November 24th
PETER’S DENIALS (DENYING CHRIST IN SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY) (Continued)
Let us read the accounts carefully now as rendered in Luke’s Gospel.
Luke Chapter 22: 54-62 (KJV)
Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
Peter’s first encounter was with a certain maid. When she insisted he was with Jesus, Peter answered, "Woman, I know him not." The maid speaks to the soul which is depicted through the feminine gender in the Scriptures to aid our understanding. For instance, David said, "My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear [thereof] and be glad" (Psalm 34.2). Our souls are comprised of our minds, wills, and emotions. Anytime you consider how our adversary accuses, his method of operating is always through the soul first. This is because he knows he is no match for the spirit man that is in union with Christ. Once he can get a person to deny Christ in the realm of the soul, he then has place to pursue in his attack on the body and usurp the power given to the inner man.
In Christ, we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul (Hebrews 10:39). He restoreth our souls (Psalm 23:2). "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." _ (Psalm 24:3-4). David encourages us in his earnest proclamations unto God as in Psalm 25:1 which reads, "Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul." And adain in Psalm 25:20, "O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee."
Continued
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