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Pastor Daniel and Karen Bracken
Kings Cathedral and Chapels Alaska

थे निघ्त्मेरे ऑफ़ satan

Luke 22:31-34 NIV

31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." 33But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." 34Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

How strong are you spiritually? Many people work out and lift weights in order to stay strong physically. The Apostle Paul says physical exercise is of some value but Godliness has value for all things. As you are thinking of that, ask yourself, “How strong am I spiritually?”

As we look at the life of Peter how is it that he had awesome, life-changing encounters with Jesus yet he denied Him three times? Peter saw the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear and still he fell. Peter was there when Jesus fed the four thousand and the five thousand. Peter was the one who caught the fish and pulled coins out of its mouth to pay taxes. He was there when Jesus said, “Let down your nets into the deep.” Peter and his friends caught more fish than he ever had in his life, bringing him great financial blessing. When Jesus raised the widow of Nain’s son from the dead Peter was there. When Lazarus came forth and Jairus’s daughter were raised from the dead- Peter was there. Peter even walked on water and saw the Lord still the wind and the waves with a word. To top it all - he saw the glory of who Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration - God. Peter saw it all. Not only had he experienced many things with Jesus, he was brave. Peter was the one who pulled out the sword and cut off the ear of Malchus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He even went into the courtyard where Jesus was being tried at the risk of his own life. How in the world did Peter fail? What caused Peter to deny Jesus?

We can see three main things that caused Peter’s denial of Jesus. The first thing was Peter’s pride! In Mark 14:27 Peter basically says all these clowns will fall but not me! I am ready to die with you! Even in verse 33 Peter said the same thing. Scripture declares over and over that pride comes before a fall. Peter had a pride problem, which opened a door for his failure. Pride was the sin that cause Lucifer to be cast out of heaven and become Satan. The second thing that we see that precipitated his denial of Jesus was his fallen human nature. In verse 31 Jesus is speaking and says Simon, Simon, not Peter, Peter but Simon, Simon. Peter was his spiritual name. If you recall earlier in the gospel record Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” and the disciples responded, “Some say that your are John the Baptist risen from the grave and some say that you are Elijah.” Simon’s response was, “You are the Christ, the Messiah.” It was then that Jesus gave Simon a new name-Peter, a spiritual name if you will. Over and over he is referred to as Peter or Simon Peter. But here Jesus calls him Simon. Not once, but twice. Why? Because one of the very things that would cause Peter to fail was his fallen human nature. I believe that the Lord was using his natural name as a way of illuminating or revealing what would cause Peter to fall. There were things about Peter, things in his own nature that would cause him trouble. He was impetuous and brash. He would get out of the boat but get distracted by the waves. He would say things, like on the Mt of Transfiguration - that were fleshly. There were aspects of his being that allowed self-preservation to kick in and cause him to deny the Lord. In the courtyard I guarantee that he did not plan on turning away from the Lord. He probably rationalized it within himself. “I need to be here and it’s okay. It’s not that bad. Before he knew it, “Cock-a-doodle-doo - Fallen! We do the same thing. We justify our disobedience and say things like, “God knows my heart.” We yield to self and rationalize our sin saying it was not all that bad.

Besides his pride and fallen human nature, the third thing that caused Peter’s denial was Satan. Satan wants to sift us all like wheat. You might think that you have your act together but you could end up deceived. There is a very real enemy that comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The Bible calls him the deceiver, the father of lies, the accuser of the brethren. He prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He has his minions that are looking for the opportunity, the open door to cause you to be sifted. He is powerful but not all-powerful. The thought or belief that Satan and God are the same in strength and power is called Zoroastrianism not Christianity. You don’t have to live in fear of the demonic and the power of hell if you are a believer. The Devil ought to be afraid of you because of the Blood of Jesus and the authority you have in Him. If you don’t live for Jesus the bible clearly states that you have every right to be afraid. In the text we see that Satan has to ask God to sift Peter. The key here is he asked. My children have to ask me for many things and without my approval they are not authorized. My wife and I are in charge. Satan asked God. If you have to ask you are not in charge. Satan is a legalist (Definition: One who practices or advocates strict conformity to law; in theology, one who holds to the law of works) and he knows the word of God. “ The soul that sins shall die”. So if Satan can get you to sin then he has rights to you. Satan’s power is parasitical in nature. A picture that comes to mind is that of a courtroom and Satan is the prosecuting attorney. One of the strategies of Hell is that he pushes you to sin and when you take the bait he has rights to you- the Devil is a bad Devil.

