Luke 22:31-34 says '“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”'
There are many interesting things going on in this portion of scripture. One of the first things that caught my eye was in the first half. Jesus informs Simon that satan has asked to sift him like wheat. I thought that was such a direct and specific use of language Jesus used. So I took the trusty Strong’s Concordance for more insight. The word “sift” is from the Greek word “siniazō” (sē-nē-ä’-zō). It literally means to sift, shake in a sieve exampled by inward agitation to try one's faith to the verge of overthrow. That translation alone is amazing, but there is a second piece to understanding this sifting satan desired. It is by looking at how wheat is actually sifted.
To sift wheat in times before machines and industrialization you would lay it down and flail it. You literally laid the wheat on a hard surface and beat the mess out of it. This separated the chaff (inedible) from the grain (edible). After this process, what was left would be tossed into the air. What couldn’t be used would blow away in the wind and what fell was the usable grain. That was sifting wheat. Have you ever felt like sifted wheat? Life is beating at you. The enemy has you pressed against a rock and is beating at you. Just when the worst seems over, you are dealt another blow, being tossed in the air and not knowing which way is up.
Yet, verse 32 is so crucial to grasping this entire point. Jesus did not say He prayed that Simon would not have to go throw any of that sifting. He did not pray that he would be spared satan’s assaults. What He prayed was that His faith would hold. When Simon was beaten and tossed, the good edible grain, his faith, would remain!
Then Jesus takes it a step further and says also in verse 32 “… So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”. Wow. Jesus prayed for his faith not to fail, but also spoke about his future failing, sin, or denial of Him. We have to grasp this as believers. Faith does not mean we will be absent of sin, mistakes, or short comings. True faith is perseverance. True faith is progression. True faith is being down, but getting up again. Even though you’re faith is being beaten, you won’t become the chaff and you won’t be blown away.
Additionally Jesus encouraged him that when He got back up, to help or strengthen his brothers. This is what we as the body of Christ are to do. When we have recovered from and gotten victory in areas of our lives, it’s not just for us. Use your testimony and the things you’ve learned to help others. This strengthens the body of Christ.
Lastly, I don’t believe Jesus went on to prophesy Simon’s denial as a means to discourage him. Jesus was exposing an area in Simon that needed to change if he was going to be used for greater things. Simon was always the first one to open his mouth, shortly followed by his foot. In his unbridled zealousness for God he often was quick to speak and slow to listen. He also put too much faith in his own abilities. Simon believed he could never be shaken and he could never fall while being sifted. Simon needed to learn to trust in God and not himself. It took denying Jesus to finally get it. Simon repented and yielded to God becoming became Peter; “the rock” on which the future church could be built.
Trouble will come for all of us. That is a result of living in a fallen world. However, satan will specifically try to discourage, shake up, and even sift out believers. One thing we should absolutely being doing is imitating Jesus and praying for one another. We should be interceding for one another and not helping satan by tearing down one another. An easy way to be more intentional is to think of how many times you pray in a day for yourself, versus others. Is your prayer life “me” focused or “we” focused.
Lastly, through this text we see how important it is to not let your battle scars stay covered. If there’s a place you’ve failed, but later gained victory, use that to help restore others. I know sometimes we may feel embarrassed by our struggles. However we shouldn’t let embarrassment yield us over to condemnation. If it’s forgiven it’s forgotten by God. But the testimony we’ve gained by Christ’s working redemption, should not be hoarded. Share what God has done! Strengthen your brothers. Stand in the gaps for your brothers. Pray that your brother’s faith holds through the sifting.
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