“And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire,
hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”
Jude 1:22-23

There was a great revival in the northeastern USA under the preaching of evangelist Jonathan Edwards. The sermon that turned the northeast upside down has been recorded and can be obtained on a disk. In that sermon Mr. Edwards preached on hell. The convicting power of the Holy Spirit was so great that it brought in a great revival through which multitudes were saved.

So what shall we say? Do we bring them in through mercy, or through terror?

And of course, the answer is “both.” On some have compassion, making a distinction, but others save with fear…

That means that in every opportunity to present the Gospel, one has to be in such submission to the Holy Spirit that the Lord is able to minister through us in whichever way HE ALONE knows will reach them. Some would stomp off in anger when hearing a fearful word, but others would be saved by it. Some would snicker at a word of mercy, but others would be saved by it. Therefore it is of the uttermost importance that the believer’s heart be in total submission to, and in cooperation with, the Holy Spirit – so that the work is done at HIS direction.

Only the Spirit of God can guide us as to how to approach any person. Every believer should be praying daily for this kind of submission and cooperation, asking for wisdom to know in every circumstance how to speak and what to do.