Storms Pt. 3
Luke 22:31-32
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.
And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
“Sifting Wheat”
The first step is to loosen the grain from the chaff, husks & straw
This is done by beating or threshing the wheat on a stone floor
The next step is to separate the chaff from the grain
This is done by winnowing, or violently shaking the wheat
We understand this process related to wheat – Jesus applies this process to us
Satan has “Demanded” to test us – ex. Job
The one who comes to steal, kill & destroy, has a plan to destroy you
· Beat You Down
o Make you feel victimized – “Why me?”
· Shake You Until You Come Apart
o Feel the pain of loss
· Make You Question Yourself & Question God
Fascinating thing about this is that Satan is granted permission
Jesus make no effort to prevent this sifting
Job 16:7a, 12
Now He has worn me out;
12 I was at ease, but He has shattered me;
He also has taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces;
He has set me up for His target.
Knowing that we are a target can cause us to fall into fear
How do we act when we’re scared?
Fear & Doubt put a breach in your relationship with God
Without faith it’s impossible to please Him – Heb 11:6
Jesus only commits to do one thing:
32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.
How do I have faith… ?
When God is allowing things to fail
When God is not stopping the storm from beating me up
When He sees me struggling & just walks by
When He’s letting this happen to me – “What did I do?”
We think that faith is about believing God for something & He has to do it
We think faith is about control
Faith is not about control: Faith is about trust & obedience
Faith is not measured by if God does something for you
Faith is measured when God is not doing anything for you
Dan 3:17-18
If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us
from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods,
nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
How do I have “But if not” Faith”?
Heb 11:6… Faith makes me please Him, not Him please me
If God does not stop the storm… I still Believe God
If God does not save the ship I’m in… I still Believe God
If God does not stop my loss… I still Believe God
How do I get to this place?
The measure of the Word in your heart produces this measure of faith
I’m going to be beaten
I’m going to be shaken
I’m going to experience loss
Let the Process Work
God allows this process
Who gave the Permission?
God takes what Satan uses to destroy you
· Storms
· Being Beaten & Tossed
· Violent Shaking
God makes it part of His Process to make you His Best
He allows the loss & even failure
Some things God doesn’t care about preserving
His only assurance is that “Your faith will not completely fail”
Faith doesn’t always stop the storms on the outside
But it always calms the storms on the inside
God is working to get to your Substance
We can either feel victimized by the storm, or Victorious in the storm
After everything that storms & sifting does to you…
Jesus says, I already have plans for your recovery
“When you are converted…” – or have returned
You are not disqualified because of any loss or failure
You become qualified & responsible
· Strengthen your Brother
· Feed my sheep – John 21:15