Satan has nightmares and his worst nightmare is God’s people praying! In our text Jesus says, “ But I have prayed for you. All of a sudden there is a tempering of the power of evil in our world and it is the intercession of God’s people covered in the Blood of Christ before the throne of God. Not only our intercession but God’s. The scriptures declare that Jesus is the mediator between God and man and that he is at the right hand of the Father – “ever living to make intercession for us”. Jesus death on the cross was and is the judicial penalty that releases us from judgment of our sin and Satan’s rights to us. Peter survived because of prayer. I can not help but wonder how many times God wanted to do something but we failed to pray or how many were lost because we failed to intercede and then we blamed God for the loss. Can you, will you imagine what could and will happen if we will pray. If we will pray we will see a historic move of God. Prayer has been the spark that ignited every great revival in History. If we don’t pray it is like facing an angry, man-eating brown bear with a gun and no bullets. Be Satan’s worst nightmare -live holy, smash the idol of self and pray for it to be on earth as it is in heaven in the name of Jesus. Satan has desired to sift us all but God has given us the loaded gun of prayer. Use your God given, blood-bought right and fight in Jesus name. The Victory has already been won.

Satan’ Greatest Nightmare

Luke 22:31-34 NIV

31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." 33But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." 34Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

How strong are you spiritually? Many people work out and lift weights in order to stay strong physically. The Apostle Paul says physical exercise is of some value but Godliness has value for all things. As you are thinking of that, ask yourself, “How strong am I spiritually?”

As we look at the life of Peter how is it that he had awesome, life-changing encounters with Jesus yet he denied Him three times? Peter saw the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear and still he fell. Peter was there when Jesus fed the four thousand and the five thousand. Peter was the one who caught the fish and pulled coins out of its mouth to pay taxes. He was there when Jesus said, “Let down your nets into the deep.” Peter and his friends caught more fish than he ever had in his life, bringing him great financial blessing. When Jesus raised the widow of Nain’s son from the dead Peter was there. When Lazarus came forth and Jairus’s daughter were raised from the dead- Peter was there. Peter even walked on water and saw the Lord still the wind and the waves with a word. To top it all - he saw the glory of who Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration - God. Peter saw it all. Not only had he experienced many things with Jesus, he was brave. Peter was the one who pulled out the sword and cut off the ear of Malchus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He even went into the courtyard where Jesus was being tried at the risk of his own life. How in the world did Peter fail? What caused Peter to deny Jesus?

We can see three main things that caused Peter’s denial of Jesus. The first thing was Peter’s pride! In Mark 14:27 Peter basically says all these clowns will fall but not me! I am ready to die with you! Even in verse 33 Peter said the same thing. Scripture declares over and over that pride comes before a fall. Peter had a pride problem, which opened a door for his failure. Pride was the sin that cause Lucifer to be cast out of heaven and become Satan. The second thing that we see that precipitated his denial of Jesus was his fallen human nature. In verse 31 Jesus is speaking and says Simon, Simon, not Peter, Peter but Simon, Simon. Peter was his spiritual name. If you recall earlier in the gospel record Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” and the disciples responded, “Some say that your are John the Baptist risen from the grave and some say that you are Elijah.” Simon’s response was, “You are the Christ, the Messiah.” It was then that Jesus gave Simon a new name-Peter, a spiritual name if you will. Over and over he is referred to as Peter or Simon Peter. But here Jesus calls him Simon. Not once, but twice. Why? Because one of the very things that would cause Peter to fail was his fallen human nature. I believe that the Lord was using his natural name as a way of illuminating or revealing what would cause Peter to fall. There were things about Peter, things in his own nature that would cause him trouble. He was impetuous and brash. He would get out of the boat but get distracted by the waves. He would say things, like on the Mt of Transfiguration - that were fleshly. There were aspects of his being that allowed self-preservation to kick in and cause him to deny the Lord. In the courtyard I guarantee that he did not plan on turning away from the Lord. He probably rationalized it within himself. “I need to be here and it’s okay. It’s not that bad. Before he knew it, “Cock-a-doodle-doo - Fallen! We do the same thing. We justify our disobedience and say things like, “God knows my heart.” We yield to self and rationalize our sin saying it was not all that bad.

