John 4:1-20
To know man is vital to a worker. When someone comes to us, we must discern his spiritual condition, his nature, and the extent of his spiritual progress. We must determine whether he has said what is really in his heart and how much he has left unsaid. Further, we should perceive his characteristics—whether he is hard or humble, whether his humility is true or false. Our effectiveness in service is closely related to our discernment of man\’s spiritual condition. If God\’s Spirit enables us through our spirit to know the condition of the person before us, we can then impart the appropriate word.
In the Gospels we find that whenever men came to our Lord, He always had the right word. This is a marvelous thing. The Lord did not talk to the Samaritan woman about new birth, nor did he tell Nicodemus of living water. The truth of the new birth was for Nicodemus, while the truth of the living water was for the Samaritan woman. How appropriate they were. Those who had not followed Him were invited to come; but those who desired to follow Him were invited to bear the cross. To one who volunteered, He spoke of counting the cost; while to one who lingered, He said, \”Let the dead bury their dead.\” Our Lord\’s words were most appropriate, FOR HE KNEW ALL MEN. Our Lord knew whether they came as earnest seekers or merely to spy on Him; and what He said to them was always right to the point.
Pray for a discernment of spirits-spirit of man; spirit of angels and spirit of devils
- Pray for the peace of Israel. These people live in constant alertness to attacks from every possible front. Pray that even as the enemies of our Israeli brethren plan to attack them, Jehovah’s Angels will go into the enemy camps and turn them against themselves. Psalm 120
- Pray that while the thoughts are still unhatched in their enemies’ minds, even before they are conceived, pull them down, command them to obey only the Lord’s bidding and stop them from further incubation. (2 Cor 10:3-6)