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  AGAPE LOVE
  by A.W. Tozer
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Summary: Agape love is a principle of good will that is under our
control and can be applied through prayer and the inworking power of
God.

Topics: "Divine Joy", "Spiritual Growth"
Scripture References: Nehemiah 8:10, John 16:20, Acts 13:52, Romans 8:28, Galatians 5:22, Philippians 1:4, Philippians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 1:6

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DESCRIPTION
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The preacher delves into the concept of joy (chara) in the Bible,
emphasizing that it is a feeling of inner gladness and delight based on
spiritual realities, independent of circumstances. Joy is a deep
assurance and confidence that ignites a cheerful heart, a gift from God
to believers. The preacher highlights that joy is a part of God's
essence and is manifested in His children through His Spirit. Believers
are encouraged to maximize their joy through repentance, hope in future
glory, God's Word, prayer, fellowship, discipleship, giving, and
maintaining fellowship with the Father and Son.

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CONTENT
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"Love," said Meister Eckhart, "is the will to, the intention." By that
definition, it is possible to obey the divine command to love our
neighbor. We may not in a thousand years be able to feel a surge of
emotion toward certain "neighbors," but we can go before God and
solemnly will to love them, and the love will come. By prayer and an
application of the inworking power of God, we may set our faces to will
the good of our neighbor and not his evil all the days of our lives, and
that is love. The emotion may follow, or there may be no appreciable
change in our feelings toward him, but the intention is what matters.

We will his peace and prosperity and put ourselves at his disposal to
help him in every way possible, even to the laying down of our lives for
his sake.

Love, then, is a principle of good will and is to a large extent under
our control. That it can be fanned into a blazing fire is not denied
here. Certainly God's love for us has a mighty charge of feeling in it,
but beneath it all is a set principle that wills our peace. Probably the
love of God for mankind was never more beautifully stated than by the
angel at the birth of Christ: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace to man on whom his favor rests."

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/aw-tozer/agape-love/
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