14The familiar story of David and Goliath shows again that God had a greater purpose thanjust the immediate rescue of His people. David warns Goliath,“This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, andcut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines thisday to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth that all the earthmay know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Sa 17:46).In the same way, Solomon, David’s son, saw God’s universal purposes in the building ofthe temple in Jerusalem. In his dedicatory prayer, Solomon expressed his desire that the glory ofGod be seen through the temple worship.“Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a farcounty for your name’s sake (for they shall hear of your great name, and yourmighty hand, and of your outstretched arm). When he comes and prays towardthis house, hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all for whichthe foreigner calls to you; in order that all the peoples of the earth may knowyour name and fear You . . . Let these words of mine, with which I have madesupplication before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, andmay he maintain the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires; that all thepeoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.”(1 Ki 8: 41-43,59-60)WORLD-WIDEGod’s purpose is world-wide. As Peter put it, “God is not willing that any should perish,but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pe 3:9).Throughout biblical times God verified His message by signs, wonders, miracles. ThoughGod still verifies His message through these means, I believe that the primary miracle by whichGod verifies His message today is through the unity of His people. And this is by far a greatermiracle than cosmic, physical miracles. I believe it is much “harder” for God to change selfish,depraved human beings than it is to hurl this whole universe into space by the breath of Hismouth. The miracle of seeing self-centered believers united in love is by far a greater happening.And only God’s grace is able to do that.If you were Satan and you knew what unity among Christians will reach the world withthe message of truth, what would be your strategy? To divide Christians” Of course! And Satanhas done that very thing. And he has been quite successful. Divide and conquer is his strategy.
15GOD’S PROVISIONSGod has provided all kinds of ministries which can help us to be united in love. God’sgrace is appropriated more easily through certain ministries than others. And there are areas ofour lives that can more easily be touched by certain ministries. This is why churches try toprovide many kinds of ministries.Are you taking advantage of these many ministries provided through your church? MayJesus High-priestly prayer be fulfilled in us:“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Methrough their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You areone in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believethat You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that theymay be one as we are one: I in them and You in Me. May they be brought tocomplete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved themeven as You have loved Me” (Jn 17:20-23).
- Page 1 and 2: 1THE WILL TO LOVELars Wilhelmsson
- Page 4 and 5: 4He who loves calls us also to love
- Page 6 and 7: 6We live in a world starved for lov
- Page 8 and 9: 8“Division has done more to hide
- Page 10 and 11: 10D. L. Moody painfully recognized
- Page 12 and 13: 12A COMMANDGod knew it would be har
- Page 16 and 17: 16CHAPTER 2 FOURFOLD DIMENSION OF L
- Page 18 and 19: 18Our faith and love are tested whe
- Page 20 and 21: 20STORGEStorage is the word used in
- Page 22 and 23: 22PHILIAThe third word for love is
- Page 24 and 25: 24The pre-Christian use of the word
- Page 26 and 27: 26HOW DO I LEARN TO LOVE?1 John 4:7
- Page 28 and 29: 28Prolongs lifePrevents or cures ma
- Page 30 and 31: 30We can only love to the degree to
- Page 32 and 33: 32THE DISCIPLINE OF LOVEHebrew 12:5
- Page 34 and 35: 34Holiness, not happiness, is God
- Page 36 and 37: 36God’s discipline is a sign that
- Page 38 and 39: 38“Moreover, we have all have hum
- Page 40 and 41: 40CHAPTER 5 SERVICE: LOVE IN OVERAL
- Page 42 and 43: 42To love Jesus is to love His peop
- Page 44 and 45: 44Quickly my bubble popped, the ide
- Page 46 and 47: 46TIMOTHY AS AN EXAMPLEAccording to
- Page 48 and 49: 48Jesus Christ came not to be minis
- Page 50 and 51: 50CHAPTER 6 SHOULD WE LOVE OURSELVE
- Page 52 and 53: 52How different from the words of J
- Page 54 and 55: 54At creation, God was pleased with
- Page 56 and 57: 56As far as we know the apostle Pau
- Page 58 and 59: 58CHAPTER 7 LOVING OUR ENEMIES
- Page 60 and 61: 60insults us or injures us or griev
- Page 62 and 63: 62The last part of Hebrews 11 catal
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64“You have heard that it was sai
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66“Love indiscriminately, therefo
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68It was while we were hideous to G
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70Love is the most durable power in
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72LOVE’S TRUE TEST Part IJohn 14:
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74Suppose the boy paused to ask,
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76Here we have the great God whom t
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78The God who has revealed that “
- Page 80 and 81:
80“Faith and obedience are bound
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82“Cheap grace is the preaching o
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84Service in the name of Christ is,
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86While they claimed Jesus as Lord,
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88Ralph Sockman, a preacher, noted
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90CHAPTER 10 LOVE IS ALSO FEELING
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92The Bible states, “As He (Jesus
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94The author of the book of Hebrews
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96On the day of Pentecost the early
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98In speaking of Jesus Faber says:
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100the sake of God; if we are in ou
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1025“When God Disciplines in Love
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104BIBLIOGRAPHYSt. Augustine, The C
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