Pray That Their Faith Shall Not Fail

Luke 22:31,32


"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."


What faith was Jesus talking about? We know that Peter had left his trade as a fisherman and followed Jesus. We know that Peter had received the revelation from the Father that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the Living God". Peter had seen and heard enough of Jesus to be willing to follow Him. What Peter did not yet understand was that Jesus had come to make a way for man to become the righteousness of God, in Him, through His death. There was a gap between what Peter understood and what would happen next.


We know that Jesus, on occasion, corrected Peter for his faulty assumptions regarding the life that Jesus lived in the flesh, and how it would end. We saw how Peter denied that he even knew Jesus or walked with Him. God, Who knows the end from the beginning; and Jesus Who is one with Him, warned Peter. Although surely falling into despair regarding his actions, Peter returned to Jesus and strengthened the brethren! What was revealed to Peter stood through the fiery trial. What Peter had formulated about the Jesus was burned up by the trial. He was now in a position for Jesus to continue to build a place to dwell in His fullness.


"God has dealt to each one a measure of faith" (Romans 12:3). Who is each one? Every human or just those who have entered into the Lord's salvation. I am impressed that this "measure" precedes the new birth as the scripture reports that we "are saved by grace through faith". This measure is the template by which God predestines, calls, justifies and glorifies.


We know that there are people who have not responded to this measure of faith. We see people who have responded falling short of the glory of God. Just as the educational process begins in pre-school and finishes when you have satisfied what is required to meet the standard, so is it in God's Kingdom. What about praying for all men, outside and in the church, that the faith that God has given them would not fail? When faith fails not, more will be given, and ultimately they could have in abundance, just like Peter did in the end.