Moments with my First Love [UNDER REVISION]

MOMENT 72: Sifting for Shifting

How's your life this 2021 so far? :)

Are the one who already got into life battles in the first days of this year?
Or maybe, are you the one who are still warming up or chilling up?

Today, God wants to speak and deliver His message to everyone of us that we will keep not just in the beginning of this year but until this year ends and for the many years to come.in are lives.

Are your excited?

Let's read at the Book of Luke Chapter 22:31-34

v31 "Simon, Simon, Behold, Satan demanded to have you, that He might sift yoy like wheat
v32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
v33 Peter said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both in prison and to death.
v34 Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day until you deny three times that you know me."

If we are to read the upper verse of this Luke Chapter 22, we could see what kind of situation Jesus is facing during this time. This converstion of Jesus and Peter happened during the Passover Festival and this is tje last supper of Jesus. Did you know that the high priest was already seeking chance to arrest Jesus here because they didn't believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Another, Judas has already agreed to help them to catch Jesus only with coins as an exchange. That's why in verse 21 Jedus said "But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table." and the disciples began to ask one another who among them is the traitor. A dispute also arose among them about who is the greatest.

But Jesus, despite the fact of being aware of short time for Him ti be arrested and this is only the last time for Him to be with His disciples at the table, who are arguing with one another... He remained calm, cool, and composed. Instead of becoming angry and scolded them, He went straight to the point, taught them about leadership. You know what, when Jesus speaks, it is always straightforward. He doesn't ñike wasting time. Jedus knew that no one should continue the thing He bagan other than His disciples.

Now, let's go back to the main verse. After Jesus taught His disciples generally, He turned to Peter and said "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you that He might sift you life wheat." —notice. Why did Jesus called Peter in his name Simon? Isn't Jesus the One who changed his name from Simon to Peter? This ks the reason... Jesus addressing Peter as Simon reminds him of his human weakness. This served as a warning for Peter. Jesus said Satan demsnded to have you, this means that Satan will test him. But, he will not be tested by Satan if it's not under the permission of God.

I am sure that almost of us arw expectant that 2021 will be a year of blessings and breakthroughs but let us still be realistic that testings and breakings will still come into place. I'm not discouraging you not to be hopeful, actually God wants js to be hopeful and expectant. What I am trying to say is that, we must not set aside the reality that in life, we will really experience trials.

Genesis 8:22 says While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease.

Life is just balance. It is only us, humans, are not balance to think. Most of the times, when God allowed trials to blend un our lives, our focus usually be on the things that looks bad and we forget to look on the other side which are the good things that God is doing.

So Jesus said Satan demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat.

What is sift or sifting?
- process as last part of making a wheat ready for consumption.
- the purpose of sifting wheat is not to destroy it but to remove the chaff
- to remove the dust, dirt and pebbles