Sifted for Action by R. C. PORTER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 14, 1915

Sifted for Action

By R. C. PORTER

THE Lord’s purpose in sifting his people before beginning any specially important campaign is significantly suggested by the natural process of sifting, which removes the chaff from the wheat, or the bran from the flour.

It is the separation process by which

the undesirable portion is removed, and the desirable, unmixed with that which is light and chaffy, remains for use. Wheat is sifted before sowing, to remove the tares and weeds from the seed. So the Lord sifts his people for the purpose of removing the aliens who are not prevailers with God, from the true seed of Israel, before advancing upon the very citadel of the powers of darkness. Such campaigns require steady, loyal action on the part of every one engaged, in order to insure victory.

The early church was sifted before Pentecost. But the Lord gave assurance that not one grain of wheat should fall to the ground during the process. The sifting was not merely collective, but it reached each individual. Christ said to Peter, “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” All who have read Peter’s experience at the time of Christ’s trial and crucifixion, and compared his cowardice and disloyalty at that time with his fearless loyalty afterwards, can readily see that the sifting process had removed the undesirable elements from Peter’s character. When the early church had been sifted, it was prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the early rain, and it gave God the glory for what was accomplished through its mighty power.

Gideon’s Army

Gideon’s army illustrates the process by which men who are not whole-heartedly devoted to the advancement of the Lord’s cause are sifted out. Tests were applied under the direction of Christ, the head of the church, who knows men’s hearts. These tests revealed the character of Gideon’s army of thirty-two thousand men, with which he was to meet the vast host of the Midianites. The company seemed small to begin with, but the Lord said there were too many for the conflict in which they were called to engage. The reason there were too many is plainly stated. There were never too many loyal Christians enlisted in the Lord’s campaign, but there were too many who were seeking self-glory. They were lacking in faith, and would hinder instead of strengthen the work in advance moves requiring implicit faith in God and the plans of campaign he chose to lay for the accomplishment of his all-wise designs.

The first test removed one class, the second another, and so the sifting process continued until the worldly, the unbelieving, the indifferent, and all seeking self-glory were sifted out. This sifting process, which reduced Gideon’s army from thirty-two thousand to three hundred, was a trying time for the three hundred loyal ones who remained.

They saw their comrades with whom they had trained and marshaled for the campaign, leaving the ranks. Company after company dropped out. All who were leaning upon the arm of human support turned back when they saw so many with whom they had touched shoulders in the ranks return in fear. When the sifting work was finished, only those with unshaken faith in God remained. The company was small, but it was unconquerable because of its relationship to God. The method of campaign seemed unwise and certain of defeat to the unbelieving company left behind, but the battle was not theirs, but God’s. Through faith this sifted, tried, and loyal company of only three hundred men, won one of the most notable battles of ancient history. When the unbelievers who were sifted out were predicting sure defeat, God was just ready to inaugurate a victorious campaign.

R. C. PORTER.