The Sifting Process Part II

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.

"The disciples did not understand their Lord's meaning. They put a stupid, prosaic interpretation upon this part, as upon so many other parts, of His farewell discourse. So with ridiculous seriousness, they said: 'Lord, behold, here are two swords...'The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pp. 466.

When the sifting process begins, the disciples again come to the point of trying to control the situation as if they could. Their faith was again tested and again they failed. Jesus would have replied to them, "What are two swords for twelve men, and against a hundred weapons coming against us?" How can you expect to win? This was an absurd answer!

You see as Bruce puts it; "He gave himself up to death, that there might be a gospel to preach; He desired the safety of the disciples, that there might be men to preach it." pp. 467.

So where did the fault lie in the disciples lives at this point? It was in their faith. They didn't believe that all would go well without their direct involvement in the process. Furthermore, they didn't believe that God would provide for them and Jesus; for their safety and for God's plan in Jesus Christ. This would be accomplished whether they had any involvement in the process or not. And remember, in the end, they still deserted Jesus in His time of need support from them. They all scattered like sheep without a shepherd.

How many times have we tried to further our own expectations of what Christ is to us in our own lives as well? How many times have we tried to make the gospel fit our own agenda? How many times in America do we try to Americanise Jesus as if His narrative can be explained in our culture's norms?

Even though these men fled from his presence physically, they had long fled from him in their state of mind. Their minds were flooded by unbelief and despair in which all they had believed and invested in their lives had now all been blasted away as if the entire cause of Christ had been lost, and whom God had abandoned His plan for mankind.

These men, who had been walking with Jesus were now on the road to the battle ahead and they didn't even know it. They knew He was the Messiah, but misunderstood the finality of the mission He set out on. They misunderstood His mission and career which led Him to the cross. They heard the teachings of Jesus taking on a cross in their minds but missed the actual event when it began to unfold.

Still the ringing in their ears caused them to ask the question, "How could we have been so wrong about the One who claimed He would redeem this nation?" "Why is He marching off to death, rather than the crown?"

Many people still today miss the big picture of Jesus Christ. It's not about what we want the gospel narrative to say in our lives, it is about what God deemed necessary for the cause of humanity. How is your faith affected by what you expect from Jesus Christ today? Do you also sometimes misunderstand Jesus and His mission?

I would sadly say this is true for most Christians today. If it were not, then I expect we would be about His business more today in at least one area; sharing our faith!

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?

What Will We Do With Jesus?

John 17:1-11 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.“Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. “I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. “I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.  New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 17:1–11.

We all know the high priestly prayer of Jesus to His heavenly Father, but do we consider the things which Jesus is speaking to God for our good? He sought out our good for our effectiveness with the gospel!

"If Jesus has power over all flesh, is it credible that He will not use it to the uttermost? In reply, we shall not seek to evade the question, by resolving the power claimed into a mere mediatorial sovereignty over the whole solely for the sake of a part, because we know that the elect part is chosen not merely for its own sake, but also for the sake of the whole, to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and the leaven to leaven the corrupt mass. We simply observe that the power of the Saviour is not compulsory. Men are not saved by force as machines, but by love and grace as free beings; and there are many whom brooding love would gather under its wings who prefer remaining outside to their own destruction." A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, pp. 452.

Did you get that? What Bruce is saying is that Jesus teaching, spending time, His love, are all to passed down to the ones whom He wants to send into the world to do His work! He wants to use us to the "uttermost!" We are saved by His love, not as machines are designed to one work and that's it. We are saved by love and grace. This love and grace compels us to take the gospel out and share it out of our love for our Saviour. But Jesus does understand that there will be those who never do so... those who would leave it as Bruce says to, "many whom brooding love would gather under its wings who prefer remaining outside to their own destruction."

