The Sifting Of The Saints

Illus: Some of the older women in this congregation can remember when years ago they had a “sifter” in their kitchen. This was something they could hold with one hand, and use the other hand to turn a handle that rotated a wire wheel inside the sifter basket. As they prepared a meal for their family, they would pour the flour into the sifter. Once it was there, they would sift the flour through the small mesh wire at the bottom of the sifter. They then would take the fine, sifted flour and use it to bake biscuits for their family.

Notice, in our text the Lord told Peter that Satan desired to sift him as wheat. Perhaps in today’s language we would say, “Satan desires to rough you up!” Let’s look at this passage that talks about Christians being sifted. (Roughed-up)

As we begin, notice that Satan does the sifting. Let’s look at Satan’s desires -

I. SATAN’S INTENT

Look, at verse 31, we read, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath DESIRED TO HAVE YOU, that he may sift you as wheat.”

We need to look at THREE words in this verse of scripture to fully appreciate what the Lord is saying.

(1) LOOK AT THE WORD “YOU”

The word “you” in the Greek is plural. That is, Satan not only wanted to sift Simon Peter, but he wants to sift every child of God. I can assure you that if you are a child of God, the Bible teaches that Satan desires to give you a good “shaking!”

(2) LOOK AT THE WORD “DESIRED”

This is the Greek word “exaiteomai” (pronounced as ex-ahee-teh'-om-ahee) which means TO ASK FOR PERMISSION. That is, Satan is begging God for permission to sift Peter as a farmer would sift wheat. Some do not know this, but Satan can only do what God allows him to do.

Illus: Before Job could be “sifted,” the Book of Job reveals that Satan appeared before God asking permission to “sift” him.

Listen, God almighty is supreme ruler of this universe. And He makes the final decision on EVERYTHING! Anything that takes place in this universe is because God:

• ALLOWED IT

• CAUSED IT

We looked at the word “You,” and the word “Desired,” but let’s look at the third word-

(3) LOOK AT THE WORD “SIFT”

The Lord told Peter that Satan desired to “sift” him as wheat.

In order for us to understand what the Lord is talking about in this verse of scripture, we have to know something about the sifting of wheat.

Illus: In Peter’s time, the farmers would often build their barns on the top of mountains so they could take advantage of the up-draft winds. They would take their wheat into their hands and toss it up into the air. The blowing wind would blow away the unwanted chaff on the wheat, and only the wheat kernels (which were heavier) would remain.

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW US TO BE SIFTED? Because there are things in our lives that God is not pleased with. God allows us to be “sifted” so only the good will remain.

Every time we are sifted, God allows it for our good, but Satan sifts us for a different reason.

Illus: Remember when Joseph had to go through that difficult time in the Old Testament with his brothers in Genesis 37. They actually took the clothes off his back and threw him into a pit. Everything they did to him THEY DID FOR A BAD REASON, but the fact is, everything they did was USED BY GOD FOR GOOD!

The word “sift” means to shake. There are times in our life when God allows us to be shaken. And you can rest assured that during those times, Satan always is more than glad to accommodate God in this “sifting” process.

WHY IS IT THAT SATAN IS ALWAYS WILLING TO ACCOMMODATE GOD DURING SUCH TIMES?

• SATAN HATES AND DESPISES GOD

• THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT GOD THAT HE LIKES

• ONCE, IN HEAVEN, HE TRIED TO OVERTHROW GOD

• HE WILL DO ANYTHING HE CAN TO BREAK THE HEART OF GOD

This is where we come into the picture. Satan knows that God loves us so much that He gave His son to die on the cross for our sins.

Satan’s primary purpose in all “temptations” is to break the heart of God. IT ACTUALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH US PERSONALLY. He would not give you a second thought except for the fact that he knows how much God loves you. HE KNOWS THAT BEFORE HE CAN HURT GOD, HE MUST FIRST HURT US! But before he can tempt us and try to make us fall, he must first ask permission from God.