Thursday, August 23, 2007
Under God’s Protection
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
—1 Corinthians 10:13
In the New Testament, we have the account of Jesus saying to Peter, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31–32).
Put yourself in Peter’s sandals. You are sitting around with the Lord when He turns to you, calls you by name, and says, “Satan has been asking excessively that you be taken out of the care and protection of God. The devil has been asking for you by name.” I don’t know about you, but if Jesus Christ, the Son of God, said that to me, it would be cause for great concern.
Peter was such a big fish that the devil personally went after him. I wonder if the Lord paused for effect: “Satan has been asking for you . . . by name. . . . But I have good news, Peter. I have prayed for you.”
It is a good reminder to us that when the devil comes knocking at our door, we should say, “Lord, would you mind getting that?” We are no match for the devil. Though he is a powerful foe, he certainly is not as powerful as God. Even so, we don’t want to tangle with him. We want to stand behind God’s protection.
In spite of the devil’s power and wicked agenda, he must first ask permission when it comes to the children of God, because of the hedge of protection that God has placed around us.
God knows what you are ready for. And He won’t give you more than you can handle.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org.
Copyright © 2007 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions,