Love Is Dynamite Study Guide

STUDY GUIDE
INDIANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Love
—THE GREATEST POWER
IN THE WORLD—
A Lecture Series By
DR. LESTER SUMRALL
LeSEA Publishing Company

530 E. Ireland Rd., South Bend, IN 46614
This special teaching study guide is a college workbook. The
space prepared for your personal notes is for the text to
grow into your own material.
A video and audiotape are available to assist you.
All scriptures, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from

the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Copyright © All Rights Reserved

3rd printing, 1990
4th printing 1996
5th printing August 1997
LOVE—THE GREATEST POWER IN THE WORLD

ISBN 0-937580-02-3
Printed by LeSEA Publishing Co.

P.O. Box 12
South Bend, Indiana 46624
STUDY GUIDE
LOVE
THE GREATEST
POWER IN THE WORLD
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. What is Love? ................................................................................................ 5

2. Earth’s Greatest Secret................................................................................. 6
3. The Love of God the Father ........................................................................ 14
4. The Love of Jesus Christ............................................................................. 17
5. The Love of the Holy Spirit......................................................................... 21
6. The Agape Principle .................................................................................... 26
7. The Phileo Life-Style................................................................................... 32
8. The Storge Story.......................................................................................... 36
9. The Eros Complex ....................................................................................... 40
10. The Human Response to Agape ................................................................. 47
11. Love and the Last Days .............................................................................. 58
12. The Greatest of All ...................................................................................... 62
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STUDY GUIDE
LOVE
THE GREATEST
POWER IN THE WORLD
Lesson 1
WHAT IS LOVE?
Love is like an angel with one wing.

It takes two wings to fly.
Love is like a row boat with one oar,

It goes round and round until a second oar is discovered.
It takes two oars to go forward.
Love is not love until it is shared.
Love cannot be shared with a totem pole.

The pole has no power of reciprocation.
Love is a choice.
God chose to love you and me.
Love is a driving force.
It was inevitable that God love the world.
Man LIKES inanimate things,

But man LOVES the living.
And LOVE is ALIVE!
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STUDY GUIDE
LOVE
THE GREATEST
POWER IN THE WORLD
Lesson 2
EARTH’S GREATEST SECRET
INTRODUCTION:
Some secrets predate man. For example, man, with his scientific research,
reaches out into the universe, yet, he is still not able to fathom many of the
secrets of God.
One of Earth’s greatest secrets, seemingly hidden from the eyes of man, is
now made manifest. This secret is related to the essence of God. Jehovah,
the creator God, is love in its purest manifestation. Upon the revelation of
this purest love, we come to the knowledge of the mighty God. If you ever
discover what love is, you will discover God. As love is the greatest lack on
the planet Earth, it will be the greatest lesson possible to study.
Love is joy. Love is peace. Love is patience (waiting). Love is kindness. Love
is sensitive to loved ones and friends. Love is faithfulness (staying constant
in all of our activities on life). Love is gentleness. Love is yielding to others
in order to bless them. Love is self-control, triumphing over selfish
inclinations and desires.
Love is like an angel with one wing. (I have never heard of one-winged
angels.) It takes two wings to fly. If you think you have love, and you have
not shared it, you do not have love. Love is a dead commodity until shared.
Love creates; hate destroys. Love is an expression. It is love that is living.
So, love is like an angel, but the poor little angel only has one wing. He
cannot go anywhere until he hooks up with another angel. Until we have
love flowing in our hearts, we are a one-winged angel going nowhere. When
we hook up with someone else, we get both wings going. That’s when we can
really fly for God.
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Earth’s Greatest Secret
Lesson 2
Love is like a rowboat with just one oar. It goes around and around. It takes
the second oar to go forward. Until we get love functioning in our spiritual
lives, we are going around and around. When we give love to someone else,
we take on direction at that point, and love is the mightiest factor.
Paul said there abide hope, faith, and love, but he said the greatest of these
has to be love. That is a rebuke to a lot of people who have more hope than
anything else. (Hoping things will get better.) Sometimes people have a little
faith, but it is love that makes things move for you.
Love is not love until it is shared. We should be careful about saying that we
love this or that when it cannot reciprocate. We do not love something until
it has the power to come back to us, because love is always a two way street.
God does not love the stars. They cannot reciprocate. He appreciates them
because he made them. God does not love the sun or the waters of the sea,
but God loves you. You have the power to reciprocate love back to Him. Love
is alive. Earth’s greatest secret is love.
Our world is now ready to know, to appreciate, to absorb and to become part
of this unbounded and unmeasured affection and care from God.
READING:
I John 4:8, He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1. LOVE AND THE BIBLE

The word love is mentioned 304 times in the English Bible. That means
God wants you to know something about it.
Love is a word not fully definable by human tongue.
Love is life and life is mystery. It is life’s greatest secret.
Love can be likened to a diamond. The finished diamond has 58 facets.
It emits light 58 different ways. It is impossible to know where the light
enters and departs.
Love emits God in every motion of energy. Love is like electricity; we
learn how to use it, but cannot define it.
If a person fully comprehended love, he would posses a full knowledge
of God. God is the total essence of love.
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Lesson 2
2. WHAT IS DIVINE LOVE?

