Last Sunday our Pastor said he had a short sermon for us. I was a bit disappointed as I look forward to his sermons, although I doubted it really would be ‘short’. Then when he said it was on Luke 22:31-34, I thought “4 verses, maybe it will be short”. There was no disappointment with the sermon he provided, as usual. I am not retelling all that Pastor Allen preached about; this is more what I got from the sermon with what the Spirit revealed to me.
Luke 22:31-34
King James Version (KJV)
31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
34And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
In verse 31, Jesus called him Simon, rather than Peter. Jesus may have been implying that he would be acting in accord to his old nature, which is one of human weakness. Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked for him, and used the analogy- to sift him as wheat. Sifting was not a gentle process. But notice when Jesus prayed for Peter, He prayed that his ‘faith would not fail’. Jesus did not pray that there would be no sifting.
The bible tells us many times the bible that sifting will happen. We will have hard times, times our lives are shaken and that everything that can happen, will happen! If you read John 17:1-26, you will learn Jesus said prayers for Himself, His disciples and for all believers. That’s us!!! We can’t even know the things Jesus’ and our prayers have held off.
In verse 32, Jesus prophesied to Peter by not saying ‘when you return’, not ‘if’. We should speak words to lift people up and encourage them!!
It is our responsibility as Christians to encourage our brothers and sisters. We need to share our experiences of hardships we have faced and overcame. We overcome by sharing our testimonies and help to give them hope at the same time.
Pastor Allen cried out for us to break satanic tendencies to repeat all the bad stuff and to start speaking prophetic words over our marriages and life. I had a feeling of panic when he said that. I don’t know about you, but I grew up as a Southern Baptist girl and they didn’t use words like “prophecy” or “prophetic”. I don’t know how to do that was my initial thought. Good thing I was able to recall Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. This is when the Holy Spirit started speaking to me and revealed how to speak prophetic words. Just speak!
He again reminded me the POWER of the words we speak. EVERY word we speak effects and strengthens the spirit worlds. If it is positive, it empowers the Heavens. If it is negative, we are actually empowering the demonic spirit realm.
Then the Spirit reminded me how I had done this with my own marriage (as well as my husband does). A few years ago, our marriage was at the end. We were actually preparing to separate when we chose instead to fight for our marriage. As we were recovering, I decided to go out of my way to say good things to and about my husband. I wanted to lift him up and encourage him. Not only did it make a difference in the way he felt, it made a difference in the way I felt about him and our marriage.
Although that time in our life is a whole other story in its own, I am glad to share that God saved our marriage and totally renewed it within a three-month period.
So I too ask you to start speaking prophetic words over your marriage, children, workplace, home, schools, friends, church and everywhere and anyone you can think of. Yes, we all catch ourselves complaining, but we need to make a conscience decision to stop and find those positive words to speak to the situation.
freedominchristpicayune 