# Faith That Does Not Fail

Key Passage: Luke 22:31-34
Date: June 7, 2024

Luke 22. We’ve kind of changed our course for just a bit on Wednesday nights.

Just a little bit about faith. I feel like if there’s ever a time, for American citizens and for members of Brotherford County Baptist Church, and for all of us in some form or fashion, just our faith, for it not to be discouraged, diminished. I feel like now we just need to work in keeping our faith strong more than ever.

And so I just—I don’t know how long the Lord will have it. We, of course, last Wednesday, I was—let’s see—last Wednesday I was out. And before that, we talked about faith as a grain of a mustard seed. And we’ll go back to the subject of faith. And tonight, faith as wheat. Faith is a grain of mustard seed. Tonight, faith as wheat.

I want to just look at this thing a little bit tonight in Luke chapter number 22, and we’ll be in verse number 31. Luke 22, verse number 31.

Would you please stand as we read God’s Word together? Luke 22, verse number 31 of God’s Word tonight. Why, I’m so glad you’re in church on Wednesday night. It would be so easy for you to skip out, but man, you just miss out. It’s that shot right in the middle of the week. You need it.

Christian life and just give you some strength. I’m glad you’re here. Praise the Lord for it. Some of you made extra effort. I appreciate that. That’s just awesome. You ought to be commended. And I’m glad you’re here tonight.

Verse number 31: “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

And he said unto him, “Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death.” And he said, “I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.”

Now would you pray with me that God would use this tonight just to keep our faith strong in and for Him? Would you do that?

Father Lord, we come tonight. And would you do that, Lord? Keep our faith, Lord, our faith that you can work in our day and time. Our faith that you can work in each individual in our lives. Lord, faith that you can work at a church, this church, Lord. Would you keep that strong? Lord, thank you. We have you in whom to put our faith. You’re worthy of it. Please bless tonight. Father, do it only you can. Would you bring life? I can’t do that, Lord. I know you can. Would you bring life in our hearts? Father, we’ll thank you, and brag with you and praise for what you do, Lord. It’s in Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated.

It’s very interesting when Jesus was talking to Peter and He said, “Look, Satan’s trying to get you.” And Peter, of course, he was so cocky. He said, “Oh, I’m good. You know, I’m ready.” And Jesus said, “I prayed for you.” It’s very interesting how Jesus prayed. Jesus knew exactly what to pray about, and exactly how to hit the nail right on the head with His hammer.

The first thing He said, “I’ve prayed that thy—what is it?—that thy faith fail not.” Now there’s a great lesson there. So when Satan is trying to get you, he’s trying to destroy, he’s trying to defeat you. He’s trying to get your faith.

And sometimes we say, “Well, faith,” and we just think about our religion, if you will. I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about faith that God can hear your prayers. Faith that God can answer your prayers. I’m talking about faith that God can help in your financial condition. I’m talking about faith that God can see someone saved. I’m talking about faith that God can use you in a ministry here at a church. And that’s the type of faith that God can do something in your life, in your family’s life. That’s the faith that I’m talking about. And I believe He’s talking about right here more than just your religion, but your faith. So when Satan’s after you, he’s after your very faith that you believe God could work. See, it’s a great lesson just in that right there.

Can I just say this? All spiritual battles boil down to that right there. It realizes your faith. I mean, are you going to believe God, or are you just going to go through ritual for the rest of your days? Or just drop out altogether? Your faith is so very, very important.

Now I want you to notice in verse number 31 there. Would you look at that, please? And he says there, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you.” How is he going to have him? By his faith.

Watch this: “that he may sift you as wheat.” Now what really does he mean by sift you as wheat? I’ve often just kind of say, he wants to chew you up and spit you out. Well, that’s good for Tennessee vernacular, but there’s a little bit more to it than just that. Sift you as—it didn’t say as sand, as wheat.

