Many Christians confess Jesus Christ as Lord, but with their lives and actions, they deny Jesus and serve the devil instead. Inaamin mo ba si Jesus sa harap ng mga tao o itinatanggi mo si Jesus? Because you can say and confess all you want. Masasabi mo, that you believe in God and Jesus Christ and that His Holy Spirit dwells in you, but if your actions, pag-uugali, and life don’t line up with the words you confess and the will of God and His Word, then your words have no value. Sa iyong paglalakad at buhay, you show who you really are and to whom you belong: Diyos o ang diyablo?
Inaamin mo ba si Jesus o itinatanggi mo si Jesus sa harap ng mga tao?
Ang sinumang magpahayag sa Akin sa harap ng mga tao, siya ay Aking itatapat din sa Aking Ama na nasa langit. Ngunit sinuman ang magtatatwa sa Akin sa harap ng mga tao, Siya rin naman ay itatatwa ko sa harap ng aking Ama na nasa langit (Mateo 10:32-33)
If you are born again and live after the Spirit in obedience to the Word, which means that you do what the Word tells you to do, then you represent and confess Jesus before men. If you confess Jesus before men, Jesus shall confess you before His Father, Sino ang nasa langit.
But as long as you stay the old creation; the old man and walk after the flesh and don’t do what the Word says, you deny Jesus before men. If you deny Jesus before men, Jesus shall deny you before His Father, Sino ang nasa langit.
When you confess Jesus, you do His will
If you confess Jesus, you shall live according to His will and exalt Jesus through your conduct and life. When you exalt Jesus, you will automatically exalt the Father. Kahit na ang ibig sabihin nito, that people ridicule and mock you.
When you live according to the Word, the world shall laugh at you and consider you a fool. But when you live after the Spirit and His will, then the people’s opinions will not bother you.
You shall not be moved nor stopped, but you stay faithful to Him. Because all you want to do is to please and exalt Him.
You know that the will of God goes against the will of the world. And that the world loves the things, that God considers evil and are an abomination to Him.
Ngayon na, it’s all about whether you keep standing on the Word and stay faithful to your confession. Or will you be intimidated in the flesh by people and deviate from the Word and adopt the opinion of the world?
The world opposes the Word of God. Ibig sabihin nito, that if you decide to obey the world and you choose the world and live like the world, you shall deny Jesus before men and serve the devil. Because you can’t serve Jesus: the Word and the devil, sino ang pinuno ng mundo. These two spiritual kingdoms have nothing in common.
What does the word deny mean?
According to Strong’s Concordance, ‘to deny’ derives from the Greek word ‘arnéomail' at ibig sabihin: to contradict, na ang ibig sabihin ay, disavow, tanggihan, abnegate.
When do you deny Jesus?
If you read and study the words of God, but don’t believe, sumunod, and apply the words of God to your life, you reject His words and deny God and His Word.
If you are not willing to obey His words and apply His words in your life, but instead you come up with all kinds of excuses, so that you don’t have to do what the Word says and what Jesus commanded you to do, then you reject His truth and deny Jesus; ang Salita. Because you choose to believe ‘the truth’ of the world above the truth of God.
Halimbawa na lang, if God considers homosekswalidad an abomination and disapproves of the deed, but you think it’s okay, because the world approves of homosexuality and considers it normal and says that it’s okay to be gay, you represent the will of the world and not the will of God. By rejecting the truth of God and His will, you deny God.
The old Peter denied Jesus Christ
The most well-known example in the Bible of a person, who denied Jesus, ay, syempre naman, Pedro. But actually, Jesus was not only denied by Peter, but by all His disciples, sino pa rin ang lumang paglikha. Because when they took Jesus captive, none of His disciples stayed with Jesus. All His disciples ran away.
And let’s not forget the moment before Jesus’ pagpapako sa krus. God’s people were given the opportunity to vote for Jesus’ palayain. Gayunpaman, none of them, kasama na ang kanyang mga alagad, chose for Jesus but they chose to release Barabas.
In both examples, we see the weakness of the old carnal man. The old man was intimidated by ‘the theologians’ of that time; the Pharisees and Sadducees. The world didn’t put Jesus to death, but His own people did. (basahin mo rin: ‘Ang labanan at kahinaan ng matanda‘ at ‘Ang pagdurusa at panunuya kay Hesukristo‘).
But let’s look at Peter’s life. He had given up his job and his own life for Jesus and followed Him.
Peter walked on water but …
The only disciple, who believed in the words of Jesus and stepped out of the boat and walked on water was Peter.
Peter walked on the water until Peter started looking at the natural circumstances; ang bagyo. By turning his eyes from Jesus and looking at the circumstances, doubt entered and affected Peter’s faith. Peter began to doubt and as a result, he began to sink.
