Young Adults' Group

“I Have Prayed For You”

by Pastor Mark
March 24, 2016

The High Priestly ministry of the Lord Jesus

We thank God for the prayer ministry of the Lord Jesus as our Great High Priest. He intercedes on our behalf for He knows how weak our faith really is.

As we enter into this Holy Week, I was reminded of a special prayer that Jesus made for His disciples, especially Simon Peter, as they were going to be tested by the evil one.

A great spiritual battle

The attacks of Satan are on-going concerns that we need to be aware of. He is seeking to do everything he can to attack our faith.

He sought to attack the faith of the disciples, “And the Lord said “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.” (Luke 22:31) Jesus made this insightful comment about Simon and his fellow disciples. The word “you” is written in the plural. While Simon Peter was specially singled out, the attacks of Satan were against all the other disciples too. Simon would become the leading apostle one day and Satan was seeking to shake his faith…like the sifting of wheat. But all the disciples were going to be tested too.

Nevertheless, Satan’s attacks were never outside the control of the Lord Jesus. He had to ask the Lord for permission to attack His disciples. Let us appreciate the fact that no matter what attacks we have to face from the evil one, the Lord is still in control.

Praying for the triumph of our faith

“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail;” (Luke 22:32)

This is indeed such a comforting thought…that the Lord Jesus prayed for the faith of Simon Peter. The Lord Jesus knew what was going to happen to Peter…that he was going to deny Him three times. He was going to fail the Lord Jesus.

But the Lord Jesus assured Peter that He had prayed for him that his faith would not fail. It was going to be a tough time for Peter and his fellow disciples for not being able to stand by the Lord Jesus through His suffering. But their faith would not fail them ultimately.

The stronger we become

“And when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:32)

The Lord Jesus spoke of how the disciples can emerge from the struggle with evil one stronger in faith. They should return to the Lord and find restoration in their relationship with Him. They would become stronger through the test. Ultimately, they would be able to minister to their brethren and to strengthen them.

Even though we have been through a week of Family Camp, we may stumble and fall along the way. But we can still emerge stronger in having a faith that will not fail us.

Praying for our faith

Let us truly appreciate the Lord Jesus as our Great High Priest who intercedes for us concerning our faith…that it should not fail. Let us pray for ourselves and each other that our faith would be able to overcome the attacks of the evil one. Let us be challenged to pray for our faith to grow stronger through the spiritual battles that we have to encounter in life and ministry.

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