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Sifting

 

We find a very uncomfortable statement made by Jesus to Peter in Luke 22:31, that reads, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.” What is more intriguing is that Jesus doesn’t stop it or prevent it from happening, but rather prays that Peter’s faith would not fail during the sifting. It is a prayer for our faith as well!

What is this sifting? The word used for “sift” means “inward agitation to try one's faith to the verge of overthrow” or can have a figurative interpretation to mean “to riddle.” One of the greatest acts of “sifting” by Satan is his use of doubt in God or to question God.

One of the earliest examples is from Genesis 3:1 when Satan tried to get Eve to doubt God when he questioned, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

Satan’s tactics were no different with Jesus during Christ’s 40-days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Satan will always try to trick us into accepting his offers on things that were never his to give. 

All we need and every promise assured us comes from God and God, alone. The things of God were never Satan’s to give in the first place. We should not barter, bargain, or deal with the Devil. We should never want anything from him.

The deception and sifting process is to encourage self-sufficiency by questioning God’s provision and love. Satan wants us to believe that God is not enough and doesn’t have our best interest in mind. Satan wants to instill doubt so that we turn from God and stop trusting his promises.

This is what makes 1 Peter 5:8 such a powerful lesson for us. We are warned to “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” 

The distraction is not getting what you think will be your goal or gained independence. What you actually receive, in the end, is destruction, chaos, and death. What, at first, appears to be for your benefit actually ends up being a complete disaster....total annihilation. Life-long messes to clean up and recover from.

If you are doubting God or questioning his love, care and best for you, then realize where those thoughts, challenges, and feelings are coming from. Your adversary, the devil, is doing everything possible to pull you away from God so that he can destroy you through doubt and questioning. We would call that “going in for the kill.” His “sifting” process is never for your benefit or good.

We can be grateful for the assurance of Hebrews 7:25-26, “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.  For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” This is why Jesus prayed for Peter’s faith to be victorious and to not fail.

James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  As we grow in our faith, we must understand that even though the devil becomes less and less victorious, it doesn't mean that he is putting in less effort in trying to influence us. He will always be working passionately at sifting us.

To grow in our faith, we need to make it a point to get with God daily in prayer and keep our focus on Him at all times and in every situation. We need to read and study the Word of God in order to implant it on our hearts. And we need to give thanks and praise to the Lord for all He does for us. Plus, never go at it alone! Stay connected with your Church family in fellowship, mentorship and guidance. Resist the sifting of Satan!


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