Besides his pride and fallen human nature, the third thing that caused Peter’s denial was Satan. Satan wants to sift us all like wheat. You might think that you have your act together but you could end up deceived. There is a very real enemy that comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The Bible calls him the deceiver, the father of lies, the accuser of the brethren. He prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He has his minions that are looking for the opportunity, the open door to cause you to be sifted. He is powerful but not all-powerful. The thought or belief that Satan and God are the same in strength and power is called Zoroastrianism not Christianity. You don’t have to live in fear of the demonic and the power of hell if you are a believer. The Devil ought to be afraid of you because of the Blood of Jesus and the authority you have in Him. If you don’t live for Jesus the bible clearly states that you have every right to be afraid. In the text we see that Satan has to ask God to sift Peter. The key here is he asked. My children have to ask me for many things and without my approval they are not authorized. My wife and I are in charge. Satan asked God. If you have to ask you are not in charge. Satan is a legalist (Definition: One who practices or advocates strict conformity to law; in theology, one who holds to the law of works) and he knows the word of God. “ The soul that sins shall die”. So if Satan can get you to sin then he has rights to you. Satan’s power is parasitical in nature. A picture that comes to mind is that of a courtroom and Satan is the prosecuting attorney. One of the strategies of Hell is that he pushes you to sin and when you take the bait he has rights to you- the Devil is a bad Devil.

Satan has nightmares and his worst nightmare is God’s people praying! In our text Jesus says, “ But I have prayed for you. All of a sudden there is a tempering of the power of evil in our world and it is the intercession of God’s people covered in the Blood of Christ before the throne of God. Not only our intercession but God’s. The scriptures declare that Jesus is the mediator between God and man and that he is at the right hand of the Father – “ever living to make intercession for us”. Jesus death on the cross was and is the judicial penalty that releases us from judgment of our sin and Satan’s rights to us. Peter survived because of prayer. I can not help but wonder how many times God wanted to do something but we failed to pray or how many were lost because we failed to intercede and then we blamed God for the loss. Can you, will you imagine what could and will happen if we will pray. If we will pray we will see a historic move of God. Prayer has been the spark that ignited every great revival in History. If we don’t pray it is like facing an angry, man-eating brown bear with a gun and no bullets. Be Satan’s worst nightmare -live holy, smash the idol of self and pray for it to be on earth as it is in heaven in the name of Jesus. Satan has desired to sift us all but God has given us the loaded gun of prayer. Use your God given, blood-bought right and fight in Jesus name. The Victory has already been won.

Notes for Day of At One Ment - on ustream Oct 27th 2009

A Special Message

“The Day of At-One-Ment"

Leviticus 16:1-28

Pastor Daniel Bracken

I. Introduction

A. This week Jews celebrate Yom Kippur

B. Atonement is an anglo-saxon word meaning,

“____________________________”.

C. The Day of Atonement is the Apostle Paul’s

Day was called the ______________.

D. Why the Day of Atonement is important to us

today.

1. It is a ______________ of what is fulfilled in

______________.

2. It reminds us what Christ did for us on the

______________.

II. What happened on the Day of Atonement.

A. The High Priest

1. Take a ___________.

2. Put on a sacred linen tunic.

3. Enter the ________ ____ __________.

4. The sacrifice of the _______________ and

the ____________.

5. The giving of the goat to Azazel after the

sins of the people had been pronounced on its head.