Love is an active expression.
Love is a representation of thought.
Love is the offspring of mind.
John 1:1-2, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
v. 2, The same was in the beginning with God.
So Christ is called the Word and the Word is an expression of a
thought.
The word “love” is one of more than a million words in the English
language. It is probably the most misunderstood.
All languages are impoverished in terms of defining and conveying love.
Everything has a heart. At the heart of the universe is a person. His
name is Love!
Love is a noun, AGAPE.
It denotes a person.
Love is a verb, AGAPAO.
It describes itself!
Love is a journey, not a destination.
Love is only known by the thoughts and actions it prompts.
The great secret of love is that it seeks the welfare and benefit of the
unloved and at times, the unlovable.
3. THE SECRET REVEALED

The Greek word for love, AGAPE, is a very strong word. It indicates an
energy stronger than any soulical or human force.
I John 4:8, He that loveth not [Agapao] knoweth not God; for God is love
[Agape]
Agape is divine love. It is holy love. It is unselfish love.
Love is known by unselfish motives. Love is action, not just words. Love
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Lesson 2
is ready for action. God’s love prompted him to give His Son, an exercise
of divine will, assignable to the nature of God.
God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that
whosoever receives him or believes upon him with an active living
decision, that person has eternal life. Love is a source of the greatest
thing the earth will ever know. It is the source of eternal life and you
cannot get to God any other way (John 3:16).
On earth, the perfect expression of Agape is Jesus Christ. Agape is
divine love: holy and pure. It gives!
John 14:14-15, If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.
v. 15, If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:21, He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is
that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I
will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
This is God’s promise that if we will love, Jesus will manifest Himself to
us.
To produce love, you must give your very best. You cannot say you love
God and live in disobedience.
4. AGAPE IN SALVATION
II Corinthians 5:14, For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we
thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.
A. Love is salvation.
B. Love can constrain.
5. GOD IS RICH IN AGAPE AND MERCY

Ephesians 2:4, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love
wherewith he loved us.
6. AGAPE IS ABOVE HUMAN INTELLIGENCE

Ephesians 3:19, And to know the love of Christ, which passeth
knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
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Lesson 2
7. LOVE MOTIVATION
Agape knows no boundaries. It loves the lost, the last, and the least.
Agape has won battles, performed impossible tasks, and opened up
many new frontiers.
8. LOVE
A. Love is:
An unspeakable gift to man.
An indescribable gift of eternal care.
An immeasurable gift of abundance.
B. Love:
Soars up above the clouds.
Dives into the deepest pits.
Covers indifference, intolerance, and indecision with forgiveness.
Is tender.
Has a watchful eye.
Is a violent push.
Is loyalty.
C. Love is Earth’s greatest secret. Even Christians do not know
enough about it. Certainly, sinners know nothing about it.
9. CHRISTIAN LOVE IS THE FRUIT OF GOD’S SPIRIT

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
v. 23, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Without love, the other eight parts of the fruit will not appear.
Becoming a Christian is not an emotional impulse. In fact, it does not
obey natural inclinations. Agapao means to show constant care for and
interest in another, drawing mutual response. Agape is God’s
motivational energy toward His creation.
Love gives, but not merely out of emotion. It never requires a return.
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Lesson 2
10. LOVE IS THE LORD

Philologists, in their study of words, cannot find “agape” where there is
no mention of Jehovah God.
A. Because God is love, you do not find God in any other place
except in love.
B. You do not find love any other place except in God.
C. When we find God, we find the source of love.
11. THE DOUBLE POWER

The word love flows together as agape and phileo. God’s love and
natural love together are doubly strong and doubly enjoyable.
A. You can love God with agape love.
B. You can love your neighbor with phileo love.
C. Both come from the very heart of God.
Romans 5:5, And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of
God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is
given unto us.
It is special when two people agree to walk together in love. God
has a sincere love for you and He asks nothing in return.
When Jesus said, “Love your enemies,” He was speaking of agape
love, divine love, heavenly love, God’s love.
12. LOVE IS THE LIFE OF OUR BEING
Love warms every vein and beats in every heart. Love is the secret of a
fruitful life. Love is not only the first fruit of the Spirit, but the key to
all that follow.
13. LOVE IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW

Luke 10:25, 27, And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted
him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
v. 27, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with. . .
a) all thy heart,
b) all thy soul,
c) all thy strength, and
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Lesson 2
d) all thy mind; and

e) love thy neighbor as thyself.
14. PAUL GAVE SIXTEEN CHARACTERISTICS OF AGAPE

LOVE
I Corinthians 13:4-8:
1) Love suffereth long,
2) and is kind;
3) love envieth not;
4) love vaunteth not itself,
5) is not puffed up,
6) Doth not behave itself unseemly,
7) seeketh not her own,
8) is not easily provoked,
9) thinketh no evil;
10) Rejoiceth not in iniquity,
11) but rejoiceth in the truth;
12) Beareth all things,
13) believeth all things,
14) hopeth all things,
15) endureth all things.
16) Love never faileth;
15. YOU NAME IT AND LOVE IS GREATER

Love is greater than fame, fortune or power. This world is dying from a
lack of love. Take up the challenge to love the lost world.
John 17:26, And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare
it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in
them.
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Lesson 2
16. LOVE, THE BIGGEST SECRET HUMANS NEED TO DIS-

COVER
A. The mysteries of the universe are bound up in love.
B. The answer to all human problems are in love.
C. There would never be a divorce in love.
D. There would never be war in love.
E. There would never be any children runaway from home if the
family lived together in love.
F. There would be no murder in love.
G. There would be a great understanding of God in love.
H. There would be no arguments in love.
17. GOD WANTS EVERYONE TO BE A PERSON OF LOVE

A. We are special to Him.
B. God loves and cares for everyone.
CONCLUSION:
Love is Earth’s greatest secret.
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STUDY GUIDE
LOVE
THE GREATEST POWER
IN THE WORLD
LESSON 3
THE LOVE OF
GOD THE FATHER
INTRODUCTION:
Love has a beginning. The Father, Jehovah, is the total source of love.
Love is one of the most intimate revelations of the essence of God the
Father.
The Father, God, revealed and demonstrated His love to all mankind. He
loves the unlovely. He gave His only begotten Son for them.
READING:
II Corinthians 13:11, Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good
comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be
with you.
1. THE FATHER’S LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL

All human love is related to certain conditions. We tend to love people
who share our likes and dislikes, or people who compliment who we are.
But divine love, the Father’s love, is unconditional.
A. Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
B. Ephesians 2:4, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love
wherewith he loved us. . . .
No one has ever been able to comprehend the love of God. Our
minds do not have the ability to enter the depths of what we call
the love of God.
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The Love of God the Father
Lesson 3
2. THE LOVE OF FATHER GOD REMOVES THE CURSE

No one can curse whom God has not cursed or bless whom God has not
blessed.
Deuteronomy 23:5, Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken
unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing
unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.
3. MAN DOES NOT MERIT GOD’S LOVE

