But I Have Prayed For You

Thank you, James, for the warm welcome.

Once again, it's lovely to be with you,

to be back amongst old friends,

and we pray that indeed we'll know God's blessing

by his spirit over these days

as we come around word and sacrament.

Well, friends, we're going to begin

by singing to God's praise.

We're going to worship his name from Psalm 146.

This is a Sing Sam's version on page 191.

Psalm 146.

We can read at the beginning of the psalm.

Praise the Lord, my soul, O praise him.

I'll extol him all my days.

While I live to God, my saviour,

from my heart I will sing praise.

Do not put your trust in princes,

mortal men who cannot save.

All their plans will come to nothing

when they perish in the grave.

Then down to verse 9 and 10.

He frustrates the wicked's purpose,

so the Lord through endless days

reigns to every generation.

Praise your God, O Zion, praise.

We'll stand to sing the whole psalm

to the praise of God.

Praise the Lord, my soul, O praise him.

I'll extol him all my days.

While I live to God, my saviour,

from my heart I will sing praise.

Do not put your trust in princes,

or tell men who cannot save.

All their plans will come to nothing

when they perish in the grave.

Blessed is the one who truly

works for help to Jacob's call.

Blessed is the one who places all his hope

upon the Lord.

He who made the earth and heaven

and blesses with all their store.

He who keeps his every promise

who is faithful evermore.

He delivers from oppression

and releases the hungry's plight.

He releases those in prison

to the blind the Lord his side.

Those who are bowed down he raises.

God delights in righteousness.

He protects and cares for strangers,

widows and the fatherless.

He frustrates the wicked purpose

So the Lord through endless days

Praise to every generation

Praise your God, O Zion, praise.

Praise your God, O Zion, praise.

Amen.

Let's join together and unite our hearts in prayer.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Gracious and eternal God,

King of kings and Lord of lords,

the God of heaven and the God of earth,

the one who inhabits eternity,

we gather this evening out before you, O Lord,

with that longing in our hearts

to truly know what it is to worship.

You are truly worthy of all praise

and adoration of your name being high

and lifted up.

You are the one to whom we seek to sing praises

and even exalt in our hearts.

And yet we are so aware that even for this short time

as we come together as a people,

that without you we can do nothing.

We are completely reliant upon you

in all that we seek to do in terms of worship,

worship, and in service.

And in light of this, O Lord,

we pray that you might be pleased

to fulfill that promise to your people

that where two or three gather in your name,

you are there in their midst,

that for all of us here,

we could truly say that we come not in our own name,

but in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

and that you would honor this

by your Holy Spirit coming

and applying this word to our hearts

and our minds,

so that all the more

we might bow down before you.

And as we reflect upon who you are

and what we have from your hand day by day,

we cannot but come and give thanks.

You are the God who is supplying all of our needs

according to your riches and glory,

the one who gives unto us health and strength

and daily food,

the one who's lavishing upon us

such an abundance of blessings day by day.

Forgive us, we pray, O Lord,

for the fact that we are so slow

to return thanks to you,

that all too often as a people

we find ourselves taking from the hand of God,

yet are so reluctant to give back.

Forgive us, O Lord, for such,

and grant unto us that true

and that right spirit of thankfulness,

not least for these spiritual blessings,

the blessings of our soul,

that for God so loved the world,

he gave his only begotten Son,

so that whosoever believes in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

What a wonder it is

that we can lay hold of this promise by faith.

What a wonder it is

that when our health, our strength,

and our daily food passes away as it will,

that we can lay hold

upon the eternal promises of Christ

that are indeed yea and amen.

And as we gather these days

and as we seek to remember,

we pray, O Lord,

that our hearts and our minds

might be taken to Calvary's hill,

that we might be enabled

to a fresh gaze upon

the beauty of our Saviour,

the one who was despised

and rejected of men,

a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.

There was no beauty in him

that we should look upon him.

But yet there is beauty there,

inexpressible beauty,

beauty that enables sinners

such as us to cry out,

He died for me.

O Lord, we praise you then

for the wonder of what it is

to be brought into the royal household of faith

with that spirit of adoption

whereby we can cry out,

Abba, Father.