You know, many of you know how they would sift the wheat. They would get that wheat or that barley in, and then they would thresh it. They’d do that a lot of different ways, maybe a little bit of grinding, or they have something to walk on it. But they would have some way in that wheat. That wheat, the outside, the hull of it would be broken, and the inside that wheat would come out. And then they would take it—they threshed it—and then they would take it to the win—I don’t know if I can say the word exactly right—winery, and by that I’m not talking about wine as far as what you drink, but the wind and winery, maybe, is the right word. They would take it there, a lot of times on the top of a mountain, they would do it.

And they would take it in different ways they would do, but sometimes almost with a shovel, a big shovel, they’d take it and then toss it up in the air. And they’d go to the mountain a time because there’s a breeze up there on the mountains. And that wind, it would come along and it would blow away the chaff. Now, that would just blow away. Psalms 1, remember, talks about that. It’s the chaff which the wind blows away. And then the true wheat would fall to the ground. And they go through that process of getting some wheat.

Now, here’s the thing: If you keep grinding, you can grind wheat; that’s how you get flour. And, of course, you throw that up, everything’s going to be blown away, you know. But it’s talking about, hey, when you have battles going on, it’s Satan just tossing you up, and he’s trying to agitate that wheat to get that hull off of it. And he’s trying to agitate you and do whatever he can. Sometimes you can handle one problem, and you get about 20 problems at one time, you know? And, man, Satan’s trying to agitate you. And he’s trying to sift you.

And here’s the thing: You go through this wind process, and he wants to grind you all the way up where everything blows away and there’s no faith left. But it’s also a process where your faith is revealed.

We’ll talk about that just a minute, but let me just say, why is it that Satan is so very much—every battle you have, every problem, the root of it is Satan trying to get your faith that God can work in your life? Why is that? Well, if Satan gets you where you’re so defeated, you really don’t believe that God can work, he’s pretty much won the battle.

Would you look over in Psalm 78? And when you look in verse number 41, Psalm 78, verse number 41. While you’re turning there, let me tell you what the context of this is. He’s talking about the children of Israel. Well, I’ll wait until you find it, and then we’ll talk for just a moment here. And we’ll read it together. Psalm 78. And once you find it, if you look right up here for just a moment. And let me talk about what you’re talking about here. He’s talking about the children of Israel. God led them out of Egypt across the Red Sea. Remember they came up to Kadesh-Barnea where they could enter into the promised land. The wording of that is very, very important: the land that was already promised them. Did you get that? Already the promised land?

And remember they sent in the 12 spies—whether God told them, take them in there first, or they asked God, asked God, and he finally gave in, and I don’t know, there’s debate about that. I tend to think we started asking God first, the children of Israel did. Deuteronomy talked about that. But either way it was, they sent in 12 spies, and 10 came back, said we can’t do it, and they destroyed the faith of the children of Israel. And the children of Israel listened to the 10 instead of the 2. By the way, more often than not, follow the minority; typically, they are right. The majority—I mean, the majority of people are going to die and go to hell, you know that. Yeah. But they didn’t enter in because of their lack of faith. God had already promised it. Their unbelief—Hebrews is very clear about that.

And I want you to notice what he says about that situation. Psalm 78, look at verse number 41. Psalm 78 and 41. Are you there in the Bible? Look at this saying here. He says, “Yea, they turned back. No, we’re not going to enter in. There are giants over there.” And they tempted God, and look at this, “and limited the Holy One of Israel.” Wow.

I mean, from God’s holy Word right there, you and I can limit what God can do in your life because of our lack of faith. It’s amazing to me. I wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t see it in the Bible, but they limited Him. I wonder how much I limit God. I wonder how much I limit God. “Well, God, I can’t see anybody saved.” Well, I’m probably limiting God there for sure. “God can’t answer that prayer.” Sometimes we just don’t exercise the faith we have because of Satan’s guidance. And they were limited by their unbelief.