The love of God cannot be earned by good works.
Job 7:17, What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou
shouldest set thine heart upon him?
4. GOD’S LOVE IS FOR ALL TIMES, GOOD AND BAD

Psalm 42:8, Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the
daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto
the God of my life.
5. GOD’S LOVE IS THE BEST THING IN LIFE

We should praise God for all things.
Psalm 63:3, Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall
praise thee.
6. GOD LOVES THE RIGHTEOUS

A. God loves the righteous, they are a part of Him.
Psalm 146:8, The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD
raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD [Jehovah] loveth the
righteous.
B. Proverbs 15:9, The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the
LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
7. GOD’S LOVE DRAWS MEN

It is the loving-kindness of God manifested in Christ Jesus that draws
us to Him.
Jeremiah 31:3, The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I
have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness
have I drawn thee.
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The Love of God the Father
Lesson 3
8. GOD LOVES GIVERS

God is a giver and wants us to be givers.
II Corinthians 9:7, Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,
so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful
giver.
9. GOD CORRECTS THOSE HE LOVES

As we correct our own children because we love them, God corrects us
because He loves us.
Hebrews 12:6, For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom he receiveth.
10. THE FATHER’S LOVE IS BEYOND HUMAN COMPRE-

HENSION
I John 3:1, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon
us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
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STUDY GUIDE
LOVE
THE GREATEST POWER
IN THE WORLD
LESSON 4
THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST
INTRODUCTION:
From an Oriental cross, surrounded by ignorance, bigotry, and demonic
hatred, the world beholds the greatest display of divine love, AGAPE, in the
annals of history.
Jesus Christ was born on planet Earth, bringing the greatest day of wonder
and joy to the world. After a full life of agape love for over 30 years, Christ
finally executed the ultimate scene of love with cosmic thunder and an
earthquake on Mount Calvary. Agape love shook the bowels of hell, and
Christ’s resurrection brought forth perfect love unto all generations.
READING:
John 15:9, As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in
my love.
1. TO UNDERSTAND LOVE, A PERSON MUST UNDERSTAND

THE PERSON AND LIFE OF JESUS OF NAZARETH
Christ’s every thought and action was activated by the essence of love.
This love proceeded from the Father. To know love is to know the Most
High God, for God is love.
Beyond doubt, love is man’s greatest wonder. It is divine love, forever
displayed, from generation to generation, in the life and sacrifice of the
Man who bore the stigma of the Cross, that compels us to love.
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The Love of Jesus Christ
Lesson 4
As the song says:

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child, He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
CHORUS:
O love of God, how rich and pure
How measureless and strong;
It shall forevermore endure,
The saints’ and angels’ song.
2. JESUS CHRIST IS THE WORLD’S GREATEST EXAMPLE OF

AGAPE LOVE
I John 3:16, Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down
his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
This portrays the inherent force and power of agape love.
3. AGAPE LOVE IS REDEMPTIVE IN NATURE

A. Isaiah 63:9, In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of
his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed
them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
Here is a prophet springing forth with prophetic, divine and
heavenly utterance. God redeemed His people and brought them
out of Egypt.
B. Revelation 1:5, And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,
and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the
earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his
own blood.
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Lesson 4
4. AGAPE LOVE IN JESUS CREATES COMPASSION

A. Love is always active.
Matthew 9:36, But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with
compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered
abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
B. Love is demonstrative.
Matthew 14:14, And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude,
and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their
sick.
C. Matthew 15:32, Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said,
I have compassion on the multitude, because they con-tinue with me
now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them
away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
D. Luke 7:13, And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her,
and said unto her, Weep not.
5. IN DIVINE AGAPE LOVE, CHRIST GAVE HIS LIFE

John 10:11, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for
the sheep.
6. THE AGAPE OF JESUS IS TRIUMPHANT

Romans 8:35-39, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril,
or sword?
v. 36, As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are
accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
v. 37, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
that loved us.
v. 38, For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
v. 39, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Lesson 4
7. JESUS’ LOVE IS A CONSTRAINING FORCE

8. JESUS’ LOVE PRODUCES LIFE

Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I,
but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live
by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
9. CHRIST’S LOVE IS BEYOND KNOWLEDGE

Ephesians 3:19, And to know the love of Christ, which passeth
knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
10. CHRIST’S LOVE IS A WALK

Ephesians 5:2, And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and
hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-
smelling savour.
11. THE AGAPE OF CHRIST DEMANDS A RESPONSE

A. We are to reveal, show and demonstrate the love of Christ.
John 15:9-13, As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you:
continue ye in my love.
v. 10, If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even
as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
v. 11, These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might
remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
v. 12, This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I
have loved you.
v. 13, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down
his life for his friends.
B. Love can bring joy, happiness and peace.
John 14:21, He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them,
he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my
Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
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STUDY GUIDE
LOVE
THE GREATEST POWER
IN THE WORLD
LESSON 5
THE LOVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
INTRODUCTION:
Not many people recognize the personality of the Holy Spirit. We believe
that the Holy Spirit has a distinct love—just as distinctive as Father love or
the love of Jesus. In heaven we shall enjoy three separate loves: The love of
the Father, the love of the Son, and the love of the Holy Spirit.
The devil gives the world a spirit of fear and a spirit of terror. God, through
the wonderful power of the Holy Spirit, gives our generation power, love and
an unconfused mind. If you have fear, there is a little spot inside of you that
God does not occupy.
READING:
II Timothy 1:7, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and
of love, and of a sound mind.
1. GOD HAS NO RELATIONSHIP TO FEAR AND DARKNESS

A. If you are afraid to die, or get sick, or lose your joy, it may come
upon you. Fear is a producer of bad things.
B. When there is an absence of love, there is a natural presence of
fear.
C. The whole world seems to be afraid because of an absence of God.
In the presence of God, there is no fear.
D. Jesus prophesied in the last days, there would be those whose
hearts would fail and they would die because of fear.
E. Fear is a lie. If you have fears, Jesus can take them away.
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The Love of the Holy Spirit
Lesson 5
F. The devil gives the world a spirit of fear and depression. God,
through the wonderful power of the Holy Spirit, gives our gen-
eration power, love and an unconfused mind.
2. GOD IS LIGHT AND THE DEVIL IS DARKNESS

