SIFTED

Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.”

Daniel Morgan commanded a unit called Morgan’s Raiders during the Revolutionary War. He was on the colonist’s side. It was his strategy that led to the turning point in the war at the Battle of Saratoga. Morgan told his riflemen, “Forget the poor fellows who fight for six pence a day. Concentrate your fire on the officers. In fact, try your best to hit their epaulets that officers wear on their shoulders.” As a result of Morgan’s orders, British General Burgoine’s officer ranks were so depleted that he surrendered at Saratoga.

Morgan’s strategy is still the way to win a battle. When Jesus walked the earth, he knew all too well the fierceness of Satan’s power—that he comes with every weapon in hell to sift the Lord’s people. He has been doing this from ancient times, when Job was severely put to the test. There is a great conflict right now that exists in the spirit realm. Satan is determined to destroy all believer’s faith who have fixed their hungering hearts firmly on going all the way with Jesus. You see, when we make the decision to follow Christ in total obedience, an alarm goes off in hell. We become a threat to the kingdom of darkness and a prime target of demonic forces.

“Simon, Simon, Jesus says, Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat.” Here the Lord introduces the subject of sifting saints. In his day, grain workers used a sieve just before they sacked grain. They shoveled wheat into a square box covered with netting, then turned the box upside down and shook it violently. The grit and dirt fell through the netting until only the grain kernels remained. So then, “sift” in this verse means “to be turned upside down, shaken and separated–to be shocked through the agitation of sudden trials.” These trials can take many forms—sickness, death of a loved one, loss of reputation, financial disaster, loss of employment, broken relationships, etc. The whole purpose of this sifting is that we would turn from our faith. Jesus used this analogy to say to Peter, “Satan believes you’re nothing but grit and dirt and that when he puts you in the sieve and shakes you, you will fall through to the ground.”

When Peter was sifted, he failed miserably. But it was not a lasting or permanent kind of failure. After his denial Luke tell us that “he went out and wept bitterly” Just because someone fails, it does not make him a failure. What does make a person a failure? Is it not his decision to give up? I picture Peter walking toward the Judean hills, falling on his face, crying out to the Lord for forgiveness. He’s at the lowest point of his life. Ashamed of his denial, especially in light of the fact that he was a leader among the disciples. But then something wonderful happened. The Holy Spirit brought to Peter’s memory the words of his Master: “I have prayed for you.” They brought hope and comfort to his soul.

Take heart. Times of trouble will come. Satan will work to sift us as wheat. One day soon, the sifting process will end. Satan will have done his worst but our advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ, will win this battle for you and me.