Look over in Mark chapter number six, if you would. Why is Satan trying to—he’s always trying to get our faith? He doesn’t want you to believe that God can do something. He doesn’t want you to believe that God can use you to start a vacation Bible school in your neighborhood in your backyard. He doesn’t want you to think that. Why? Why is he after your faith?

Look over here, it’s amazing. Another statement over here. This is Jesus when He goes to His hometown, Nazareth. He goes there twice really in His public ministry. Both times are awful. And look at this right here, Mark 6, verse number five. Speaking of Jesus there. Now this is our King James Bible. Look what it says: “And he, what’s the next two words? Could there do no mighty work.” Wow.

It does not say He would not. He says, “And he could there do no mighty work.” Save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk and healed them. “And he marveled because of their, what? Unbelief.” And He went roundabout villages teaching.

Now, friend, that’s exactly why Satan’s trying to get your faith. If you don’t believe that God can work in your life or hear your prayers or help you become the Christian God wants you to be, because if he’s got your faith where you don’t believe in God, then God’s limited, and “he could there do no mighty work.” How many churches could there do no mighty work because they don’t believe God can anymore? Satan would love for Christians in America—it’s all about that. And that’s why Jesus said, “Hey, Peter, Satan wants to sift you as wheat, but I pray that thy faith fail not.” Jesus knows what to pray about. It’s so important.

John Rice tells a story. When he was younger, he had a radio station. He had a broadcast. He called it the Voice of Radio Broadcast, and it was somewhat nationwide. It wasn’t a real long broadcast, but he had it, and bills just kept coming and kept coming and kept coming. Now, this is years ago. I don’t know the date of it, but it’s not going to sound like much money in our day in time, but back then it was.

And he was just getting discouraged by the bills coming in. Anybody ever been out there like that? You ever been out of it? You know, just bills keep coming, you know, more bills than checks, you know. And he was praying. He said, “Lord, I need some encouragement. He said, ‘These heavy bills are just killing me.’”

And he said that if you would, if you just send me $500. Now that doesn’t sound like much, but back then that was a lot. “Lord, just encourage me. These heavy bills are coming. Would you send me five?” And he said as soon as he said it, it seemed like the devil just jumped on his back. I mean, you know how the devil is. And I want to read a little bit of this. He said the old devil whispered to me, “Now, who is going to send you $500? Does anybody regularly send that much? Are you likely to get $500?”

“Besides, if you’ve got a $500 gift, it would be likely earmarked about like this: $200 for the Mission Literature Foundation, $150 for the ministers, a missionary subscription gift fund. And then you will have $150 left over for the radio.” The old devil insisted, “You’re not likely to give $500 for the radio.”

John Rice said, “I said to the Lord, ‘Lord, I’m not talking about what is likely, what is probable. You show that old devil, I believe you could even send $1,000 in by tomorrow.’”

The next day came a check for $1,000, all designated to the Voice of the Radio Broadcast. Now look, if he didn’t have faith, that wouldn’t happen.

Jesus had those two blind men come to Him, and He healed those blind men, and He said, “According to your faith be it unto you.” Five times Jesus said, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” Faith for Him.

Now, it’s not just off the cuff that Jesus said, “Sift you as wheat,” and He started talking about praying for his faith. I’m talking about that wheat. They would thresh it, then they would just toss it up, and the wind would blow away the chaff. And then the real wheat’s left, right? Now, there’s something to that. You see, when battles come, it reveals how much true faith we have in God. You see, that old wheat might look real big, but if you break the hull off and the wheat inside is real small, you don’t have near what you thought you had.

In battles, it really reveals our faith. It reveals what’s going on. I want you to notice something here. Look in verse number 31, or 33, excuse me, back over here in Luke 22. Back over there, Luke 22, if you would, please. Luke 22, would you look in verse number 32? Luke 22, verse number 33.