This last week I met a very special man of God in Nuremberg, Germany named Andy. It was through the divine providence of God we met. As the causal conversation in my horrible German started, he began speaking English to lighten the burden of communication. He told me throughout the conversation that he was a reasonably new Christian. He asked if we could spend some time talking after we (my wife and I) completed our castle tour, during his lunch hour. After the tour we met on a park bench on the grounds. He explained his burden for Nuremberg Germany's salvation; his hometown. His passion to see souls saved was unbelievable! But there was a problem. As he was a newer Christian, older so called "Christians" (that's being kind) told him he was too crazy about his desire and that it would soon go away... Go Away? My wife and I tried to encourage him to never let anyone pour cold water on his burning faith over the next half hour. You see, some are doing just as Bruce said; "many whom brooding love would gather under its wings who prefer remaining outside to their own destruction..."

As I look back at last week, I have to ask  myself this same question, "Will I hold this thing called Christianity each day to myself or will I go and share it?" I don't want to be average in society today. As I see my country here also in spiritual decline, I too see the need for America become the "One Nation Under God" again. Even in the political arena, we see where in the past Christians had an impact on our country's direction. One speaker I heard said that our impact is less than 10% of the country's whole. This folks is our duty... if we say that we love Jesus.

"It is as if Jesus said: Father, thou knowest that eternal life consists in knowing Thee and me. Looks around, then, and see how few possess such knowledge. The heathen world knoweth Thee not- it worships idols: the Jewish world is equally ignorant of Thee in spirit and in truth; for, while boasting of knowing Thee, it rejects me. The whole world is overspread with a dark veil of ignorance and superstition." Bruce, pp.453.

We have a very important duty, but never let it be clouded by a sense of "duty by works," than "duty for the One I love and want to tell others about." Stay close to your Saviour and He will send those into your path which He has called to salvation; and I'm pretty sure this includes the whole world!

The Little while and the End of the Discourse

“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? “Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 16:16–20.

"In effect, what He has said is: It is good for you that I go, for not till I become invisible physically, shall I be visible to you spiritually: I must be withdrawn from the eye of your flesh, before I can be seen by the eye of your mind." A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, pg. 436.

We often wonder what our faith would look like if we were the original followers of Jesus. When I say this, I mean actual followers of Him in His time here on earth. Would we be better Christians if we had? Or would we be just like we are today?

During this time when Jesus made this statement, the disciples had no conception of what He meant when he spoke these words. It was a mere riddle to them which again they did not understand; however the disciples were roused as a result of this saying and it sparked their curiosity. Jesus, looking at them and their faces knew an explanation was necessary. Note though how Jesus never explains the two types of seeing to them. This explanation would only have to be worked out through their own experiences in the future. And that future was fast approaching...

I find the next statement by Bruce to be hugely insightful into the human realm. "... from an ignorant implicit faith to a faith developed and intelligent; their initiation into the highest grade of the Christian mysteries, when they should see clearly things presently unintelligible, and be Epopts (one who is instructed in a secret system) in the kingdom of heaven." Furthermore he states; "It is a great thing to be regenerated, but it is a not less great thing to be illuminated." page 439. 

When Jesus disappears and goes to heaven, the disciples will then receive the Holy Spirit. He will be the spiritual light and life that will permeate their being. This Spirit will give them an enlarged comprehension of truth as He tells them; "In that day you will not question Me about anything."

 New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 16:23.

In the coming days, no longer will they have to ask the questions like a child and their incapacity to understand the answers will be gone. Their childhood spirit will be replaced by the understanding spirit of adulthood. They will have an imparting from the Holy Spirit who give them knowledge into all things. All spiritual things!The mysteries of the kingdom will no longer be unknown to them and Jesus will be more real to them than He ever was when the Spirit of Truth comes.

As we reflect, I re-visit the question posed in the beginning of this blog. Would we be better Christians if we were walking with Jesus right now? Well, the Bible tells us we have the perfect knowledge of God now as the Spirit indwells the believer in this present age. So how to we know all things? We take our Bibles out and we read them each day. Even the disciples didn't have the complete written Word then! We must avail ourselves to the Holy Spirit in prayer and asking for wisdom each and every day. We talk to God each day and ask that He would show us Himself each and every day how to be more like His Son.

