THE TEST OF THE 3 SIEVES… THE ZIKLAG EXPERIENCE…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
THINK ABOUT ELEVATORS? THEY GO UP AND DOWN? IN THE PROCESS OF GROWTH WE MUST LEARN THE ZIGLAG EXPERIENCE… I HAVE NEVER KNOWN LIFE TO BE A STRAIGHT PROGRESSIVE LINE FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY.
THE NORMAL PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL PATTERNS OF LIFE ARE A BUMPY, CURVY AND TWISTED TRAIL. Our journey advances, then set backs? Laughter then tears? Dreams and failure? Win then lose? We hear of two steps forward and one step back?
GROWTH? GOD HAS A PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL …WHAT DO WE DO? WHAT DO WE THINK WHEN IT SEEMS EVERYTHING WE HAVE WORKED TO ACCOMPLISH IS DESTROYED?
The songs played on the hearts were something like SAUL HAS SLAIN HIS THOUSANDS… but the journey after the battle changed the song after GOLIATH. The new hit song went something like: SAUL HAS SLAIN HIS THOUSANDS, DAVID HAS SLAIN TEN THOUSANDS…
David knew the victory of killing the bear? The lion? Goliath? Victory after victory…
THE TEST OF TEARS… GROWTH TAKES A RARE TURN… NOW DAVID COMES HOME… SEVERAL MILES FROM ZIGLAG THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE ASCENDING HIGH INTO THE SKY… IT WAS MORE THAN THE DEFEAT OF BURNING THE MATERIAL THINGS… THEY LOST ALL THEIR FAMILIES.
1 Samuel 30:1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; 2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. 4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
MAYBE THE GREAT ELEVATOR EXPERIENCE --- CAN THIS TEST BE GOD?
THE LESSON OF ZIGLAG IS A NECESSARY STEP IN THE GROWTH OF FAITH AND TRUST… THE GREAT LEADER’S FAITH IS TESTED BY HOW HE FACES NEGATIVITY…
1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
BUCKLE YOUR SEAT BELT, DON’T BECOME RESENTFUL, BITTER, HURT AND OFFENDED… GRAB THE EPHOD… LET US CALL ON THE LORD… WE MUST NOT ALLOW OTHERS TO SAP THE LIFE’S BLOOD AS A LEECH DRAINING US… RUN TO GOD…
1 Samuel 30:8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
DAVID’S ELEVATOR RIDE WAS NOT A STUMBLING BLOCK, IT BECAME A STEPPING STONE INTO THE REALM OF FAITH AND TRUST… WHAT SEEMED TO BE THE BASEMENT WAS GOD REVEALING HIS PLAN AND PURPOSE.
1 Samuel 30:19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.
WE DEVELOP THINKING PATTERNS… WE MUST FIX OUR THOUGHTS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT WE THING ABOUT…
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. THE PRINCIPLE, THE STANDARD… CRITERIA: THINK ON THESE: *1. TRUE, 2. HONEST, 3. JUST, 4. PURE, 5. LOVELY, 6. GOOD REPORT, 7. VIRTUE, 8. PRAISE.
IN THE COURT ROOM WE ARE ASKED TO *1. TELL THE TRUTH *2. THE WHOLE TRUTH AND *3. NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
WE HAVE A TWO EDGED SWORD… Two edged sword? TEMPORAL vs. SPIRITUAL, something that has both good and bad parts. We can tend to do one of two things… WE CAN ELEVATE SELF… OR WE CAN EDIFY OTHERS. We live in a mean, hard and cruel world… but FAITH KNOWS THIS ZIKLAG EXPERIENCE CAN GROW AND STRETCH OUR FAITH TO BECOME MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD.
THEY SAID, KILL HIM --- OFFENDED HURT AND DYING?
IT TAKES THREE PEOPLE TO OFFEND AND HURT YOU. THE HURT CAN BE DEADLY. “THEY SAID!” THERE IS THE TEST OF THE THREE SIEVES…
THERE WAS A GREEK PHILOSOPHER FROM ATHENS, BEFORE CHRIST THIS MAN NAMED SOCRATES taught people by questions and answers. Socrates said: a life without tests and examination is not worth living. Socrates was known for his wisdom. Socrates had learned some people love to tell negative stuff on other people. Some love to tell the NEGATIVE SCOOP on others to PUT OTHERS DOWN AND EDIFY THEIR OWN IMAGE. They seem to mix ½ truths and distortions of the facts to feel better about themselves.
ONE DAY A FRIEND CAME TO THE WISE SOCRATES AND SAID: DO YOU KNOW WHAT “THEY SAID?” The man said: I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO OTHER PEOPLE AND GUESS WHAT I HEARD “THEM SAY” ABOUT YOUR FRIEND? …. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I JUST HEARD ABOUT YOUR FRIEND? “THEY SAID…”
SOCRATES SAID: BEFORE YOU TELL ME WHAT “THEY SAID”, I WOULD LIKE TO RUN THE THREE SIEVE TEST… The man said: WHAT ARE THE THREE SIEVE TESTS?
So Socrates began telling the first of the three sieves… BEFORE YOU MENTION WHAT “THEY SAID” IT IS GOOD TO FILTER WHAT YOU MEAN BY TELLING ME THIS…
1. *THE FIRST SIEVE IS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS IT THE TRUTH? Have you checked what “THEY SAID” out to see if WHAT “THEY SAID” IS TRUE? Is what you are saying “THEY SAID”: THE TRUTH? If they answer: NO! Do not listen to them.
2. *THE SECOND SIEVE IS WHAT “THEY SAID”… IS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO TELL ME “THEY SAID” KIND, NICE? Is what you are going to tell me good or bad? “THEY SAID”: SO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS WITH ME THE BAD THINGS “THEY SAID” EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOT SURE THE FACTS ARE TRUE. ARE THE STATEMENTS JUST PART TRUTH?
3. *THE THIRD TEST OF THE SIEVE IS WHAT SOCRATES CALLED UTILITY, BENEFICIAL, PROFITABLE, USEFUL … ARE THE FACTS THAT “THEY SAID” USEFUL TO KNOW ABOUT OUR FRIENDS?
SO SOCRATES CAME TO THE CONCLUSION: WHAT “THEY SAID” MAY OR MAY NOT BE TRUE. IT APPEARS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS NOT KIND, GOOD OR USEFUL. SO WHY DO YOU WANT TO TELL ME WHAT “THEY SAID”? WHAT “THEY SAID” MIGHT SEEM TO BE FUN TO SAY BUT IT WILL ALWAYS BRING POISON AND BITTERNESS. “THEY SAID” CAN HARM, HURT OR EVEN KILL PEOPLE BY BAD MOUTHING THEM… FULL OF DEADLY POISON.
CONCLUSION: THE LESSON OF ZIGLAG IS NOTHING IS AS BAD AS IT FIRST APPEARS. GOD CAN HANDLE THIS PROBLEM.
When your friends seem to turn on you, just seek God. Sometimes you will be blamed for things you never had anything to do with… sometimes we don’t handle this situation in the best way that we could have. SEEK THE LORD. THE THREE SIEVE RULE WORKS…
THINK ON THESE THINGS… 1. TRUE, 2. HONEST, 3. JUST, 4. PURE, 5. LOVELY, 6. GOOD REPORT, 7. VIRTUE, 8. PRAISE…
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
My friend we must trust by faith that this ZIGLAG, ELEVATOR EXPERIENCE WILL ACCOMPLISH THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH GOD HAS FOR US.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