A. The devil can only be where God is not.
B. Darkness has to leave when there is light.
3. GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR

A. God calls fear a spirit.
B. There is a demon who causes you to be afraid of God, your future,
your health, or your family. If you accept this spirit of fear, you
will lose love, power and a sound mind.
C. Power means authority.
4. AGAPE LOVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT BROODED OVER

CREATION
Genesis 1:2, And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness
was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face
of the waters.
This is the first revelation of the works of the Holy Spirit, the third
person of the godhead. His ministry was directed to planet Earth.
Possibly his total ministry is people-directed. He brings reality where
there is unreality and a positive attitude where there is a negative
attitude.
5. THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH AGAPE LOVE BRINGS THE

SINNER TO HIS SAVIOR
A. Ephesians 1:13, In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that
ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
B. The Holy Spirit ministers with the Lord Jesus in the new birth of a
Christian. He seals the contract of salvation. The kingdom of God
in redemption, righteousness, peace and joy is in the Holy Ghost.
C. The Holy Spirit has a love that accompanies the love of Jesus.
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Lesson 5
D. The Holy Spirit seals you with the authority of heaven by God the
Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17, For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
E. The Holy Spirit is with you in your salvation.
F. When you are born again you receive righteousness, peace, and
joy.
G. What an amazing office of ministry. It is unfathomable love deal-
ing with global conditions.
John 16:8, And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin,
and of righteousness, and of judgment.
H. Three reproofs of the Holy Spirit are sin, righteousness and
judgment.
6. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OPERATE THROUGH

AGAPE
Agape love gives us the gifts of the Spirit: the magnificent distribution
of the supernatural to the Church triumphant.
A. The Holy Spirit is the communicator from heaven, giver of gifts,
comforter and teacher for this dispensation
B. Through the Holy Spirit we understand power, strength and
courage. If God is in us, the Holy Spirit is moving.
I Corinthians 12:7-10, But the manifestation of the Spirit is given
to every man to profit withal.
v. 8, For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to
another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
v. 9, To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of
healing by the same Spirit;
v. 10, To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to
another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to
another the interpretation of tongues.
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Lesson 5
7. WITHOUT THE AGAPE LOVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE

GIFTS ARE USELESS
The Holy Spirit administers the supernatural gifts of the Spirit
through the Body of Christ. Agape love in the Holy Ghost transcends
all charity and all personal sacrifice. Without this divine love, we
cancel out every other good thing and life is meaningless.
I Corinthians 13:1-3, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of
angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling
cymbal.
v. 2, And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I
could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
v. 3, And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I
give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me
nothing.
8. AGAPE LOVE IS ENDURING
The key fruit of the Spirit is love. The Holy Ghost administers
heaven’s agape to the one who receives supernatural gifts to operate in
the church.
I Corinthians 13:8, Charity never faileth: but whether there be
prophesies, they shall fail, whether there be tongues, they shall cease;
whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
At the end of this life, we will not need prophecies any more, but, we
will need love throughout all eternity.
9. AGAPE LOVE IS THE GREATEST OF ALL
In the final analysis, of all virtues from God, agape love stands above
all.
I Corinthians 13:13, And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;
but the greatest of these is charity.
10. AGAPE LOVE IS EARTH AND HEAVEN’S GREATEST GIVER
Agape love in the third person of the trinity yields the fruit of the
Spirit. The nine-fold presentation of fruit in the believer is divided in-
to groups of three. The first three reach up to God. The second three
reach out to man, and the third three reach inward to the believer.
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Lesson 5
Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
v. 23, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
11. THE BELIEVER’S SOURCE OF LOVE IS THE SPIRIT

The Church of today possesses a secret source of agape. Our love flows
from the Holy Ghost.
Colossians 1:8, Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
12. THE BELIEVER’S EXPRESSION OF LOVE COMES FROM

THE SPIRIT
Paul preached the truth so strong that today we seek the Holy Spirit
to release to us the love of God the Father and God the Son.
Romans 5:5, And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
13. THE LOVE OF THE SPIRIT IS THE SOURCE OF CHRISTIAN

UNITY
The apostle exhorted the believers to a spiritual unity through the
power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:30, Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s
sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in
your prayers to God for me.
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STUDY GUIDE
LOVE
THE GREATEST POWER
IN THE WORLD
LESSON 6
THE AGAPE PRINCIPLE
INTRODUCTION:
To truly know love, one must know Jehovah God. The world without God
does not know love. The word “agape” appears in the Greek New Testament
250 times. It reveals God.
READING:
I John 4:16, And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.
God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1. THE BIBLE SAYS GOD IS LOVE

A. God has omnipotence, or unlimited power. He could not have
created the heavens and the earth without possessing omnipotence.
B. God has omniscience, or unlimited knowledge.
C. God possesses riches: goods immeasurable. He paved the streets of
heaven with pure, transparent gold. God has jewels beyond
calculation. He made heaven’s gates of one jewel.
Revelation 21:21, And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, every
several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold,
as it were transparent glass.
D. The true essence of God is love, not power or knowledge. If man
could precisely and adequately describe love he could describe God.
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The Agape Principle
Lesson 6
2. THE AGAPE OF GOD TO THE HUMAN RACE

A. John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
“Believeth” is a very penetrating and deep word that relates to
change. You believe something so much that you become something
else.
B. Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
You are the object of God’s love. Only the Word of God can teach the
absoluteness of what love is about.
C. John 14:21, He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he
it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my
Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
3. THE EFFECTS OF AGAPE LOVE

