I’ll use Psalms 8:1, 16:2, and 31:1-4 for Temple worship today. (I trust my readers to understand by “Temple worship,” I mean the worship that will be ongoing in His Temple today, and not that I intend to worship the Temple.)

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures this morning, meditating on something our Evangelist brought out in his message last night:

Jude 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

Jude 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind with the phrase, “pulling them out of the fire.” The root of the word that is translated pulling is very strong, signifying seizing, snatching, carrying off, even to take by force.

Along the still waters, I pondered the Spirit’s exhortation through Jude that for some we have compassion, making a difference, and for others we take hold of them and “pull” them out of the fire.

No one Who has observed God’s ways as revealed in Scripture can believe He would use “force” to save a soul: He draws but does not compel. He presents Himself as “lifted up” (hung upon the Cross) and draws men to Himself.

And yet, His angels took Lot and his family by their hands and “pulled” them to safety from the fires of Sodom (Genesis 19:15-17). He knocked Saul from his horse while riding to Damascus to arrest Christians for the offense of believing Jesus is the Christ (Acts 9).

The above accounts are special in at least three ways. First, it was angels and Christ Himself intervening. Second, in the family of Lot, he at least, was a “just” man and called “righteous” (2 Peter 2:7-8), so this compelled deliverance was that of one already “saved.” And Jesus’ Personal and aggressive intervention in the Salvation of Saul was on account of the fact he was a specially “chosen vessel” (Acts 9:15). And third, remember Lot’s wife, her will was free to choose and she chose poorly (Luke 17:32; Genesis 19; Genesis 19:26). And although Jesus intervened dramatically into Saul’s life, nevertheless, Saul said, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do” (Acts 9:6).

Nevertheless, angels and Christ intervene today (Hebrews 1:14; John 12:32). Jesus sometimes intervenes in remarkable and unusual ways, especially in the case of those sanctified to the LORD by the prayers of saints, and who are “chosen vessels” for His service. Nevertheless, the terms remain: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved … for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:9, 13).

In the valley, in my mind and heart, I saw Him there, “lifted up” and felt anew the power of His Cross to draw souls to Him. Some see there His compassion that makes a difference in the direction of their lives, and sealing their eternal destination. Others are saved with fear, seized by the constraining love, and pulled from the fires set for the souls of all wrapped in the garment of flesh, spoiled and spotted by the filthiness of sin.

His voice, as the sound of many waters, poured into my heart: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and mingled His grace into my daily cup. Goodness and mercy followed as we walked together into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v7fxiyg-shepherds-pasture-pulling-souls-from-the-fire.html