Yes, I know Him
Do your words, thoughts, and actions declare that Christ is true? Does your life shine with Christ? Mathew 5:15-16 says, “Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven “. Have you accepted Christ as Lord over your life? Are you allowing Christ to take total control of your life? Does Christ have a place in your heart? Have you accepted the truth that Christ is Lord? Answering ‘no’ to any of the questions above indicates a denial of Christ. I have learned that denying Christ isn’t limited to a bold verbal proclamation that says, “I do not know Christ”. But instead, denying Christ spans the subtlety of our thoughts, words, and actions that can be translated into an “I do not know Him” declaration.
Many biblical characters denied Christ. A few examples include the Pharisees, who refused to accept that Christ was God’s son. Judas the Iscariot, who sold Christ Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, a betrayal and denial of friendship and lordship. When asked if he knew Jesus, Simon Peter declared, “…. I do not know Him” Luke 22:57.
Denying Christ is spiritual! I would like to draw more of our attention to Simon Peter’s denial. Before Peter denied Christ, Christ had already warned Peter of the enemy’s plans and schemes that would cause him to fall into this temptation.
Luke 22:31 – 34, NIV
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
We need to understand that Peter’s denial was entirely spiritual! It was the enemy’s desire for Peter to be “sifted out” like wheat. So, imagine, just as flour is sieved to be separated, that was the enemy’s agenda to separate Peter from the discipleship of Jesus. We must understand the war for our souls—the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh (Galatians 5:17). The flesh is a natural enemy to God (Romans 8:7) and the Spirit that is willing to do the things of God. When we deny Christ, we give in to the flesh, and we become overwhelmed by our desires that make us turn our backs on God, our desire to live life on our terms. However, when we know Him, we live for Him, through trials, storms, through persecution. The bible tells us that when we live in the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Still, when we walk in the Spirit, our knowledge of Christ increases. This is the same Spirit that caused Apostle Paul to say, “That I may know Him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering, being conformed to His death”. The Holy Spirit reveals and testifies of Christ, enabling us to come to the knowledge of Him. However, how can the Spirit testify when we walk in the flesh? And if the Spirit doesn’t testify, why would we say, think or act like we know Christ?
Peter didn’t understand this at that time. He didn’t understand the battle. If Peter understood this, he wouldn’t have objected to the prophecy of his denial. He would have asked the right questions; he would have asked for grace to overcome! It is not by might nor is it by power but by the Spirit of God (Zechariah 4:6).
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?” Matthew 26:40, NASB
Another thing we should note about Peter’s denial is that before Peter’s denial, there was slumber.
When we slumber in prayer, in reading the word of God, in fellowshipping with other believers, stumbling becomes inevitable. It is the result of giving room to the flesh. In Matthew 26:41 Jesus said to the disciples, “Watch and pray, lest you enter temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”. Scripture also tells us in James 1:14 that “…each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed“. Only the flesh produces evil desires. Nevertheless, when we are steadfast in prayer and meditate on the word of God, we crucify the flesh by giving room to the Spirit. The Holy Spirit testifies and reveals Christ, causing us to inherently say, “I know Him”.
Let’s acknowledge that before Peter could even deny Christ, a woman firstly testified about Peter’s association with Jesus.
And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.” Luke 22:56, NASB
She looked at Peter closely and said, “This man was with him” before Peter denied it in verse 57.
There will be many things in life that represent this woman. Things that will challenge us because we follow Christ. Many things will examine us thoroughly to confirm our identity in Christ. Persecution is inevitable as children of God. When those things surface in our lives, in those moments as children of God, we must arise, being filled with the Spirit of God, to boldly affirm that yes, indeed, “I know Him !”
In conclusion, when we deny Christ, Christ denies us Matthew 10:33. Denying Christ will cost God nothing. However, Christ denying us will cost us everything. It will cost us the everlasting life promised by God.
I would like to encourage us to be filled with the Spirit of God. This Spirit witnesses, reveals, testifies, causes us to cry out “Abba Father”, and gives us the power to say, “Yes, I know Him”.
Prayer: Lord, have mercy on me for the ways I have denied you. Lord, empower me with your Spirit.
Photo credit: ©istockphoto/Tinnakorn Jorruang