A. Man has discovered that love in its fullest measure is unfathomable
and immeasurable. However, mankind can ob-serve the effects of
love and acquaint itself with the world’s greatest and most powerful
force.
1) God’s love can take hate out of our hearts.
2) God’s love can take misunderstanding away.
3) God’s love can kick the devil out of our hearts.
B. In order to have love, there must be an object to pour it upon. This
makes love a creator. The creative process of God is a
demonstration of His divine essence, which we know as love. You
are the effects of love made in the image and likeness of God.
4. THE AGAPE PRINCIPLE IN CREATION
The first chapters of Genesis are love in action.
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The Agape Principle
Lesson 6
A. God created the constellations and galaxies of the heavens without

number. An astronomer told me that with the latest telescopes he is
sure that there are more stars in the heavens than there are grains
of sand by all the seashores of the world!
Love created these sidereal majesties. God rejoiced in His creative
ability as He listened to the morning stars as they sang together.
God beheld His belching suns, spewing forth fire in mighty flames;
but, as God walked down the milky way, the stars could not return
His love, and love desires, above all, to be loved.
B. Therefore, the creative forces of divinity moved from the re-
splendent universe of immeasurable space and focused themselves
upon a little planet; and God made the earth. Here, in
lovingkindness, Jehovah pulled the mountains upward, making
strength. He pushed the valleys downward and made luxurious
flora. He leveled out the plains like a mighty table. He planted His
gold, His diamonds and His oil in the secret hiding places of the
earth. God commanded the sea to come “thus far and no farther’’
and made its bounds. God created the denizens of the deep forest,
the birds with colorful plumage to fly from tree to tree. God smelled
the fragrant flowers and listened to the singing of the birds; He
beheld the crested peaks of the mountains, but none of these could
return His love, and love must be loved.
C. This divine thirst for love caused the great Creator to make a
creature of His own image. With the deft hands of divinity, He
molded a lovely creature. This was the only time that God had used
His hands in creation.
D. Agape love had spoken the galaxies into their orbits and spoken
light and darkness into existence, but with man, God used His own
fingers. God was pleased when He beheld His work. Then God
breathed upon Adam and God’s Spirit went inside him. His blood
began to flow and his heart began to beat. Adam opened his eyes
and beheld his Creator. A smile came to Adam’s lips as he awoke on
the dawn of his creation and beheld the true essence of love. When
God beheld the twinkle in Adam’s eyes, the smile upon his lips, and
the heart throb of his soul, God’s creative expression had reached
its apex of crowning glory.
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The Agape Principle
Lesson 6
5. HE NOW HAD A CREATION WHO COULD RETURN HIS

LOVE.
A. God named his creation, Adam, which means red earth.
B. God was so contented with His creation that He rested on the
seventh day.
C. He and Adam walked together and communed together in the
luxurious garden of Eden. They held hands and walked down the
paths of the garden.
D. The God who had made all things, found the nearest expression of
His personality in the creation called Adam.
E. Divine love realized that Adam needed a helpmate of his own blood
and kin. Thus God, as the first surgeon, brought forth from Adam’s
side, Eve. He placed her alongside Adam for him to love her and for
her to love him. Here in celestial bliss, God and the first man and
woman dwelt in unity and supreme happiness.
F. Everyday, God kept regular appointments with Adam for a time of
communion and fellowship in Eden. It was a great delight to the
heart of God to walk through the garden and to see the able manner
in which Adam cared for it and the love that he showed for all the
subordinate creatures in the garden of paradise. Above all, God
enjoyed the love in the heart of Adam, and Adam loved God.
1) Loving God makes Him happy.
2) Heaven rejoices when someone reaches toward God.
3) God rejoices when sinners are born into the kingdom.
One fateful day when God came to the gate of the garden, Adam
was not there to greet Him. As God strolled through the garden, He
called, “Adam, where art thou?’’ But He heard only the echo of His
own voice. Deeper into the garden He walked, calling, “Adam,
where art thou?’’ Finally, in the lush undergrowth He found the
object of His love with bowed head and broken heart hiding behind
some fig leaves. God greeted Adam and asked, “Why did you not
meet me at the gate?’’ Adam said, “I was ashamed to, for I am
naked.’’ This was the first great disappointment of agape love.
G. The mountains retained their beauty; the seas had retained their
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The Agape Principle
Lesson 6
mystery; the animals retained their pristine glory, but Adam had
lost the iridescent glow which surrounded his person. God had
made him in His own image, as the Prophet Ezekiel said later:
Ezekiel 1:26-27, And above the firmament that was over their heads
was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone:
and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the
appearance of a man above upon it.
v. 27, And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire
round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward,
and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it
were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
Such is the similitude of the God of Israel. Adam was clothed with
this majesty. He glowed like a rainbow as he walked through the
garden. He was the king of the garden.
The moment that he willfully transgressed against the will and
purpose of God, he became a sinner. He lost his celestial
magnificence such as Jesus had when He was transfigured on Mt.
Tabor and Moses had in a small way after forty days on the
mountain communing with God.
H. Sin, transgression and rebellion are not accidents. The Bible says
they came out of the heart of man. The moment Adam willfully
transgressed against the will and support of God, he became a
transgressor, a sinner, an outcast. He lost his celestrial
magnificence.
6. JUSTICE VERSUS AGAPE
A. Divine justice would have wiped Adam from off the face of the earth
and removed his name from the annals of creation. But God has
justice and is love. Therefore, the great compassionate heart of the
Almighty looked around Him and said, “I will clothe this one, the
object of my love, so that he will not be naked.’’
B. Had God chosen a dog’s skin to clothe Adam, the dog would have
barked and yelped.
C. Had He chosen a lion, it would have roared so loudly the garden
would have echoed with its voice.
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The Agape Principle
Lesson 6
D. Had Jehovah chosen a pig, it would have squealed and tried to run
away.
E. Had God chosen a goat, it may have tried to use its horns as a
weapon!
F. God chose a lamb, which freely gave his skin to cover the sinner.
Without a murmur, the lamb died that Adam might be covered.
These lambs typify the great Lamb that would come to cover the
spiritual nakedness of the human race (Adam’s seed).
G. God, becoming the first tailor, made very lovely coats for Adam and
Eve. But as they had broken His law, sin was now in their
bloodstream, for the life of the flesh is in the blood. Jehovah still
loved Adam. He taught mankind that love never fails.
7. THE FRUIT OF LOVE

