The Sifting Process...

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Lk 22:31–32.

This fragment of the conversation at the supper-table is important, as showing us the view taken by Jesus of the crisis through which His disciples were about to pass. In form an address to Peter, it is really a word in season to all, and concerning all. This is evident from the use of the plural pronoun in addressing the disciple directly spoken to. 'Satan,' says Jesus, hath desired to have (not thee, but) you: thee, Simon, and also all thy brethren along with thee." The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pp. 471.

The "brethren" here is not the disciples, but all who will believe. These disciples were not going to be excluded from the brotherhood who were to be benefited by Peter's experience, but would benefit from his experience in the future just as we will when the sifting process begins. 

Satan's desire was to create a sifting process in the heart of the disciples. He had already sifted one from the group (Judas) and was hoping to sift the rest so they would be exposed as "chaff." To sift them and make them unfruitful could kill the gospel in its infancy (at least in Satan's mind)! But even before this time, Satan had already began the sifting process in others who heard Jesus voice;

"As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore." John 6:66 (NASB)

In the beginning, minor crisis' brought on a separation of the wheat from the chaff. These were the fickle multitude. In a major crisis, Bruce says, "the separation is not between man to man, but to the good and the bad, the precious and the vile, in the same man (pp. 472). " 

In the hearts of men and women, the sifting process is occurring even today. Each one of us being sifted and what remains hopefully is the wheat, not the chaff. I often think about what sifting reveals our wheat or chaff; but the more I think about it the more I wonder how great is the event that determines the wheat or chaff! Is our real person (wheat or chaff) revealed in a minor crisis? When I say this I'm saying "does a minor event reveal chaff in our lives or wheat?" Sure we may withstand a small testing and look good. But what would a major event determine our fruit to look like? And then when it does is the result chaff?

You see, the disciples were getting ready to face some of the toughest times they had ever faced, Jesus was about to be taken from them; the One they depended upon for everything. Then what they were made of would truly be revealed. What will they do when it happens?

Tune in next week to see the results of their "sifting!"

The Scattering of the Sheep: Part 2

"So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way," New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 18:4–8.

This He did not merely out of compassion for them, but as the Captain of salvation making the best terms for Himself and for the interests of His Kingdom; for it was not less necessary to these that the disciples should live than the He Himself should die. He gave Himself up to death, that there might be a gospel to preach; He desired the safety of His disciples. that there might be men to preach it." The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pp. 467.

Have you ever considered this thought. Most of us always think that part of Jesus death was to be able to tell of his blood redemption for us, but have we considered the second half of what Bruce stated? We all know that Jesus had to die for us, but have we ever considered that if there was not one left of the disciples, there would be no one to share what Jesus did for us? 

Now we are beginning to understand why Jesus was frustrated with the disciples misunderstanding in their statement that they would be willing to die for Him, when they weren't. Their problem was "faith" in trusting Jesus through the hours to come. They didn't believe all this would end well for them and Jesus, and worse off they doubted the ability of God to provide for their safety, let alone their frail dignity during the crisis event. The only thing they counted on was the speed of their own feet being able to deliver themselves from danger. If they would have put their confidence in Jesus during this time, they would have witnessed the boldness of Jesus in going to the cross and understood all those times when he told them He would be lifted up for the redemption of man. Instead, they ran away and forsook their Lord...

So what are we to understand about the weakness of the disciples flesh during this time? Do we view the love of life, fear of danger, or fear of what man can do to us? Al these things were faced throughout their lives and a consistency of failure is seen in their lives. You see, the flesh is weak and so is the ignorant willing spirit in all of our lives.  But what could change some of these failures in our lives? 

I think it is these: forethought of tomorrow, clear perceptions of truth, knowing ourselves, and our discipline from our own personal experiences.  

All these were discounted by the disciples in the last days of Jesus life. They scattered like sheep, based upon emotion and disbelief. If the above were practiced, check out what would have remained in Jesus final hours:

1. Forethought of Tomorrow: The disciples would have saw the words of Jesus being written before them in the very events He spoke about and realising He was in full control of the events. How could they not live and the gospel go on? Could God have prevented anyone from harming them? Of course!

2. Clear Perceptions of Truth: The disciples would have seen that Jesus words in the past were completely trustworthy and reliable when everything in the world seemed to be so chaotic. Especially when men began telling lies about Jesus. They heard these spoken from His words of the past!

3. Knowing Ourself: After as many times as Jesus corrected the false behaviours and bias each one them had, they would been better off in looking to what Jesus addressed in their own lives when they began to stray off course. Then realising that their feelings and fears were not to be trusted, but to trust Him.

4. Discipline from Personal Experience: When things seemed insurmountable for Jesus, the disciples witnessed first-hand what Jesus could do by the power of God. Nothing is impossible with God! They too would one day would see some of that power Jesus had to later perform miracles!

My friend, today the church seems to be scattered by the cares of this world. We are all trying to get something we can't hold on to. Let's understand that Jesus has this world under His control. Let's be obedient to the things we know He has called us to do, rather than worry about what our first instinct is to do when things get wild and chaotic; run...

Trust in Jesus

Tis so sweet to trust in Je- sus, O how sweet to trust in Je- sus, Yes, „tis sweet to trust in Je- sus, I‟m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Just to take Him at His word; Just to trust His cleans-ing blood; Just from sin and self to cease; Precious Jesus, Sav- ior, Friend; Just to rest up- on His prom- ise; Just in simple faith to plunge me Just from Jesus simply tak- ing And I know that Thou art with me,
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.” „neath the healing, cleans-ing flood! joy and peace. to the end.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I‟ve proved Him o‟er and o‟er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Je-sus! O for grace to trust Him more! 

The Scattering of the Sheep

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray, And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 26:36–41.

The conduct of the disciples at this crisis in their history, so weak and so unmanly, naturally gives rise to two questions: How should they have acted? and why did they act as they did- what were the causes of their failure? A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, pg. 464.

In order to take up the first question today, we must begin to look at the teachings of Jesus just prior to this time. If they were to act with like violence, they would be in violation of Jesus teachings just before this time. Would they run away though? When the disciples asked Jesus how they should react to the coming party this is what happened;

When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Lk 22:49.

It was too late though... Peter already reacted by cutting off the servant of the high priest' ear. 

"He had brought a sword with him, one of two in the possessions of the company, from the supper chamber to Gethsemane  thinking it might be needed, and fully minded to use it if there was occasions; and, coward as he proved himself afterwards among the serving-men and maids, he was no such arrant coward in the garden. He used his weapon boldly if not skilfully, and did some execution, though happily not of a deadly character." Bruce, pp. 465.

Jesus turned to Simon Peter as said;

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? “How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 26:52–54.

He could meet the human force by divine power if He wanted to do so, but we all know the reason Jesus did this was so the Scriptures would be fulfilled. He had to take the cup which the Father offered to Him and drink its contents to the end. 

Many times, we act and don't think. When Peter acted out of self-initiative he violated the opportunity to see the words of Jesus being acted out in their presence (as if they had control over it from the beginning). Many times today, Christians are acting out of their first reaction without considering what Scripture teaches. Will we act when trouble comes? Don't worry, trouble is always around the corner in this world, just wait long enough and you will see for yourself. How will we react when it comes though? Will we take the words of Jesus to heart in our lives or will we simply react without considering what the Scriptures teach? Will you be a Peter or a Jesus?

It all depends on how sold out we are when the time comes. Selling out means being totally obedient to the one you give yourself. And trust me friend the times are coming when it will be necessary to act...

How will you?