I Have Prayed For You

Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Introduction:

• Today we are continue to dive into the work the Jesus accomplished in Peter’s life.
• How far Peter had come from who he was to who he became.
• Peter was just a guy with obvious strengths and weaknesses.

1. Satan’s had a bull’s eye on Peter.

Luke 22:31-34 (ESV) 31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

1.1. Satan was not stopped from sifting.
1.2. Satan sifted and Peter was sifted.
1.3. Ela… to sift = shake in a sieve. fig. by inward agitation to try one’s faith to the verge of overthrow…
1.4. But satan is a lier.
1.5. John 8:44…. “(ESV) When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

2. Peter “I have prayed for you”

2.1. Jesus prayed for Peter while on earth as He lives and makes intercession for us while in Heaven.

Hebrews 7:24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
2.2. Peter did not yet have ears to hear.

2.2.1. Lord, I am ready.”
2.2.2. When we are young how quick we are to think we are ready.

2.2.3. Peter said I am ready and Jesus basically said no you are not butyou will be eventually.

2.3. Having ears to hear.

2.3.1. Learn to hear the gentle soft voice of the Lord.
2.3.2. Speaking by the Spirit
2.3.3. Or through the lives and mouths of others around us.

2.3.4. Ela… I remember one time the Lord speaking to me of His majesty through a crazy lighting storm as I was in the middle of a mountain field in my 1970s Ford F100.

2.4. Jesus’ prayer “That your faith may not fail.”
2.4.1. Jesus prays this prayer over us today.
John 17:20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
2.4.2. It’s the type of mercy we cling too not only for ourselves but all those in our life who seem to be having failing faith.
2.4.3. Lord, I pray their faith would not fail.
2.4.4. Those who were once enlightened to the power of God. Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

2.5. (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible) Nothing more certainly forebodes a fall, in a professed follower of Christ, than self- confidence, with disregard to warnings, and contempt of danger. Unless we watch and pray always, we may be drawn in the course of the day into those sins which we were in the morning most resolved against. If believers were left to themselves, they would fall; but they are kept by the power of God, and the prayer of Christ.

3. It is through brokenness that our ears are opened.

Luke 22:60-62 (ESV) 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

3.1. Peter’s brokenness begins…
3.1.1. It wasn’t until Peter denied Christ three times when the

brokenness began to have it’s way. 3.2. It was the Lord’s look that did it.

3.2.1. Not a look of I told you so. 3.2.2. Not a look of condemnation.

(ESV) 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
(ESV) Rev. 1:13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,

1 Peter 3:12 (ESV) For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
3.2.3. When Jesus looks at you.

3.3. There were a few three that a Jewish man would be familiar with.

Exodus 23:14 “Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to me.

3.3.1. Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest, and Feast of In-Gathering

Exodus 23:17 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord GOD.
Exodus 23:19 (ESV) “The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God.

3.3.2. Instead Peter is denying Jesus three times.

3.3.3. THIS WAS PART OF THE PROCESS OF THE MAKING OF PETER. 3.4. Peter weep bitterly.

Luke 22:62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

3.5. The world is looking for confidence while the Lord is looking for brokenness.

3.6. Brokenness is empowered

Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

4. Peter’s exaltation begins.

John 21:15-17 (ESV) 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

4.1. Three times Peter denies Jesus.
4.2. Three times Jesus instructs Peter.
4.3. Meeting him where he was
4.4. Jesus helps Peter to recognize what was happening.
4.5. Peter was grieved by the third time knowing what the meaning of the instruction was.
4.6. The assignment did not change after the failure.

5. Peter’s witness of three…

Acts 10:9-14 (ESV) 9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 (ESV) And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (ESV) And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

5.1. Peter’s response to the vision was the same Peter…
5.1.1. “By no means, Lord” basically No Lord. I have never done that before.
5.1.1.1. After all these years.
5.1.1.2. After being restored.
5.1.1.3. After being used to work mighty miracles.

5.1.2. Peter is still:
5.1.2.1. putting his foot in his mouth. 5.1.2.2. And still needing to be right. 5.1.2.3. Some things never change.

5.2. A second instruction then came as a pattern is emerging?

Acts 10:16 (ESV) This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
Acts 10:17 (ESV) Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate

Acts 10:19 (ESV) And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.

5.3. The vision happened three times and then ceased.

5.3.1. Three men show up at his door.
5.3.2. The Lord has a way of meeting us where we are. 5.3.3. The Lord has a way of getting our attention.

5.4. Gideon ask three times for a sign to confirm the Lord was speaking to him in Judges 6.

5.5. The Father Son Holy Spirit. 5.6. A three strand cord.

Conclusion: Get confirmation with a 3-fold witness from there Lord.

• Three times a charm.
• Three times for confirmation.
• We ask with humility.
• We listen with open hearts.
• We compare and line it up with the Word of God.
• And I personally feel that someone saved and God fearing in your life will get a

  witness with you.