A. With the agape principle love is not a feeling, but a decision, an act,
a life.
B. To the average person, love is just a byword. We play games with
love. We say, “I love you,’’ but do not know what the word really
means.
The Holy Spirit says in I Corinthians 13:8, Love never faileth: but
whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be
tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish
away.
Agape is eternal! Much of the spiritual equipment necessary now
will cease to be needed. In eternity, love will continue to be the
dominant factor. This is the agape principle.
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STUDY GUIDE
LOVE
THE GREATEST POWER
IN THE WORLD
LESSON 7
THE PHILEO LIFE-STYLE
INTRODUCTION:
In this lesson we study phileo love, which is the human expression of
kindness. It is not agape or divinely expressed love. Rather it is caring for
other human persons.
Agape is the king of divine grace.
Phileo is his queen! It appears some 25 times in the Greek New Testament.
In our English language we often use the root of this Greek word:
1) Philotheos—a lover of God
2) Philosophy—love of wisdom
3) Philharmonic—love of music
4) Philentropia—kindness to men
5) Philanthropy—love of people
6) Philadelphia—city of love
7) Philaguria—love of money
8) Philology—love of words
READING:
Proverbs 17:17, A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adver-
sity.
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The Phileo Life-Style
Lesson 7
1. CHRIST EXPRESSED PHILEO FOR A CERTAIN DISCIPLE

A. The Apostle John possessed a strong relationship with Jesus
Christ. He understood Jesus. He lived close to Him and a special
affinity for Him.
John 13:23, Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his
disciples, whom Jesus loved.
B. John was known by the other disciples to express high affection for
Jesus.
John 20:2, Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to
the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They
have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not
where they have laid him.
2. PHILEO IS NOT USED IN A COMMAND TO LOVE GOD BUT

TO CARE FOR FELLOW HUMANS—TO BE AFFECTIONATE
AND FRIENDLY
Phileo speaks of people who think well of you. Some friends only desire
something from you. Your friendship enhances their personal lives.
Phileo love speaks to other people with sentiment and endearment.
A. Paul prophesied in II Timothy 3:4, that in the last days there
would be Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more
than lovers of God.
B. Philautos means loving oneself—self-centeredness.
3. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AGAPE AND PHILEO

A. Phileo returns love to the lovable.
B. Agape divinely cares for the unlovable, the hateful, and the
vengeful. It is a miraculous saving love.
C. Phileo love relates to blessing people you know, but agape love
gives itself to a stranger.
D. The Greek term, Phileo, is a verb which is never used for our love
toward God.
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Lesson 7
E. The human desire for love is the most potent driving force in the
universe, but many humans do not know it begins with God. There
is no power on earth greater than love.
1) God created Eve because Adam had a need for human
companionship.
2) God created Eve to bring about satisfaction within Adam’s life.
3) You have to be cared for and care for others in order for life to
be enjoyable and fulfilling.
4. THERE IS ANOTHER GREEK WORD INDICATING LOVE

A. The word, libido, denotes psychic energy.
B. It refers to a sexual urge and gratification.
C. The word can refer to a base love, not holy or divine.
D. Libido can create immortality. God created sex. It did not evolve.
From the beginning it has been God-ordained.
In the book of Genesis, God says, “Adam knew Eve.” It has
remained the same until today.
I Corinthians 7:4, The wife hath not power of her own body, but the
husband. . .
Christians mutually desire each other, but not for selfish grati-
fication.
5. THE PHILEO LIFE STYLE

A. Phileo is the human life that craves deep companionship. It brings
fulfillment where there is no fear of deceit, when there is no fear of
betrayal.
B. In the Bible, we find remarkable illustrations of phileo love.
1) Jonathan and David’s love.
I Samuel 18:1-3, And it came to pass, when he had made an
end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit
with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own
soul.
v. 2, And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more
home to his father’s house.
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Lesson 7
v. 3, Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he

loved him as his own soul.
I Samuel 20:17, And Jonathan caused David to swear again,
because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
II Samuel 1:26, I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan:
very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was
wonderful, passing the love of women.
2) Jesus and Lazarus’ love.
John 11:5, Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and
Lazarus.
3) Naomi and Ruth’s love—daughter and mother-in-law.
Ruth 1:16-17, And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to
return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will
go: and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my
people, and thy God my God:
v. 17, Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the
LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee
and me.
4) Paul and Timothy’s love—”apostle and disciple” love. Paul
loved Timothy like a son. They were not related, but their faith
in the Lord kept them together.
I Corinthians 4:17, For this cause have I sent unto you
Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord,
who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in
Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
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STUDY GUIDE
LOVE
THE GREATEST POWER
IN THE WORLD
LESSON 8
THE STORGE STORY
INTRODUCTION:
There is love that functions on a natural plane—we could say according to
nature, or our species.
READING:
Romans 1:31, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural
affection, implacable, unmerciful.
1. STORGE
The word, storge, is not found in the New Testament, but is the term for
natural affection. It is the love found within a normal family unit.
2. WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION

A. The Greek word for love in Romans 1:31 is astorgos, meaning
“without natural affection.”
This Greek word identifies the natural from the supernatural. For
example, a mother bear naturally cares for her cubs. The other
bears do not need to teach her; it comes naturally.
B. The negative aspect of astrogos is when a person acts without his
or her natural self or contrary to the nature with which they are
born.
If a mother kills her child or a father rapes his ten-year-old
daughter, they are declared to be without natural affection. In fact,
Eros is their god.
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The Storge Story
Lesson 8
3. ASTORGOS
The Greek term, astorgos, meaning “without natural affection,” appears
twice.
A. Romans 1:31, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without
natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.
B. II Timothy 3:1-5, This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come.
v. 2, For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
v. 3, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, in-
continent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
v. 4, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than
lovers of God;
v. 5, Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away.
C. The first scripture reveals how the heathen became pagans and
the latter prophesies the condition of mankind at the time of the
Lord Jesus’ return.
4. PHILOSTORGOS
The Greek term philostorgos is a combination of phillios and storage,
meaning “tenderly loving.”
Romans 12:9-10, Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is
evil; cleave to that which is good.
v. 10, Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour
preferring one another.
A. This kind of affection is demonstrated throughout the Bible. For
example:
1) Adam and Eve
Genesis 2:23-24, And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones,
and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she
was taken out of Man.
v. 24, Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother,
and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
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The Storge Story
Lesson 8
Genesis 4:1, And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived,
and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
2) Abraham and his children
Genesis 18:17-19, And the LORD said, Shall I hide from
Abraham that thing which I do;
v. 18, Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and
mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed
in him?
v. 19, For I know him, that he will command his children and
his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the
LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring
upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
3) Naomi and Ruth signify both phileo and philostorgos
One of the greatest love stories in history is that of Naomi and
Ruth. This fascinating story praises a godly mother-in-law who
loved a pagan daughter-in-law. The power of storge love made
exciting news as they made history together.
Ruth 1:16-17, And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to
return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will
go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my
people, and thy God my God:
v. 17, Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the
Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee
and me.
4) Mordecai and Esther
This is a magnificent example of family love. Mordecai took his
cousin and made a queen of her!
Esther 2:5-7, Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain
Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of
Shemei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite:
v. 6, Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the
captivity which had been carried away with Jaconiah king of
Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried
away.
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The Storge Story
Lesson 8
v. 7, And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s

daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid
was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and
mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
B. The great apostle in II Timothy 3:3, speaking of the last days of
this dispensation said that some humans would be. . .Without
natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good.
He is saying they are not normal to what history has taught
concerning family storge.
5. WHEN A PERSON EXPRESSES STORGE LOVE, HE SHOWS

NATURAL CONSIDERATION
A. He cares for his family. He will not let them suffer if he can assist.
B. He cares for a blood brother.
If someone picks on his brother, he joins in the fracas. It is natural
to do it. This love could be called philo-storge. It is being kind and
affectionate to a natural relation.
C. This love could be a tribal relationship, where a tribe of people or a
clan is held together by a mutual concern for each other. This is
greater than what they have for outsiders.
D. As we see, this kind of love is limited. It can cause sorrow to others
outside the race, nation or clan.
E. It is narrow in operation. It is limited. It is affinity.
F. A person cannot have agape, divine love, and not have astorogos
love. If he has divine love in his heart, it funnels him in the right
direction. To love and appreciate his family, to reach out to his
neighbors, and to save the lost.
G. Storge needs to be merged into agape in order to create divine love.
Agape love expands the joy and pleasure of storge or philostorgos.
It comes first, it is God. The other types of love come next.
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STUDY GUIDE
LOVE
THE GREATEST POWER
IN THE WORLD
LESSON 9
THE EROS COMPLEX
INTRODUCTION:
This lesson and truth is tremendously need in the world today. What a
difference Eros is from agape—divine love.
In Greek mythology, Eros was the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Eros
is known as the god of sensuality and neurotic love. Eros was always
identified with lustful love, seduction and neurotic sex.
The Romans called this god, Cupid. It is the same deity, symbolizing desire
for male and female sex outside of family and social propriety.
From the Greek word eros we get the words “erotica” and “erotic.”
The legendary Greek god, Eros, made love vulgar and licentious.
Eros described sexual love as physical passion, lust, and unholy desire.
This demon god has led millions of humans into moral degradation. The lust
of eros has caused tears, heartbreak and sickness to multitudes of un-
thinking humans generation after generation.
Anyone who lusts for your flesh will also hate you. Hate and lust are twins.
There is no gratification in living badly.
READING:
Proverbs 6:32, But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh
understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
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The Eros Complex
Lesson 9
1. LAMECH, THE GREAT GRANDSON OF CAIN, COMMITTED

BIGAMY
Lamech knew it was wrong, but he took two wives. Eros was working
even at the beginning of time. Lust possessed Lamech.
Genesis 4:19, And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one
was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
2. THE HOMOSEXUALS OF SODOM LUSTED AFTER THE

ANGELS
The homosexual spirit is steeped deeply in lust. It is only eros. Its only
fruit is iniquity and death.
Genesis 19:4-9, But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the
men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the
people from every quarter:
v. 5, And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men
which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may
know them.
v. 6, And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after
him,
v. 7, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
v. 8, Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let
me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in
your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under
the shadow of my roof.
v. 9, And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow
came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse
with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even
Lot, and came near to break the door.
3. POTIPHAR’S WIFE ATTEMPTED TO SEDUCE JOSEPH

Here was a woman overwhelmed by eros. She had no respect for her
husband or herself.
Genesis 39:7-12, And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s
wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
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The Eros Complex
Lesson 9
v. 8, But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master
wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all
that he hath to my hand;
v. 9, There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back
any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do
this great wickedness, and sin against God?
v. 10, And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he
hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
v. 11, And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the
house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house
there within.
v. 12, And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he
left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
4. SAMSON AND EROS

A. The Philistine girl of Timnath—neurotic, lustful love.
Judges 14:1-3, And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a
woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
v. 2, And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said,
I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines:
now therefore get her for me to wife.
v. 3, Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a
woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my
people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised
Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for
she pleaseth me well.
B. The Harlot of Gaza.
Judges 16:1, Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot,
and went in unto her.
C. Delilah
Judges 16:4, And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman
in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
Samson, a leader and example before his nation, departed from the
training of his parents and clung to the pagan deity, Eros.
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The Eros Complex
Lesson 9
D. Samson used his abilities and strength to please himself and not
God.
5. KING DAVID GAVE WAY TO EROS

David committed adultery with Bathsheba.
II Samuel 11:2, 4, And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David
arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and
from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very
beautiful to look upon.
v. 4, And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto
him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness:
and she returned unto her house.
6. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

A Corinthian church member committed fornication with his step-
mother. Here were people who knew the way of salvation. They knew
the power of the Holy Spirit, yet they gave way to eros.
I Corinthians 5:1, It is reported commonly that there is fornication
among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the
Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
7. LOVE IS A CHOICE
Youth is inherently a time of love and appreciation for life. This in-
tensity can lift one heavenward, or temptations can take one
downward.
Youth can be filled with agape and a knowedge of God’s love or it can be
a time of erotic pursuits, destroying personhood.
8. LOVE GONE ASTRAY