He just said, “I prayed thy faith fail not.” What was the response of Peter, verse number 33? And he said unto him—this is Peter talking—“Lord, what’s the next word?”

That’s the problem really right there. That’s the whole problem. Satan’s—Jesus has warned him, “Satan’s after you.” “I’m ready.” Well, that’s a joke. He fell flat on his face. And when we’re just so self-reliant, that’s not faith. That’s the chaff which gets blown away during the heat of the battle. See? “I’m ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death.”

Friend, when the battles happen, that’s when all that self-reliance—and I’m talking about me, I’m so prone to self-reliance, “I’m ready”—you get your eyes, especially in battles, when you get your eyes on yourself, you’re going to get blown away. It is always a mistake. That’s exactly where Peter started focusing. This piece is just all about him: “I’m ready.” That’s always a mistake. Man, when we get in the heat of the battle, never, never get your eyes on yourself. You’re so full of flaws. I’m so full of flaws. And when you’re down and Satan’s after you and it’s that evil day, he will point out and magnify every single flaw you ever have had. And that’s how he’s getting your faith soul. And the chaff will reveal that. They’ll get blown away—all the self-reliance in the heat of the battle. I mean, it’s just like chaff.

Don’t fall for the little old ploy of Satan trying to get you to look at yourself. It’ll lead to—I always say it’ll lead to two things: one of the P’s, pride or pity. And pride’s going to—you’re going to fall. That’s what happened with Peter, and then eventually pity. Man, in the heat of battles, man, don’t—don’t look at yourself.

Can I just say this about when you go through hard times? I don’t think anyone goes through hard times perfectly besides Jesus. I’m talking about tough times. Nobody does. Job, man, what a great man! He was the best Christian around, but Job didn’t go through it perfectly. Now, praise the Lord, he did a great job, probably a whole lot better than I’d ever do, but he didn’t do it perfectly. God’s getting rid of self-righteousness in his life, too.

And so here’s the thing: Nobody goes through battles, severe battles, perfectly. And so you get your eyes on yourself, and you’re going to see all the problems you have, and you’re going to be so defeated. And hence your faith just falls off. Satan’s thrilled about that. Oh, be determined when the battles come, “I’m not going to get my eyes on myself.”

Here’s the interesting thing. I was learning a little bit about it today, but not all wheat is the same. And actually, even today, they kind of classify some of it as hard wheat or soft wheat. Now, there are different types of hard wheat, by the way. The hard wheat typically is the good wheat they like for bread. But not all wheat is the same. And here’s the thing I’m saying: when you get into battles, Satan—man, he’s just, if he can, he just wants to grind your wheat all the way up to flour. But you’re going to have to have some faith strong enough that can endure some hard times.

Did you notice what Jesus prayed in verse number 32? How exactly did He pray about His faith in verse number 32? “But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.” He didn’t necessarily pray for him to have new faith at this point. He just said it’s your faith that you would have strong, hard faith, that it wouldn’t be ground to powder. That your faith fail not. Your faith stays real and strong during the heat of the battles. That you keep faith in God.

It’s interesting, then He says, “And when thou art converted,” kind of like, you’re going to be converted during the battles. Just stay in there. During the battles, just keep putting one foot in front of the other, keep believing God, keep trusting God. You’re not going to do great things during the heat of the battle typically, but don’t let your faith fail. And then, “when thou art converted”—after the battle and after Jesus goes after Peter, and after John 21—“when thou art converted, then I’ll use you, then strengthen thy brother.” But during the heat of the battle, He prayed, “Don’t let your faith be ground to powder.” And prayed that his faith fail not.

Now, very quickly, very quickly here tonight, let me just mention three things: how to keep your faith strong in the heat of the battles, during the battles. Number one, look over in John chapter 14. This goes in line with don’t let your eyes get on yourself. That’s—you’re starting it off wrong. If you’re in a real battle, you’re not going to have enough strength to do everything right. Nobody does. But that’s the flaw. Don’t look at yourself. What do you do? We’ll look over in John 14, John 14.