Don't allow yourself to go throughout this life without using what God has given to each of us (His Spirit) who know Jesus as their Savior. Then you won't have to ask some of the childish questions that the disciples posed to Jesus as new babes! Then you will possess perfect knowledge!

Tribulations and Encouragements from the Departing One

“These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. “These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. “But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 16:1–4.

From this time on, Jesus told the apostles they would face some pretty tough tribulations. Their fruit which remained was sure to make them become men of sorrow. Pretty harsh conditions from One who promised them eternity...

"To be hated and evil entreated is one of the penalties of moral greatness and spiritual power; or, to put it differently, one of the privileges Christ confers on His 'friends.'" A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, pg. 423. 

Imagine with me how harsh this sounds, but consider what else Bruce says; "Hatred is very hard to bear, and the desire is to escape it is one main cause of unfaithfulness and unfruitfulness." Bruce, pg. 423.

Most of us treat our lives as ones that want to live as peacefully as we can with as little turmoil as we can, but does this really line up with the real gospel? Jesus statement, "These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling" is almost said apologetically to the apostles. The apostles face some tough times ahead and Jesus knew it. Would they be good soldiers in the fight, or run for high ground? Would they realize that the Master told them that they would face trials and tribulations for being one of His and face them boldly? Or would they seek to escape the trouble ahead?

Then I read on in Bruce's book. Here's what he had to say next: "Men who suffer for their convictions are greatly tempted to regard their opponents as in equal measure the opponents of God. The wrongs they endure provoke them to think and speak of the wrong-doers as the very children of the devil. Then it gives importance to one's cause, and dignity to one's sufferings, to conceive of the former as God's, and of the latter as endured for God's sake. Finally, broadly to state the question at stake as one between God's friends and God's foes, satisfies both the intellect and the conscience,- the former demanding a status questionis which is simple and easily understood; the latter, one which puts you obviously in the right, and your adversaries obviously in the wrong." Bruce, pg. 426.

This reminded me of something that happened to me a long time ago. It concerns a friend's wrong convictions. Several years back, a friend called me to ask for prayers for he and his family. He told me that he had been facing some really hard difficulties in his life. You see he was about to lose his license to practice medicine. I asked him what was happening so I would know how to pray about the situation. He explained the situation. He stated that he was being persecuted by the devil and wanted me to pray Satan would be defeated in this attack. After more probing, I found that the entire problem was a result of poor decision (a wrong conviction) he had made in his professional and personal life; all brought upon himself by himself! This was obviously his fault, but yet he chose to blame Satan for the trouble. It was more about his personal vanity than his gospel conviction.

Ok, so I know this is an extreme case, but it does allow us to see the difference and how we react to trials and tribulations. I don't think sometime we endure the things we do because Satan is outwardly attacking us. It might be just because those around us don't know Who we know. There was a man who in Acts 7 did the same thing. His name was Saul.

Jesus told the apostles that they would face trials and tribulations as a result of being connected to Him. But He told them not to be surprised of the times when they came. He stated, "But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them." (John 16:4). 

Sure, all of us face tribulations from demons (not Satan) throughout our lifetime. If Satan were to directly attack us, most of us wouldn't endure it well... I remember Job's story too well. I think a lot of the time, we are going through these times as a result of those who are not connected to Jesus and thinking they are doing the right thing while attacking us (again Saul springs to the mind). Then again, sometimes we are our own worse enemy sometimes as well. Then it is not the attitude of "the devil made me do it," rather "I helped the devil do it!"

Is our conviction truly for the gospel of Jesus Christ or is it somewhere muddled in what we think this life should contain? 

I challenge you today to think the next time trouble comes as to what is attacking you. Is it a result of what we have done to ourselves or is it because those who attack us do not know the One? Remember, if we are standing alongside Jesus, He will consider us His "friends" as we endure a tiny fraction of what He endured for us!