Later, Peter confessed that Jesus was the Son of the living God. Jesus told Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed that to him, kundi ang Kanyang Ama. Nangako si Jesus kay Pedro, that Jesus would build His church upon Peter’s testimony. What a great promise!
sabi ni Jesus sa kanila, Ngunit kung sino ang sabi ninyo kung sino ako? At sumagot si Simon Pedro at sinabi, Ikaw ang Kristo, ang Anak ng Diyos na buhay. At sumagot si Jesus at sinabi sa kaniya, Mapalad ka, Simon Barjona: sapagka't hindi ipinahayag sa iyo ng laman at dugo, but my Father which is in heaven And I say also unto thee, Na ikaw ay Pedro, at upon this rock I will build my church; at the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. At ibibigay ko sa iyo the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: at anumang iyong ikakawala sa lupa ay ikakawala sa langit. (Mateo 16:15-19)
Peter was still the old carnal man. He wasn’t born again. Peter’s flesh wasn’t crucified in Jesus Christ yet. And his spirit wasn’t raised from the dead and didn’t reign as king in his life. Peter was still a carnal man, who was a slave of his flesh (mga pandama, mga emosyon, mga damdamin, mga kaisipan, atbp.). His flesh reigned as king in his life and told him what to do.
“Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, gayon ma'y hindi ako masasaktan!”
When Jesus predicted to His disciples that they would all deny Him, Peter opened his mouth and said: “though all men shall be offended because of Thee, gayon ma'y hindi ako masasaktan!” (Mateo 26:33).
But Jesus answered him and said: “verily I say unto thee, that this night, bago tumilaok ang manok, thou shalt deny Me thrice” (Mateo 26:34-35).
The other disciples spoke the same words as Peter. Jesus and the disciples both predicted the future. Gayunpaman, only the words of Jesus became the truth and not the words of the disciples.
“I don’t know Him”
Because when they took Jesus captive, Peter and all the other disciples ran away and fled from Him. Peter looked from a distance. But when they recognized Peter as a disciple of Jesus, Peter denied that he knew Jesus. He denied his Master and Lord. Peter was ashamed of Jesus and afraid of what people would do to him. That’s why Peter pretended, that he didn’t know Jesus.
Peter didn’t deny Jesus once, not twice, ngunit tatlong beses. Three times, Peter said that he didn’t know Jesus.
Pedro, who told Jesus a few days before, that he would never leave Jesus and would not deny Jesus, but was willing to die with Jesus, denied Jesus thrice, by saying that he didn’t know Jesus. He even called Jesus: ang lalaking iyon.
When Peter heard the cock crow, he remembered the words of Jesus and became aware that he had denied Jesus, and Peter wept bitterly.
Can the old man follow Jesus?
The old man is not able to follow Jesus. Jesus this. He knew the nature of the old carnal man and the weakness of the flesh. Jesus knew that the old man could not sundin Siya because the old man is bound to the flesh and its sinful nature.
He knew the battle between the flesh and the Spirit. Jesus knew that a man could only follow Him and be saved by regeneration. Because only by becoming Ipinanganak na Muli, when the flesh is crucified and the spirit of man becomes alive, man is able to see and enter the Kingdom of God. Because the Kingdom of God is a spiritual Kingdom and flesh and blood cannot inherit ang Kaharian ng Diyos.
Hangga't ang isang tao ay hindi na muling ipinanganak, the person remains unspiritual and considers the words of God as foolishness. Because the words of God go against the will of the flesh and the natural laws of the world.
The old Peter hadn’t denied himself; he had not inilapag ang kanyang laman and wasn’t born again. That’s why Peter went along with the world and denied Jesus because he was afraid to lose his own life. Peter must have felt very miserable and ashamed when Jesus was crucified and entered Hades and stayed there for three days. Peter returned to his old profession and picked up his old life. But Jesus had not rejected Peter but gave him a new chance, because He had a plan for his life. Jesus had promised Peter, that on his testimony He would build His church.
“Do you really love me?”
tanong ni Hesus kay Pedro 3 times if he really loved Him, and Peter answered Him wholeheartedly, that he did love Him.
