“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Conversations with Jesus always bring hope.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, our hope. 1 Timothy 1:1.
Conversing with Him lifted up the sinner, the sick person, the discouraged, the weak, the bereft, the outcast, and filled them with peace and hope for a good future free from disease and lack of provision.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13.
Think of the woman with the issue of blood for twelve years who had given up hope and then she heard of Jesus and everything changed. I gave her a future and a hope and My plans of shalom and not evil came true in her life. The same for Jairus with his daughter who had just died. Jesus gave him hope and hope became his anchor behind the veil that did not disappoint.
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters inside the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20.
Today I want to talk with you about discouragement. Discouragement will render you unfruitful and keep you from doing the work I have given you to do to fulfill your destiny. The joy of the LORD is your strength.
When you are joyful you are strong. When you are discouraged you are weak. A strong spirit sustains a man through trials but a depressed spirit dries up the bones.
I want you to be aware of the tactics of the devil for although he is a defeated foe (so he is not strong), he is crafty and his tactics are subtle.
One of the primary ways Satan attempts to stop your destiny and to destroy your effectiveness for My Kingdom is to tempt you to discouragement.
Never tolerate discouragement. Get rid of it the minute it rears its ugly head in your life. You can reject discouragement. You will only be discouraged if you yield to it.
The only way to effectively fight discouragement and root it out of your life is by My Word, the Sword of the Spirit. My Sprit on you and in you and My Word in your mouth and your heart.
You resist it by talking faith instead of discouragement. By focusing on Me instead of your problems and seeing Me as a problem solver. Nothing is too hard for Me. Nothing is impossible for Me. And all things are possible to those who believe. I will never leave you or forsake you and I will make all things work out good for those who love Me and are working for My purposes. I have an assignment for you, a life of good deeds prepared in advance, and I will see to it that you accomplish it if you will just keep going in faith, which brings peace, hope, and trust.
Discouragement is a lack of encouragement about the future. It is a loss of hope, that is, a loss of joyful, confident expectation of good things to come.
What generally causes discouragement? Things do not go the way you thought they should go and suddenly you feel lost. But remember that it is through faith and patience that you inherit the promises. You need to put up your shield of faith.
Discouragement makes you weak. It makes you a broken person—unable to forge ahead because you see nothing to go ahead for.
The devil wants to sift you as wheat. Sifting wheat forces it through a sieve and breaks it into pieces. He wants to break and shatter your life so that you cannot do your Kingdom assignment.
The devil tried it with Peter. And today we will focus our attention on the conversations that led to that and what helped Peter get through it stronger than before. He never fell into that trap of Satan again, whether imprisoned, out preaching and teaching, serving the early community of Christians (who could get into division and sin if not carefully shepherded), or condemned to death for preaching the gospel.
What brought him through it all? Faith in Me and My love for him as expressed in Jesus. And My Son had prayed for him that his faith would not fail. And Jesus is praying the same for you today as He forever intercedes for you as your great High Priest at My right hand.
Discouragement happens when you feel everything is over. But you do not know what is just around the corner! My plans for you are peace and prosperity, not disaster and woe, a future filled with hope. Never let your faith in My Word fail.
Peter was very zealous for Jesus. He was ready for anything to be with his Master but he was still very much in the flesh. It was not until after the resurrection, when Jesus walked into the upper room on the first day of the week and Jesus breathed on him that he was born again and then on Pentecost he was filled with the Holy Spirit, not only in him but on him, that he became fearless and unmovable.
Peter had declared Jesus as Messiah and My Son, but he did not understand all that included and tried to persuade Jesus not to take the path of crucifixion and death. Jesus rebuked him for that. Peter was present at the transfiguration but it was a mystery to him. He saw the bread and fish multiply but still worried when they had no bread. He had witnessed miracles, signs, and wonders but still went into panic when a storm came on the lake and Jesus was asleep in the boat. When Jesus would not let him use the sword to fight the soldiers taking Jesus away in the Garden of Gethsemane he fled rather than get arrested too with no resistance. He was confused and lost with his Master walking helplessly off to what he saw as an unjust death and an end to all his hopes. He forgot all that Jesus had told him about rising on the third day. It just did not look like anything could be done. He was fearful and miserable. He had left his fishing business and had nothing for his future.