6. Blood of bullock and goat to be sprinkled on the horns of the altar.

7. The carcass of the bullock and goat to be taken outside the city and burned up.

B. The people

1. They were to _____________.

2. They were to give a special _____________.

III. What was the Day of Atonement for?

A. To avert God’s __________ over the people’s sin.

B. To insure God’s continued ______________

and Israel’s _____________.

C. To _______________ Israel that in spite of

the daily, weekly and monthly sacrifice, sin

was not fully atoned for.

D. The year of Jubilee would start at the

beginning of the 50^th year on the Day of

Atonement.

IV. Jesus’ death fulfilled the Passover and the

Day of Atonement.

A. The ___________ of Christ.

1. Matt. 26:28

2. Heb. 12:24

3. Heb. 9:11-12

4. Heb. 9:24-28

B. Jesus suffered _____________ the city gate.

C. The veil was town from top to bottom.

V. What Jesus’ fulfilling the Day of Atonement

means to us.

A. _______________ and _____________.

B. Victory

C. ___________

D. ____________ and _______________.

VI. Conclusion.

Day of At One Ment

Notes for message on ustream Oct 27th 2009

The Kingdom of God Has Come Part II

Luke 4:31-44

 

We have been writing about the kingdom of God and how in our text Jesus, who is the king of the kingdom, expresses His rule in this text in 2 ways: 1) the casting out of demons and 2) in the healing of the sick. 1 John 3:8 says For this reason the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil.

 

Here in the text we see that there are demonic spirits that want to inhabit people. You might say, Pastor, why would a demon want to inhabit a person? One reason is that they can rob and destroy people. The second reason is so that they can express themselves in the visible world. Demonic spirits are immaterial. Demonic power is parasitical so they need a host. Sickness, in fact, can come from a demonic attack. Not all sickness is but clearly some illnesses and infirmity come from direct assault from the enemy. We see in these verses Jesus comes to Simon Peter’s home and finds Peter’s mother-in-law with a fever. Luke, the writer of this gospel, is a doctor and notes a high fever. Jesus rebukes the fever and she is healed. The word rebuke is the word used in other passages when a demon is adjured. Not all Sickness is a result of a demon sprit it can also be the  result of living in fallen world. Either way Jesus would lay hands on people and heal them.  Jesus had authority over the demonic, over sickness and infirmity over all the power of the enemy. I find it interesting that the first miracle Jesus did was to cast out a demon in church (the assembly of believers). Demonized people come to church! The good news is that that is where you want them so people can get free!

 

Notice that Jesus prayed in v 42 showing his dependence on the Father. Some think that the power of the kingdom is inherent in us because we happen to be Christians. The power of the kingdom is a dependency on the one who has the power and a relationship with Him. If we think we just have the power within ourselves we have removed ourselves from the source because of our pride and arrogance. Here the Son of God, having the Spirit without measure, prayed and took time to relate to His father. If Jesus the Son of God prayed, I think we should.

 

God has a word for us. We have been given power to advance God’s kingdom. If we don’t operate in the power and authority that God has given us we hinder the expansion of His kingdom in our lives, our community and the earth.

 

Understand that the church is the visible expression of the gathered kingdom of God. That’s why every  in our service we pray for the sick because we believe the kingdom of God is among us.  People are healed of colds to Cancer and everything in-between.  Not just in church but in the market place. We have been called and chosen by God to bear fruit and fruit that remains John 15. We must embrace the King’s passion for the lost and destroy the works of the devil in all forms. We need to see the kingdom of God expressed in our government, education, and culture as well as in every area of our lives. The kingdom of God is here.

The Kingdom of God Has Come - Part I

Luke 4:31-44

 

31Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. 32They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.

33In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34"Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"

35"Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

36All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 37And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.

 

38Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.

40When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.^[b]

42At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." 44And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.^[c]

 

Have you ever turned over a rock or log in the woods and seen the bugs scatter? When we look at this text we see the kingdom of darkness flees as the kingdom of God is manifested. Jesus, the Light of the World, is on the scene and like bugs scattering, demons are popping out everywhere- it is as if a giant spotlight has been turned on. The first miracle recorded in the gospel of Luke is here in vs.33 Jesus casting out a demon from a man who was in church.