Kaya naman nang kumain na sila, Sinabi ni Jesus kay Simon Pedro, Simon, anak ni Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? Sinabi niya sa kanya, oo nga, Panginoon; thou knowest that I love thee. Sinabi niya sa kanya, Feed my lambs He saith to him again the second time, Simon, anak ni Jonas, lovest thou me? Sinabi niya sa kanya, oo nga, Panginoon; thou knowest that I love thee. Sinabi niya sa kanya, Feed my sheep. Sinabi niya sa kanya sa ikatlong pagkakataon, Simon, anak ni Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? At sinabi niya sa kanya, Panginoon, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Sinabi sa kaniya ni Jesus, Feed my sheep (John 21:15-17)
Nang sinabi ni Hesus ang mga salitang ito, He made known to Peter with what kind of death, he would exalt God (John 21:18-19)
The new Peter confessed Jesus Christ before men
But when the spirit of Peter was raised from the dead and Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, he became a new creation. The Spirit reigned in his life. Therefore Peter wasn’t ashamed of Jesus Christ anymore. Peter witnessed in public Jesus Christ, ang Anak ng Diyos na buhay.
Ang mga lalaking Hudyo, who were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of weeks, ridiculed the disciples by accusing them of drinking too much wine.
But the new Peter wasn’t led by the flesh, ngunit sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu. Kaya nga, Peter was not intimidated and moved by their words.
Peter stood up and witnessed before all those people of Jesus Christ; ang Anak ng Diyos na buhay.
Peter wasn’t ashamed of Jesus anymore and didn’t hide.
Kahit na, there was a moment in Peter’s life, when he was intimidated by the opinions of men and showed hypocritical behavior. But when Paul confronted Peter about his behavior, Pedro nagsisi na.
Peter walked after the Spirit and stayed loyal to Jesus unto death. He died as a witness of Jesus Christ and exalted God with his death, just like Jesus had foretold.
What happens around us, is the result of the choices of man
Nabubuhay tayo sa isang panahon, in which we see the prophecies of the Bible coming to pass. Many believers have left God and have deviated from the Word and the faith. Lahat sa paligid namin, we see an increase in the power of the devil, which is visible through the behavior and lives of man and the natural chaos and disasters sa lupa. Oo nga, the devil has been given great power by … mga tao.
People often sisihin ang Diyos for it, but the truth is that people are responsible for it. The people are the ones, who give power to the devil by being obedient to him and exalt and honor him by tolerating and accepting sin and by living in sin.
The world has the final authority in most people’s life. Therefore the spirit of this world controls and determines the lives of people.
The spirit of the world has entered many churches and that’s why sin is tolerated and accepted.
Many leaders are not aware of it or they are aware but don’t do anything, because they are focused on growth and are afraid to lose members.
The Word is changed and adjusted to the lusts and desires of the old carnal man and the will of the world. But by changing and adjusting the words of God, the truth is affected by lies and therefore isn’t the truth but a lie.
Many believers don’t live according to the Word. They don’t apply the words of God in their lives. Sa halip, they listen to the knowledge and wisdom of carnal man and the world and apply this earthly knowledge and wisdom to their lives.
They don’t do, what Jesus commanded them to do. Because His words don’t fit into their lives and the time we live in. They confess they believe in Jesus Christ and that Jesus is their Lord, but with their actions, pag-uugali, and life they deny Jesus.
Paano ka? Do you confess Jesus or do you deny Jesus?
Every day you choose to stay loyal and obedient to the Word of God or to deviate from the Word and obey the world. When you choose to listen to what the world says and be obedient to the world, then you shall automatically deny Jesus. Because the world and the Word cannot go together. They are operating from two different kingdoms. It’s up to you to decide which kingdom you want to belong to and represent: ang Kaharian ng Diyos o ang kaharian ng kadiliman (ang mundo).
When you’re not born again or keep walking after the flesh, you shall be a friend of this world and live like the world. Ang Salita ay nagsasabi, that if you are a friend of the world you will become an enemy of God.
Kayong mga mangangalunya at mga mangangalunya, hindi ba ninyo nalalaman na ang pakikipagkaibigan sa sanglibutan ay pakikipagalit sa Dios? ang sinumang ibig na maging kaibigan ng sanglibutan ay kaaway ng Diyos (James 4:4)
That’s why it’s so important to abide and stay in Jesus Christ; the Word and stay obedient to Him. When you confess Jesus Christ before people, by your walk and life, Jesus shall confess you to the Father. But if you want to be a friend of the world and be accepted by the world and choose to obey the world and walk and live like the world, then you shall remain the old carnal man and deny Jesus by your walk and your life. When you deny Jesus, Jesus shall also deny you to the Father.
Sabi ni Jesus: "Kung ang sinuman ay gustong sumunod sa Akin, ipagkait niya ang sarili niya, at pasanin ang kanyang krus, at sumunod sa Akin. Sapagkat ang sinumang nagnanais na iligtas ang kanyang buhay ay mawawalan nito: at sinumang nagnanais na mawalan ng kanyang buhay alang alang sa Akin ay matatagpuan ito" (Mateo 16:24-25)
At ang mga salitang ito, na sinalita ni Jesus, are still true and relevant today.
'Maging asin ng lupa’
