Dr. George Ragsdale, Pastor *West Marion Baptist Church *Ocala/Morriston, Fl *352 245-8900“Strength in the Time of Crisis” Luke 22:31-34
I. Your ADVERSARY will SIFT you (v 31)
A. Satan’s name in this passage means “ADVERSARY”
B. Satan desired to SIFT Peter
C. Sifting reveals the IMPURITIES
D. When we are saved, our battle with Satan is not over
E. What’s the difference between satanic accusation and Holy Spirit conviction?
1. Satanic accusation CONDEMNS us
2. Holy Spirit conviction CLEANSES us
II. Your ABILITIES will SABOTAGE you (v 33)
A. Sabotage is an INSIDE job
B. Peter was sure of his own ABILITIES
C. Peter was sabotaged by three basic abilities:
1. SELF - CONFIDENCE - Proverbs 28:26
2. PRAYERLESSNESS - Luke 22:44-46
a. PRIDE leads to prayerlessness
b. Matthew 6:9-13
3. FLESHLY COURAGE - Luke 22:33
a. Many of the great saints in the Bible fell at their STRONGEST point
b. An unguarded STRENGTH is a double WEAKNESS
c. Peter had the wrong ENEMY
Luke 22:50
Ephesians 6:12
e. Peter used the wrong WEAPON
1. Luke 22:44; 2 Corinthians 10:4; Matthew 26:41
f. Peter had the wrong ATTITUDE - James 1:20
III. Your ACTIONS will SURPRISE You (v. 33)
A. Peter did not expect to DENY Jesus - 1 Corinthians 10:12
Proverbs 28:26; Jeremiah 17:9
B. When we stand on our abilities, our ACTIONS will surprise us
IV. Your ADVOCATE will SECURE You (v. 31-32)
A. We have an ADVERSARY, but we also have an ADVOCATE in Jesus - 1 John 2:1
B. Even though our ACTIONS surprise us, they do not surprise Jesus
C. God doesn’t love us because we are VALUABLE; we are valuable because God loves us (Ro. 8:33-39)
D. Jesus PRAYS for us just as He prayed for Peter
John 17:9; John 17:15; John 17:20; Hebrews 7:25
E. Why did Jesus allow Satan to sift Peter? To reveal the IMPURITIES in Peter’s heart.
F. Even though Jesus protects us, sifting greatly AFFECTS our lives - Luke 22:62
G. The happiest man on Earth is the man who takes SHAME for Jesus - Acts 5:41
H. Peter learned from his EXPERIENCE - 1 Peter 5:8; Acts 4:13

Church Web Site: http://www.westmarionbaptistchurch.com

You can also watch and listen to Pastor Ragsdale's sermons on Radio and TV here in Central Florida on the following stations:

CENTRAL FLORIDA—Saturdays @ 11pm and Thursdays @ 2:30am
SuperChannel 55 WACX n Orlando
Cox TV Ch. 10
Dish Net TV Ch. 55
Direct TV Ch. 55
Brighthouse Ch. 14

COX Cable TV: WCOX-O
Channel 16 Analog & 112.5 Digital
Ocala, Fl (Marion Co)
Tues, Thurs, 9:30 AM; Fri 8:30 AM; Mon, Wed, Sat, 8 PM; Sun, 7 PM; 12 Noon, 8 PM

COX Cable TV: CXLP
Channel 15 Analog & 112.4 Digital
Gainesville, Fl (Alachua Co)
Tues, Wed, Fri 9 AM; Mon, Thurs, Sat, 8 PM; Sun, 10 AM

DAYSTAR Radio 89.5 FM
North Central Fl *Sundays @ 5 AM, 12 Noon, 7 PM

CLASSIC HITS RADIO of OCALA 104.7 FM
City of Ocala *Sundays @ 8:30 AM

YouTube Preaching Channel
http://www.youtube.com/CarolRagsdale

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