Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul spent his life going from one challenge to another. A good word for what he experienced would be the word sifted.

It means to separate, examine closely, to question, to pass through, to sort out and to scrutinize or to inspect.

When I was around 20 I asked a friend, who was a bodybuilder, to help me with bodybuilding. His response was it was going to be tough but i said I can handle it so let’s get with it.

 For the next several months, Tuesday and Thursday evenings were dedicated to getting my body into shape. For about 2 months my friend had me doing 10 reps for every part of my body.

 One evening he said we’re going to up the reps to 12. I told him “No problem.  Bring it on”. He added 10 extra pounds to each end.

 The first 10 reps were no problem but on the 11th and 12th my arms began to feel like they were rubber. I made it through the 11th rep but couldn’t go any further. My friend said the 12th rep is where you’re going to build new muscle. I told him “I can’t do it.” He said “Yes, you can.”

 He reached down ever so slightly and gave me just enough help to do the 12th rep . The next morning I couldn’t lift my arm to shampoo my hair!

 BUT MY FRIEND WAS RIGHT!

 The real development began in the 11th and 12th rep. In Christianity, sifting is like the 11th and 12th rep. Paul said to Timothy fight the good fight of faith.

 I can’t find any place in the scripture where sifting was optional. In first Corinthians 9, Paul said this about his personal walk:

 “I bring my body under subjection.”

 Jesus spoke into our future in John 16:33

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

 In Luke 22, Jesus told his disciples “you will be sifted but during those times I will be right beside you.”

When our faith stays focused, we will reach spiritual levels that we can only imagine. Paul said in Romans 8 “we are more than conquerors.”

 In 2 Corinthians 9: 8 (KJV) he exclaimed

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; That you always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work!”

So, the real question is not IF we will face challenges but HOW we will respond to them?

 In Philippians 4:13 Paul said “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Here’s how sifting works:

In 2020 maybe you stepped out by faith into uncharted waters. You knew it was God’s will but nothing seemed to go as you had planned.

The sifting has begun.

Perhaps your marriage was challenged in some way in 2020 or perhaps your finances went on the ropes and no matter how hard you’re working, you can’t find a solution. That is sifting.

 Sifting refines us, reveals our weaknesses and causes us to rely on God like we’ve never done before.

 The good news is, when you make it through the process, you will emerge with a deeper and better understanding of just how big God really is.

For example, the life of Paul. During his greatest challenges he discovered God to be the closest.

In 2 Timothy 1:12 Paul said:

“12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

 In Philippians 1:6 he encourages every believer with how God blessed his faith by staying the course stating:

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”

 So, dear friend, if you’ve ever experienced sifting, you are in good company because every successful leader in the Bible has been sifted.

 David’s sifting happened hiding in the desert caves, not in palaces, constantly running for his life. Joseph’s sifting was in the prisons of Egypt. Moses sifting occurred tending sheep while living on the backside of the desert.

The end results were phenomenal.

David became the greatest King Israel ever had.

 Joseph became 2nd in command over all of Egypt and saved Israel from famine.

 Moses led 6 million people out of slavery.

 So please keep in mind, when there is a vision there will also be sifting but Psalm 37: 5 (KJV) offers us the end results.

“Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust also in him; And he shall bring it to pass.”

 So, if you’re in the process of sifting just read aloud Hebrews 12:11 (KJV).

“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”