God’s Continuing Mission

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Sifted to Strengthen Others

Jesus told Peter that Satan wanted to sift him and that He had prayed for him. When he returned he would strengthen the brothers. Andy explains what that means for us in the last of our "Avoiding the Hallof Mirrors" series
Speaker: Andy Moyle
Series: Hall of Mirrors
Date: 2nd Aug, 2026
Sermon notes: 

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Sifted to Strengthen Others

Sifted to strengthen others

Luke 22v31-32

Jesus

  1. Satan has asked to sift you – does not say no way!
  2. Prayed his faith would not fail
  3. When you have turned back
  4. Strengthen your brothers

Sifting is not exactly sieving!

Kids Demo of sieving flour

Ancient times wheat preparation to make flour

  1. Threshed
  2. Winnowed
  3. Sifted
  4. Ground

Kid to try! Sift some sweets – new garden sieve – toffees, rabbit food for chaff, pebbles

Violent shaking and some dross goes through, some separates and picked out – skilled end up with two piles in the sieve.

Tough process

Satan wants to bruise us, knock us about – but Jesus prayer is that we get through it and come out with the rubbish taken away and able to strengthen others.

The sifting is discipline – and it’s not rejection. The Father disciplines those he loves Heb 12:5-11.

Peter blew it big time – proud, but denied Jesus x3 with a bit of fruity language.

Believers sin – when you think you are strong, that’s when you are most vulnerable.

Feel bad – shame, guilt or fear

Embarrassed – Stef told a 400m story – mine was the mile, I sprinted a lap and was done! Came last.

But we don’t lose our salvation.

Peter sinned around a fire.

Jesus restored round another campfire

Peter denied him 3 times

Jesus told him to feed my sheep 3 times.

Jesus prayer is answered! Peter came back and got to strengthen the brothers.

Within weeks he preached a sermon and 3000 people got saved!

Do you feel haunted by failure? Maybe find a quiet place this afternoon and read the story of Peter’s restorative breakfast in John 21 and allow Jesus to strengthen you too

Sifted to Strengthen Others

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2nd Aug, 2026 7:57 pm

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Next

Certain moments in history you remember when you heard about them
JFK, Berlin Wall, Diana death, 9/11

Don't know whether Friday's result will be one of them?
32nd highest Leave area out of 400 areas at 63.2%

3 things I do know coming out of it

Anger – very uncivilised campaign, divided nation – ages, class, region. Lot of rudeness on social media
Fear – internationals feeling unwelcome, worried for future
Feeling manipulated – some reported wished they hadn't voted the way they did

Fear > Manipulation > Anger

Minister into that later

God is large and in charge – Psalm 2:1-8

Acts 4 – troubled times. First response prayer
Sovereign Lord
Quoted Psalm2 back to God
God help us get on with the mission

Citizens of UK and EU – more than that citizenship in heaven Phil 3:20; Heb 11:13-16

Mission aligned with God's mission
He has always wanted a people for Himself from all the earth to bless.

Creation – man and women in the image of God Gen 1:26
– for relationship with God Gen 3:8
Marred by sin – God given us all free choice, not robots. Relationship based on control not a relationship
1st Sacrifice to deal with sin – garments of skin to cover shame Gen 3:21
Gen 11 continued sin and pride led to Babel – separation of languages

God's plan
Gen 12:1-3 God's plan becomes evident
People of Israel chosen to bless every family on earth – God wants a people

Ex 19:5 treasured possession, kingdom of priests and a holy nation – meant to be a balance
More like a pendulum – never achieved it

2000yrs ago J&G utterly divided
Great time Pax Romana – easy spread of Christianity

God sent Jesus, ultimate sacrifice to win for God a people
Acts 2 Spirit came – tongues so everyone could understand – reversal of Babel, to bring people together

Both have access to God Eph 2:18
Dividing wall of hostility gone Eph 2:16

1 Peter 2:9 reiterates treasured possession, kingdom of priests, holy nation
Now have the power to do it
Christian – new creation & filled with the Spirit

End God will have his people from every nation Rev 5:9-10

Anger, fear, manipulation – nationalism and little England spirit
We have a God who is working his plan out – we get to be part of it – vision statement

Coming out of the Pax Europa – may or may not be free migration for EU citizens (int. one Brexit leader hinting that won't go to Nick Robinson!)
God has a plan, we get to be part of it

Jesus is amazing – unites us around himself 31 nations, ages, classes, because of Him! shines to the world something amazing!

Response
1) Anger, fear of feeling manipulated – bad things, bad taste in the mouth, oppressive. Freedom!
2) Looking in today – hopefully got to see a glorious vision of God's people the church. Something to buy into!
i) Start following Jesus
ii) Start helping to build!
3) Go out – love God, love your neighbour – leavers, retainers, foreigners and Linnets!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR - ANDY MOYLE

Andy planted the Gateway Church in Sept 2007. He and Janet love to gather different nations together to grow in Christ while eating good food! He also helps to shape and serve a couple of Relational Mission's church plants in mainland Europe. Andy and Janet run regularly, largely to offset the hospitality eating! He also runs a popular WordPress plugin Church Admin