Never be sympathetic with a person whose situation causes you to conclude that God is dealing harshly with him. God can be more tender than we can conceive, and every once in a while He gives us the opportunity to deal firmly with someone so that He may be viewed as the tender One. If a person cannot go to God, it is because he has something secret which he does not intend to give up— he may admit his sin, but would no more give up that thing than he could fly under his own power. It is impossible to deal sympathetically with people like that. We must reach down deep in their lives to the root of the problem, which will cause hostility and resentment toward the message. People want the blessing of God, but they can’t stand something that pierces right through to the heart of the matter.

If you are sensitive to God’s way, your message as His servant will be merciless and insistent, cutting to the very root. Otherwise, there will be no healing. We must drive the message home so forcefully that a person cannot possibly hide, but must apply its truth. Deal with people where they are, until they begin to realize their true need. Then hold high the standard of Jesus for their lives. Their response may be, “We can never be that.” Then drive it home with, “Jesus Christ says you must.” “But how can we be?” “You can’t, unless you have a new Spirit” (see Luke 11:13).

There must be a sense of need created before your message is of any use. Thousands of people in this world profess to be happy without God. But if we could be truly happy and moral without Jesus, then why did He come? He came because that kind of happiness and peace is only superficial. Jesus Christ came to “bring…a sword” through every kind of peace that is not based on a personal relationship with Himself.

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December 19 2014

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I believe your word is like a sword, and it often cuts us, and those we interact with to the quick. Your word points out my need for a Savior, and your Spirit convicts non-believers, but I can find no scripture that tells me I should be rude or heavy handed. When Chambers says I must deal with those that offer strong opposition so that I …will cause hostility and resentment toward the message, I am not sure.

And God says…”Let Me deliver the message to those you come in contact with. Do not have any preconceived ideas about how or what you say or do. Just let Me live through you, through our connection; and allow Me to deliver the message that is needed. Most often you will not even be aware that you are a living, breathing testimony of Jesus. On your most effective days, you will not even be aware that your message was sent by My Spirit, through our connection and received by another. Jesus only gave you two commandments; love your God with all your heart, mind and spirit, and love your neighbor as yourself. As long as your communication is based on these two commandments, you need not be concerned about anything else.”