God sifts then shifts!

1. WHEN SIFTING COMES!
“‘Simon,Simon,behold,Satan demanded to haveyou,thathemightsiftyou like wheat,butI haveprayed foryou
thatyourfaithmay not fail. And when you haveturned again,strengthen yourbrothers.’Petersaid to him,‘Lord,I
amready to go withyou bothto prison and to death.’ Jesussaid,‘Itell you,Peter,the roosterwill notcrow thisday,
until you deny three times thatyou knowme.’” - Luke22:31-34 (ESV)
****There is a Word that God has setforme today!
o Are you goingthrougha seasonof sifting?
 The phrase “siftyou like wheat” is inreference toafarmerseparatingthe chaff fromthe wheat byshaking it
violentlyina sieve.
 In the verse thatwe read,that’s exactlywhat Satan wanted to do to Peter, and that’s exactlywhat he wants to
do to us: to separate us FROM GOD, FROM OUR FAITH - to shake us around so harshly thatwe letGo, Give Up,
Give In,and fall from fellowshipwithGod.
o He aimsus go tire us! He want us to become so TIRED! (whoamongstushere is tired?)
 JohnPiperexplainsitsowell:
o “We can imagine apicture like this:
 Satan has a big sieve withjagged-edgedwiresformingameshwith holesshapedlike faithlessmen
and women.
 What he aims todo is throw people intothis sieve andshake them aroundover these jagged
edges until theyare so torn and weakand desperate that they letgo of their faithand fall through
the sieve as faithlesspeople,rightintoSatan'scompany.
 FAITH cannotfall through themesh.It's the wrong shape.
 Andso as long as the disciplesholdto theirfaith, trusting the power and goodnessof God for their
hope,thentheywill notfall through the mesh into Satan'shands.
 Therefore the siftingofSimonPeterand the othersis Satan's effortto destroyour faith.
 Andthis remains Satan's main goal today.”
 We alreadyknowthe outcome of Peter’sstory;he did indeeddenyknowingJesus,andhe didindeedhave his
faith shaken.
 Let’stalkabout Peter:
o Fisherman,the oldself ,the – (Simon)
- Rash, Vacillating, Undependable And Outspoken—with a habit of saying words without thinking.
- He is often referred to as the apostle with the foot-shaped mouth.
- Makes great promises he couldn’t follow through with.
- He was one of those people who appears to grave wholeheartedly into something but then bails out before finishing.
- He was usually the first one in; and too often, he was the first one out.
- Simon means: the natural man—his work, his home, or his family life.
- When the Bible mentions – Simon, it is referring to the unregenerate self.
E.g.
Fishing all night - In Luke 5:5, for example, Luke writes, “Simon answered and said, ‘Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing,
but Iwill do as You say and let down the nets.’” That is young Simon the fisherman speaking. He is skeptical and reluctant.
But as he obeys and his eyes are opened to who Jesus really is, Luke begins to refer to him by his new name. Verse 8 says, “When Simon
Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, ‘Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!’”
Disciple –Peter(The Rock)
If He calledhimSimon,He wassignalinghimthathe was actinglike hisoldself.If He calledhimRock,He was
commendinghimforactingthe wayhe oughtto be acting.
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they
said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I
am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessedare you, Simon Bar-Jonah!
For fleshand blood has not revealedthis to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[a]
I will build my
church, and the gates of hell[b]
shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[c]
in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one
that he was the Christ.- Matthew 16:13-20

