What To Do When Satan Has His Bulls Eye on You (Dodge Ball with the Devil)

Sermon Notes
August 13 and 14 2011

Sermon: What To Do When Satan Has His Bulls Eye on You (Dodge Ball with the Devil)
Sermon Text: Luke 22: 31-34 (NKJV)

31And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

Have you ever felt like Satan was on your back? When you play dodge ball with the devil, he intends to take you out. Satan may be on your back, but whatever you’re going through is a part of God’s plan for your life. Jesus has a process for making or breaking you and Satan is in it.

Point 1: Permission (vs 31)
Jesus says Satan ASKED him for permission. The mere fact that Satan had to ask is comforting and encouraging because it tells us that Peter did not belong to Satan. Peter is God’s property. God is in complete control of what Satan does.

Often times we believe more in Satan “getting” us than God “keeping” us. You should say to yourself: “I belong to God. I am God’s property.”

A.) Pawn- Jeremiah 21:4. God is always using Satan as a pawn
B.) Purpose-Job 1: 6-8. Being under attack means that you are under God’s watchful eye. God uses Satan to prove a point and Satan is limited to what he can do. Even in the midst of your situation, God has a purpose.
C.) Plan-1 Samuel 16: 14, 15…Exodus 7: 3. God is sovereign and no one acts independently of his plan. Even evil is subject to God. God is in control of everything. Romans 8: 28

Point 2: Prayed (vs 32)
Jesus has already prayed for him. If he would have been praying, it would imply that the process is still incomplete.

At the same time that he was praying for Peter, he was also praying for us. Jesus has already prayed for you, so there’s no need to be fearful of Satan.

PRAYER INCLUDED:
-That we be one
-That we be righteous
-That we be protected from evil
-That we be purified by the word
-That we remain in him
-That we know God’s love
-That we experience complete joy in Jesus

A.) Jesus is confident about the results and he can get a prayer through
B.) Jesus knows the results and it’s a DONE DEAL
C.) He was so confident in Peter that he didn’t have to tell Peter what was going on until after the fact. John 17: 9, 15, 20


Point 3: Persistence (vs 32)
To ensure that his faith would not fail, Peter had to be persistent. He may have failed but he was still persistent.

God already knows what your end will be but you must be persistent. Persistence is the refusal to quit, not failing along the way. Proverbs 24:16. Satan does not have the final say so. Others should judge you not by how you fall down, but by how you get up. The next time Satan tries to tell you he’s going to do something, tell him “you work for God.”

A.) Have patience with yourself and others
B.) Experience the power from God through prayer
C.) Peer into your possible future