Sift You As Wheat
Luke 22:28-32 nkjv Easter Moring 28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” 31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
❓Who are you❓
💥The resurrection changed everything for the believer.
➤ From these verses, Jesus gives us a glimpse of the dynamics that would change for those who believe, as a result of His death, burial, and resurrection.
Dynamics:
1. Satan desires to have us! He desires to change us into being someone that God doesn’t want us to be. v31) 31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you,
A. Take us away from God. The plans God has for our life.
B. There is a difference between the life of those who have God and those who don’t.
1. A definite difference in the way someone who belongs to Satan lives and the way someone who belongs to God lives.
➤ Peter could have easily become someone he wasn’t meant to be, and never know it!
2. Sift us as wheat. v31),, that he may sift you as wheat. Sifting involved the process of using wind to separate good grain from useless chaff.
A. "Sifting" was violent, rough, and testing. So when Jesus said this, He meant: Satan wanted to shake Peter violently through trials to:
1. Prevent Peter from bearing the fruit that it was God’s purpose for him to bear! What’s so important?
Matthew 3:10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
3. Destroy our faith! v32) 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail;
>. What is so important about faith? Without faith, it is impossible to please God! People can have a life without godly faith.
A. But we can’t be pleasing to God. Hebrews 11:6) And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
B. Never know what it is to walk in the Spirit with God. 2 Corinthians 5:7) For we walk by faith, not by sight.
C. Can’t be saved! For we are saved by grace through FAITH! This is why Satan desires to have us and destroy our faith.
4. Destroy our purpose. v32) and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
A. As a converted soul, God gave Peter a different purpose for life.
1. Strengthen the brethren.
2. Fisher of men. vMatthew 4:19) Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
3. Feed His sheep! vJohn 21:17) Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
4. He was to become the apostle to the Jews. vGalatians 2:8) (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles)
💥 What does the resurrection teach us about our new dynamics as believers?
I. We can’t do it alone! v32) 32 But I have prayed for you,A. We need Jesus !B. We need to be converted. BELONG TO HIM!
- The world tries to define us by success, failure, or opinions—but Jesus reveals who we truly are: loved, chosen and redeemed.
- In weakness, hardship and trials, Jesus gives strength beyond our own ability.
II. We need His prayer! v32) 32 But I have prayed for you,A. We need the power and prayer of the Jesus through the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. vRomans 8:34) Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. B. We need the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26) Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
III. Embrace our purpose:v32) and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
- Helping others.
- Find our purpose in how to strengthen others for Christ.
- ⭐ Many people wait for perfect clarity before stepping forward, but purpose becomes clearer as you move. Small steps of obedience often reveal the bigger picture.
- Mistakes, failures and setbacks don’t cancel your purpose—they often prepare you for it.
IV. We need to live by faith!v32) The resurrection power of God to humanity. that your faith should not fail
👉 ****) “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
👉 ****) “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”
👉 ****) It is hearing the personal Word of God spoken to you and obeying it!!!
⭐ We won’t always have all the answers. Living by faith means moving forward anyway, trusting that clarity will come as you go— (2 Corinthians 5:7), walking by faith rather than sight.
- Faith doesn’t remove challenges, but it changes how you face them.
- A big part of faith is letting go of the need to control everything.
Who are you?
The one who knows who they are is the one:
A Who belongs to Christ
B Bears fruit for God
C Lives by faith!
