9/22/24 Sermon - Lessons in the Sifting
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· 7 viewsTurn to repentance, not despair
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Luke 22:31-32 Outline
Luke 22:31-32 Outline
I. Intro
I. Intro
Explain what sifting is literally
Explain what is meant by sifting in the passage
“To sift, to shake as grain in a sieve. Figuratively, with the acc. of person implied (Luke 22:31, meaning to agitate and prove by trials and afflictions).
This sifting of wheat basically refers to the repeated, swift, and violent shaking of the wheat in a sieve.
William Hendriksen; Simon J. Kistemaker
II. “Simon, Simon…”
II. “Simon, Simon…”
Can you imagine for a moment God saying your very name?
Most unworthy one, called out by the Voice that shakes the foundations of His heavenly temple.
I wonder how often Peter heard Jesus say this… Surely he must have thought ‘oh great what now’.
We sometimes do the same, don’t we? When we hear God speaking to us?
Jesus is intentional here in what He is about to tell Peter, as He has a grand lesson in mind for him.
III. “…behold, Satan demanded to have you,…”
III. “…behold, Satan demanded to have you,…”
The first reading of this may sound familiar
That’s because it is! Think of another story in the Bible where we see this kind of interaction? That’s right - Job!
Remember now, how Satan came before God after his time of roaming the face of the earth, and God said to him, “(Job 2:3)?” In this instance, we see that GOD is the one who brought Job to Satan’s attention, but notice what Satan responded with: “(Job 2:4-5)”.
The you here on surface level appears to be aimed solely at Peter in the English, however, the Greek rendering of this specific instance of you actually shows that it is used in the plural. Thus, Jesus is now talking about ALL of the disciples.
Another thing I want you to notice from the text this morning, Satan wants you. And get this, he not only want you, but he DEMANDS to have you. He will do whatever it takes to get to you, and please Church, don’t be so naive as to think that he doesn’t know what it will take to get to you.
Satan is far more aware of your weaknesses than you are. He knows all the weak spots in your armor, as well as the best way to hit them so as to inflict the most damage upon you.
It’s at this point, when we come to this realization, that I feel it is timely and important to mention what Satan’s end goal is. You see there is a reason for everything. There’s a reason you get up every day, go to work, spend time with certain people or not spend time with certain people. There’s even a reason why you drove here this morning. And Church, Satan has his reasons for what he does too. Satan’s goal is to tear down each of us, to break us down not to the point of failure, but to the point of giving up. You see, if we fail, while we might mope around for a while, eventually, we may turn back to the Lord and get up and go again. And that’s a problem for him because he wants you off the field entirely, not just on the sideline. So what he does is he throws everything he’s got at convincing us that we have gone so far that we can no longer turn back to Christ, that God can no longer reach us with forgiveness. He convinces us of this so that we will then, of our own accord, step off the field, throw in the towel, and even turn our backs on God. Church that is what Satan’s goal is, and we see it play out in the lives of Jesus’ disciples.
IV. “…that he might sift you like wheat,…”
IV. “…that he might sift you like wheat,…”
a.
If you have not been through the devil’s sifter, you are probably not worth sifting!
Havner, Vance
b.
The Christian needs a reminder every hour; some defeat, surprise, adversity, peril; to be agitated, mortified, beaten out of his course, so that all remains of self will be sifted out.
Horace Bushnell (American Congregational Divine)
c.
What did Peter learn as a result of Satan’s sifting? That he could not stand on his own.
John F. MacArthur
d.
Jesus didn’t pray that Peter wouldn’t get sifted by Satan; he prayed that when he was sifted, his faith wouldn’t fail.
Iain M. Duguid
e.
Give me leave to try them,” saith Satan, “and Peter particularly.” He desired to have them, that he might sift them, that he might show them to be chaff, and not wheat.
Matthew Henry (Nonconformist Biblical Exegete)
f.
g.
The plural you indicates Satan wanted to sift all the apostles like wheat, a rough action that symbolizes tempting them to spiritual ruin.
Craig A. Evans
h.
The purpose of earthly trials is to sift out what is genuine in our faith.
David Wheaton
V. “…but I have prayed for you…”
V. “…but I have prayed for you…”
VI. “…that your faith may not fail…”
VI. “…that your faith may not fail…”
VII. “…And when you have turned again…”
VII. “…And when you have turned again…”
VIII. “…Strengthen your brothers.”
VIII. “…Strengthen your brothers.”
