Can We Deny Our Lord Today? Yes we can. But will you?

Introduction Deny--to contradict, i.e. disavow, reject, abnegate:--deny, refuse. to deny utterly, i.e. disown, abstain:--deny. to dispute, refuse, contradict, deny, gainsay, speak against. If we do any of these against our Lord, we are denying Him.

To Be A Servant Of Christ We Must Deny Ourselves Matthew 16:24 (NKJV) "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Mark 8:34 (NKJV) "When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Luke 9:23 (NKJV) "Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

If we deny Jesus He will deny us. 2 Timothy 2:12-13 (NKJV) "If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." Matthew 10:33 (NKJV) "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

We must not deny Him. To daily follow our Lord, we must deny ourselves. We must change our attitudes to put Christ first in our lives above all other things. This must be done on a daily basis. We would be ignorant to think that we could not possibly deny God or Christ. At one time, the most famous Christian denied the Christ; even after he was warned that he would.

Peter was told; Matthew 26:34 (NKJV) "Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." Mark 14:30 (NKJV) "Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." Luke 22:34 (NKJV) "Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."

Of course, Peter denied that he would deny Jesus. Matthew 26:35 (NKJV) "Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples." Mark 14:31 (NKJV) "But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all said likewise." Imagine Peter’s frustration when he said that he would not Deny Jesus, and Jesus kept telling him that he would.

Let us see who will deny whom. Matthew 26:70 (NKJV) "But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying." Matthew 26:72 (NKJV) "But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!" Mark 14:68 (NKJV) "But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are saying." And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed."

Who denied whom Mark 14:70 (NKJV) "But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it." Luke 22:57 (NKJV) "But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him." John 18:25 (NKJV) "Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not!" John 18:27 (NKJV) "Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed."

What happens after the rooster crows? Matthew 26:75 (NKJV) "And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly." Mark 14:72 (NKJV) "A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And when he thought about it, he wept." Luke 22:61 (NKJV) "And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."

Put this in your mind. Can't you just picture it? Jesus standing off in the distance being surrounded by all sorts of loudmouth accusers and all sorts of commotion. And at the very moment that Peter denies Christ and hears the rooster crow, Peter looks to see Christ turn towards him and glare with that "I told you so" look.

Each gospel account reads a little differently. Each account places the emphasis of this action in a different place. The results are also a little different for each. The Lord had told Peter what would happen. When this very emotional turmoil was completed, Peter realizes that his faith in the Christ had failed and he allowed these things to take place because of his selfish fear for himself. He probably wondered if he would be allowed to enter the kingdom which Jesus has spent the last three and a half years talking about.

We may not deny knowing Christ, but… Titus 1:16 (NKJV) "They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." Jude 1:4 (NKJV) "For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. This is how we deny Him. Our actions.

We are not the only guilty ones. Acts 3:13-14 (NKJV)"The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. "But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you," Peter explained that the Jews had literally KILLED the Son of God by their denial of Him.

Some will not deny His name. Revelation 3:8 (NKJV) "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name." But, there are many who will deny the Christ. Luke 12:9 (NKJV) "But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God." 1 John 2:22-23 (NKJV) Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also."

Conclusion Remember that actions speak louder than words. One may not deny Christ by mouth, but their actions deny Him. Have you denied your Lord? Have you done what the Lord has requested of you?