Baroda Bible Club

Key Scripture verse: ‘Luke 22:31, “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded permission to shift 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.”

Key story: ‘ My reaction to prostate cancer, and God's purpose through it all.'

Key statement: ‘God's purpose in failure is to strengthen us, so that we may in turn strengthen others.'

Key solutions:

1. Notice, first of all, that Jesus wanted Simon Peter's attention.

1. “Simon, Simon,” he said, repeating his name. As a matter of fact, this is generally what God has to do to us all—get our attention!

i. You know, I find it interesting that Jesus had to use Peter's name twice to get his attention, and Lazarus's only once to raise him from the dead!

ii. He did the same with Paul on the road to Damascus in Acts :9:4 : And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?

2. God wants our attention. May, I ask you a serious question this morning, “Does God have your attention?”

2. Satan's purpose is to destroy our faith.

1. Behold—in other words, lookout, Simon! The devil has designs for you. He wants to shift you like wheat.

i. Are you aware this morning that Satan wants to destroy your faith? If not, pay attention, lookout, because the old Devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may destroy.

1. 1Pt: 5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

ii. And, if that doesn't work, he will come as an angel of light to deceive us, the Scripture says.

1. 2Cor: 11:14: And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

3. Again, however, we are reminded that Christ prays for us.

1. “ … I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

2. 1Jn: 2:1: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

3. Jn: 16:26: At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

4. Yes! Jesus was and is a man of prayer. Lk : 6:12 : And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

4. Jesus prays differently, however . I want you to notice what Jesus did not say. He did not say, “Simon, I have prayed for you that you may not fail .” That is no doubt how we would have prayed. No, he said, “Simon, I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail .” He prays that Peter's faith may not fail.

1. Mind you, there is a world of difference between these two statements.

i. For, you see, God has a purpose in our failures. And, that purpose is to strengthen us, so that we in turn may strengthen others. “Simon,” he says, “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail, and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

ii. Paul on one occasion tells the Church at Corinth To deliver [a man] unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1Cor:5:5

iii. Why? you may ask. First of all, we know that God loves us, and wishes the very best for us. But, if it takes looking the old Devil in the eye, and getting the wits scared out of you, God will allow it.

1. That's fine, you might say, but, I am so rotten, and have been such a failure, as a Christian that I am sure God doesn't really love me much any more. Stop for a moment. Do you know how much God loves you? I'll tell you how much, He loves you just as much as He loves Jesus! Really? you say. Yes, really.

2. In Jn :17:23 : Jesus prays “that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me .”

3. And furthermore, There is a beautiful passage of Scripture that reminds of that. It says, that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

5. So, that is why, this morning, I want to share with you that God has a purpose in man's failure, and even in seemingly bad situations . Hopefully, this will encourage those of us who feel discouraged or frustrated because of our failures, even to the extent that sometimes we lose hope. And, to show you that God's purpose in failure is to strengthen us, so that we may in turn strengthen others.

1. This is why Paul can boldly state, the “we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” Rom :5:3 -4: Because God is at work in us, strengthening us though our trials, even when we fail him.

i. How can he strengthen us in our failures? Well, think of Peter for a moment. He was a proud, boastful character until he betrayed Christ! Then all of a sudden he lost his pride, and the Scripture says that he went out and wept bitterly.

ii. Now, listen to this humble man as he writes: “all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.10: But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish , strengthen, settle you.11: To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

2. Listen also to what James, the brother of Jesus has to say, knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience . But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Jms:1:3-4:

3. This is why Paul prays in Ephesians, chapter 3: 16: That God would grant us, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.

6. Paul realizes that it is the “inner man” that strengthens the “outer man.” (Eph. 3:16) Not through just some pep talk, but by the Spirit of God.

1. Paul stresses the importance of the power of God working on the inner man to accomplish the purposes of God. Notice verse 20, of Ephesians 3, where he gives the benediction, he says: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us .

2. For Paul knew that our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God . (1Cor:2:5)

3. Syvelle Philips—“I have seen more done down at the altar in 15 minutes by the Holy Spirit, than by an hour of counseling.”

7. Further, we know our purpose. That purpose is for us to become just like Jesus!

1. Rom 8: 28-29 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son …”

2. Paul in Colossians 2:10, put it this way, “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

3. Why? So, we can strengthen others. He was a servant , so must we be. And, He calls us as leaders to the same dedication, and, yes, even sacrifice . We are, Peter said, 1Pt:2:2: For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

8. Therefore, all things—both the good and the bad, work together to strengthen us! For, you see, God has a purpose in our failures. And, that purpose is to strengthen us, so that we in turn may strengthen others. “Simon,” he says, “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail, and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

9. How does God strengthen our faith? You may ask.

1. First of all, he strengthens us through love. We know that God loves us, and wishes the very best for us. Even in our failures.

i. There is a beautiful passage of Scripture that reminds of that. It says, that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. That's fine, you might say, but, I am so rotten, and have been such a failure, as a Christian that I am sure God doesn't really love me much any more. Stop for a moment.

ii. And, do you know how much God loves you? I'll tell you how much, He loves you just as much as He loves Jesus! Really? You say. Yes, really.

iii. So, God strengthens us by reminding us that no matter how bad we are, or how much of a failure we are, he still loves us.

iv. To understand this, think of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. He had gone to rock bottom; yet, he remembered that his father still loved him.

v. So, it is with us, the Apostle says, 2Cor:5:14: For the love of Christ constraints us …”

2. Secondly, God strengthens us through the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering. Paul says in Roms 2:4 “… despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

• So, God's love and goodness to us leads us back to him.

• So does God's longsuffering, and

• His longsuffering.

3. In Jn :17:23 : Jesus prays “that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me .”

4. So, God loves us, this is a Scriptural fact. And, He wants the best for us. Therefore, He puts up with us!

i. Do you remember the passage in John, where John prays, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth .” (3 Jn :1:2 :) So, there is no doubt that God wishes the best for us.

ii. But, what about my trials? What about all of my troubles? I have no money. My business is going under. My landlord is threatening to evict me. I don't feel well. Things are really looking down these days. I feel like giving up. I want to quit. I just can't cope with it all. What about all of that?

iii. Well, the passage in Romans 8:28 answers that. Paul writes: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

iv. So, we see here that God wants our soul to prosper, and say that all things will work together for the good to them that love God.

v. But, isn't this a contradiction? What about the bad things? What purpose do they have. What about when I fail Him. Isn't He punishing me by letting bad things happen to me?

vi. No, never, He loves you. Why would he punish you by forcing something bad to happen to you?

vii. No, you see, in God economy, all things are good for us, even the bad things! Why? Because when Satan has finished shifting us, we are made pure in God's love—we are made into the image of Christ!

viii. 1Jn:3:2-3: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

ix. So, you see God is just simply saying that even in failure, there is a good purpose. Even in the middle of trouble, God can and will turn it into some good for you, if you will only let Him.

Conclusion : You see God wants to strengthen you, so that you just like Jesus you may strengthen others.

Illustration: General William Booth's last telegram to his soldiers—just simply had the words “Others,” written on it as the total and final word he had for them.

A Sermon by Dr. Jim Roane,

Pastor ‘ Delhi International Christian Fellowship'