And if there are any here this evening hour

who are yet to know what it is

to take their place

in the banqueting house of the Lord,

who perhaps,

as we once were ourselves,

are strangers both to grace and to God,

who know not their danger,

who sense not their load,

who are quite content

going through the realms of time

without a word of eternity.

We pray, O Lord,

that tonight and in the days that lie ahead,

your Holy Spirit might be pleased

to touch them at their point of need,

taking them to that place of darkness

to your own most marvellous light

from death to life.

And if there are any here this evening

who do know you in their hearts

and love you,

but are yet to come

and to profess your name

for the first time,

through perhaps fear of man

or whatever reason

they are perhaps following from a distance,

we pray, O Lord,

that you would impress upon them,

even through the preaching

of your word this evening,

the blessing that follows obedience.

We know in many ways

that the easiest thing is to stay away.

We know that all that we are called to do

in the name of the Lord

appears to be so difficult,

a mountain set before us.

But yet we know that these thoughts

come not from yourself,

but from the evil one

who seeks to distract us

and to destroy our peace

and to lead us on a path

that does not honour your name.

And so help our dear friends here

who perhaps have even been on the road

for many a year,

who are yet to come

and to take this step of faith,

to know in a very real way

that they will not walk on water

until they step out of that boat,

keeping their eyes upon Jesus,

the author and the finisher

of their faith.

And we thank you, Lord,

that you do not call us

to go it alone,

that you give unto us

that helping hand

every step of the way.

As for many of us here tonight,

perhaps we are so acutely aware

of the challenges

that face us in this wilderness,

but yet you've not promised

an easy path for any of us,

but what you have promised

is that you will be with us,

that your rod and your staff,

that they will comfort us

and lead us and guide us

as we navigate our way

through this scene of time.

Be with us, dear congregation,

we pray.

We give thanks for them

and their witness in this town.

We pray for all their efforts

to reach out

with the glorious gospel

of Jesus Christ

in a world that in many ways

is so dark

and is so needful

of the light of your gospel.

We pray that you may give unto them

that boldness to go out,

not in their own strength,

but in the strength

of the one who cried out,

it is finished,

the one who promises to us

that he will be with us,

that he will honor those

who honor them.

We pray now that you will

lead us in your truth,

that you will open out hearts

and our minds

to incline your voice,

to hear what you have

to say to us this evening hour.

To all we ask,

we ask for the forgiveness

of our many sins.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Well, friends,

we're going to sing once more

to the praise of our Lord and Savior

from Psalm 46,

this time in the Scottish Psalter.

Psalm 46.

We can pick up our reading

at verse 7 of the Psalm.

The Lord of hosts upon our side

doth constantly remain,

the God of Jacob's our refuge

us safely to maintain.

Come and behold

what wondrous works

have by the Lord

have by the Lord been wrought.

Come see what desolations

he on the earth

hath brought.

Down to verse 10.

Be still and know

that I am God

among the heathen.

I will be exalted.

I on earth

will be exalted.

I will sing

verses 7 to 10

to the praise of God

standing to sing

the Lord of hosts

upon our side.

Amen.

The Lord of hosts

upon our side

hath constantly

hath lost me

hath lost me

hath lost me

hath lost me

hath lost me

hath lost me

hath lost me

hath lost me

hath lost me

hath lost me

hath lost me

The evil desolation he on the earth hath thrown.

Until the ends of all the earth, wars into peace he turns.

The glory break, the spear he cut, in fire the child burns.

Be still and know that I am gone, upon the hidden eye.

Will be exalted, thy honour will be exalted high.

Friends, we're going to turn now to read God's word together from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 22.

Luke 22 · chapter mention

Luke, chapter 22.

Luke 22 · chapter mention

We're going to read two sections of this chapter.

Firstly, from verse 14 through to 34.

And then we'll pick up our reading at verse 54 through to verse 62.

So that's Luke 22, 14 to 34, and 54 to 62.

Let us hear the word of God.

And when the hour came, he reclined at a table, and the apostles with him.

And he said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

For I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

And he took a cup.

And when he had given thanks, he said, take this and divide it among yourselves.

For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.

And he took bread.

And when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,

This is my body, which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.

