SIFTED SAINTS

When we choose to follow the voice of God; it will not come without resistance.  Challenges, temptations, or circumstances will come to either destroy our vision or sharpen us to complete it.  So, what’s the promise God’s given you?  It’s important to write it down, memorize it, but it’s most valued when we believe it.  Satan’s going to try everything possible to sift you as wheat but Jesus is praying for you. 

It’s comforting to hear those words from others, “I am praying for you!”  It brings comfort, care, and reassurance.  Nevertheless, people may forget to lift me in prayer but Jesus NEVER will.  It’s a truly comforting truth of Scripture, Jesus prays for me.  "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25.  Right now upon the mercy seat, He intercede on our behalf.  Although the enemy is trying to make sure our faith falters or fails; it can’t because Jesus is praying.  Jesus has faced our fears, faced our struggles, and faced our enemy!  So, He knows what it’s going to take to endure-prayer! 

 

 
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31

 

Without prayer; we have no strength!  Without prayer; we have no power!  Without prayer; we are defeated!  Yet, the promise of Jesus is I have prayed for you!  Jesus knew the test of Simon before it occurred; He told him.  So, Jesus isn’t worried, confused, or scratching His head about your situation.  Jesus is already aware of Satan’s tactic in your life, so rest in knowing Jesus is watching with a careful eye.  As the old song says, “His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.” 

If your faith is never tried, you will never have a testimony to declare or a song to sing.  Faith isn’t made for the weak of heart; it’s what makes a true heart of a believer.  Mouth of lions can’t be closed if we never stood in the den.  Stepping out of the furnace can’t be true unless we been through the fire.  Your faith isn’t going to burn out; it’s going to be used to pour out the greatest worship song!  What’s the promise God has given you?  Go back to the day!  Stand firm in knowing God’s Word will NEVER come back empty; it can only accomplish what He desires. It will not be voided or changed. 

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” "For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:11-12

Trials and test come to mature us, to bear good fruit, and show we belong to Christ.  We are not greater than Our Master, so we will suffer for loving Him.   Nevertheless, the most important line of communication must be with the Father, we can’t stop praying! Jesus didn't stop praying even before He was to be arrested in Gethsemane.  Sadly, He called for the prayers of His followers who were sleeping.  However, if no words come don't be alarmed.  God hears the most sincere prayers even if no words are spoken. We don't have to use words; tears are an expression from the heart. Jesus wept, felt forsaken, and asked for this cup to pass; He was human just like us. Yet, the most important truth: Jesus expressed it all to the Father.  Sifted saints can testify of the power of God, the presence of God, and the promises of God.  It’s not just for reminiscing it’s for declaring to the body.  Why is the book of Psalms so dear to the heart of believers?  It's a collection of praises of a person who has sang our song!  Psalms actually means "a melody of praise" in the Hebrew.  So, pick a Psalm!  Declare the praises of God again!  If you can't pray it through; sing it through! 

As Jesus speaks to Simon beforehand about the trial of Simon he is about to face, He knew the outcome.  May it comfort your heart; Jesus already knows the outcome of your trial!  So, when you come out on the other side share it with others.  Testimonies are useless without a story to tell.  So, what’s your story?  Can you recall a time of God’s deliverance in your past?  Well, the story is still continuing! So, don’t get hooked on the back pages, keep turning the pages, God’s still writing!  It’s going to have moments of suspense, moments of failure, but always moments of triumph! 

 

 

 

End of the Desert

If I were to give a round trip ticket to any destination of your choice, where would you go?  Maybe Paris, France!  Or how about an Alaskan trip to see the Northern Lights?  Truth be told, I am not sure anyone would pick the destination of a desert.  If so, I would truly question their mental state.  Why would you want to go to the desert?  It’s incredibly hot!  No quick place to find shelter except in a cave or near a camp fire.  It’s a tiresome walk alone!  No matter where you look or walk it’s bleak, barren, and seems completely lifeless.  All of God's greatest warriors had to walk through the desert to inherit their promise.