 

It is remarkable to see the contrast between Nazareth, Capernaum and the rest of Galilee. In the earlier verses of this same chapter Jesus is in Nazareth but because of familiarity, unbelief and a lack of honor the anointing was shutdown.  They could have experienced the power of God displayed in great measure but they rejected Him. The opinion they had of Jesus caused Jesus to not do anything except heal a few sick people.  So now Capernaum would be the place where Jesus would set up his base of operations and move out from there to Galilee. Every place that Jesus went he displayed the might and power of God – the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, the dead to rise. It could have happened in Nazareth but it did not.

 

The key verse for our study is Luke 4:43. But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." Nazareth was rejecting the King of that Kingdom and did not know it. The Kingdom of God has come. What is the Kingdom of God? In the synoptic gospels it is the basic theme of Jesus’ ministry. The Kingdom of God is a unifying theme of the entire bible. It begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation where it declares, “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our God and Savior.”

 

The whole bible is about how God is attempting to establish His Kingdom here on our planet even in the midst of our sin. The kingdom of God is the rule of God. You enter His kingdom the moment you submit to His Lordship. Jesus Christ is Lord and when you submit to Him you become part of the kingdom. If you never yield to him you never enter in.

 

The kingdom of God is expressed in word and deed. In the western church teaching the word is the main thrust and emphasis with no demonstration.  Jesus not only spoke and taught about the kingdom but demonstrated the power of the kingdom. In these verses we see he did this in 2 ways: in casting out demons and healing the sick.

 

1 John 3:8 says for this reason the Son of God was manifested that that he would destroy the works of the devil.

 

 Evil is real and not a figment of your imagination. Those who do not have a grasp of real evil do not have a grasp of real salvation. We don’t just need a rulebook to tell us how to live, we need someone to set us free from the bondage of evil!

 

When we look at the text we see evil exposed. There are demons that want to inhabit people and that terrifies some but understand that that is just part of the world in which we live. You never see Jesus condemning anyone who has a demon. I don’t know why we even make such a big deal about it. Healing the sick and casting out demons are just a normal part of the kingdom of God and should happen anytime a Christian shows up. Because where Jesus is so is his Kingdom.

To be continued.

Satan’ Greatest Nightmare

Luke 22:31-34 NIV

31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." 33But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." 34Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

 

How strong are you spiritually? Many people work out and lift weights in order to stay strong physically. The Apostle Paul says physical exercise is of some value but Godliness has value for all things. As you are thinking of that, ask yourself, “How strong am I spiritually?”

 

As we look at the life of Peter how is it that he had awesome, life-changing encounters with Jesus yet he denied Him three times? Peter saw the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear and still he fell.  Peter was there when Jesus fed the four thousand and the five thousand. Peter was the one who caught the fish and pulled coins out of its mouth to pay taxes. He was there when Jesus said, “Let down your nets into the deep.” Peter and his friends caught more fish than he ever had in his life, bringing him great financial blessing. When Jesus raised the widow of Nain’s son from the dead Peter was there.  When Lazarus came forth and Jairus’s daughter were raised from the dead- Peter was there. Peter even walked on water and saw the Lord still the wind and the waves with a word. To top it all - he saw the glory of who Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration - God. Peter saw it all. Not only had he experienced many things with Jesus, he was brave. Peter was the one who pulled out the sword and cut off the ear of Malchus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He even went into the courtyard where Jesus was being tried at the risk of his own life. How in the world did Peter fail? What caused Peter to deny Jesus?