How do you keep your faith strong during the battle? John 14, we’re just looking at verse number 12. John 14 and verse number 12 of God’s Word. And y’all—y’all still out there? Good deal, good deal. Y’all are on board tonight, I believe it. I really do.

John 14, look at verse number 12. He says, “Verily, verily, verily.” That’s truly, truly, truly. Telling you the truth right here. “Verily, verily, verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me.” Who’s the “me” there? Jesus. So in the heat of the battle, do you get your eyes on yourself? Help me out. Do you get your eyes on yourself? Who do you get your eyes on? Jesus, because He’s the one that’s going to bring the victory. You’re going to have answers to prayer, you’re going to win over that trial because of what Jesus did on the cross.

What He said very, very last, “He that believeth on me”—on Jesus—this is an amazing statement: “The works that I do shall he do also; and greater.” Wow. “Greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father.” By the way, those apostles—Jesus, He just lived in a small portion as far as earthly ministry there in Galilee. But those apostles, they spread the gospel around the world. And they fulfilled how you believe in Jesus, these works, and greater than these.

Look at the next couple of verses, amazing verses. Verse number 13: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in whose name?” Not how good you are and how strong you are and how you got everything together? No, “in my name,” in Jesus. “That will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

Friend, if you’re going to keep your faith strong in the heat of the battle, say, “I don’t believe in how good I am and how good I’m doing in this battle, but I believe in Jesus right in the middle of this battle.” Jesus has got the power, He’s got the might. He can move this mountain, He can remove that mountain, He can take care of this situation. You keep your eyes on Jesus. That’s why He said, “Looking unto Jesus.” And when you’re discouraged, get your eyes off yourself and get your eyes on Jesus. If you’re going to have faith that doesn’t get blown away, that stays there as wheat, if you’re going to have faith, you’ve got to keep your eyes on Jesus. It’s so important.

Can I say this? Be careful getting your eyes too much on people. The best of people are just people. I try; I want to be a good pastor to you, but I’ll disappoint you. I’ll mess up so bad. Don’t get your eyes on—yes, God could use someone to help guide you to the Lord, but ultimately you have your eyes on the Lord. He’ll never disappoint you. Jesus said it: “Ye believe in Jesus; believe in me.” That’s the key. Hey, mamas, believe that your kids can grow up and live for the Lord. How do you do that? How good a mom you are? No, you trust in Jesus. Just trust in Jesus. “Believe in me,” Jesus said.

So how do I keep strong faith there in the battles? Satan’s after me. What’s after your faith? So how do you keep strong faith there in the battle? Keep your eyes on Jesus. Number two. Number two. Keep your eyes—we’ll look over in Romans 10. You’ll know the verse, many of you. Romans 10. Romans 10, many of you will be able to quote it. Romans 10, Romans chapter 10. Look at verse number 17, Romans 10, verse number 17.

You there tonight? Amen. Amen. Look at this, Romans 10, verse number 17: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

Now, we’ve talked about it. The passage is not just the Word of God; it’s hearing the Word of God. And here’s the thing: When you go through battles and God—man, you’re reading alone—and it’s just amazing how the Holy Spirit can illuminate one verse. Man, not one verse. You’re like, “Wow, I never saw that before.” It was always there. Just the Holy Spirit turned the light on, you see it. But when He gives you a verse, you hear a verse from God. Faith comes by hearing. You heard God speak to you about that verse.

Man, here’s the thing: Don’t you forget about it. Don’t you toss it aside. You hang on that verse. You write that verse down on a three-by-five card, put it on your dashboard, put it in the mirror, put it everywhere. You keep your mind, your heart on that promise. You go back to it and go back to it and go back to it. And every time Satan just bombards you, tries to get your faith, you quote that verse and you say that verse, and you hold on to that verse, and you say, “No, I’m going to believe what God’s Word says right here.” That’s key. That’s how you have strong faith that doesn’t get sifted and thrown away. It stays there. It doesn’t blow away like the chaff. By saying, “Hey, I’ve heard the Lord has spoken to me about this promise right here. I’m going to hang on to it.”

