I overheard the title in a dream. In the dream Pastor Demola (deceased) it appears was having a conversation with Pastor John, my current pastor. Pastor John repeated what Pastor David had shared and it was the title: If you deny Me, I will deny you. I woke up and began to speak to the Lord. But as He responded, I thought He would’ve taken me to the scripture where He spoke those words, instead He used the scripture below, but stopped short of what most preachers used this particular scripture for.: Tithes and offerings. This wasn’t about money, but rather about the ways we have chosen to deny Him, and when confronted we ask how have we done so?
“Look! I am sending My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to His Temple. The Messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But who will be able to endure it when He comes? Who will be able to stand and face Him when He appears? For He will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to Him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as He did in the past. “At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear Me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “I Am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned My decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’
Malachi 3:1-7NLT
Last year in one of the messages, I included a quote from the Governor of New York, where he praised himself for his great work at combatting Covid and declared that God and prayers had played no role. Now another leader from New York has repeated the same boast. In case you missed it, you may look it up. It was an exchange between congressmen Nadler and Steube. I don’t want to use the time here to share the entire exchange. But this was one of the things the Holy Spirit brought to mind. I’ll include some of what transpired.
Congressman Steube had quoted Deuteronomy 22:5 to support his argument. I’ll share a part of his quote.
"It is not clothing or personal style that offends God but, rather, the use of one's appearance to act out or take on a sexual identity different from the one biologically assigned by God at birth," the congressman added. "In his wisdom, God intentionally made each individual uniquely either male or female. When men or women claim to be able to choose their own sexual identity, they are making a statement that God did not know what he was doing when he created them."
In response, Nadler stated, "Mr. Steube, what any religious tradition ascribes as God's will is no concern of this Congress."
My guess is Mr. Nadler thought he was speaking for the 434 remaining congressional members.
There are many ways in which we can deny the Lord. We think it’s just saying we don’t know Him like Peter did at Jesus’ trial. But not so. We deny Him when we doubt His Word, we deny Him when we vote people into positions of power who oppose biblical truths, we deny Him when we make wrong choices, we deny Him when we stay away from His house, we deny Him when we walk in fear and anxiety, we deny Him when we slander and gossip about each other, we deny Him when we cheat in relationships, we deny Him when we slant His Word to suit our fleshly desires, we deny Him when we don’t heed His warnings, we deny Him when we place anything or anyone above Him, we deny Him when we allow sin to run rampant in our lives/ homes, we deny Him when we no longer fear and reverence Him, we deny Him when we say one thing and live another way. We deny Him when we are ashamed to stand up for what He stands up for. We deny Him when He instructs us to be a blessing to someone and we disobey because we’re selfish. Would you like me to continue, or you’ve gotten the picture? As Christians, we’re guilty of denying Him everyday, in some way shape or form.
After the messenger had declared a list of atrocities Israel had committed against the Lord, and instructed them to return, like He’s asking us to do today, here was the response of calloused minds: “How can we return when we have never gone away.” They’re calling the Lord a liar. Can you imagine that? That’s because they never considered the charges listed against them as denying the Lord. Whenever the church adapts to the world’s arguments as truths, and begin to back away from what the Bible says, begin to frustrate God’s Grace, begins twisting God’s Word and call it love when it’s acceptance of sin, Jesus said, “I will deny you!”
We hear what we want to hear, see what we want to see and believe what we want to believe. But there’s only ONE TRUTH! Jesus Christ the Word! His truth, and only His Truth remains. We can try to dress it up so as not to offend, but the truth of God’s Word will not be altered or changed! If we deny Him! He WILL, deny us! How have you denied Him? How have you left Him? Have you backed up when asked the hard questions about the culture versus the Truth? Have you denied Him by denying His right to speak through you? Is your body in the pews but your spirit has dried up? Have you remained silent when you heard error being branded about as fact? Have you nodded in affirmation, trying not to out yourself as a Bible believing child of God when you hear people slandering the Name of Jesus who saved you? Trying to be relevant. We’re supposed to be peculiar. We don’t fit in, we stand out! 1 Peter 2:9
Deniers of the Truth are deniers of Jesus Christ. It’s blatantly declaring like Peter at the trial, “ I don’t know “ the” Man!” When I woke up from the dream, the first thing I did was examine myself, asking him to search my own heart, I stood naked and open before Almighty God. Paul warns about being a castaway after preaching the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:27. I prayed for the Lord to search my heart, that He would give me the courage and grace to stand up under pressure. To live what I teach no matter the cost. He alone knows what is ahead of me. No one sets out to fail, but none of us know what our responses will be until we’re faced with a decision, but God knows. So I seek Him. I don’t want to deny Him, do you?
Jesus spoke these words that we all know so well. But do we fully understand the impact and magnitude of His Words? It’s very sobering when you think about it. I don’t want to make Peter’s mistake. Emotional promises will never stand up under pressure. I heard someone say this, “emotional outburst can limit God, and cause you not to keep your word.” That’s what happened to Peter. Matthew 26:35. I want to be the Peter after the Holy Ghost got ahold of him. I want Jesus to be the voice that speaks whenever I open my mouth to proclaim Him. Acts 2. How about you?
“Therefore, everyone who acknowledges Me before men and confesses Me [out of a state of oneness with Me], I will also acknowledge him before My Father Who is in heaven and confess [that I am abiding in] him. But whoever denies and disowns Me before men, I also will deny and disown him before My Father Who is in heaven.”
Matthew 10:32-33 AMPC
I’ve listed a number of ways we can or have denied Him. Have you denied Him lately? We are not our own any longer, we have been bought at a price. More precious than silver and gold. Paul told Timothy, to endure hardship as a good soldier. (1 Corinthians 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:3.)9 We’re not slaves to fear( 2 Timothy 1:7). We cannot deny who we already are. To do that is to deny Him. Hard times are coming people of God. Men have become calloused lovers of themselves, hating what is good and righteous (2 Timothy 3:2.). What are we to do? Hold fast to that which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21) fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12). Stand up for Jesus even if you’re the only one standing. If you don’t deny Him, you’ll never stand alone. All of heaven stands with us, and they’re more than those against us.
We are His witnesses that His Word is true. We can’t back down now. Are you with me?
Jesus is looking for those willing to forsake all and follow Him. The decision is costly, but the return outweighs the investment. We will not be deniers! We will boldly declare that His truth endures to all generations! Psalm 100:5 🙏
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
March 23, 2021