Testing Faith: The Sifting Process in Believers

Devotional

Day 1: Testing Reveals the Heart

God allows testing not to inform Himself of our faith's quality, but to reveal our hearts to ourselves. This process is essential for spiritual growth and purification, as it separates genuine faith from superficial belief. Just as wheat is sifted to separate the grain from the chaff, our faith is tested to distinguish true commitment from mere appearance. This divine permission for testing is a crucial aspect of our spiritual journey, helping us to understand our own hearts and grow in our reliance on God. [04:37]

"For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs." (Psalm 66:10-11, ESV)

Reflection: What recent challenge in your life has revealed something new about your faith? How can you use this insight to deepen your relationship with God today?

Day 2: Sustained by Jesus' Intercession

Jesus' prayer for Peter underscores the importance of divine intercession. Our faith is sustained not by our strength but by Jesus' ongoing prayers for us, ensuring that we are not overwhelmed by trials. Despite Peter's confident declaration of loyalty, Jesus predicts his denial, illustrating the frailty of human resolve. This highlights the necessity of relying on Jesus' intercession, as He continually prays for our faith to endure and grow stronger through life's challenges. [43:42]

"Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to rely more on Jesus' intercession rather than your own strength? How can you invite Him into that area today?

Day 3: The Call to Self-Examination

The current global challenges have intensified the sifting within the church, revealing those who are truly committed to Christ. This falling away is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy and a call for self-examination and steadfastness. As believers, we are urged to ensure that we are truly in the faith, remaining vigilant against false doctrines, sin, and lukewarmness. This period of testing is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to Christ and to stand firm in our faith. [13:12]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to examine your faith and ensure it is genuine and steadfast?

Day 4: The Necessity of Community

Isolation is detrimental to spiritual health. Believers are encouraged to remain in fellowship, as the church is God's design for mutual encouragement, accountability, and growth. In times of testing, the support of a faith community is vital for spiritual resilience. By staying connected with other believers, we can encourage one another, hold each other accountable, and grow together in our walk with Christ. [21:26]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your faith community can you reach out to today for encouragement or accountability? How can you be a source of support for them as well?

Day 5: Embracing Our Weakness

Recognizing our potential for failure drives us to rely on Christ. This humility is crucial for spiritual resilience, as it keeps us grounded in prayer, Scripture, and community. Understanding our weaknesses allows us to depend more fully on God's strength and grace, rather than our own abilities. By embracing our limitations, we open ourselves to the transformative power of Christ in our lives, enabling us to grow in faith and character. [48:42]

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of weakness you can bring before God today, asking for His strength and grace to transform it into a source of spiritual growth?

Sermon Summary

In Luke 22, we find ourselves in the upper room where Jesus is speaking to His disciples, who are embroiled in a debate about who among them is the greatest. Jesus interrupts their argument with a sobering message to Peter, warning him that Satan has asked to sift him like wheat. This sifting is a metaphor for testing, a process that God allows to reveal the true nature of our faith. Just as wheat is sifted to separate the grain from the chaff, our faith is tested to separate genuine belief from superficial allegiance.

Jesus assures Peter that He has prayed for him, that his faith may not fail. This highlights the divine intercession that Jesus provides for all believers. Despite Peter's confident declaration of loyalty, Jesus predicts his denial, illustrating the frailty of human resolve. This passage serves as a reminder that God permits testing not to inform Himself of our faith's quality—He already knows—but to reveal to us the true state of our hearts. It is through these trials that we learn to rely on God rather than our own strength.

The sermon also touches on the broader theme of sifting within the church today. Many are falling away, influenced by false doctrines, sin, and lukewarmness. The current global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have intensified this sifting process, revealing the true nature of our faith and commitment. The call is for self-examination, ensuring that we are truly in the faith, and to remain steadfast in prayer, fellowship, and obedience to God's Word. The ultimate goal is to emerge from these trials purified and strengthened, ready to support and encourage one another in our walk with Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Divine Permission for Testing: God allows Satan to test us, not because He is unaware of our faith's quality, but to reveal our hearts to ourselves. This process is essential for spiritual growth and purification, as it separates genuine faith from superficial belief. [04:37]
2. The Role of Jesus' Intercession: Jesus' prayer for Peter underscores the importance of divine intercession. Our faith is sustained not by our strength but by Jesus' ongoing prayers for us, ensuring that we are not overwhelmed by trials. [43:42]
3. The Reality of Falling Away: The current global challenges have intensified the sifting within the church, revealing those who are truly committed to Christ. This falling away is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy and a call for self-examination and steadfastness. [13:12]
4. The Importance of Community: Isolation is detrimental to spiritual health. Believers are encouraged to remain in fellowship, as the church is God's design for mutual encouragement, accountability, and growth. [21:26]
5. Understanding Our Weakness: Recognizing our potential for failure drives us to rely on Christ. This humility is crucial for spiritual resilience, as it keeps us grounded in prayer, Scripture, and community. [48:42]
** [48:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - Setting the Scene: The Upper Room
[00:44] - Jesus' Warning to Peter
[01:26] - The Overlap of Messages
[02:45] - The Disciples' Misplaced Priorities
[03:46] - Satan's Request to Sift
[04:37] - God's Permission and Purpose in Testing
[06:46] - The Process of Sifting
[08:28] - Judgment Begins at the House of God
[10:08] - The Transition from Popularity to Testing
[12:31] - The Great Falling Away
[14:09] - The Current Sifting in the Church
[16:36] - The Impact of COVID-19
[18:58] - The Purpose of Sifting
[21:26] - The Necessity of Community
[23:44] - The Danger of False Doctrine
[25:09] - Sin and Immorality in the Church
[28:11] - The Peril of Lukewarmness
[30:02] - Rebellion and Division
[33:57] - The Importance of Unity
[36:28] - Solutions and Self-Examination
[39:05] - Ensuring Genuine Faith
[43:07] - Jesus' Intercession and Our Response
[48:42] - Recognizing Our Weakness
[52:28] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 22:31-34
- 1 Peter 4:17
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3