And likewise the cup, after they had eaten, saying,

This cup that is poured out for you is a new covenant in my blood.

But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.

For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined.

But woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.

And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

And he said to them,

The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them,

and those in authority over them are called benefactors.

But not so with you.

Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest,

and the leader as one who serves.

For who is the greater, one who reclines at a table or one who serves?

Yes, is it not the one who reclines at table?

But I am among you as the one who serves.

You are those who have stayed with me in my trials.

And I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom,

that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom,

and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,

that he might sift you like wheat.

But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail,

and when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.

Peter said to him,

Lord, I am ready to go with you, both to prison and to death.

Jesus said, I tell you, Peter,

the cock will not crow this day

until you deny three times that you know me.

Then on to verse 54.

Then they seized him and led him away,

that is Jesus, bringing him into the high priest's house.

And Peter was following at a distance.

And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard

and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.

Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light

and looking closely at him, said,

This man also was with him.

But he denied it, saying,

Woman, I do not know him.

And a little later, someone else saw him and said,

You also are one of them.

But Peter said, Man, I am not.

After an interval of about an hour,

still another insisted, saying,

Certainly this man also was with him,

for he too is a Galilean.

But Peter said, Man,

I do not know what you are talking about.

And immediately while he was still speaking,

the cock crowed,

and the Lord turned and looked at Peter.

And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord,

how he had said to him,

Before the cock crows today,

you will deny me three times.

And he went out and wept bitterly.

And so on.

Amen.

We pray God's blessing on that portion of his own holy,

inspired and inerrant word.

Friends, before we come back to this passage,

we're going to sing once more.

This time from Psalm 9,

again in the Sing Psalms,

Psalm 9,

9a.

We'll pick up our reading at verse 7.

Psalm 9, verse 7.

Psalms 9:7

This is on page 9 of the psalm book.

The Lord forever reigns on high.

His throne for judgment stands.

He'll judge the world in righteousness.

With justice rule the lands.

The Lord will be a hiding place for those who are oppressed.

And he will be a strong defense for those who are distressed.

We'll sing down to the end of the verse marked 11,

to the praise of God,

standing to sing,

The Lord forever reigns on high.

The Lord forever reigns on high.

His throne for judgment stands.

He'll judge the world in righteousness.

He'll judge the world in righteousness.

With justice rule the lands.

The Lord will be a hiding place for those who are oppressed.

And he will be a strong defense for those who are distressed.

All those who know your name, O Lord,

In you, there trust will place.

For you do not abandon those.

For you do not abandon those who are afflicted.

Sing praises to the Lord who sits in Zion on his throne.

Among the nations of the world proclaim what he has done.

Well friends, for a short time, let's turn back together to the chapter that we read in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 22.

Luke 22 · chapter mention

Luke, chapter 22.

Luke 22 · chapter mention

If we were to take a text this evening, perhaps we could consider the words of verses 31 and 32.

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat.

But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail.

And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.

Well friends, over the course of the weekend, what I'd like to do, or God willing, what I hope to do, is to lay before you something of that great plan of God's redemption.

That is, after all, why we are here.

What I'm going to do is ask for questions.

Tonight we're going to think about why we are here this weekend.

And we're going to focus our thoughts and answering this question upon the narrative that we have before us.

Why are we here?

God willing, tomorrow night, we're then going to answer the question, how has this been made possible?

On Lord's Day morning, we'll think about what we've received as a result of that which has been made possible for us.

And then God willing, on Lord's Day evening, we'll close by thinking about who this is for.

Why, how, what, and who.

Now I'm going to begin this evening by asking another question.

And as we think about the answer to this question, we hopefully, by the end of the sermon,

and we'll be able to answer the overarching question that we're considering, why are we here?

And the question I have for you friends is this.

Tonight, on Friday the 17th of February, 2023,

how is your walk with the Lord?

It's a searching question.

It's a probing question.

It's a question that causes us to stop and to think.

And were we to go around this building this evening and ask individuals that very question,

I dare say that we would have many different answers.

Some of you would say, well, my walk isn't as it should be.

It's not what I would like it to be.

In fact, if I'm being honest, I feel like I'm following the Lord from afar,

and I have been for a while.

