"Sifting"

As we go through this life we will have two types of sifting take place on one hand we will have a sifting that God does that reveals and removes areas of our life that do not line up to His divine purpose for our lives. And on the other we will look at the kind of sifting that Satan does trying to make us turn from an all loving Father. To start off lets look at and talk about Godly sifting.

Hebrews 12:26-29 speaks of God shaking not only earth but the heavens so that the only things that remain are the things that are unshakable. When you sift wheat a process is done, you shake the wheat so hard that it destroys the outer shell leaving only the flour that is inside. Look at it through Spiritual eyes, when God shakes the life of a believer it reveals and removes the things that do not belong, some people call it softening of the heart, others tilling of the soul.There are many ways to describe it however the end purpose yields the same result.Just as gold is melted down so that the impurities may be removed we can go through a sifting that will remove and reveal the sin we've buried in our lives.Things we may think have been dealt with but have really just been covered up. In an early chapter I spoke of emotional surgery, this is the same idea here.When you have past hurts in your life and bury them it can take root causing anger,hate,jealousy and many other things to take root in your life. God wants to remove these aspects so that He can give a complete healing through and through. God is not in the business of half way doing a job, when He starts a work in us He wants to complete it! Just as James 1:2-4 tells us we must allow patience to have its perfect work so that we may be made complete lacking nothing. When you stay under the pressure of the trial your going through and seek God until it has passed, just as a diamond is made from extreme heat and pressure thats put on coal we too will come out just as beautiful but with far more worth! If you bail out on the Lord at this time then all you'll succeed in doing is letting Satan win that fight and you'll eventually have to start the process all over, or just keep running. I can remember telling DR. Finch when he asked me when I'd like to start this process of emotional surgery my reply was "Theres no time like the present itll have to be done sooner or later so i'd rather sooner." So now we have a pretty good idea of how sifting can be a truly awesome thing in our life, it'll draw you closer to the Lord and itll build a strong foundation in your relationship with Him.

Now lets look at how Satan wishes to sift you and how He wishes you to react.
Luke 22:31-32

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."

Looking at this verse we see a common theme with the following

Job 1:8-12 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Before Satan was allowed to do anything He first had to get permission from God. The Lord wishes these trials to bring you close to Him, in fact to help you along in these times He pours out His strength through the Holy spirit!

Also notice what Jesus said in Luke, He says "Satan has asked to sift you." Now today when believers are under attack from Satan we set out in prayer to bind Satan and rebuke him. Notice that isnt Christ's response? He allows it and even tells Peter that He is praying for his faith to remain. Then even gives us a glimpse that Peter will return to strengthen the rest of the Disciples.

I would encourage you to take the route of trusting in the Lord just as Job did.It's not an easy walk however the Lord will carry you through it. And when you have overcome you will be so much stronger in the Lord for as these trials are thrown at you by Satan and we allow God to guide our life, such amazing revelations are made that will show you a side of Gods love for you that you would not see otherwise!

I know for me the answer was an easy one, I had no other defense against what had been thrown at me. I can remember breaking down the day that I was told my children had been murdered and remember the day I was given all the grim details about how my son Caleb who was only 5 years old had been tortured before the house was set on fire. It was an overload of emotions. I could either trust God or completely self destruct! I chose the Lord and what a choice it has been. The understanding of the Love the Lord has for me has been such an amazing thing in my life. I have a greater appreciation for the sacrifice Christ made for me, and a better relationship with Him with Him because of the submission that has taken place in this life. A submission that has taking me into new territory! The next few chapter we'll be looking at the ministry that the Lord has laid on this heart and also looking into the deeper relationship that has come out of the chaos that in-sued in this life. When we are going through trials or suffering all we can see is the Chaos that is happening but when you look at the Lord and dont focus on the circumstances you will begin to see the plan! Just like at the cross God makes a plan out of the attack Satan throws your way!
Also be sure to be equiped for battle, just because your not going through a trial right now, I assure you one is on its way! If you have not yet read Ephesians 6:10-17 Please do that now and pray that the Lord will equip you with His armor, otherwise you'll be caught unprepared just as I was.