November 28th
PETER’S DENIALS (DENYING CHRIST IN SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY) (Continued)
Scripture Reading: Luke Chapter 22: 54-62 (KJV)
Isaiah 9: 6-7 declares, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."
Since our focus here is strictly on spiritual things, refer to the Book of Acts, Chapter Two, when Pentecost was fully come. A major part of the phenomenon at Pentecost was that all who spoke were Galilaeans yet every man heard what was said (the wondrous works of God) in his own language (Acts 2:6-7). Peter persisted in his denial by saying to this man, I know not what thou sayest. First it was, I know him not, then it was I am not, and now it is I know not what thou sayest. Stated another way, he had already denied that he knew the Lord, that he was a part of His Body, and now we see what pictures his denial of the Holy Spirit.
Our entire being, (spirit, soul, and body), belongs to the Lord and each area can only be sustained by Resurrection Life Power, or we too many end up denying our Lord. As we shall see in the reading below, he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit.
Romans 8:16 reads, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" First Corinthians 6: 17, 20 states, "But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." First Peter 4:6 reads, "For for this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."
In addition to the powerful lesson of Peter’s denials for us as believers, we can be sure that Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father and be thankful that He has prayed for us. As Jesus told Peter, when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. This devotional could easily be built into a volume if we would go to the Scriptures and survey the many wonders Peter accomplished in the Resurrection Life Power of Jesus Christ. He was indeed converted and continues to strengthen his brethren to this day. All one need do is read his powerful explanation of Pentecost and see that the Son of God was no longer a separate Being but has become to Peter the indwelling Christ of God!