Steadfast in the Faith

Is God permitting Satan to sift you just now as wheat? His Word says you should not be surprised if this is so, for such trials are common to all who are His. Furthermore He says He has ordained a foundational purpose for your life in this trial of your faith, and He will do a supernatural work of grace to bring you to victory if you look to Him and to His mighty hand.

Peter was a man who understood such testings. Jesus had said to him and to all the disciples just before the crucifixion, "All ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the flock shall be scattered abroad." (Matthew 26:31) Peter cried out, "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended... Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." (Matthew 26:33.35) Jesus, knowing that Peter had made a fleshly vow he would never be able to keep, said "Simon...Satan have desired to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." (Luke 22:31-32)

We are all familiar with Peter's agony after the trail of Jesus, as the cock crowed and the stark realization of his betrayal penetrated his sorrowing heart. Had he not said he would go to death with Him? And yet he lacked the courage to confess Him when a simple maid had challenged his loyalty to the Lord. Peter broken and penitent, wept bitterly. But Jesus, alone, betrayed, had prayed for him.

On the morning of the resurrection, the angel in the empty tomb said to Mary, "Go your way, tell his disciples, and Peter, that he goeth before you into Galilee: there ye shall see him..." (Mark16:7) A humble, joyful Peter knew the blessing of forgiveness and restoration to fellowship.

Several weeks later on the day of Pentecost, fully committed to the lordship of Jesus Christ, and supernaturally empowered by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Peter spoke out with authority to a multitude of Jews, confronting them with their personal guilt in the death of their Messiah. As a result of Peter's anointed words, three thousand souls received Jesus as Lord that day. He had learned the meaning in his particular trial, and had overcome by God's grace.

In I Peter 5:5-11 Peter teaches us how to be "steadfast in the faith." First of all, our heart attitude must always be one of meekness and submission to God and to one another: "All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time..." (vss 5-6)

We must roll our problems over upon the burden-bearer, Jesus Christ, knowing that He sees and understands: "...casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (vs 7)

Be assured and take comfort always in Jesus' personal prayers for you, for He intercedes before the Father's throne. "He ever liveth to make intercession for them", for His own. (Hebrews 7:25) "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31b)

Having put on by faith each piece of the full armor God has provided for our protection (Ephesians 6:14-17) we may stand confident , aware of the adversary, yet recognizing his powerlessness. Satan is "like" a roaring lion (vs. 8), but no match for our Lord. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah Who broke Satan's power over us at Calvary. All Satan can do is roar; he had no more authority over a believer than we give him. As we "resist" our common enemy, "steadfast in the faith," though we may suffer "awhile," God says He will "perfect" us. (vs 10) He has marked out a way of progress for us and appointed a time for our victory.

I am not a student of Greek, but W. E. Vine's "Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words" says that "perfect" (Greek katartizo) means to "render fit, complete; it signifies...right ordering and arrangement...it points our the path of progress. It indicated the close relationship between character and destiny." ¹ God has a purpose in our trails, He is maturing us.

In verse 10, God says He will "establish" us (Greek sterizo), meaning "to fix, make fast..."² He used the same word in Greek when He charged Peter to "strengthen" his brethern, after he was converted.³ He Himself will "strengthen" us (Greek sthenoo), which Vine points out is a "divine promise," being in the future tense.⁴ And finally, He will "settle" us

(Greek themelioo), meaning He will "lay a foundation" for our lives.⁵

The Amplified Bible, in sovereign words of assurance, reads "After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace - - Who imparts all blessing and favor -- Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen (and settle) you." (I Peter 5:10)

In your trial, stand "steadfast in the faith," confident of your victory as a child of God, and exclaim with Peter, "To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (vs 11)

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1. W. E. Vine, "Expository Dictionary
of the New Testament Words", pp174-175.
2. Ibid., p.41.
3. For nearly 2000 years these anointed words of Peter's have strengthened
   untold numbers of his brethren.
4. W.E. Vine, "Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words," p.81
5. Ibid., p. 12.

Scripture quotation is from the Amplified New Testament, © The Lockman Foundation 1954, 1958, and is used by permission.

All other scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version.