Luke 22:31

Sisyphus · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 8:58 pm Post subject: Luke 22:31

Luke 22:31-32 (KJV)
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:........

Is Jesus saying here that Satan must ask permission from God before tempting or attacking Christians?
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".... love thy neighbour as thyself." is the hardest thing I have ever done....

bobbyc · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 1324

Ah, getting late it is. Think about this some more, I will.

Sisyphus · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 9:11 pm Post subject:

Most gracious Master Yoda. Are you working tomorrow?
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".... love thy neighbour as thyself." is the hardest thing I have ever done....

bobbyc · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 1324

Indeed so, young paduan. Some evening hours have I to spare though. Perhaps ponder and read in the daytime I shall.

Sisyphus · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 10:38 pm Post subject:

Excellent. I look forward to more posts in Iambic Pentameter... Icon_fing05

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".... love thy neighbour as thyself." is the hardest thing I have ever done....

watcher · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 60

A couple of thoughts on this question while Yoda is recharging his light sabre. Icon_laugh

This text surely reminds us of the story of Job where Satan is granted permission to tempt Job, but without causing his death. He could only work within the limits prescribed for him by God and it seems that godly people will not be allowed to fall fully into the devil's power. The devil seeks to bring everyone under his sway, of course, but those who have turned to Christ are protected by his intercession before God. Of course, Christians are not spared from great trials and difficulties in this life but "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Earlier in Luke ch. 22, the devil had entered Judas, who had turned his back on Jesus, but those like Peter who had come to believe that he was the Son of the living God and that he alone had the words of eternal life would be spared such a fate.

Even so, just as we are told by Paul to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, though it is God himself who is working in us, Peter (perhaps with his own experience in mind) warns us to be alert to the wiles of the devil, who "prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). God will help us to resist if we remain faithful to him.

By the way, the first 'you' in v. 31 is in the plural form in the original Greek (this is impossible to bring out in English translation) and clearly refers to all of the disciples, but Christ then homes in on Peter (where the 'you' is singular), presumably because of the pastoral role he had in mind for him and also perhaps because Peter's impulsive nature rendered him more vulnerable.
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"For with Thee is the fountain of life;
In Thy light we see light."
- Psalm 36:9

Sisyphus · Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 2:04 pm Post subject:

Good post Watcher, and had you not mentioned Job, I had him in reserve myself.

It is also good that you remind us of:

Nancy · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 1097 Location: Illinois, U.S.A.

Are you saying that the devil has to have permission from God to do his evil works? I have never thought of it in that light before.

I agree with Sisyphus that Christians are made stronger when "put to the test". But....I wonder....does this really happen? I can't think of any incident in my life recently where I was made better by going thru a difficult time.
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You O Lord are the potter, I am the clay,the work of Your hands.

Sisyphus · Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 6:21 am Post subject:

While Satan has dominian over the Earth I don't think he has carte blanche to do anything he pleases.
God is still in charge of all his creation and as such there will be restrictions on Satans abilities.
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".... love thy neighbour as thyself." is the hardest thing I have ever done....

Isthmian · Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 142

And praise God for those restrictions or we would all be right in it.
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Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary use words. — St. Francis of Assisi

Nancy · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 1097 Location: Illinois, U.S.A.

So this is some type of proof that,yes, we are all given a free will?
God created everything + after man's fall from grace he was given the free will to do right or wrong.

I don't know why I've thought all these many years that the devil was outside of God's jurisdiction. Maybe as I don't trust him I just assumed he was his own evil entity. But....God did create everything. He must have felt sorrow that Lucifer would turn away from Him.
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You O Lord are the potter, I am the clay,the work of Your hands.