because when he should have been praying he was sleeping and underestimated his own weakness.Peter must be credited somewhat, because while all the other disciples fled (Mark 14:50), he remained within the environment as he followed Jesus from a distance (Mark 14:54) after His arrest. He was fearful of the consequence he would have paid if he presumptuously identified with Jesus. He was gripped by fear. He watched Jesus being falsely accused, beaten and insulted from the courtyard. He was concerned about the fate of Jesus, but he was also fearful for his own life. He knew that Jesus was hated by his detractors and he not prepared to face similar ridicule and persecution that Jesus was suffering. The caution that Jesus gave the disciples while He was with them is applicable to us as well: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 16:18; Matthew 24:9). As Peter observed the ordeal that Jesus faced, he quickly realized that he was far from being as bold and courageous as he thought. Fear led him to deny the Savior. When we fast forward to the young people of the 21st century, the question is; why do so many follow from a distance? The responses are diverse: There is the belief that some church members are intolerant of their curiosity; they do not feel the loving embrace of many members of the church; and there are too many restrictions that the church upholds in terms of what they should and should not do. While there are merits in all those excuses, self-preservation, human weakness and fear are basic and foundational to their mode of operation. Prayer is still the way forward in helping to overcome these human maladies.Jesus knew how Peter would react before the actual situation. He did not accuse those who would be His accusers and Peter detractors. He did not justify Peter’s would be reaction and neither did He condemn him. Instead He ex-tended to him an open arm. He affirmed him and embraced him. Today, that affirmation and embrace are also extended to every youth, child, and adult. Whatever the reality of our situation, these words should be like music to our ears: “I have prayed for you.”I Have Prayed For Thee The assurance that Jesus gave to Peter was, “I have prayed for you.” In the actual prayer that Jesus prayed in John 17: 9 He said to the Father, “praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” In verse 15 He specifically said, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one”. When He said to Peter, I have prayed for you, it is a part of His nature to hold us up in prayer before the father. Jesus is the Advocate for Christians. He is our great Defender. He currently fulfills an intercessory role for all His children (1 John 2:1). You may have wandered away from Him, and are here today feeling despondent and discouraged. Peter had a similar feeling, but Jesus was his defense lawyer and he is yours as well. The Apostle Paul in Hebrews 7:25 says, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”. And in 1 Timothy 2:5 he says, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”.The prayer came before the sifting and even through the sifting the prayer was in place. To Peter as it is to every young person today it is a great assurance; The Lord Himself has prayed for you. Jesus is our Advocate and great High Priest. He assures us that He has already prayed for us. Before we face any temptation He has prayed for us. He has made provision for all the future challenges that we will encounter in that prayer already prayed. The prayers of our parents, Pastor, Church elder, friends and other during this week as well as before and after this week are very important. In fact Jesus encourages that we pray for others. That is one of the reasons we have these spe-cial times each year to focus on prayer. To pray for others! However, noth-ing brings greater joy and satisfaction than knowing that Jesus Himself has prayed for us. Even though we will be tossed about by the sifting of Satan, we know that the prayer of Jesus is powerful to carry us through the turbulence. If in the process our lives are taken, it does not end there because the Great High Priest, Jesus who has prayed for us will save us in His kingdom if we will only but submit our lives to Him and allow Him to nurture our faith. The chief object of the Prayer of Jesus is that our faith does not fail. It was Charles Spurgeon who said; “Faith is the standard–bearer in every spiritual conflict. And if the standard–bearer fall, then it is an evil day—therefore our Lord prays that the standard–bearer may never fail to hold up His banner in the midst of the fray” If our faith in the Lord fails then we lose courage, patience, hope, love, and joy. Jesus said, “I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not.” This also informs us of what to pray for during this week – Faith! Not emotional faith, but genuine faith.