---

Observation Questions:

In Luke 22:31-34, what does Jesus predict about Peter's actions, and how does Peter respond to this prediction? [01:10]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of Satan's request to sift Peter like wheat, and how does this relate to the concept of testing? [03:46]
How does the sermon describe the current state of the church in relation to the concept of sifting, and what global events are mentioned as intensifying this process? [14:09]
What role does Jesus' intercession play in the testing of believers, as highlighted in the sermon? [43:42]

---

Interpretation Questions:

How does the metaphor of sifting wheat help us understand the purpose of spiritual testing in a believer's life? [06:46]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between divine permission and Satan's actions in the context of testing believers? [04:37]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the current global challenges are revealing the true nature of believers' faith? [14:09]
How does the sermon interpret the concept of "falling away" in the context of the church today, and what biblical prophecy does it relate to? [13:12]

---

Application Questions:

Reflect on a recent challenge or trial in your life. How did it reveal the true state of your faith, and what did you learn about your reliance on God versus your own strength? [07:30]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of community and fellowship. How can you actively engage with your church community to ensure mutual encouragement and accountability? [21:26]
Consider the role of Jesus' intercession in your life. How does knowing that Jesus prays for you impact your approach to trials and temptations? [43:42]
The sermon warns about the dangers of false doctrines and lukewarmness. What steps can you take to ensure that your faith remains genuine and fervent? [22:50]
How can you practice self-examination to ensure that you are truly in the faith, as suggested by the sermon? What specific actions can you take to strengthen your spiritual walk? [36:41]
The sermon discusses the potential for failure and the importance of recognizing our weaknesses. How can acknowledging your weaknesses drive you to rely more on Christ? [48:42]
Reflect on the concept of "falling away" mentioned in the sermon. Are there areas in your life where you feel you might be drifting from your faith? What practical steps can you take to address this? [13:12]

Sermon Clips

"Notice that the devil cannot do what God does not permit. We get this very clearly of course in the book of Job. Satan comes to God and says, 'Well, you know, the Lord says, have you seen my servant Job? There's no one like him. He is upright in all these ways.' And the devil says, 'You just wait, just give me a chance and I'll prove to you that Job is not all that you think he is.'" [00:03:58]

"God does not always cause the suffering. He does not always cause the testing. Sometimes he may, but oftentimes it's the devil. But God allows it, God permits it in order to achieve his purpose. And we say, well, you know, why does God have to test or why does he have to allow the devil to test?" [00:04:59]

"Everything needs to be tested. It's not like God doesn't know. And remember I said a moment ago that even before the devil asked for Job, God knew what the result would be. God knew what the result would be with Peter. And in fact, Jesus makes predictions and he says, when you have been restored, in other words, you're going to fall, but when you've been restored, strengthen your brethren." [00:06:56]

"We need to be tested to reveal our own hearts to ourselves, not so that we would look down on ourselves, but that we might find our strength in him, and that we might learn certain lessons in that process of struggling. And so there is a sifting coming on Simon and on, in fact, all of the disciples." [00:07:57]

"The current global challenges have intensified the sifting within the church, revealing those who are truly committed to Christ. This falling away is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy and a call for self-examination and steadfastness. The ultimate goal is to emerge from these trials purified and strengthened, ready to support and encourage one another in our walk with Christ." [00:14:09]

"God is shaking and he's testing to see what is going to stand. Same way as an earthquake tests the buildings. And we know how that in the earthquakes, the big and the bad earthquakes, it's the weak buildings that fall down. The ones that have been properly constructed are able to stand." [00:15:30]

"God is shaking and he is shaking not just the world, he's shaking the church right now. And so what is happening is that many are falling away, many churches are closing down. Now I'm not speaking about false churches. There are many, many false churches, but there are good legitimate churches, Bible teaching, Bible believing churches." [00:15:52]

"Jesus says to Peter, 'I've prayed for you.' And Jesus now ever lives to make intercession for us. And I believe that right now he is praying for you. He's praying for each one of us. And what is he praying? That your faith should not fail, that when you are tested, the faith will stand." [00:43:07]

"Recognizing our potential for failure drives us to rely on Christ. This humility is crucial for spiritual resilience, as it keeps us grounded in prayer, Scripture, and community. When I understand my weakness, I'll spend time in prayer, seeking God's help. I'll spend time in God's word, seeking his counsel." [00:48:42]

"God has made a plan for us, and his plan is the body of Christ, is the church. And we need the church. Yes, we thank God for technology, and we can have meetings on Zoom as we had for a few months at one point, and we thank God for that. But that can never replace face-to-face fellowship." [00:21:26]

"Isolation is detrimental to spiritual health. Believers are encouraged to remain in fellowship, as the church is God's design for mutual encouragement, accountability, and growth. We need to remain faithful in prayer and in reading. Simple, nothing whispering, and yet that's where it begins." [00:40:00]

"Peter is able to encourage the saints in a way that he would never have been able to do had he not denied the Lord Jesus. Because remember what he's dealing with in first Peter, he's dealing with persecution and he's saying don't fold under persecution. Who folded under persecution? Peter did." [00:46:01]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?

Testing Faith: The Sifting Process in Believers

Devotional

Day 1: Testing Reveals the Heart

Day 2: Sustained by Jesus' Intercession

Day 3: The Call to Self-Examination

Day 4: The Necessity of Community

Day 5: Embracing Our Weakness

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Testing Faith: The Sifting Process in Believers

Share