in the hands of the 'sifter'as he tries to overthrow your faith and God's Promise

[theBelovedDisciple]

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. Luke 22:31-32
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How many of you in your walk with Jesus Christ have gone thru this process?

One has to realize that satan cannot do this unless he is given permission do so....

and when looking at the Scritpure that it was Jesus' s Prayer.. even before it happened that allowed Peter to turn back.....

What is Tested in this process?

and why does God allow this to happen?

Does one come out stronger or weaker on the other side of the 'sifting'....

if you've gone thru this... did you 'know' you were going thru it?

What does Paul tell us to do in the midst of 'sifting'...

Finally, brethern, Be strong in the Lord and the Power of His Might.. PUt on the whole Armour of God.. that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.......

notice Paul says that first word..Finally..... after all is complete and You have Done what God has called you to do.. ye have to stand against the wiles of the devil...

satan is a ruthless creature.. bent on deception and tripping up.. ensnaring and trapping, going about like a roaring lion... seeking whom he can devour...

he despises and hates one that is Filled with Faith and moving forward in the Power of the Holy Ghost.., moving in the direction God has directed him/her...

Ever wonder why you Receive His Promise from the Word... things are moving Forward just as God has revealed them to you... thru His Word... then all of a sudden out of nowhere... this happens, that happens, hinderances, road blocks, big potholes, all these things coming out of the blue.. to work against what God has Promised you thru His Word and to get you to doubt His Word and Promise? like all these circumstances and things are saying to you.... hath God really said that and promised that? it's like circumstances are trying to chisel away at that Armour of Faith God has given you.. Faith in Him and Faith in His Word and Promise. if you've gone thru this you've probably been 'sifted' by satan...

this probably not everytime.. but a majority of the time it will be his doing... and from experience you will 'come out stronger' on the other End... is this confidence in yourself? no but in God Himself.. seeing His Faithfulness thru the whole ordeal...

I've been thru this numerous times and I'm sure there is more on the horizon and I will testify today that you will come out stronger.. and you will see how Soveriegn God really is.. You will see just How Much He loves you and Cares for you.. no matter what happens...

all this going on while your Eternal High Priest in in Heaven, Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is interceding on your behalf.. for You! as He sees you thru the sifting of Satan..

Be Strong in the LORD... and you will be Stronger on the other side, once its all done...

[notuptome]

Do you see this as similar to the chastening and scourging of Heb 12:6? Or is Heb 12:6 only for disobedient sons?

For the cause of Christ
Roger

[theBelovedDisciple]

Hi Roger,

sifting is not done because of disobedience..... it is a 'test' or a 'trial'.... of Faith..

look up that word in the Greek and see what it means... it means to sift, it means to riddle.. it means to agitate a person to point to where it where overthrows the person's faith....

a majority of the time.. its Satan who has noticed the child of God as he/she is walking in Power and Full of Faith.. he despises that.. and it infuriates him.. this is why he 'desires to have you'....and when he does.. allowing you to go thru sifting process.. and God allows Him.. other times He says 'no'..

sifting and the process..

its a part of the Refining Process that God does... for a Genuine Child of God...

He burns out the 'you'.. in you... it can be very humiliating at times.. as Peter experienced, but in it, God burns out the You.. showing and demonstrating His Love and allowing you to see How Soveriegn He is... the sifting will allow you to be dependent on Him 100% .. and it shows you just how weak you are and just how weak the flesh is... and thru this process.. you will 'realize' just how 'real your spiritual enemy is'.. and that he does really exist!

and James tells us when that happens... Rejoice!

these 'fiery trials' which are to try you... as Peter talks about..

satan just loves when a child of God thru oppression and affliction.. will think about or back down from what God has shown them... backing down in Faith.. and becoming 'fearful' even denying the LORD as Peter did............ he comes at the child of God.. and tries to overthrow and thwart the Plan of God for that individuals life... he may cause the person to trip up or have a moment of weakeness.. but God's Plan will come to pass... and they will return to Full Faith... why? because of what they were 'able to do on their own" out of their own power? No.. but Because Jesus Himself intercedes in Heaven for them.. His Mercy and Grace distributed in their lives... seeing them thru the process..
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Chastisement is done because ye are a son and not a bastard... its done because of disobedience...

He does this Because He loves His Own.. and thru it the Peaceable Fruits of Righteousness will be displayed...

I have been thru His Chastiement.. His Chastizing Hand.. early in my Christian Walk, I didn't realize why I went thru what I went thru.. but afterwards.. He showed me that He did it because He loved me...

and the Peaceable Fruits of Righteousness? they are yielded... early on in my Christian walk.. I got my eyes off of Him.. His Salvation, had become all about 'me'.... it was all about how I had gotten saved.. I took my Eyes off the Cross and what He had done for me there.. putting all the emphasis on myself and I also begain to run after and follow signs and wonders.. almost to the point of worshipping the ones who were 'displaying' them. which is a no no, in His Book.. this is Idolatry... and when the veil is pulled back you will see that 'devils' were there doing the false power signs and wonders...
He disciplined me and set me right back down at His Feet.. and at the Foot of the Cross..with the Message about Him... Christ Crucified... I still testify today of His Saving and delivering Power, for its His Testimony. not mine... the Testimony of Jesus Christ in my life.. and His Chastizement in my life was for my good.. and I see and understand that Today..

Salvation is About God.. and the merits of Salvation belong to Him and HIm alone

[Disciple101]

Yup. Basically saying , "Don't be a wuss and remain steadfast in the faith during times of suffering." "Be strong, be strong." I love them words!

[MoreMercy]

No weapon/tool devised or conceived will or can prosper against those who will walk in His Spirit to work in and with that Spirit working toward His will being done on the earth.


God bless.