Jesus prayed, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:15-17). It is written that Jesus also said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-32). Are these two pieces of scripture in contradiction with one another? Jesus is also recorded as saying, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28). I would conclude then that whatever trial Peter went through happened while he was in the hand of God.

God did not desert Peter, but Peter was full of self and needed to be sifted. It is written that Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replied that He is the Christ. Jesus told him the answer came from My Father in heaven. Then Jesus spoke of the death and resurrection, and Peter rebuked Him. Jesus rebuked Satan. Peter had become full of self and allowed Satan to use him, right after allowing the Father to speak through him. Peter had a boldness that would later serve the kingdom, but first it had to be rightly lined up behind Jesus. Peter had his time on the threshing floor when he denied Jesus.

Peter had found a nugget of the word of God and thought he was all that and a little more. Jesus was trying to tell His followers about a vein of Gold. Peter would not hear from God, because the value he placed on the nugget increased his self worth in his own mind. Peter needed the time of sifting to see past what he already knew to what Jesus had for him. Jesus prayed for the believers to be sanctified by truth. Peter had to get over self and past the nugget so he could hear the whole truth. In the second chapter of Acts we can read where Peter taught the very message he rebuked Jesus for teaching – the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

How many times do we pick up a nugget of truth and feel and act like we have it all? How often do we close off our ears from hearing God because we believe we already know? How many times do we rebuke a teacher because we already have a nugget of truth? The Spirit revealed to me that it is common practice in the Church to preach about a nugget and ignore the teacher God has sent with the treasure map. It is common place to stop the mouth of the prophet God has sent, because everyone is so caught up in a conversation about a little bit of truth. It is common place to put on one or two pieces of the armor of God and walk into battle.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:11-12a). Start with truth and righteousness, and add to those the gospel of peace. Take up faith, salvation, and the Spirit which is the word of God (again truth – for “Your word is truth”). Peter walked with Jesus and still rebuked Him when He spoke of the death and resurrection – Peter had his own idea about what the Christ would be and do, and did not want to hear what the Christ had to say about who He is and what He will do. That is a deaf dumb spirit – that is why Jesus told Satan to get behind Him. That is why Peter was sifted.

Father in heaven, hear the prayer of our Lord Jesus and keep us from the evil one that we shall both hear and follow the voice of the true Shepherd.

© 2012, Tim D. Coulter Sr.