Help for the Sifted Saints (5)

HELP FOR SIFTED SAINTS

Luke 22:31–34

Intro The trials and adversities of life are never pleasant, but it in them that we learn the secrets of dependence, of grace, of hope and of His presence. None of us wishes for trials or adversity, but it is through them that God refines the metal of our lives and molds us into His image. Just as metal is placed in a furnace and heated to a white hot state so the dross can be removed, God allows us to enter the furnace of affliction so that He might refine and purify our lives.

Of course, the most difficult of the adversities we face is that which comes from sin and the attack of the devil. When we are forced to enter that furnace, the potential for pain is greatest.

In our text, Simon Peter is made to understand the fact that he is about to be tested. He is encouraged in this revelation by the fact that the Lord Himself will take an active part in his trail. I know I am speaking to a group of people who are going through adversity. I know that you face battles and trials that I cannot imagine. However, I know there is hope for you! This passage lets us know that we do not have to fail in the attacks of life. We do not have to crawl away in defeat, never to be heard from again. I want to show you that anyone can endure the trials, tests and adversities of life. I want to show you that even if you have failed, you can still rise from the ashes and salvage what Satan has attempted to destroy. I want to share, from this passage, some Help For Sifted Saints. Allow me to point out a few nuggets which contain much Help For Sifted Saint

V. 31 A DETERMINED FOE“Satan Is Determined To Destroy Your Life!”

A. Ill. Context. Jesus is telling Peter that Satan has made a request to have “all” the disciples to test the reality of their faith. The word “desired” means “to demand, to ask for oneself.” The word “you” is plural in nature. It is a request for all the disciples. His demand is that he might “sift” them

B. We battle a determined enemy this morning. He wants nothing more than to cut the heart of God by sifting your life and mine. He wants to prove that we are phonies. He wants to show God and the world that there is nothing to our professions of faith. He wants to destroy everything of value in your life, 1 Pet. 5:8. He wants to ruin your testimony. He wants to destroy your home. He wants to wreck your influence. He wants to take away everything of value in your life and leave you with nothing but a devastated shell of what you had!

(Note: If he can get you to believe a false profession, he will. If he can got your eyes off Jesus, he will. If he can drive a wedge between you and the members of your family, he will. If he can drive a wedge between you and the members of your church, he will. He will do everything he can to cut the heart of God and ruin your life! He will use whatever tactic he deems necessary to get you to fall, Ill. Gen. 3:1–6. He will never stop until you fall, or you go home to glory!)

V. 32 A DILIGENT FRIEND“The Saints Have A Powerful Ally In Their Corner!”

B. The times of testing and failure will come in your life and mine, but in the midst of them, let us take courage in the fact that we have Someone pleading our case, taking our part, praying for us in Heaven, Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1.(Note: Notice the word “but”. Satan may have his devices and his schemes to tempt us and try us, but he doesn’t have the last word! In the midst of his scheming and planning, Jesus “butts” in to stand by our side until the trial has passed! He will never leave us, regardless of the task or trial C. Just because a temptation is offered to you, that does not mean that you have to fall into sin. Jesus has equipped us with all the resources we will ever need to be able to withstand anything the devil throws at us,

32 A DISTINGUISHED FUTURE“No Failure Should Ever Be Considered Final!”A. Jesus makes it clear that Peter will fall, “when thou art converted”, means “when you have repented, or come back to me”, but that his fall will not be the final statement of his life. He was going to be restored and he was going to be used of the Lord in a great way. Ill. Pentecost, and the great acts of faith of his life, Note: I am speaking to people who may come under this kind of attack someday and you may fall into sin. I am speaking to some who have fallen and have already come back. I am speaking to others who have fallen and are still in that fallen state today. I want you to know that your fall does not have to define your life!) (Ill. Contrast Samson, David and Jonah with Abraham!)B. God has made provision for the cleansing and the restoration of those who fall into sin. Those provisions include Confession, Repentance and Forgiveness. When we come clean about our sins and turn from them, the Lord will forgive and restore the fallen one to a place of service and blessing

4 A DELIBERATE FOOLISHNESS“Never Say Never!”A. When Peter hears this prediction he, in typical Peter style, boasts of his love and devotion to the Lord. He vows to go to prison or even to death to prove his allegiance to Jesus. Peter forgot a very important principle of life, “Never Say Never!” No one in this room is above falling into the snare of the enemy. Only when you are in his sifter can you know exactly what you will do! (Ill. How Job reacted in the sifter—Job 1:20–22

King James Version (Chapter 1)

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said,Naked came I out of my mother’s womb,And naked shall I return thither:The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away;Blessed be the name of the LORD.22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

(Note: God knows our true capacity for sin. Ill. The Lord’s use of the names “Simon” and “Peter”. Simon was the name of the old man before Jesus, John 1:42. Peter was the name of the new man. Jesus wants Peter to know that even a rock will break when enough pressure is applied!)B. You see, you are weakest in the area of your greatest strength