James Montgomery Boice, commenting on this text, imagines Jesus' response to Satan, saying that there was indeed a great deal of chaff in Peter, but Satan was wrong in thinking that Peter was only chaff. Boice imagines that our Lord may have said, "My grain is in Peter. Consequently, I will let you blow on him, but when you are done all you will have succeeded in doing is blowing away some of the chaff. Peter will be stronger than before" (The Gospel of John, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981, p. 88).

In verse 31 the text may be literally translated, "Satan has begged earnestly to sift you all like wheat." We know that the adversary and his troops tempt and trap people in sin continually. However, at least occasionally, Satan slithers before the Lord to make his case to tempt, test, and try some of God's most faithful followers. That is what this ancient enemy did several millennia ago when he sought permission to bring suffering on God's servant Job (see Job 1:6-12).

However, whether the subject of testing is Job, Peter, or any other disciple, it is always the Lord who sets the terms and the boundaries under which such testing takes place. Satan may beg and badger, but God is sovereign and supreme. Satan may whine and wheedle, but God is merciful and mighty. God is immeasurably wiser and infinitely stronger than Satan. God has the final word. Yes, the Lord may allow us to endure various trials and testings which come to us from the adversary. But God has a greater purpose in mind. These tests come so that we will learn to lean on the Lord.

Recently an Ameritech lineman was working high up on the telephone pole in our neighbor's backyard. Have you ever watched a lineman working high on a pole? In order to climb such a pole, a workman must lean back on the broad safety belt that surrounds him and the pole. He needs to lean back so that his spikes will press into the wood and he'll not slip. Only then can a lineman climb and perform his job.

It is the same way spiritually speaking. We cannot climb higher in the Christian life if we are not learning to lean on Jesus. If we do not learn to lean, we will falter and fall into the adversary's traps. If we do not learn to lean, we will slip and get splintered-up. God sometimes lets us endure struggles and adversity. But He does this so that we will learn to lean on His Son and not on ourselves alone. This was the case with Peter and it is the same way with each of us today.

II. Sin Brings Adversity

The first truth we find in Luke 22, verses 31-34, is that Satan is our adversary. This leads, then, to a second truth: sin brings adversity. Read through this morning's newspaper and you will nod in agreement. On today's front page we read about graft and corruption by public officials, arson and armed robbery, drugs and domestic violence. Sin brings adversity. We see real adversity in the broken lives and broken families in our community and in the cities around us, due to all manner of addiction and abuse which leads to much sorrow and suffering.