SATAN DESIRES TO SIFT YOU LIKE WHEAT
By: Dr. Mike Jones
One of our great Bible teachers of the 21st Century stated, “When you are deeply hurt, no person on earth can shut down your inner fears and deepest agonies. Not even the best of friends can understand the battle you are going through or the wounds inflicted on you.”
Saints, the thing to remember about this Christian walk is that God didn’t promise you a painless way of life but He did promise you a way of escape. He promised to help you bear your pain. He promised strength to put you back on your feet when weakness makes you stagger.
Remember what Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:13,”There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to beat it.”
Saints, when we get in a hard place, our heavenly Father’s eyes are moving to and fro throughout the earth, watching over us. He identifies with our every pain. He’s there in the battle with us because He declared He will never leave us nor forsake us – He’s with us always; even to the end of the age.
And because we know this from sacred scripture: we can hold our heads up and declare, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, because He supplied my every need.
When you make this declaration, when you know you’re in the fire and the pressures are so intense and evil is on every side, and the enemy is there waiting for the chance to sift you like wheat, if you give him the opportunity.
Jesus warned us of Satan’s intent for a believer when Dr. Luke recorded a similar story in Luke 22:31-32. Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou are converted, strength thy brethren.”
The fact He said Peter’s name more than once indicated Christ’s sincere warning. Though Christ spoke directly to Peter, the warning was for all the disciples. I’ve prayed for you (Peter) application to ALL: Final point, Peter (others too) failed miserably but their faith was never over thrown.
So, let’s not judge someone who’s going through because their faith could still be intact. Remember, Satan also tempted Jesus too.
Remember, everybody that says, “Lord…Lord”, aren’t tied into Christ; only those who have truly sold out are the ones Satan is tempting to sift like wheat. For carnal Christians straggling the fence, Jesus said in Matthew 25, “Those who endure to the end, I will say, Come, you who are blessed of My Father – inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the foundation of the world.”
Glory this is why I obey His Commandments — because of what lies ahead for those that obey His Word. And when you make this type of commitment to follow Him, you set every alarm in hell. Why? Because of the threat you have become to the kingdom of darkness.
That’s why the Word of God in Ephesian 6:12-13 tells us to, “This it not strange concerning the fiery trials/tests to try our faith.” This is why we can’t be Carnal Christians and think we stand in the evil day.
Satan does not waste much time with Carnal Christians because they’re no threat to his kingdom of darkness; only those who are completely sold out to Christ are fit for this raging battle that be-fronts us.
With that in mind, let’s go back to Luke 22:31, “Simon, Simon…Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you like wheat.” (Sifting means to be shaken and separated like grain, but sudden trials in life that are so severe that you are literally shaken to the core.) …(TO BE CONTINUED)
(Adapted from Satan Desired to Sift You Like Wheat; all Scripture references are taken from the KJV unless otherwise noted.)