Agape Love
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.
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.
Text
"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."
Sermon Outline
- Definition of Agape Love
- The Power of Intentional Love
- The Example of God's Love
- God's love for us has a mighty charge of feeling
- A set principle that wills our peace
Key Quotes
“Love, then, is a principle of good will and is to a large extent under our control.” — A.W. Tozer
“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.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We can apply the principle of good will in our lives through prayer and the inworking power of God.
- We should set our faces to will the good of our neighbor and not his evil all the days of our lives.
- Love is a principle that wills our peace and prosperity.