How Should I Handle a Time of Sifting?

Luke 22:31–34 NLT

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” 34 But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

INTRODUCTION:

A- Times of testing befall all of us.

TS: Notice four basic truths we need to remember when we go through times of sifting.

I- SATAN DESIRES TO TEST US. (Luke 22:31)

Luke 22:31 NLT

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.

A- Satan requests to be allowed to test us.

1- To be released from the protective power of God.

a- As believers, you and I are kept by God’s power.

(1 Peter 1:5)

1 Peter 1:5 NLT

5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

(John 10:27-30)

John 10:27–30 NLT

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

b- Satan cannot touch us without the permission of God.

Example - Job

(Job 1:6-12)

Job 1:6–12 NLT

6 One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. 7 “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.” 8 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” 9 Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” 12 “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

(Job 2:1-6)

Job 2:1–6 NLT

1 One day the members of the heavenly court came again to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. 2 “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.” 3 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.” 4 Satan replied to the Lord, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. 5 But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!” 6 “All right, do with him as you please,” the Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life.”

B- Satan make his request with a purpose.

1- He wants to sift us.

a- σινιάσαι= to sift by shaking in a sieve—‘to sift. By inward agitation to try one’s faith to the verge of overthrow.

b- He uses various means to sift us:

Fear

outward circumstances

doubt

physical and emotional pain.

c- The goal:

Our downfall.

(1 Peter 5:8)

1 Peter 5:8 NLT

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

II- JESUS OFFERS US COMFORT IN THE MIDDLE OF SIFTING. (LUKE 22:32)

Luke 22:32 NLT

32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

“ἐγὼ δὲ ἐδεήθην περὶ σοῦ ἵνα μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἡ πίστις σου· καὶ σύ ποτε ἐπιστρέψας στήρισον τοὺς ἀδελφούς σου.”

A- Jesus has interceded on our behalf.

1- He prays for our faith to be steadfast.

ἐδεήθην = to ask for with urgency, with the implication of presumed need—‘to plead, to beg.

ἵνα μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἡ πίστις σου= that your faith does not fail (stop, cease).

a. (Note John 17:9-17)

John 17:9–17 NLT

9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. 13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

B- Victory through the sifting process is possible.

1- Victory is possible because Jesus has overcome the world.

(John 16:33)

John 16:33 NLT

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

2- We must recognize Satan’s tricks.

(2 Corinthians 2:11b)

2 Corinthians 2:11b NLT

11 so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.

III- ALLOWING THE FLESH TO RULE DURING SIFTING BRINGS FAILURE. (Luke 22:33-34)

Luke 22:33–34 NLT

33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” 34 But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

A- Beware of overconfidence in self. (Luke 22:33)

Luke 22:33 NLT

33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”

“ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Κύριε, μετὰ σοῦ ἕτοιμός εἰμι καὶ εἰς φυλακὴν καὶ εἰς θάνατον πορεύεσθαι.”

1- Don’t bank on your own strength.

Peter was overconfident of his own strength.

ἕτοιμός εἰμι= “I am ready, prepared”

εἰς φυλακὴν καὶ εἰς θάνατον πορεύεσθαι.= to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.

(Note Ephesians 6:10)

Ephesians 6:10 NLT

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

a. The key is relying on God’s power, not our strength!

B- Failure is heart-breaking!

1- Peter experienced this heart-break.

(Luke 22:55-62)

Luke 22:55–62 NLT

55 The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. 56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” 57 But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!” 58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!” “No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted. 59 About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

IV- REPENTANCE BRINGS A RENEWED PURPOSE. (Luke 22:32b)

Luke 22:32b NLT

32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

A- Repentance is necessary to realizing this purpose.

1- Recognize the failure for what it is - sin!

2- Repent and return to Christ.

(note Luke 22:61-62)

Luke 22:61–62 NLT

61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

B- Renew your purpose. (Luke 22:32b)

Luke 22:32b NLT

32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

1- Even our failures are never wasted.

(2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 NLT

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

CONCLUSION:

HYMN LYRICS : Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand

By B.B. McKinney

(Baptist Hymnal 2008 #513)

1 Have you failed in your plan of your storm-tossed life? Place you hand in the nail-scarred hand; Are you weary and worn from its toil and strife? Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.

2 Are you walking alone through the shadows dim? Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand; Christ will comfort your heart, put your trust in Him, Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand. [Chorus]

3 Would you follow the will of the risen Lord? Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand; Would you live in the light of His blessed Word? Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand. [Chorus]

4 Is your soul burdened down with its load of sin? Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand; Throw your heart open wide, let the Savior in, Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand. [Chorus]

Chorus: Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand, Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand; He will keep to the end, He's your dearest friend, Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.