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Here at the beginning of this new ministry year we’re giving thought to a study series entitled, ‘What’s In A Name?’, a series designed to highlight the significance of our church name, that being GracePoint. This morning as we continue this series, we’re going to give some thought to identifying God’s finest hour when it comes to his grace. In other words, when is God’s grace at its greatest?

Not everyone finds God’s grace so amazing. In fact, there are some who are actually enemies of that grace, and none more so than our ultimate enemy, Satan himself. However, as we who are in Christ engage the enemy of grace in battle, we need to appreciate God’s commitment to us, commitments we see come to life in the painful experience of the apostle Peter’s denial of the Lord at his time of greatest need.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat…” Luke 22:31, ESV

Notice in the text that Satan’s desire is to sift the disciples of Christ as wheat, that is to brutally break us away from a firm grip on God’s grace. But here we see that our Lord is committed to graciously forewarning us of the tempter’s tactics.

We are not unaware of his [that is, Satan’s] schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:11, NIV

But not only does the Lord forewarn us of the tempter’s tactics, he also graciously promises not to desert us when we come under Satan’s attack.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” Luke 22:31-32a, ESV

Despite our disloyalty, the Lord is ever loyal.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1, ESV

But what exactly does Christ pray for when we find ourselves defeated by the devil?

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” Luke 22:31-32a, ESV

When Christ prayed that Peter’s “faith may not fail”, I believe he had in mind devilish discouragement. If the enemy of grace had been able to get Peter to think, ‘Once a failure, always a failure’, ‘Once a betrayer of Christ, always a betrayer of Christ’, Peter’s faith would have been practically rendered useless.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16, ESV

During the past few Sundays, we’ve highlighted the fact that this great grace which God offers to us in our time of need is both a forgiving grace, and a sustaining grace. However, this grace is also a restoring grace.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32, ESV

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. John 21:15-17, NIV

Who is it that becomes the dominant figure in the earliest days of the church as recorded for us in the book of Acts? It’s this same Peter. Jesus doesn’t reject His defeated disciples.
Rather he graciously seeks to restore us to fellowship with himself, and ever greater God-honouring service.

During this new ministry season, we who make up GracePoint also need to be committed personally and corporately to extending restoring grace to those brothers and sisters in Christ who get caught in sin’s grip.

"If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me…” Jeremiah 15:19, NIV