Sifted Like Wheat

Luke 22:54–62 (ESV)

WELCOME CENTRAL NASSAU! CONGRATS ON THE NEW PROPERTY!

INTRODUCTION: So, let me kick things off with a question: have you ever had one of those days where it feels like life is just absolutely messing with you? Like you’re a sock in a dryer, getting tossed around and never quite sure where you’re gonna land?

You’re stuck in Yulee traffic trying to get your kids to school;

you spill that mint white chocolate mocha from Eliano’s on yourself.

You are listening to the latest episode of the Maximum Life Podcast… THEN your phone battery dies.

You finally get to work, and you get one of those “just circling back” emails from your boss.

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS, DOESN’T IT? Do you ever wonder why?

Or maybe it’s bigger stuff life throws a us. Like the kind of stuff that hits you in the heart and leaves you wondering, “Why is this happening to me?”

Well, you’re not alone. Because this morning, we’re talking about one of the most intense moments in the Bible, where Jesus drops a bombshell on Peter, one of his closest friends. He says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat.” And I told him to go ahead

It’s like your mom saying, the bully down the street wants to fight you, and I told him you’ll meet him at 3.

I mean, can you imagine? It’s like Jesus saying, “Hey buddy, just so you know, there’s a cosmic battle going on, and you’re the main target.” No pressure, right?

But here’s the thing: Jesus doesn’t stop there. He says something incredible after that. Let’s look at it in the text…

CONTEXT: The last time we were together in the Gospel, according to Luke, we found Jesus enjoying the last supper with his disciples. The Lord had indicated that one of the 12 would betray Him, and the disciples began trying to figure out who this might be. This discussion morphed into an argument about which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. As they argued, Judas, possessed of Satan himself, excused himself to notify the temple guards as to the location of Christ and his disciples.

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Maximum Life is the Media Ministry of Pastor Zach Terry.

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