Sermons
Sifted to strengthen others
Luke 22v31-32
Jesus
- Satan has asked to sift you – does not say no way!
- Prayed his faith would not fail
- When you have turned back
- Strengthen your brothers
Sifting is not exactly sieving!
Kids Demo of sieving flour
Ancient times wheat preparation to make flour
- Threshed
- Winnowed
- Sifted
- 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