Emotional Faith
Emotional faith is a spontaneous outburst of confidence that is not estab-lished on a solid foundation. Externals and a great amount of sheltering from inexperience and parental security nurture such faith. At one of those Pathfinder survival camps we had the pathfinders were being taught to swim. With their coach they did well and eagerly looked forward to exercise their competencies without the swimming instructor. One camper who was perceived not ready to go too far on his own was so over confident in his ability and insisted that he be sent on his own. The moment arrived and joyfully he went out supposedly doing what he was trained to do. However, within ten minutes of the exercise, he lost control and went under. Luckily it was within reach and sight of experienced swimmers who rescued him from the water and brought him to shore. It took them the next 45 minutes to perform CPR, which eventually resuscitated him. In our walk with the Lord, an emotional outburst will not suffice. Ellen White said; “An impulse, an emotional exercise, is not faith or sanctification” Signs of the Times, March 24, 1890 paragraph 3. She said, “All should constantly seek for the true faith that works, not by an earth–born, emotional element, but by love that purifies the soul. This love cleanses the soul–temple from pride, and expels every idol from the throne of the heart” (Review and Herald, March 11, 1902 Paragraph 3). Faith in God without a personal ongoing relationship with Him is emotional faith that will not and cannot hold in the time of storm, tests, and turbulence.Genuine faith comes through dependence upon God. It is not self–made. Human beings do not create it. It is not time sensitive in the sense of saying you have to be with Jesus for so many years to obtain it. Peter and his companions were with Jesus for three years yet Jesus said to Peter, “when you are converted”. Genuine faith is a gift that must be sought of the Lord. We pray for it and must be patient for the acquisition. It is an important ingredient that builds strong Christian life and emboldens Christian living. Through the empowerment of genuine faith, the followers of Christ know when to say no! And when to say yes! Being in the actual presence of Jesus does not make one converted as was evident in the life of the disciples. It is made possible by genuine acceptance of the death and resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of His Spirit. It is a gift that must be accepted, (Ephesians 2:8, NIV). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Jesus is willing to endow every young person as well as children and adults with this genuine faith that will enable them to stand tests and trials and be courageous to identify with Him as their Savior and Lord. In this life we will lose loved ones, we will be tempted to evil by authority figures, we will become dispossessed of the things we love and hold dear, we may be jilted, the attractions of a secular world may lore us to embrace things that are profaning and incompatible to our Christian walk. However, genuine faith in Christ and dependence upon the Holy Spirit will empower us to stand with courage and defend our beliefs, overcome the temptations and be triumphant. As triumphant youth in Christ, you have a responsibility to strengthen others whose faith is faltering.Strengthen The Brethren Jesus said to Peter, “...when you are converted, strengthen the brethren.” By saying, “when you are converted”, Jesus is actually saying to Peter, “...when you return to the former state of walking with me. When you return to that point where you are able to identify with me, then you have a responsibility to strengthen the brethren.” Jesus wanted him to play a significant role in building back the scattered team of disciples because they should form the nucleus for extending the gospel commission. We do not live on an island by ourselves. Jesus was emphatic in giving the message to Peter; your conversation must affect those around you positively. The Christian is not sent to sow discord among brethren (Prov. 6:19), it is not simply preaching to the unsaved and performing miracles. We strengthen the others by loving and encouraging them. Jesus recognized that Peter would demonstrate signs of weakness due to his humanity; however, He encour-aged him not to allow his weakness to drive him to a devastating end. He placed in him and saw in him the ability to become a valuable asset to others. The forgiveness and acceptance that was extended to Peter by Jesus are ours to be extended to others. There is a place for everyone in the kingdom of God. Today he calls the children, youth, and adults and those who have been following from a distance to come near. Accept His forgiveness, love, and grace and be catalysts in extending the same to others. After the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy, and when Peter became converted, he wept bitterly (Luke 22:62). The Lord Forgave him and restored him. Peter became a mighty force against the strong holds of the devil. He influenced thousands to the kingdom of God by preaching and living the gospel of Jesus and extending invitation to countless numbers of persons to accept the crucified and resurrected Lord as their savior. You, too, can be an influence to others by returning to Him today!
Appeal and Prayer:_______________________________________________________
Suggested Closing Song: Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine
Benediction: ______________________________________________________________
References
Campbell, R. F. (1988–). Preach for a year (49–50). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publica-Larson, B., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1983). Vol. 26: Luke. The Preacher’s Commentary Series (320–327). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Zuck, R. B. (1991). A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament (electronic ed.) (432–433). Chicago: Moody Press.
David Kinnaman, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church...and Rethinking Faith (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011).