2. ***Like Peter thishas been the ordeals ofChristians- we forgetthe callingthat we have from God, our newnature,
our new identity, and live the old self – the defeated, inbondage,carnal, self-willedBUTGodwant us to take on to
our CHRIST IDENTITY, victorius,overcomer, conqueror
- TWO-FACED/ BIPOLAR
That is why inour passage – Peterwas toldby Jesusthat he needsto undergosifting.
*** “Simon,Simon,Satan has asked…(NIV)
*** “Satan demandedto haveyou..(ESV)
*** Satan hathdesired to haveyou (KJV)
Say : “Satan desires to have you.” – But God’sgotyou!
 However,the amazingpartof thispassage is that Jesusalready knewwhat was going on,and that He had
prayed for Peter’sfaith to not fail.
 Thenhe tellsPeter, “whenyouhaveturned again, STRENGTHENYOUR BROTHERS.”
 Jesususedthe word “when”, not“if”!
 He knew andhad specifically prayedthat the siftingPeterwas about to experience wouldultimately
strengthenhis faith,and He wantedPeter to grow to the point of beingable to helpothers who neededtobe
strengthenedintheirfaith.
 Anotherinterestingnote isthat Satan asked or demandedto have Peterhanded overto him,and God handed
him overas asked.
 I’msure you’ve learnedthat Satan attacks believersfromtime to time,and I’msure you’ve learnedthat God
allowsit.
 But didyouknowthat sometimes,God essentiallyhandsus overto Satan for a season oftesting, trials,and
temptations?
 To be clear:I am NOT sayingGod “hands us over” as in, we lose our salvation andare no longer His childrenor
out of His care or control.
o He isin total control the entire time andkeepsa watchful eye on us as He allowsthe enemyto attack
and givesHis permissionforcertain trials and hardshipsto come our way.
 While it’salmost impossible tobelieve thatour lovingFather would“hand us over” to the enemyand allow
Satan to try hisbest to “siftus like wheat,” if we study Scripture,and if we heartestimoniesofChristian
leaders,it’sTRUE.
 God oftensends Hisservants through a season of BEING SIFTED before He is able to use them(more,or use
themagain) and He alwaysusesthose siftingseasonsfor His glory,for our growth, for promotions,for
realignment,andas a testimonyto others.
 Before Godcan shift you,God has to siftyou!
 Godmust siftbefore he shifts
WHAT IS GOD SIFTING?
 The Lord is siftingmanyareasfromour spirit, families,jobs,andmore tobringyou intoalignment.
 He is siftingout all that is hinderingus from movingin His purposesand plans.
 God isremoving impuritiesfromourheartsand familiesand repositioningus.
 Old habits and mindsets will needto layonthe threshingfloortoalignwithwhatGod isdoing.
 It’stime to let go of oldthings and grab hold of the new beginning.
HOW ARE WE SIFTED?
 Let’sviewa typical timeline ofeventsthat lead up to a season ofsiftingfrom differentperspectives:
1. from Satan’s perspective:
 He seesGod’spotential inus.
 He sensesGod’sgettingready to use us and take us to a higherlevel ofservice.
 He begins toviewus as a major threat and wants to do anything he can to stop us.

3.  He asksGod for a chance to “sift”us: to temptus away fromGod and Hispurpose forus.
 He “givesitall he’sgot.”
 He watchesforour response.
2. from God’sperspective:
 He knowsthe plansHe has for us. (Jer.29:11)
 He knowsHe’s alreadydefeatedSatan.
 He knowsHe’s alreadylinedupournextseason.
 He knowswe must be preparedforthat nextseason.
 He handsus overto the enemyfora time of strengthening.
 He waitsforour response.*
 (*It’simportantto note He already knowswhatourresponsewill be.)
3. from our perspective:
 “Everything is going great.Life is good.God is good.”
 “Hmm, I sense somethinghappeningbutI’mnotsure what.”
 *attack*
 “Wow where didthatcome from?!”
 *attack*
 “Whyyyy????”
 *attack*
 “What am I gonna do?!?!?!”
 *attack*
 At thispoint,we respondinone of twoways:
Response NumberOne:
 Fear
 Anxiety
 Doubt
 Struggling
 More Fear
 More Anxiety
 More Doubt
 More Struggling
 *engagesinwarfare*
 *getsknockeddown*
 *triesagain*
 *getsknockeddownagain*
 Must decide atthispoint:“Will I give up?Will Igive in?”
Response NumberTwo:
 Decidesfirst:“Iwon’tgive up(onGod).I won’tgive in(to Satan).”
 Surrender(toGod: “I can’t,but You can.”)
 Rest(inHis finishedwork)
 Peace (inknowingHe’sincontrol)
 Trust (He’salreadywonthe victory)
 *repeatsabove stepsasnecessary*
 *restsin God’svictory*
 *letsGod handle everythingelse*

