Alright, I’ve decided that three parts should be enough to wrap this thing up. But, if you’re just joining us, then click here and then here for the first two parts of this series—that should get you up to speed.
The Word, “Sift” is translated from the Greek word siniazo. It means “to sift, shake in a sieve; fig. by inward agitation to try one’s faith to the verge of overthrow.”
Wow! When you put it that way—sign me up!
Seriously, who in their right mind would want to go through that?! No one, that’s who. But Jesus didn’t stop Peter from going through the sifting process when He mentioned to Peter that “Satan has requested permission to ‘sift’ you, but I have prayed for you…” BTW, I love the fact that Satan has to get permission from God—you’d think he’d start to pick up on the futility of his take over plans when he can’t even go to the bathroom without permission!
Alas, that’s another blog series for another day.
Back to the sifting that Jesus allowed. What if Jesus had the mentality many in the church have today? He would then have suggested they pray and “bind the attack of the evil one…”We are not going to listen to the devil! We will not allow him to do this to our beloved Peter. In the name of, well, me, I command you to…”
You get the idea.
Instead, Jesus said this in Luke 22:32,
But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.
“Returned to me?” I don’t like that very much. If Jesus gets a heads up on me drifting I want Him to step in and do a preemptive dance on Satan’s head! I don’t want to wander away from my Savior—ever—for even 5 seconds…but I have. Sadly, at times I’ve gone my own way. And you have too.
Lisa Bevere (wife of John Bevere, who wrote, “The Bait of Satan) says the following about the sifting process:
Five clear purposes for shaking an object:
Is it just me or are those some pretty desirable outcomes for Christ followers?
I’m glad that Jesus did not pray that Peter would escape this intense shaking (sifting) to the point of overthrow. He prayed that his faith would not fail in the process. Jesus knew that out of this trial, out of the pain and hardship, rebellion and failure—Peter would emerge more like Christ.
And isn’t that the end game for us all?