A GREEN LIGHT TO SIFT

When you got saved, the scripture said that there were some eternal things that God wanted to do with you. There are some things that you are going to do now that are of eternal significance. The enemy wants to intercept, he wants to interrupt, he wants to distort. Satan would love to bring Peter to ruin and leave him in pieces.

Jesus had gone on eternal record to make some claims and plans for Peter’s life. Just like that, it involves you also. There are some eternal plans that He has for you. You may stumble, the enemy may have the upper hand on you, but you can’t believe the lie that you are no greater than chaff. You are still wheat. Please think that through. In your remorse and in your depression, you may believe the lie that I have stumbled, that I have fell, I have damaged my reputation, and I am no good to Jesus. That’s not the Lord talking, that’s the devil speaking to you.

The devil wants to sift you into uselessness, that’s what being devoured is. It is not likely that Satan will have the green light to kill all of us, but he is going to have a green light to sift, and God is going to give permission for the sifting. God can trust a process of sifting to Satan knowing that Satan cannot ultimately undermine His eternal purpose. That may take a stretch of faith, but that is what our walk with Jesus is all about. Do you see it where Jesus says that He told Satan “No” about Peter’s sifting? You cannot think that you will be exempt from the enemy touching you? Because if he can’t touch you, he can touch the stuff or the people around you.

Prayer: Lord God Almighty, we come to you grateful for the hedge of protection you have encamped around us. You have made us aware that there are principalities, powers and spiritual host of wickedness that seek combat with us. You have supplied the spiritual artillery to armor ourselves because we know that the sifting is coming. If Peter is our example, then Peter is also our consolation, for even he states in Your Word that after we have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of our faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  That’s what we want, Jesus, we want our faith to be strengthened in You. After the sifting we want to bestow praise, honor and glory to Him who sits on the throne and unto the Lamb! Jesus, Your name is blessed forever, and I pray this in Your matchless name. Amen.
By Pastor Wayne Cockrell
Taken from “Failed, But Jesus is Not Finished”