Satan’s going to try to bombard that promise from every angle he can, but you say, “No, uh-uh. I’ve got—the Lord has spoken to my heart about this verse, and I’m going to hang on to that verse right there. Don’t let it go.” That’s how you keep strong faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

How do you hang on to that promise? Let me just latch a hold of it. By the way, he said, “Well, I need a promise. I haven’t heard one.” All right, ask the Holy Spirit. Man, He’s got a book full of them. Man, it’s all in there. Get in the book. “Lord, tell me a verse.” It’s amazing sometimes. There have been times in my life just—it’s amazing. I haven’t thought about a verse in years, and the Holy Spirit just brings a verse to mind. I say, “Wow.” That’s one of the jobs of the Holy Spirit; He can bring the remembrance, one of the things He does. And it’s amazing that verses I’ve not read or verses I’ve not even studied or thought about them. Sometimes I’m thinking of a verse right now, and I don’t want to say the situation, but I’m just amazed. I never really noticed that verse. All of a sudden, boom, it just popped in my mind right when I needed it. That wasn’t me; it was the Holy Spirit. “Yes, Lord, I need to hear a verse. I need a promise.”

Man, when He gives you that promise, He gives you—you have that hearing from the Word of God—you grab a hold of that thing like a bulldog. Man, those old bulldogs, I’ve seen—I’ve seen things where they take a bulldog, and they’ll have a pole in between two men, and that bulldog grabs a hold of that pole. They say they actually don’t lock; it’s just they got those big muscles that just won’t let go. And they’re not a multiple bite; there’s a boom. They want to say they lock a hold if they’re just boom, you know. And those men were lifting that pole up, that old bulldog, his feet would be dangling off there, you know. Or you see them, you see those videos, they’re grabbing a hold of that tire swing, and they’re swinging that tire swing around. That bulldog is just swinging, you know, back legs off the ground because he won’t let go. Man, grab a hold of that promise that God gives you. Don’t let go of it. It may take years, but you just keep—you sit up. “I’m not going to let my faith be blown away.” Just keep believing.

I think about this last presidential election. Some of you prayed all night; our church prayed all night long about that thing. And it didn’t turn out like we wanted to, but, friend, it’s not over. And you keep holding on. You keep claiming those promises. You claim, you claim, keep hanging on, friend. By the way, coming up looks like maybe one of the best decisions has been made in about 45 years in our country. The Supreme Court says no, or sending the abortion back to the states. Twenty-two states poised are ready to say no. Brother Adam would send me something today. One of the governors saying it’s going to be illegal to mail the abortion pill in his state. Praise the Lord for that. I mean, there’s good things, but I’m just saying don’t give up your hope. Don’t lose your faith that God can work even in our country. If Satan gets your faith, well, it’s all over, then it is all over.

Keep your faith. Don’t limit the Holy One of Israel. “He could there do no mighty work.” Oh, that’d be a shame for Satan to be able to say that here in our country.

How do you keep your faith? Get your eyes on Jesus. That is so key. Don’t get your eyes on yourself. I mean, during the heat of the battle, you’re not going to do everything right. I hate to say—I don’t mean to pop your balloon—but it’s just the honest truth: none of us do. Get your eyes on Jesus. And the next thing, get your eyes on the promise He’s given you.

Then the last thing: Would you look over in John 21? Once you find John 21, let me talk for just a minute here, and we’ll draw up to a close tonight.