But let us return for a moment to the conversation of Jesus and Peter at the Passover seder with My Son the night He was betrayed. That gathering was filled with joy and revelation, a blessed moment in the lives of all the disciples when Jesus entered into the New Covenant with them. We will consider more of the conversations there in Life Lessons to come, but for now, let us just consider one conversation.
Jesus surprised all the disciples that night when announced one of them would betray Him. They all denied it, even Judas Iscariot. Peter wanted to know who it would be and John obtained the answer for him. Peter knew in his heart it would never be him who would do such a thing. But be careful before you judge others.
That night when He washed the disciples’ feet, when Jesus came to wash Peter’s feet, Peter did not want to let Jesus do that because he knew Jesus as the Master, his Lord, not his servant. But Jesus answered him very profoundly.
Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” John 13:5-9.
Here you see Peter’s heart. He was humble. When Jesus gave him the miraculous catch of fish, he threw himself at Jesus’ feet and told him to leave him as he was a sinful man. He did not feel worthy of so great an honor and special treatment from one so great.
However, at the table later there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And Jesus patiently taught them a lesson they would all take to heart, He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” Luke 22:25-27.
Peter later wrote that for all of you to learn as well.
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but [b]proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:1-7.
Jesus then lovingly spoke comforting reassurance of His favor to His disciples saying, “You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22:27-30. This was an amazing promise and it has been fulfilled with the replacement of Judas Iscariot with Matthias.
Suddenly Jesus turned His gaze on Peter and He said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Peter was shocked. He answered, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” But Jesus said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.” Luke 22:31-34.
Peter was sincere, but he failed the test when it came. Later in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus tried to help Peter to avoid the trap Satan had set to test him, but Peter was so sleepy he ignored the advice.
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:36-41.
And Jesus did not just tell Peter this once, He told him three times to keep watching and praying that he would not enter into temptation because even though his spirit was willing, just as he had voiced earlier at the Passover Seder, his flesh was weak. But Peter slept right through it. Do not let Satan catch you off guard. Give Me authority to protect you from temptations. It is so important that you pray this that Jesus included it in the prayer you call the “Our Father.”
Peter woke up when Judas and the crowd that the Sanhedrin had sent came to arrest Jesus. He got out a sword slashed off the ear of the servant of the High Priest. But Jesus, out of compassion for Peter, to keep him from prosecution, healed the servant’s ear, and told Peter to put the sword away. He let him know that violence was not the key here and would only serve to bring violence back on Peter.
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” Matthew 26:52-54.
My Word matches up perfectly. In the Book of Proverbs you find, “So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors.” Proverbs 1:19.
After that the disciples all fled and left Jesus alone with His captors, who then led Him away to appear before the Sanhedrin (the supreme court of the people of Israel, consisting of the High Priest and seventy elders that were Pharisees and Sadducees) for judgment. However, Peter and John followed long at a distance and went into the courtyard of the High Priest. And Satan was waiting for Peter there. But Peter was not ready and was easy prey. He was confused about what happened to Jesus and was fearful at that moment for his own freedom and he had not prayed as Jesus directed him in the Garden and he was not thinking about the warning Jesus had given him during the Seder meal.
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.” Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:69-75; Luke 22:54-62.
Peter never thought he would, but he denied My Son. When he realized what he had done, he became discouraged, a weak and shattered man that thought his future was over, that wept bitterly and wished he were dead. He believed Jesus was gone, that he had failed Him when He needed Peter most, and that he would be fleeing for his own life. He had denied Jesus, something he never envisioned himself doing. He was disappointed in himself and his future held nothing in his sight.
That was the way it looked but he did not know yet what was just around the corner—the resurrection of My Son and His appearance to Peter, walking with Jesus as the risen Lord for forty days, being given another chance to confirm the call on his life, confirmed by Jesus again at the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and to profess his love for Jesus, and then Pentecost Sunday, but that was only the beginning of Peter’s own ministry that would be filled with miracles and power. He who had denied My Son in fear three times around a fire in a courtyard at midnight to a few servants would be preaching to thousands of people on Pentecost Sunday and see the fruit of his preaching convert 3,000 people that day! Peter would witness boldly before the priests and Pharisees, be thrown in jail, and an angel let him out! No, the book of Acts had not been written yet so he did not know what his future held. And the same is true for you. Just know My plans for you outnumber the sand and they are wonderful– beyond all you can ask or think.