4.  Response NumberOne istrying to live for God.
 Response NumberTwo istraining to live for God.
 You’re probablythinking,“Ummm SisMyles,I’ve heardall of thisbefore.”
o I had too. It’stotallydifferent hearingit and livingit.
 As strong as I was in my faith,as much as I’d studiedspiritual warfare andbeen underspiritual warfare before,
the pandemicseasonwas a whole new level,andas I was having to walk through beingsiftedlast year, I
foundmyself fallingbackon Response NumberOne manymore timesthan I care to admit.
 Andyou knowwhat? You will too. We’re human.
 Our natural inclinationistotry.Try harder.Try longer.Try better.Keep trying.
 “I cando it. I can make it. I can holdout. I can beat this.”
 But we can’t, can we?
o That’s why He wants to train us to live for His glory.
o So that the nexttime we have to walk through an attack or a siftingseason,we’ll know betterhowto
handle it thanks to His training the first time around.
 (Hint:We “handle it” by givingit to Him andlettingHim handle it.)
WHAT SHOULD WE DO IF WE’RE BEING SIFTED?
 SHARE & TESTIMONY OF THE TRYING TIMES-
What didI realize?
 My role isto trustHim.
 His role isto be my Shelter,Provider,Healer,WhateverINeed.
 If there isany here whoisintheir SiftingSeason, learnthe lessonsGod’stryingtoteachyou
 I can tell youfromexperience,the lessonsgetmore intense eachtime.
 I alsoencourage youto keepclingingtoHimbecause…
o Satan may be in the siftingbusiness,but Godis in the sustainingbusiness.
o If you’re being sifted,shaken around,tempted to giveup,holdon to your faith in Him.
So what shouldwe do ifwe’re beingsifted?
1. Stay close,clingto Him,and pray aboutanythingandeverything (1 Thess.5:17).
 Don’tallow yoursiftingtocut off your communication withHim!
 That’s the firstthingthe enemyhopesfor,thatwe’ll stoptalkingwithourFather,sodon’tgive Satan a foothold
by not praying.
 Alsoprayfor otherswhoare beingsifted,andaskotherstopray for youas well.
 Satan wants us to feel isolated andalone inour suffering,soby reachingout to others,we’re activelyrejecting
the lie thatwe’re the only onesbeingsifted or that no one cares about us.
 God can make some amazingconnectionsandrevelations throughourbrothersandsistersinChrist if we just
allowHimthe opportunity tounite our hearts in prayer!
 Andremember, SiftingSeasonsAreMeant To Be StrengtheningSeasons.
o While the enemy usesthemto try to Separate Us From Our Faith,God uses themTo Separate Us From
Our Fears.
o He usesthem to strengthenus, to refine us,and to purify us.
2. So ifyou’re being sifted, allowit.
o I don’tmean allow fear and panic, I meanallowthe Lord to strengthenyou.
o Surrenderto Him right away, give it overto Him,tell Himit’stoo big/scary/hardforyouto handle and
that youneedHimto handle itfor you.
o Clingto Him.
o Spend more time withHim than you usuallydo, and especiallyspendmore timethanusual worshiping
Him,praisingHim,andthankingHim.
o Look forwaysto be grateful,lookforwaysHe’sworkinginyoursituation,andthankHimforHis care.

5. o AskHim to helpyousee thingsthroughHisperspective,andtell HimyouwantHimto trainyou - you’re
willingtolearnwhatHe wantsto teach you.
3. I alsorecommend spendingtime readingScripture (Joshuaandthe Psalmsare greatfor SiftingSeasons!),
and alsoprayingScripture backto God (again,Psalmsisa greatplace to start).
4. Don’t run, don’t hide,don’t panic - allow Himtodo the work foryou, withinyou,andthroughyou,andI
promise you’ll come outonthe otherside asa changedperson. AskPeter…
o “So betruly glad.There is wonderfuljoy ahead,even though you mustenduremany trialsfora little
while. These trials will showthatyourfaith is genuine.It is being tested asfire tests and purifiesgold—
though yourfaithisfar moreprecious than meregold…” - 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)
 Have you beenthrougha SiftingSeason?
 Do youfeel confusedaboutseeminglyunansweredprayer(s) toseeminglyunendinghardship(s) inyourlife?
 Doesit feel as thoughyourheartis beingrippedapartas yourlife isseverelyshakenbyunwanted
circumstances?
 Is sindefeatingyoutothe pointwhere youdoubtwhetherGodcan, or wouldwantto,use youanymore?
 Has lonelinessorrejectiontemptedyoutowonderif Godhas forgottenorrejectedyoutoo?