 

We can see three main things that caused Peter’s denial of Jesus. The first thing was Peter’s pride! In Mark 14:27 Peter basically says all these clowns will fall but not me! I am ready to die with you! Even in verse 33 Peter said the same thing. Scripture declares over and over that pride comes before a fall. Peter had a pride problem, which opened a door for his failure.  Pride was the sin that cause Lucifer to be cast out of heaven and become Satan. The second thing that we see that precipitated his denial of Jesus was his fallen human nature. In verse 31 Jesus is speaking and says Simon, Simon, not Peter, Peter but Simon, Simon. Peter was his spiritual name. If you recall earlier in the gospel record Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” and the disciples responded, “Some say that your are John the Baptist risen from the grave and some say that you are Elijah.”  Simon’s response was, “You are the Christ, the Messiah.” It was then that Jesus gave Simon a new name-Peter, a spiritual name if you will.  Over and over he is referred to as Peter or Simon Peter. But here Jesus calls him Simon. Not once, but twice. Why? Because one of the very things that would cause Peter to fail was his fallen human nature. I believe that the Lord was using his natural name as a way of illuminating or revealing what would cause Peter to fall. There were things about Peter, things in his own nature that would cause him trouble. He was impetuous and brash.  He would get out of the boat but get distracted by the waves. He would say things, like on the Mt of Transfiguration - that were fleshly. There were aspects of his being that allowed self-preservation to kick in and cause him to deny the Lord. In the courtyard I guarantee that he did not plan on turning away from the Lord. He probably rationalized it within himself. “I need to be here and it’s okay. It’s not that bad. Before he knew it, “Cock-a-doodle-doo - Fallen! We do the same thing. We justify our disobedience and say things like, “God knows my heart.” We yield to self and rationalize our sin saying it was not all that bad.

 

Besides his pride and fallen human nature, the third thing that caused Peter’s denial was Satan.  Satan wants to sift us all like wheat.  You might think that you have your act together but you could end up deceived.  There is a very real enemy that comes to steal, kill, and destroy.  The Bible calls him the deceiver, the father of lies, the accuser of the brethren.  He prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  He has his minions that are looking for the opportunity, the open door to cause you to be sifted.  He is powerful but not all-powerful.  The thought or belief that Satan and God are the same in strength and power is called Zoroastrianism not Christianity.  You don’t have to live in fear of the demonic and the power of hell if you are a believer.  The Devil ought to be afraid of you because of the Blood of Jesus and the authority you have in Him.  If you don’t live for Jesus the bible clearly states that you have every right to be afraid.  In the text we see that Satan has to ask God to sift Peter.  The key here is he asked.  My children have to ask me for many things and without my approval they are not authorized.  My wife and I are in charge.  Satan asked God. If you have to ask you are not in charge.  Satan is a legalist (Definition: One who practices or advocates strict conformity to law; in theology, one who holds to the law of works) and he knows the word of God.  “ The soul that sins shall die”.  So if Satan can get you to sin then he has rights to you.  Satan’s power is parasitical in nature.  A picture that comes to mind is that of a courtroom and Satan is the prosecuting attorney.  One of the strategies of Hell is that he pushes you to sin and when you take the bait he has rights to you- the Devil is a bad Devil.

 

Satan has nightmares and his worst nightmare is God’s people praying!  In our text Jesus says, “ But I have prayed for you.  All of a sudden there is a tempering of the power of evil in our world and it is the intercession of God’s people covered in the Blood of Christ before the throne of God.  Not only our intercession but God’s. The scriptures declare that Jesus is the mediator between God and man and that he is at the right hand of the Father – “ever living to make intercession for us”.  Jesus death on the cross was and is the judicial penalty that releases us from judgment of our sin and Satan’s rights to us.  Peter survived because of prayer.  I can not help but wonder how many times God wanted to do something but we failed to pray or how many were lost because we failed to intercede and then we blamed God for the loss.   Can you, will you imagine what could and will happen if we will pray.  If we will pray we will see a historic move of God. Prayer has been the spark that ignited every great revival in History.  If we don’t pray it is like facing an angry, man-eating brown bear with a gun and no bullets. Be Satan’s worst nightmare -live holy, smash the idol of self and pray for it to be on earth as it is in heaven in the name of Jesus.  Satan has desired to sift us all but God has given us the loaded gun of prayer.  Use your God given, blood-bought right and fight in Jesus name.  The Victory has already been won.