Luke 22:24-25

Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.

www.networkchristian.org

Luke 22:26-27

But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

www.networkchristian.org

Luke 22:28-30

You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

www.networkchristian.org

Luke 22:31-32

‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift 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.’

www.networkchristian.org

Luke 22:33-34

But he replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.’

www.networkchristian.org

Luke 22:35-36

Then Jesus asked them, ‘When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?’ ‘Nothing,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.

www.networkchristian.org

Luke 22:37-38

It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.’ The disciples said, ‘See, Lord, here are two swords.’ ‘That is enough,’ he replied.

www.networkchristian.org

You can’t escape it: BAD news.

I don’t need to convince you that EVIL exists.

Some have said the problem of evil and suffering is the number one OBJECTION to belief in God.

Lee Strobel in “Case for Faith” and Douglas Groothuis in “Christian Apologetics” both dismantle this objection.

Faith does not EXEMPT your from evil and suffering.

The corollary to Satan has asked is that God has ALLOWED

The possibility of evil is the cost to FREEDOM we seldom consider.

Some LESSONS/VIRTUES are only learned or acquired through suffering.

Sifting is necessary to separate the UNWANTED from the wanted.

Jesus doesn’t remove the trial, but prays for him to OVERCOME it.

Peter became the ROCK by learning through his failure.

“Giving thanks in the midst of an adverse situation, a difficulty intended to undermine

your faith and destroy you, enables you to take hold of that situation and set it apart for God’s purpose. When you give thanks, the weapon the enemy meant to use to dislodge you from your divine purpose is put into your hands and becomes the very thing that brings you more

fully into that purpose” (“Strengthening Yourself in the Lord”)

Some suffering comes as the RESULT of our faith.

Peter’s trial was due to his ASSOCIATION with Jesus.

The cross reminds us that God is not IMMUNE to our pain, but has chosen to go through it with us.

The enemy’s goal is to tempt us to FAIL; God’s purpose is to test us that He may GROW us (Kerry Kirkwood).

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4)

Please take a moment to fill out yourCommunication Card

My Next Step Today is to:( ) Do the home life help (in bulletin)( ) Study more about overcoming the presence of evil as an objection to faith.( ) Stop blaming God for suffering that resulted from freedom He gave us.( ) Ask what lessons/virtues I can learn through a particular trial( ) Ask Christ to always help me acknowledge and not deny Him in daily life( ) Other________________________