Remember, Jesus had prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail. And it did not. And it is faith that will get you out of discouragement and keep you moving forward with joy. Knowing that it may look like everything is over, but if you have faith, it is only just the beginning of the glory. I am very good at getting you out of the pit. And how do I do it? I sent My Word to heal you and deliver you out of your pit.
And before closing, I want to explain a Scripture that applies here that you may have found hard to understand. It is this “where the carcass is there do the vultures gather.” My Son said that once in the context of the endtimes to His disciples but I am applying it here to discouragement and depression.
When you yield to discouragement and depression, you give up your dreams and your hope. They die. A carcass is dead. No life. Joy and hope are gone. Without a vision, people perish. It is around this that the demons (vultures are predators that eat dead things) to finish the work of demolishing your dreams and shattering you until all that is left is a few dry bones. But never forget Ezekiel and the field of dry bones, there is still hope if you will but listen to Me and prophesy to bring new life!
Depression, discouragement, darkness, sadness, no hope—around these the devil and his demons gather. Like the vulture they devour dead matter. To eat up all that had life.
If your light is darkness, how deep will the darkness be! Do not peer into the dark (discouragement) but rather look into the light (joy). For in My light, you see light.
I love to give light. “Let there be light” are My first Words in the Bible. Let the sun of righteousness with His healing rays rise in your hearts to dispel the darkness of night. Keep your eyes fixed on the light, as a lamp in a dark place, until the morning star rises in your hearts and you come to perfect day. That is faith.
Jesus is the light of the world. He is My Word made flesh. Keep your eyes on Jesus and keep running to your high calling in Him. Forget what lies behind and do not let any hurdle stop you. With My help you leap over a wall!
Countless servants and friends of Mine have faced trials that looked insurmountable to them– like all was over and done with no hope of any future—and, through faith in My goodness and patience (staying consistently constant in times of trial) have come out victorious. Remember David at Ziklag? That was the worst day he had ever had, all looked over and lost, he felt forsaken and alone, but then He remembered Me and that I had always been faithful, and he encouraged himself in My Word (faith) and realized I was bigger than any problem no matter how insurmountable it appeared. And he asked Me what to do. It all comes down to keeping up the conversation, even in the midst of a trial. I told him to go after the enemy and recover all. He did and not only recovered all but got more than he had before, which he then shared with others. His worst day became one of the best days of his life.
So do not get discouraged, I will do the same for you. But you have a part too, just as David did. Run to Me and keep up the conversation with love. He spoke in faith and encouraged himself! He refused to yield to discouragement. You can do the same.
And look at My dear Mary, the mother of the Word made flesh. She had a Word from Me and yet Joseph wanted to divorce her and she was about to be a public scandal with the possible punishment of being stoned to death. She could have given in to discouragement, but she did not. She did nothing but praise Me for the mighty wonderful work I had given her and was doing in her. She kept up our conversation. She knew I would watch over My Word to perform it. And she was right. My angel spoke to Joseph and then I took her out of Nazareth for a number of years. When she returned with Joseph and the child Jesus after their sojourn in Egypt, no one remembered about it.
Never take your own life out of despair. Your miracle is just around the corner. Wait for the vision, keep running with it, it will not disappoint even if there seems to be delay. Judas made a terrible mistake. He failed to understand My mercy and the glorious future that was still possible for him. The vultures devoured him. The devil tempted him into sin and then turned to make him destroy himself.
Peter and Judas responded very differently to discouragement. And it was faith in My love that made the difference. Keep going forward in faith and you will not be disappointed.
Submit to Me (faith), resist the devil, and he will take flight. Give the vultures nothing to gather around. No dead dreams, no dead visions, no dead hope.
My Word is a light to your path and a lamp to your feet. It is sweeter than honey dripping from the comb. It is life to all who find it and health to all your flesh. Use the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith. I have given them to you.
I love you. Be strong, be courageous, and be of good cheer! The joy of the Lord is your strength. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Vultures eat dead things. Choose life that you and your descendants may live. Never yield to discouragement and depression. Never speak it. Your miracle is just around the corner. And it is according to your faith. Do not miss it!