Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Sift – To separate and retain the course parts (sand, flour, etc.)
Sieve - an instrument with a meshed or perforated bottom, used for separating coarse from fine parts of loose matter, for straining liquids, etc., especially one with a circular frame and fine meshes or perforations.
2. a person who cannot keep a secret.
What Peter has gone through is a process that is designed for every believer…this sifting process is necessary for growth and progress. This is a test conducted by hell itself. God will sift us also, but the gates of hell are known to do this. God allows this sifting process to happen – we see the first example of this in the garden. The conversation the serpent had with Eve was a sifting process, the devil wanted to see what she was made of when he challenged her obedience.Another example is obviously found in Job. We can see this throughout the Word, but the point is, whenever this takes place in your life > how do you come out on the other side? According to Christ, this sifting process caused Peter to backslide!
Ephesians 3:17-19 (NKJV)
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Sometimes you have to ask yourself – ‘Do I love Jesus?’ Then take that honest assessment and put it up against your everyday decisions and reactions. This will tell you the truth.
When Jesus told Peter what the devil had planned on doing…immediately, Peter makes a grand stand of virtuous commitment. He was ready to go to prison, and to even die for Jesus…that’s a bold statement to make! Jesus knew better than that…He understood that what lives in man’s heart is his ability to take care of himself, before sacrificing for another. He also understood that if you’re so convinced that you’d do the hard things, then the easy things shouldn’t be an issue…but they are!
How is it that we are so willing to die for Jesus – yet we struggle to live for Him?
Luke 6:46 (NKJV)
46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
Obedience seems to be the hardest thing to do when it comes to serving God, but in actuality, it is the easiest. We choose to do the hard things because somehow, this will garner praise from others. Look at the scripture – this young man has maintained the commandments from childhood into adulthood without fail – even Jesus acknowledged this! However, he didn’t have enough of God in him to be liberal!
How many difficult things do you do for God, yet the simple things escape you? You will sacrifice your time, and give yourself to something spiritual, but you won’t do something as so simple as tithing? How about forgiving? Or how about simply being on time for church?
There are men and women in this church that will never enter into ministry – not because of the hard things, but because of the easy things…
Here's the good news...
Take courage people…Jesus is praying for you and praying for me. While Jesus anticipates our failures from time to time, He still lays the responsibility of recovering to strengthen others upon us. In other words, when, (not if), you backslide, it is YOUR responsibility to get yourself together, and go bless those who are possibly headed in the same direction as you once were.
This is why follow up is so critical.
Do you know why people don’t follow up on those they pray with? Simple, they are selfish. You’re so consumed with what’s going on in your world, that you don’t have time for other people.Jesus told Peter that He will pray for him so that he will be able to return. The greatest thing you can ever do for someone is pray for them…not just offer up a pitiful prayer, but labor in prayer for people. It’ll give you a heart for people and connect you in ways you never thought possible!
Jesus cares for all of us – He knows this sifting process is going to happen, He prays that we are strong enough to endure, and prevail – of course, that depends on you.