I present myself outwardly as following the Lord,

but in my heart there's something not quite right.

Perhaps others of you might say, well, I actually feel close to the Lord at the minute.

I'm enjoying sweet fellowship with him in his word, in prayer with his people.

I would say, yes, I am walking closely with the Lord.

Yet if we're being entirely honest, all of us, myself included,

those of us who are Christians here tonight,

we can identify with both of these feelings and everything in between at one time or another,

being close to the Lord or perhaps walking at a distance from him in our heart.

But of course, and we'll see this tonight,

there's nothing new under the sun.

Because here we have our friend Peter.

Here we have Peter who, in the space of a few hours,

he thought in his own mind's eye that, yes, he was walking closely with the Lord.

But then soon after, within a matter of hours,

he shows that, in fact, he isn't.

So tonight we're going to think about Peter and his denial of Christ under three headings.

Firstly, we're going to think about Peter's confidence in himself.

Secondly, we're going to think about how he is confronted by Satan.

And then lastly, we're going to close by looking at that commitment

that is shown to Peter by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Confidence, confrontation, and commitment.

And after having considered these three points,

we should be able to answer the question,

why are we here this weekend?

So here we are in verse 31, 32.

And we find ourselves in the upper room.

This is, of course, the night before Jesus is crucified.

And here he is spending time with his disciples.

He's having fellowship with his disciples.

He's breaking bread with his disciples in the form of the Lord's Supper.

He's having a blessed time.

But what do we notice, friends?

We notice that no sooner has our blessed time of fellowship

had with Jesus and his disciples that it's broken.

It's broken.

What we see here is that something comes in

that seeks to destroy that blessing.

The problem?

Well, the problem is that very quickly after having had the Lord's Supper,

the disciples, what they do is they forget.

They take their eyes off Jesus.

They neglect to remember exactly what they've just been doing

and who they've been doing it with.

And instead, their eyes are focused upon themselves.

See, in verse 24, I have here.

Yes, 24.

A dispute also arose among them

as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

Isn't this just so like us?

After a time of great blessing with God's people,

around sacrament, around word,

isn't it so like us just to be distracted,

to be embroiled in disputes and discussions

which in reality have no real importance?

That's what we see here.

And of course, this has consequences

because when we're in that heady frame of mind,

what we find, friends,

and we know this knowing what human nature is like,

when we've had a dispute over something,

something we're intently focused on,

what we find is that we have this confidence in ourselves,

this assumed confidence,

whether it's genuine or not is another thing,

but we have this confidence.

We're sure that we're right.

We're sure that our point of view is the point of view

as the disciples themselves were eager to find out

who would be the greatest.

Would it be me?

And that's what we see with Peter

because no sooner has this dispute taken place

that Jesus announces the unthinkable to him.

Simon, Simon.

Just notice that.

Simon, Simon.

What's Jesus doing here?

He's referring to Simon Peter by his old name.

Jesus had given to him the name Peter.

Now he's been referred to as his old name.

Why?

Because he was going to go back very soon to his old ways.

And just look at how he says it.

Simon, Simon.

There's that tone of disappointment.

That tone of a loving heavenly father

speaking to a son,

of a brother speaking to a brother.

Simon, Simon.

I don't want you to do this.

Simon, Simon.

Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you

that he might sift you like wheat.

And it goes on to say,

I tell you, Peter,

the rooster will not crow this day

until you deny three times that you know me.

I wonder, friend, tonight,

if you were told that this very evening

you would deny the Lord three times

with cursing and with swearing.

If I was to tell you that,

what would your reaction be?

Well, you would no doubt,

and me with you,

our natural reaction would be to say,

never, never would I do such a thing to my Lord.

Never would I deny my Savior,

certainly not with cursing and with swearing.

Peter certainly had that confidence.

And in Matthew's account of what we have before us here,

he responds by saying,

even if I must die with you,

I will not deny you.

You've all heard the saying,

never say never.

And of course,

as the Lord's people,

as Christians,

this is something that we continually need

to take on board.

You know,

one of the most dangerous things

for us to do,

friends,

as Christians,

is to look upon others

who have perhaps fallen into sin

and to look upon them

with disgust

and with disdain

and confidently saying out hearts,

although we might not articulate it

with our lips,

saying out hearts,

I would never do that.

