Sifted As Wheat Luke 22:24-34

5/19/2019 am John 12:23 – “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Randy Bowles

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” - Luke 22:31-32

Warning from Jesus Satan had demanded to have all for sifting 5/19/2019 am Warning from Jesus Satan had demanded to have all for sifting “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” - Luke 22:31-32 Randy Bowles 5 5 5 5 5 5

Warning from Jesus Satan had demanded to have all for sifting 5/19/2019 am Warning from Jesus Satan had demanded to have all for sifting Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” - Job 1:9-11 Randy Bowles 6 6 6 6 6 6

Warning from Jesus Satan had demanded to have all for sifting 5/19/2019 am Warning from Jesus Satan had demanded to have all for sifting Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” - Job 2:4-5 Randy Bowles 7 7 7 7 7 7

Warning from Jesus Satan had demanded to have all for sifting 5/19/2019 am Warning from Jesus Satan had demanded to have all for sifting But Jesus had already prayed for Peter Jesus knew of the coming test and its outcome He addressed it in advance “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” - Luke 22:31-32 He needed Peter to strengthen his brothers Randy Bowles 8 8 8 8 8 8

Sifting Threshing and sifting are violent actions 5/19/2019 am Sifting of flour. Randy Bowles 9 9 9 9 9 9

Sifting Threshing and sifting are violent actions 5/19/2019 am Randy Bowles 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Sifting Threshing and sifting are violent actions 5/19/2019 am Sifting Threshing and sifting are violent actions Testing of our faith is not pleasant, either May be as simple as having to choose between God and … Self Family “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” – Matthew 16:24 “We know that our old self (man) was crucified with Him…” – Romans 6:6; “I am crucified with Christ…” – Galatians 2:20 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. - Luke 14:26 Randy Bowles 11 11 11 11 11 11

Sifting Threshing and sifting are violent actions 5/19/2019 am Sifting Threshing and sifting are violent actions Testing of our faith is not pleasant, either May be as simple as having to choose between God and … Self Family Brethren So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple. - Luke 14:33 Randy Bowles 12 12 12 12 12 12

Sifting Threshing and sifting are violent actions 5/19/2019 am Sifting Threshing and sifting are violent actions Testing of our faith is not pleasant, either May be as simple as having to choose between God and … Self Family Brethren Being costly – that is the point of Luke 14; Many in the 1st century died or watched loved ones killed horribly rather than renounce truth. Taking a stand for truth can be costly It can happen suddenly and without warning Randy Bowles 13 13 13 13 13 13

5/19/2019 am Benefits of Sifting Although not pleasant, “sifting” reminds us that we are pilgrims and sojourners It removes useless and detrimental facets (chaff) It refocuses our priorities Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. - James 1:2-3 Randy Bowles 14 14 14 14 14 14

5/19/2019 am Benefits of Sifting Although not pleasant, “sifting” reminds us that we are pilgrims and sojourners Because of his experience at being sifted, Peter was a more useful servant or, Simon would not have been the Peter that he became without the sieve and the discipline Randy Bowles 15 15 15 15 15 15

5/19/2019 am Benefits of Sifting Although not pleasant, “sifting” reminds us that we are pilgrims and sojourners Because of his experience at being sifted, Peter was a more useful servant He knew first-hand the power of Satan But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?” - Acts 5:3 Randy Bowles 16 16 16 16 16 16

5/19/2019 am Benefits of Sifting Although not pleasant, “sifting” reminds us that we are pilgrims and sojourners Because of his experience at being sifted, Peter was a more useful servant He knew first-hand the power of Satan Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. - I Peter 5:8-9 Randy Bowles 17 17 17 17 17 17

5/19/2019 am Benefits of Sifting Although not pleasant, “sifting” reminds us that we are pilgrims and sojourners Because of his experience at being sifted, Peter was a more useful servant He knew first-hand the power of Satan He knew about suffering from being sifted That it would come (I Peter 4:12) That we should not be troubled by it (I Peter 3:14) That we should wait patiently (I Peter 2:21, 23) That it would be worth it (I Peter 1:7) Randy Bowles 18 18 18 18 18 18

5/19/2019 am Benefits of Sifting Although not pleasant, “sifting” reminds us that we are pilgrims and sojourners Because of his experience at being sifted, Peter was a more useful servant We, too, become more useful after “sifting” When challenged to teach the lost Older women should train the younger (Titus 2:3-4); Fathers are to discipline and instruct their children (Ephesians 6:4) When challenged to defend the truth When challenged to fulfill scriptural teaching obligations Randy Bowles 19 19 19 19 19 19

Conclusions Jesus saw Satan as a real entity 5/19/2019 am Jesus saw Satan as a real entity We need to see that we have value to both God and Satan Instead of praying for lighter loads, we need to pray for stronger shoulders Randy Bowles 20 20 20 20 20 20