Brother Joel was giving me a hard time tonight. He came up, and Brother Marlon was standing there. He said, “Brother Marlon, you’re preaching. And he said, ‘Man, that 7:45 was pretty good,’ you know.” So we’re going to go to 9:30 tonight, and it’s all Brother Joel’s fault. You blame it all on him here tonight.

John chapter 21. Let me tell you what’s going on here. Remember the battle came, and Peter, man, he fell so low that he denied Jesus. And then he started cussing. I think he’s a Baptist preacher, one of the apostles, just cussing, denying Jesus all together. What a shame. And Jesus is right there. Jesus looked at him, and Peter went out and wept bitterly.

And then after that, Jesus went after him; He showed Himself to see, as Corinthians tells us, and still Peter, you know, and then they’re meeting together, Jesus shows up, and still Peter just bats it. And then what does Peter do? He goes out there and he gets his—I was going to say his cane pole, but I think maybe he had nets, you know—but he got his fishing pole out. And he took six of the apostles with him. It’s a shame when I backslide how many people backslide with me. I mean, he leaves all these other apostles. They’re out there, and Jesus had called them from that, said, “Hey, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” But they’re back out there fishing for fish. And Peter’s backslid a day’s long. They ain’t got proper clothing on. Backsliding always makes you take your clothes off, especially in the summertime. Keep your dress right. Peter’s out there fishing, clothes only got out there.

And what happens? Jesus shows up on the shore. And Jesus, He brings them up in there, and He takes care of them; He feeds them. Man, Jesus is so good to us when we don’t deserve it, didn’t He? Man, so many times I don’t deserve God’s goodness, and He’s just gracious to me. Jesus says, “Come and dine,” and He feeds them. He didn’t eat their fish. They caught those 153. He didn’t eat all that. Jesus had His own fish, and He cooked it up and He fed them fish. And then He says, “Peter, let me talk to him.” This is what He says. John 21. Look in verse number 15. John 21, verse number 15.

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?’”

And he said to him, “Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.” He said unto him, “Feed my lambs.”

And he said unto him again the second time, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” He said to him, “Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.” He said unto him, “Feed my sheep.”

He said unto him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” He was grieved because he said unto him the third time, “Lovest thou me?” He said, “Lord, thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love thee.” Jesus saith unto him, “Feed my sheep.”

You know how you just keep your faith from not failing, how you just keep putting one step in front of the other during the heat of the battle? You love Jesus. “I love you too much to quit. I’m messed up, I’m not doing everything perfect, I’ve got problems all over, but I can’t quit. I just love you too much.”

Peter, you’re backslid, you out there fishing for fish, and the root of the problem: Do you love Me? “Oh, I love you. I love you.” “I’ll get busy serving Me; feed My lambs.” That’s my baby Christians. “Peter, you love Me? You really love Me?” “Oh, I do.” “I’ll get busy doing what you’re supposed to; feed the sheep.” Sometimes it’s just a matter of us loving Jesus.

How can I keep faith that fails not? Love Jesus. By the way, that goes in line with the crown of life we discussed and preached on a couple Sundays ago, James 1:12. Remember that we were there? That first part of that verse, He gives that crown of life to those that endure temptations. That’s when Satan’s trying to get your faith. Then the last part of that verse, which is promised to them that love Him—which one is it? Enduring the temptations and trials is loving Him. They’re the same.

So how do I have faith that fails not in the heat of the battle? “I love you too much to fail, just to give up and quit. I love you too much. I love you too much.” You just love Him.

Hey, Satan’s after you, Peter. He’s wanting to sift you as wheat. I pray that thy faith fail not. How do you do that? Get your eyes off yourself and get your eyes on Jesus. Always. “Verily, verily, I say, He that believeth on—not you, but on Jesus.” And then keep your eyes on the written Jesus, the Word. And the hearing that verse He gave you, man, write it down in stone. And you just love Him. “I love Him too much to quit.” You let Him know that.

Original File: Faith That Does Not Fail - Pastor Paul Chisgar - Wednesday PM 06222022