Whatever I would do,

I would never do that.

It's lethal.

It's lethal because it shows

that we've lost sight

of who we really are by nature.

It's lethal because this way of thinking,

it overestimates our own strength

and ability to resist sin.

It's lethal.

We see this with Peter

because at its center,

this way of thinking

is one of the most ugliest sins of all.

The sin of pride.

And of course,

as an aside,

when we see our brothers

or sisters falling into sin

instead of looking down upon them

from our ivory tower,

what are we to do?

We are to draw alongside them.

We are to seek to restore them

in that same spirit of restoration

that has been granted to us

as undeserving sinners

by our Lord and our Savior.

We forget, don't we,

who we are in Christ

and what he's done for us.

And so,

such unfounded confidence

that here Peter has it

only goes on to make him weaker.

He who thinks he stands,

take heed lest he falls.

And that's what happens.

His confidence leads him,

and this brings us to our second point,

to be confronted by Satan.

Remember what Jesus said,

Satan has desired to sift you as wheat.

What a vivid and clear picture this is.

When the wheat was harvested,

the wheat and the chaff,

they were shaken,

they were tossed up into the air,

and as it was being tossed up into the air,

what would happen was

that the wind would blow

the chaff away

and the wheat would be left,

the good grain would be left.

And that's what Satan's deciding

to do with Peter.

That's what he's deciding to do

with all of us,

if the truth be told.

That's what he's deciding

to do with Peter.

He wants to violently shake him

to see if really,

really this faith

that he professes to have

is through.

After all,

look at the many times

Peter has blundered.

Look at the many times

he's let the Lord down.

He certainly doesn't look

like one of the Lord's people.

Let's shake him,

let's sift him,

let's get to the root of the matter

and show him for who he really is.

And so he confronts Peter.

But what does he confront him with?

Does he confront Peter

with an obviously glaring sin

that would instantly derail Peter,

discredit Peter?

Is that what he does?

Leading Peter into this obvious,

heinous sin?

Is that what he does?

No, it's not,

because that's not how Satan operates.

He's far more subtle

and clever than that.

What he does is this.

The next day,

when Jesus is being led away,

we missed out some of the chapter,

when he's being led away

by those, of course,

who are going to crucify him,

he confronts Peter.

Satan confronts Peter.

What does he confront him with?

Well, he confronts him

with a temptation.

What's the temptation?

Well, it's such a subtle temptation,

but one that I believe

is so real to all of us,

that temptation of comfort

and of ease.

You see, Peter had a choice.

Here's his Lord and Savior

being led away to be crucified.

He has a choice.

He can either boldly

and publicly identify

as a follower of Jesus,

or he can remain in the shadows.

He can go to the side.

He can somehow show

that he doesn't really know

this man Jesus.

Verse 54.

Then they seized him

and led him away,

bringing him into

the high priest's house.

And what does Peter do?

And Peter was following

at a distance.

That's the first temptation.

The subtle temptation.

Following at a distance.

Having so been confronted

with that temptation

of comfort,

of ease,

of taking the easy way out,

he does so.

He follows Jesus at a distance.

No doubt he's embarrassed

or he's scared

to identify

with the Lord Jesus Christ

because in doing so,

he knows

there will be repercussions.

There was repercussions,

but perhaps not in the way

that he expected.

Because in following Jesus

from a distance,

friends,

he was putting himself

in the perfect place

to be confronted further

by Satan.

And that's again what happens.

Because not only does Peter

follow Jesus from a distance,

but then he goes on further

to identify

with the enemies of God.

Verse 55.

And when they had kindled

a fire in the middle

of the courtyard

and sat down together,

Peter sat down among them.

Then a servant girl,

seeing him as he sat

in the light

and looking closely at him,

said,

This man also

was with him.

At this crucial,

pivotal point

in the life

and the ministry

of the Lord Jesus Christ,

instead of actively

being involved

with what's going on,

instead of spending time

with the disciples,

perhaps in prayer

over the situation

that was unfolding

before their very eyes

or fighting the cause

of Christ,

trying to be there

for his Savior,

instead,

what do we see?

we see Peter

abdicating

all responsibility

and warming himself

at the fire

of the faithless.

