The Warning
And the Lord 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”,
The Lord warned Simon very clearly of Satan’s desire and intent. The Scriptures warn of the enemy and destroyer of souls. In 1 Peter 5:8 one reads, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” In John 10:10, the Lord Jesus informed His listeners that Satan is a thief whose only purpose and desire is to kill, to steal, and to destroy. Our enemy is real! One of his greatest deceptive tactics is to convince men he does not exist, or that he is a friend and not a foe. Satan is the enemy of God, the work of God, the people of God, and all mankind. The Bible declares, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 6:12..
Satan had asked permission to “sift” Peter as wheat. We find a similar account in the first two chapters of the Book of Job. Satan must ask and receive permission from God before he “sifts” any child of God. Christians should find comfort in knowing that our God remains in control, sovereign, and nothing happens of which He is not aware. Many commentators agree the first pronoun ‘you’ in the Greek is in the plural form. Jesus’ warning embraced all the disciples. Everyone would do well to heed this warning.
Simon Peter was bold in his declaration to follow Jesus even to death. Peter, and the other disciples, were about to encounter a time of severe testing. The sifting of wheat separates the wheat from the chaff. The testing of the Christian separates the Christ-like qualities from the sinful. Satan’s goal was to prove Peter and the disciples fake, or apostates like Judas Iscariot. The Lord allows times of testing to make His followers aware their impurities and sins within, bringing them to repentance, and cleansing their hearts. Peter was clearly shown his heart of pride and how destructive pride can become. It was Peter who later acknowledged, “. . . be clothed with humility for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”, 1 Peter 5:5b. Read the insight of Peter concerning the trials of life: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your 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”, 1 Peter 1:6-7. Peter further admonishes his fellow Christians in 1 Peter 4:12, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happen to you: but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”
The Bible makes it clear the Christian life will not be easy. Jesus taught His disciples that they should take up their cross and follow Him. In John 16:33 Jesus gives this warning and word of comfort, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” God offers this comfort in 1 John4:4. “He (Holy Spirit) who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world.”
Lord, help us heed Your warning and rest in Your power to defeat our enemy!
Learning to serve,
Robert Finley
