Questions when considering this in quiet time today (see sentences in bold):ġ) Who is Oswald speaking of - believers or nonbelievers? To me, it appears at first, that he is speaking to believers then in the end nonbelievers?Ģ) Any insight.this one is bothering me a bit. a sword” through every kind of peace that is not based on a personal relationship with Himself. 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. Thousands of people in this world profess to be happy without God. There must be a sense of need created before your message is of any use. 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). Then hold high the standard of Jesus for their lives. Deal with people where they are, until they begin to realize their true need. We must drive the message home so forcefully that a person cannot possibly hide, but must apply its truth. If you are sensitive to God’s way, your message as His servant will be merciless and insistent, cutting to the very root. People want the blessing of God, but they can’t stand something that pierces right through to the heart of the matter. We must reach down deep in their lives to the root of the problem, which will cause hostility and resentment toward the message. It is impossible to deal sympathetically with people like that.

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. 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. Never be sympathetic with a person whose situation causes you to conclude that God is dealing harshly with him. I did not come to bring peace but a sword - Matthew 10:34

Oswald chambers today