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e are continuing our exposition (begun in Part 3 of this series) of the word, "prepare", whose definitions are (Gk 2090): "PROVIDE OR MAKE READY"; (2092) "FIT, ADJUSTED, READY, AT HAND"; and (2680) "CONSTRUCT, CREATE, BUILD AND ORDAIN- referring to INTERNAL FITNESS!" Here are more uses of "READY" in the N.T.

(Lk 22:31-34) "The Lord said, *‘Simon, Simon, satan has desired to have you sohe may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail;and when you are converted, you will strengthen your brethren. And Simon said,‘Lord, I AM READY to go with You- both TO PRISON, and even TO DEATH!!’ But Jesus said to him, **‘Peter, the cock will not crow today, before you DENY three times that you know Me!!"

[*Note: It is Simon [meaning: "A hearing ear to obey." (Gk 4613)] whose faith Jesus said "satan desires to sift"; because "Faith comes by hearing; and our hearing (ear to obey) comes by the Word of God....and Faith without works (of obedience to Christ) is utterly dead and useless." (Ro 10:17; Jas 2:20) And "Faith is counted for Righteousness." (Ro 4:5); "The Just live by Faith." (Gal 3:11); "By Grace, it is through Faith that you are saved!" (Eph 2:8); "All that is not of Faith is SIN!"(Ro 14:23); Without Faith it is impossible to please God!" (He 11:6) Faith is our only Shield! (Eph 6:16); "We walk by Faith and not by sight!" (2 Cor 5:7) "Faith works by LOVE (God’s for us, and ours for God)!" (Gal 5:6) "The prayer of Faith will save the sick !!"(Jas 5:16)

**Peter was often used in divine demonstratons- as when he was the first to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God; and yet shortly thereafter was rebuked by Christ for loosing a satan word that sought to discourage the completion of His Holy Appointment with Calvary!! It is to"Peter" [lit. "Piece of the Rock- larger than a stone" (Gk 4074)] Jesus said Peter would deny Him thrice! The number ‘3’ is acute here because it not only means "divine completion", but represents the triune being of man’s body, soul, and spirit!! Christ is revealing that not one part of natural man did not succomb to the fatal attraction between satan and the first Adam! Every fiber of humanity denies Christ just by its fleshly substance! But Jesus knew that Peter’s fear-driven denial of Him would soon be expunged. On His third appearance after Resurrection (Read: Jn 21:1-19), Jesus caused Peter to make a triple avowal of Love; to show that: 1) "Perfect Love indeed had cast out all of his former fear" (1 Jn 4:18); and 2) "Perfect Love indeed covers a multitude of sins!" (1 Pet 4:8) The Holy Spirit reminds me how 23 years ago (1977) He spoke Lk 22:31-32 prophetically to my heart, instructing me to cross out Peter’s name and write in MY NAME! He said that one day I would tell all my brethren everywhere to do the same; and here I am entreating you as He bid me!! He spoke to me from the Amplified Bible which expresses the Father’s thought more emphatically!

"Listen, (insert your name) , satan has asked excessively that all of you be given upto him- out of the Power and Keeping of God- that he might sift all of you like grain; but I have prayed especially for you (insert your name) , that your own Faith may not fail; and when you, yourself, have turned again; strengthen and establish yourbrethren!!" [Read this over and over whenever your faith becomes weak and you feel like turning from Christ to seek help in the world!! Hear now the new, faith-filled Peter who learned his lesson, "Humble (i.e., demote, lower yourself in your own estimation) under the Mighty Hand of God that in due time, He may raise you up! Cast ALL (notjust some of) your cares (anxieties, worries and concerns- once and for all) on Him;for He cares for you affectionately; and cares about you watchfully!" (1 Pet 5:7)

[TO BE CONTINUED]