Yet, if we truly desire to grow in Christ, we can’t escape the desert.

Sometimes, we wonder if the tests and trials of this life are producing anything.  Or what’s the purpose of all of this?  Is the promise really worth waiting for?  As we try to take another step in the tiresome heat, we grow faint from exhaustion.  Where is God?  Where is He leading me?  Doesn’t He see that my enemy is chasing me! 

Trials do have an end!  Although it may look bleak upon ever turn, God’s still directing your life.  The prophetic promise upon your life isn’t going to be destroyed because the enemy is pursing you.  If anything the tactics of the enemy are being used to prepare your life to take hold of it.  When God truly calls someone’s life; everyone is aware of the anointing upon you.  It can’t be hidden or disguised in your life if God is truly your hearts pursuit.   David’s family saw the oil poured upon his head, the call placed upon his life, and didn’t understand his purpose.  Although David’s fame was recorded for defeating Goliath, his fame wouldn't usher him to the inherit the throne.   

"Isn't this the David the they sang about in their dances: " 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?" (I Samuel 29:5) 

If we are to have victory in our lives, we just rely on past victories.  We have to keep relying on the name of the Lord.  Goliath wasn't David's only enemy to defeat, he faced several others before his prophetic calling was fulfilled.  David's enemies wasn't just Goliath or the Philistines, this enemy was someone personal, a member of his family.  David had to try a different strategy to defeat Saul, he had to wait upon the Lord.  David never attacked Saul with vengeance or try to remove the kingdom, although it belong to him.  David was able to defeat Saul because he keep the Lord as His refuge, so his enemy was never able to corner him.  

Although Saul savagely pursued to take David's life; it tested the heart of David in the midst of the desert.  David had to learn how to inquire of the Lord, rest in promised Word, and keep walking when no one is praising your name.  

Besides chasing David in the heat of the desert, he brought 3,000 chosen men to hunt him for four years. (I Samuel 24:1-2)  Another four years David dwelt in Ziglag to avoid Saul's plot, he was working for the enemies-Philistines. (I Samuel 27:1)  No matter where David would run, someone would send word to Saul, so the pursuit would continue.  How do you not lose heart in the heat of the desert?  The desert doesn’t cover the earth; it has an END.  As the finish line blows through the breeze; it awaits to be crossed.  It will only break the moment your feet has crossed it.

Yet, even in the midst of the desert, God will not allow the enemy to have the upper hand.  He will protect your life in the cleft of the rock.  Jesus was FULL OF THE SPIRIT and LED BY THE SPIRIT into the desert after fasting for forty days. (Matthew 4:1)  If the Spirit is leading you into the desert; He will bring you out of it.  The testing of desert did end, the devil was defeated, and Jesus was strengthened after. (Matthew 4:11)

 Besides being David’s father-in-law, Saul, was king of Israel.  Saul had the complete power and authority to destroy David; this was his motive.  It would be nervous enough to have one man to chase you down.  How about 3,000 men chasing you in the desert?  How quickly could you find a refuge?  Or how fast could you out-run them?  Besides being outnumbered, they were trained to disintegrate a person, I would be scared out of my mind.   However, God gave David a perfect view of the situation in 1 Samuel 24:1-10) 

What do you do when your enemy has your back against the wall of the cave?  Wait until God brings your enemy into perfect view!  Saul was reliving himself in the opening of the cave.  Saul was vulnerable, without a weapon, a plan, and only a man.  He couldn’t destroy David who was hiding in the cave; He was secure in the rock. 

    Trials do have an ending point but we don’t know the length; only God does.  However it’s important to keep your spirit right in the desert.  The desert will not only test your character; it will test your heart to keep believing God and His Word.  Don’t allow the enemies whisper rob your prophetic destiny; the desert does END.  Only by Encountering God will you have the power to endure, rest in knowing it will Never destroy God’s purpose, and Deliverance is promised through God.