Emotional faith is a spontaneous outburst of confidence that is not estab-lished on a solid foundation. Externals and a great amount of sheltering from inexperience and parental security nurture such faith. At one of those Pathfinder survival camps we had the pathfinders were being taught to swim. With their coach they did well and eagerly looked forward to exercise their competencies without the swimming instructor. One camper who was perceived not ready to go too far on his own was so over confident in his ability and insisted that he be sent on his own. The moment arrived and joyfully he went out supposedly doing what he was trained to do. However, within ten minutes of the exercise, he lost control and went under. Luckily it was within reach and sight of experienced swimmers who rescued him from the water and brought him to shore. It took them the next 45 minutes to perform CPR, which eventually resuscitated him. In our walk with the Lord, an emotional outburst will not suffice. Ellen White said; “An impulse, an emotional exercise, is not faith or sanctification” Signs of the Times, March 24, 1890 paragraph 3. She said, “All should constantly seek for the true faith that works, not by an earth–born, emotional element, but by love that purifies the soul. This love cleanses the soul–temple from pride, and expels every idol from the throne of the heart” (Review and Herald, March 11, 1902 Paragraph 3). Faith in God without a personal ongoing relationship with Him is emotional faith that will not and cannot hold in the time of storm, tests, and turbulence.Genuine faith comes through dependence upon God. It is not self–made. Human beings do not create it. It is not time sensitive in the sense of saying you have to be with Jesus for so many years to obtain it. Peter and his companions were with Jesus for three years yet Jesus said to Peter, “when you are converted”. Genuine faith is a gift that must be sought of the Lord. We pray for it and must be patient for the acquisition. It is an important ingredient that builds strong Christian life and emboldens Christian living. Through the empowerment of genuine faith, the followers of Christ know when to say no! And when to say yes! Being in the actual presence of Jesus does not make one converted as was evident in the life of the disciples. It is made possible by genuine acceptance of the death and resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of His Spirit. It is a gift that must be accepted, (Ephesians 2:8, NIV). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Jesus is willing to endow every young person as well as children and adults with this genuine faith that will enable them to stand tests and trials and be courageous to identify with Him as their Savior and Lord. In this life we will lose loved ones, we will be tempted to evil by authority figures, we will become dispossessed of the things we love and hold dear, we may be jilted, the attractions of a secular world may lore us to embrace things that are profaning and incompatible to our Christian walk. However, genuine faith in Christ and dependence upon the Holy Spirit will empower us to stand with courage and defend our beliefs, overcome the temptations and be triumphant. As triumphant youth in Christ, you have a responsibility to strengthen others whose faith is faltering.Strengthen The Brethren Jesus said to Peter, “...when you are converted, strengthen the brethren.” By saying, “when you are converted”, Jesus is actually saying to Peter, “...when you return to the former state of walking with me. When you return to that point where you are able to identify with me, then you have a responsibility to strengthen the brethren.” Jesus wanted him to play a significant role in building back the scattered team of disciples because they should form the nucleus for extending the gospel commission. We do not live on an island by ourselves. Jesus was emphatic in giving the message to Peter; your conversation must affect those around you positively. The Christian is not sent to sow discord among brethren (Prov. 6:19), it is not simply preaching to the unsaved and performing miracles. We strengthen the others by loving and encouraging them. Jesus recognized that Peter would demonstrate signs of weakness due to his humanity; however, He encour-aged him not to allow his weakness to drive him to a devastating end. He placed in him and saw in him the ability to become a valuable asset to others. The forgiveness and acceptance that was extended to Peter by Jesus are ours to be extended to others. There is a place for everyone in the kingdom of God. Today he calls the children, youth, and adults and those who have been following from a distance to come near. Accept His forgiveness, love, and grace and be catalysts in extending the same to others. After the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy, and when Peter became converted, he wept bitterly (Luke 22:62). The Lord Forgave him and restored him. Peter became a mighty force against the strong holds of the devil. He influenced thousands to the kingdom of God by preaching and living the gospel of Jesus and extending invitation to countless numbers of persons to accept the crucified and resurrected Lord as their savior. You, too, can be an influence to others by returning to Him today!
Appeal and Prayer:_______________________________________________________
Suggested Closing Song: Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine
Benediction: ______________________________________________________________
References
Campbell, R. F. (1988–). Preach for a year (49–50). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publica-Larson, B., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1983). Vol. 26: Luke. The Preacher’s Commentary Series (320–327). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Zuck, R. B. (1991). A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament (electronic ed.) (432–433). Chicago: Moody Press.
David Kinnaman, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church...and Rethinking Faith (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011).
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Jn 17:9). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Marshall, I. H. (1978). The Gospel of Luke: A commentary on the Greek text. New Inter-
national Greek Testament Commentary (820). Exeter: Paternoster Press.
Stein, R. H. (1992). Vol. 24: Luke. The New American Commentary (552). Nashville: Broadman & Holman PublishersDiscussion Questions
1. What are some specific incidents that Adventist young people
face that could be considered sifting?
2. Why did Peter align himself to the vibrant group of Jesus’ accusers and neglect Jesus—was it because he had greater interest in being popular with the crowd than to be bored in a relation-
ship with Jesus?
3. What role did faith play in Peter’s reaction in this scenario?
4. Differentiate between emotional and genuine faith. Is there a place for emotional faith in the Christian experience?
5. How can Adventist young people be involved in strengthening others, both within and outside of the faith?
Marshall, I. H. (1978). The Gospel of Luke: A commentary on the Greek text. New Inter-
national Greek Testament Commentary (820). Exeter: Paternoster Press.
Stein, R. H. (1992). Vol. 24: Luke. The New American Commentary (552). Nashville: Broadman & Holman PublishersDiscussion Questions
1. What are some specific incidents that Adventist young people
face that could be considered sifting?
2. Why did Peter align himself to the vibrant group of Jesus’ accusers and neglect Jesus—was it because he had greater interest in being popular with the crowd than to be bored in a relation-
ship with Jesus?
3. What role did faith play in Peter’s reaction in this scenario?
4. Differentiate between emotional and genuine faith. Is there a place for emotional faith in the Christian experience?
5. How can Adventist young people be involved in strengthening others, both within and outside of the faith?
No comments:
Post a Comment