SCRIPTURE
Revelation 3:7–8 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “HE WHO HAS THE KEY OF DAVID, HE WHO OPENS AND NO ONE SHUTS, AND SHUTS AND NO ONE OPENS”: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

INTRODUCTION
When John was exiled on the island of Patmos, he received a revelation from the risen Christ addressed to seven churches in Asia Minor. Each church was evaluated for its faith, failures, and faithfulness. Yet among them, one stood apart—the Church in Philadelphia.

This small, humble church was not known for great power or influence. Jesus said they had “little strength,” yet despite their weakness, they kept His Word and did not deny His Name.

Unlike the other churches, Philadelphia received no rebuke, only commendation and a promise: “I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it.” Why? Because even with little strength, they remained steadfast, faithful, and true. They kept His Word and did not deny His Name

Jesus warned in
Matthew 10:33 “Whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father in heaven.”
Deny Christ is not only verbal, it can happen silently in our actions, our choices, and our compromises.

DIFFERENT WAYS SCRIPTURE SHOWS WE CAN DENY HIM.
a. Denying Christ by Words
Peter, the bold disciple, denied Jesus three times (Matthew 26:70–74). His words were “I do not know the Man!” Fear silenced his faith. Likewise, when we stay silent about our faith at work, in school, in university or in society, we too deny Him. Peter denied Jesus only three times, we as children of God should check our lives to see how many time, we would have denied Christ.

b. Denying Christ by Lifestyle
Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him.
Paul was writing to Titus about hypocritical believers in Crete. These people claimed to know God, they said the right words, attended worship, and appeared religious, but their actions proved otherwise.
They professed faith with their lips but denied Christ through their behaviour. For example, saying “I love God” but harbouring hatred or unforgiveness (1 John 4:20). Their lives were marked by rebellion, disobedience, and corruption. A Christian’s faith must be visible not only in confession, but in our conduct.

c. Denying Christ by Loving the World
2 Timothy 4:10 Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.
Demas was once a faithful companion of the Apostle Paul as a fellow labourer in the Gospel. He once walked in faith, served in ministry, and experienced the move of God firsthand. But somewhere along the journey, his heart shifted.

Paul’s final letter, written from prison, reveals that Demas had forsaken him, wasn’t just tempted by the world; he had fallen in love with it. Demas’ story shows that you can begin well, but lose your way if your heart is captured by worldly desires.
Proverbs 30:9 captures the spiritual danger of success without surrender: “Lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’”

When life is comfortable and all our needs are met, we can easily forget the One who provided it all and living as if God is no longer necessary. To deny Christ through worldliness doesn’t always mean rejecting Him verbally. Worldly attachment is one of the enemy’s most effective traps that doesn’t demand open rebellion, only slow distraction. When love for the world grows, love for Christ fades.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:12, “Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

d. Denying Christ by Neglecting Responsibility
1 Timothy 5:8 If anyone does not provide for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Paul wrote these words to Timothy to guide the church in caring for widows and families. Some believers had become careless in fulfilling their family duties, possibly assuming that their “spiritual service” exempted them from practical responsibility. Paul reminds them that true faith is lived out in love and responsibility, especially toward one’s own household. It’s not enough to preach, pray, or serve in the church, but faith must begin at home.

To deny doesn’t mean to reject Jesus verbally, but to contradict the essence of Christian faith through neglect. When a believer refuses to show love and responsibility to their own family, they deny the very nature of the Gospel they claim to believe. The first ministry field is our family, spouse, children, parents, or dependents.

Before we preach the Word in the church, we are called to live it at home. To neglect our family or responsibility under the name of “ministry” is to deny the faith we preach.

e. Denying Christ by Rejecting His Power
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Paul describes what the last days will look like, people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, unholy, disobedient, and so on — and in the middle of this list, he adds a striking statement, “Having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

He’s describing people who look religious on the outside but lack the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit on the inside. They have the appearance of Christianity without the substance of Christ. These people outwardly look spiritual, they go to church, know Scripture, pray in public, use religious language but their hearts are unchanged.

The “power” they deny is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, the very power that changes hearts, renews minds, and breaks the chains of sin. They deny it in different ways:
• They want forgiveness but not repentance.
• They want salvation without surrender.
• They want blessings without obedience.
When there is no real change in how we live, think, and love, we are denying the power of God to transform us.

When we settle for religion without relationship, ritual without revelation, or church attendance without transformation—we deny the living power of Christ in us.

f. Denying Christ by Compromise
Hebrews 6:6 …if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance.
The writer of Hebrews was addressing Jewish believers who had once accepted Christ but were tempted to return to their old religion. They had experienced God’s truth, tasted the heavenly gift, and received the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 6:4–5), yet some were considering going back to the old ways for safety and acceptance.

Turning away from Christ after truly knowing Him is no small matter. It’s not merely backsliding, it’s denying the very One who saved you.

Many believers fall into denial not because they stop believing, but they choose comfort over conviction. The heart can become so hardened by repeated compromise that genuine repentance becomes unlikely. The danger is not that God stops forgiving, it is that we stop repenting. Compromise when truth is inconvenient is denial in disguise. We crucify Christ afresh.

g. Denying Christ by Shame
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation.
The Apostle Paul, writing to believers in Rome, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” This is remarkable because proclaiming the Gospel in Rome came at a high cost, which could be ridicule, rejection, imprisonment, even death. Yet Paul makes a deliberate, public confession of loyalty to Christ. He refuses to hide his faith, soften his message, and back out of fear. He stands firm because he knows what the Gospel truly is, the power of God that saves.

To be ashamed of the Gospel is to deny Christ by silence, not through rejection, but through fear of disapproval.
Luke 9:26 Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory.

When we care more about reputation than redemption, we fall into silent denial. To be ashamed of Christ is to hide the very message that saves. True disciples shine their light even when it costs them their comfort or reputation.

FAITH THAT REFUSES TO DENY
Throughout Scripture, we see men and women who stood firm despite pressure
• Daniel refused to stop praying even when threatened with death in the lions’ den.
• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said, “Even if He does not deliver us, we will not bow.”
• Antipas, a faithful martyr in Pergamum, held fast where Satan’s throne was (Revelation 2:13).
These believers teach us that even in persecution they will not deny, because peace comes from loyalty to Christ.

DENIAL IS NOT THE END
Peter denied Christ three times, but grace found him. After the resurrection, Jesus asked, “Peter, do you love Me?” (John 21:15–17)
Each affirmation of love restored what denial had broken. God is not looking to condemn but to restore those who repent.

If you’ve denied Him in fear, failure, or compromise—His mercy still calls: “Come back, and I will reopen the doors that were shut.”

CONCLUSION AND PRAYER
Lord, I confess that many times I have denied You, through silence, compromise, or neglect. Forgive me, Lord. Restore to me the courage to stand firm in every season.

I choose today to be like the church in Philadelphia — small in strength but strong in faith. I choose to love Your Word, to honour Your name, and to walk through every door You open.

May my confession rise to heaven today: “Even if the world denies You, I will not.” And may heaven respond:
“Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it.”
AMEN