This was one

who had been

so confident

and now compromised,

weakened in his witness,

so that having been

confronted by that

temptation

of comfort

and ease,

by distancing himself

from Jesus,

things begin

to snowball,

to get out

of all control.

Verse 57,

but he denied it,

saying,

Woman,

I do not know him.

I don't know this man,

he's saying.

And a little later,

someone else saw him

and said,

You also are one of them,

but Peter said,

Man,

I am not.

And it's not even

as if he regretted

what he said

and wished he hadn't

said it.

You know,

sometimes we say things

in the heat of the moment

and we wince

at the thought

that we've just said it,

we wished we hadn't said it,

we wouldn't say it again.

Well,

we see that another hour

goes past

and what does Peter do?

He goes on

to deny

his Savior

again.

Satan desired

to sift

Peter

as wheat

and Peter

agreed.

As it were,

he signed

on the dotted line.

An important point

for all of us

to remember,

it's

so easy,

I suppose,

for us

when we're confronted

with the suggestions

of Satan

that

we blame

Satan,

that we blame

Satan

for our sins.

He made me do it.

And of course,

Satan does whisper

in our ears,

sometimes very loudly,

sometimes very convincingly,

sometimes even

as an angel of light.

So it's hard

to discern

if it's

from the Lord

or if it's

from Satan himself.

But at the end

of the day,

we cannot

blame

Satan

for

our

own

sin.

So friends,

what we

have before us

here is,

is it not

a

heartbreaking

scene?

A scene

that ought to

lead all of us,

myself included,

to examine

ourselves

and to

remind

ourselves

that the only

confidence we

can ever

afford to

have,

it's not

in ourselves,

it's not

in our own

estimation

of things

in this world.

The only

confidence

that we

can ever

or should

ever have

should be

in the person

and in the work

of the Lord

Jesus

Christ.

Maybe

tonight

you're sitting

here or

perhaps you're

joining us

online and

and you're

saying with a

heavy heart,

that's me.

That's me.

People around

me don't

know it,

but that's

me.

You're

talking to

me.

I see

myself in

this whole

situation.

Well,

friends,

if that is

you tonight,

dear

struggling

Christian

friend,

and I'm

sure there

are some

of you

here,

that is

the reality

of what

it is to

be the

Lord.

We're

not good

at talking

about that,

are we?

Building one

another up,

being there

for one

another,

but yet

it's so

part and

partial of

what it

is to

be called

from

darkness

into

his

marvelous

light,

that we

are

warring

against

principalities

and powers

each and

every day.

and if

you are

in the

center of

that

warfare,

if you're

so aware

of it

and you're

succumbing

time and

time again

not to

make excuse

for sin,

we do not

make excuse

for sin,

we see the

result of

sin,

we see

where it

leads us

here,

and as

heartbreaking

as this

scene is,

we can't

leave it

there,

we can't

leave it

there because

we come

here tonight

around a

message of

hope,

and so

as

heartbreaking

as the

scene is

before us

here,

it's not

a hopeless

scene,

this brings

us to our

final point,

the

commitment,

the

commitment

shown by

the Lord

Jesus Christ

to a

weak and

weary

sinner,

Peter,

and to

a weak

and weary

sinner,

you,

and to a

weak and

weary

sinner,

me,

and as

we reflect

upon that

commitment,

we're led

to answer

that question,

why are

we here

this weekend?

Verse 31,

Simon,

Simon,

behold,

Satan

demanded

to have

you,

that he

might sift

you like

wheat,

but,

but,

aren't we

so thankful

for that

word,

but,

but,

I have

prayed for

you that

your faith

may not

fail,

because although

Satan desired

to sift

Peter as

wheat,

and Peter

said yes,

Jesus said

no,

just like

with Job,

the Lord

allowed

Satan to

go so

far with

Peter

in that

whole

rendezvous

that they

have here

at this

time,

but no

further,

no further,

Satan

might for a

time have

God

Peter's

service,

he might

for a time

have your

service,

but he

won't get

his soul,

he won't

get your

soul,

if you're

in Christ

tonight,

why?

Because

greater

is he

that is

in you,

than he

that is

in the

world,

and so

no matter

how low

we go,

and maybe

tonight you

are very

low,

I don't

know,

maybe you're

very low

in your

walk with

the Lord,

and at

times you

feel like

as it were

throwing the

towel,

and giving

up,

turning your

back on

the whole

thing,

it's just

too

difficult,

no matter

how low

you go,

you can

have

confidence

in the

one who

has committed

to you,

the one

who will

never leave

you,

never forsake

you,

the one

who died

on that

cross

for a

reason,

the Lord

Jesus

Christ,

and we

see that

commitment,

do we

not,

in this

very

statement,

I have

prayed for

you,

that your

faith

fail you

not,

and what's

wonderful

about this

statement

is that

it's said

before Peter

even fell,

before Peter

fell,

he prayed

for Peter

before Peter

sinned,

isn't that

something,

the Lord

is always

a step

ahead of

his

people,

does this

mean that

Jesus'

prayer wasn't

answered,

you might

say well

his faith

did fail

him,

did it

not,

look at

what he's

just done,

he's denied

the Lord

Jesus three

times,

and so

maybe,

maybe Jesus'

prayer wasn't

answered by

God the

Father,

of course

that's not

true,

we know

that's not

true,

Peter failed

himself

undoubtedly,

but his

faith never

failed,

because his

faith is in

the finished

work of the

Lord Jesus

Christ,

and that

can never

fail,

our faith

can flounder,

it can waver,

that is true,

but it can

never fail,

ultimately,

it can

never fail,

I have

prayed for

you,

that your

faith may

not fail,

why is he

praying,

why is this

intercessory

prayer necessary,

we might

ask,

was Peter's

sins not

going to be

defeated once

and for all

on the cross

on Calvary's

hill,

why pray at

all,

what's the

point of

this,

it's a

good question,

well one

commentator put

it like this,

this is not

a supplemental

work adding

to his

sacrifice of

himself on

the cross,

but rather

a consequential

work based

on it,

this is a

fruit of

the cross,

this prayer

is as a

result of

what's to

take place

on the

cross,

a prayer

that we

see also

in John

17,

and this

is one of

the most

wonderful

chapters

whereby we

see the

care and

the commitment

that the

Lord Jesus

Christ has

for his

people.

I do not

ask for

these only,

but also for

those who

will believe

in me

through their

word,

this is a

high priestly

prayer,

that they

may all

be one,

just as

you Father

are in me,

and I

in you,

that they

also may

be in us,

so that

the world

may believe

that you

sent me.

In verse

24,

Father, I

desire that

they also,

that's us

if it is

tonight,

Father, I

desire that

they also

whom you

have given

me may be

with me

where I

am to

see my

glory that

you have

given me

because you

loved me

before the

foundation

of the

world.

He

prays

because he

loves,

because he's

committed,

committed

to that

cause,

that cause

that had

been set

out from

all

eternity.

eternity.

And so

we can

put an

amen to

the

psalmist

when he

says,

my flesh

and heart

doth faint

and fail,

but God

doth fail

me

never.

And so

to answer

the overarching

question of

tonight,

why are we

here this

weekend?

Well,

friends,

we are here,

are we not,

to remember

and to

rejoice in

the glorious

reality of

what it is

to be safe

and secure

in Christ.

Not to

excuse our

sin,

far from

it,

but still

to remember

that we

are safe

and secure

in Jesus,

a glorious

reality that

we're not

to keep

to ourselves.

Jesus

says this

to Peter,

and when,

not if,

notice that

word when,

and when

you have

returned to

me.

He had his

eye on

Peter,

he knew

that Peter

would return

just as he

has his

eye on

any

wandering

lamb of

his.

When you

have returned

to me,

strengthen

your

brethren.

Strengthen

your

brethren.

Maybe this

is a

picture of

someone here

tonight,

I don't

know,

someone who

perhaps hasn't

been walking

closely with

the Lord

for some

time,

has

strayed,

someone perhaps

joining us

online,

I don't

know.

But what I

do know is

this,

is that you're

not to

stay away,

you're to

come back,

you're to

profess your

faith publicly

again.

He has

prayed that

your faith

will not

fail.

why don't

you come

back?

Come back

and strengthen

your

brethren.

We are

a family.

We are a

church family.

And as a

family, we

long, do we

not, and if we

don't, there's

something far

wrong, we

long, do we

not, to see a

long-lost family

member coming

back to the

table.

And when they

do, what do we

do?

we rejoice.

We praise

God.

We ourselves

are strengthened

in our

faith.

It does our

hearts good to

see those who

perhaps haven't

been with us

for many a

long year,

they're back

in their

rightful place.

Because Christ

has prayed for

them.

Their faith

will not

fail.

Maybe you're

here tonight

and you've

never professed

and you wonder

where you fit

into all of

this.

You might say,

well, how can I

return when I

never went away

in the first

place?

Well, you

did.

You did go

away.

Because we've

all got

that

image of

Christ

within us.

That's how

we've been

made, to

serve and

to worship.

And so for

every single

man and

woman, boy

and girl in

this world

who is not

in the way,

they've gone

astray.

They've chosen

to go away

from their

creator.

And so the

same plea

goes to you

tonight.

Come back.

Come back

to the

Lord.

Come back

to that

place whereby

you can come

to know not

just the

creation, but

the creator.

The one who

died on that

cross so

sinners like

us might

live.

Or maybe

tonight you

do know him

in your

heart.

Maybe you

are one of

the Lord's

people, but

still you

haven't

professed his

name.

I'll just

look at

Peter.

You might

think, well

I've got

plenty time.

I'll

profess in

my own

good time.

Just look

at Peter.

He

followed from

afar and

what happened?

He fell.

He followed

from afar and

he fell.

So dear

Christian friend,

if you

haven't

professed,

if you

follow from

afar, if

you're scared

of the

consequences

of coming

out on his

side and

for everyone

knowing that

you are a

child of

God, beware

because Satan

desires you

also.

Friend, we

know that the

blessing follows

obedience.

Not to say

that when we

come to the

Lord's table

somehow our

lives are

going to be

miraculously

smooth,

sailing,

plain sailing,

that is not

true.

But what is

true is this,

that when we

obey we

will have

that strength

that comes

from the

one who

tells us

that if we

come and

if we

profess his

name publicly

he will

honour them

who honour

him.

Does that

mean you'll

be perfect?

No it

doesn't.

Maybe that's

what you're

waiting for.

Maybe you

look at

yourself and

you think

well what

about this

sin in

my life

and what

about that?

And you're

waiting until

all of these

sins are

eradicated and

then you'll

come.

Well you'll

never come.

You'll never

come.

Peter was

far from

perfect,

you are

far from

perfect,

I am

far from

perfect but

still we can

profess the

one who

is perfect.

If we love

the Lord

that is our

calling tonight

hope to

come forward

and to

show to

all those

around us

that we

love the

one who

has interceded

on our

behalf,

the one

who tells

us that

our faith

will never

fail us.

I wonder

if you're

waiting.

Don't

wait.

there is

no perfect

time apart

from tonight

because today

friend is a

day of

obedience.

Let's

unite our

hearts in

prayer.

We come

oh Lord

and we

praise your

name that

you've given

unto us a

mirror in

your word

whereby we

can see

ourselves so

clearly.

but yet

often times

we neglect

to focus

on it.

We neglect

to look

into the

realities of

what we

see therein.

But yet

it is there

for us to

know that

indeed there

is nothing

new under

the sun

that you

are God

and that you

have prayed

that our

faith will

not fail

us.

We thank

you oh

Lord for

that anchor

for our

soul sure

and steadfast

that is to

be found

in you

and you

alone.

And so

help us

one and

all to

be strengthened

by this

as we go

forward

into this

weekend

as we

perhaps are

so aware

of our

unworthiness

to come

and sit

at your

table

that we

would have

one eye

at ourselves

that we

would have

our vision

set firmly

upon you

the one

who is

worthy

for worthy

is the

lamb

who takes

away the

sin

of the

world.

Go with us

then we

pray.

Forgive us

for Jesus

sake.

Amen.

Well we're

going to

conclude

friends

singing

together

from

Psalm 73