A. The poor, the rich, the educated, and the uneducated all reach out
for love. Today, ninety percent of novels and ninety-five percent of
television programs and movies are related to love, mostly eros
love.
B. Solomon, the wisest king of Israel, wrote:
Proverbs 7:4-5, 21-27, Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and
call understanding thy kinswoman:
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The Eros Complex
Lesson 9
v. 5, That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the
stranger which flattereth with her words.
v. 21, With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the
flattering of her lips she forced him.
v. 22, He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the
slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
v. 23, Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the
snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
v. 24, Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to
the words of my mouth.
v. 25, Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her
paths.
v. 26, For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong
men have been slain by her.
v. 27, Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of
death.
Within the heart of the harlot is erotic love. There are no feelings
of affection or agape, but deceit, lies, abortion, desertion and,
finally, death.
9. EROS PERVADES ALL OF HISTORY

A. Cleopatra, a Macedonian Greek, was said to be no great beauty,
yet, she is known as one of the most alluring women in history.
She took her first lover at the age of twelve.
1) She was known to have satisfied as many as fifty men in one
night.
2) She kept a supply of young male lovers who were given drugs
to increase their sexual prowess.
3) In her attempt to gain political control of the Mediterranean
nations, she seduced both Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony.
B. Giovanni Casanova wrote in his memoirs that he had seduced
thousands of women. He claimed to have seduced at least one
woman every day of his adult life.
C. Catherine the Great of Russia kept 21 official lovers and main-
tained a harem of 80 other men to satisfy her desires.
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The Eros Complex
Lesson 9
D. Marquis de Sade gave the world a new word “sadism.” It is based

on his sexual perversions.
1) He wrote a book describing 600 variations of sex and
torture—all of which he had experienced.
2) He was eventually committed to an insane asylum.
10. LOVE IS LIKE A GREAT RIVER

As love sweeps through the land, a river brings life to the field and
flowers. When controlled by hydroelectric plants, the river brings
power and light to the homes.
That same river can rampage. It can overflow its banks. It can
inundate whole towns and leave behind death and devastation—so can
sex. We must choose the type of river we desire flowing in our lives.
11. THE DEVIL HATES LOVE

Because God is love, agape and phileo, the devil makes caricatures of
love. He cheapens love. He hates true love.
The devil mocks youth when it is pure. The devil seeks to destroy the
home where Christ is Lord of the house. The devil gives birth to
deviant sex.
12. THE TEST OF TRUE LOVE AND FALSE LOVE

A. The great apostle said in:
I Corinthians 13:4-7, Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity
envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
v. 5, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not
easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
v. 6, Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
v. 7, Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things.
B. Solomon, a great wise man, said these words:
Proverbs 6:20-23, My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and
forsake not the law of thy mother:
v. 21, Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about
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The Eros Complex
Lesson 9
thy neck.
v. 22, When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it
shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
v. 23, For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and
reproofs of instruction are the way of life.
Agape love listens to parents and walks in the “law of light.”
C. Eros love is described in Proverbs 6:12-15, A naughty person, a
wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
v. 13, He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he
teacheth with his fingers;
v. 14, Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief
continually; he soweth discord.
v. 15, Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall
he be broken without remedy.
D. The wise man cries aloud in Proverbs 6:32-33, But whoso
committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that
doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
v. 33, A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall
not be wiped away.
The final blow is, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. God
will forgive, but your reproach is still there. Sin leaves scars, it is
better to serve God and live for Him.
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STUDY GUIDE
LOVE
THE GREATEST POWER
IN THE WORLD
LESSON 10
THE HUMAN RESPONSE

TO AGAPE
INTRODUCTION:
From the Garden of Eden until this generation, we see the great Jehovah
reaching out for men and women. This reveals and demonstrates His agape
love through every page of human history. Jehovah loves and desires to be
loved.
READING:
Song of Solomon 8:7, Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods
drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would
utterly be contemned.
1. A MAN WALKED IN AGAPE

A. From the gates of the garden of Eden, God has searched for men
and women to walk with Him, to commune with Him, and to love
Him and to be loved by Him.
Genesis 5:24, And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God
took him.
Hebrews 11:5, By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see
death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for
before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
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The Human Response to Agape
Lesson 10
B. God discovered agape in the person of Enoch. Enoch’s entire

biography has to do with the fact that he walked with God.
He was the great, great, great, great grandson of Adam. Adam
lived 930 years and he was 622 years old when Enoch was born of
Jared. This means that Adam and Enoch were contemporaries for
308 years.
We know of the affection that grandfathers have for their newborn
grandsons, especially great, great, great, great grandfathers.
The day Enoch was born, I can see Adam holding him in his arms
with tears rolling down his face as he says, “Oh God, with whom I
walked in the garden of Eden and who promised me in the garden
that there would come forth a Savior who would reinstate my seed
into a place of fellowship with You again. Let Enoch be the
anointed one, I pray.”
C. Enoch became the mystery man of his day. After Adam disobeyed
God, a dark cloud of wickedness enveloped society.
Out of this abyss of antediluvian darkness, a figure emerges. The
darkness could not hide him, the chaos could not hold him, and the
inferno of hell could not engulf him.
D. Enoch had one tremendous desire, to walk with God as Adam had.
His earliest memories were of his great grandfather, Adam, telling
him about his experiences in the glorious garden. It was in the
garden that he talked face-to-face with Jehovah and walked in the
pure love of God. How thrilling it was to walk with God, to be loved
by God.
Enoch could also remember his great grandfather Adam saying
with tears in his eyes, “Because of rebellion and transgression, I
lost my place in the garden. The only hope for my seed is that a
redeemer will come and bruise the head of the serpent.”
Growing up, Enoch had one burning desire. He prayed to walk
with Jehovah and for His Divine presence to flow through him,
liquid love coursing through his veins.
E. His dream came true after years of praying and diligently seeking
God. One day, the presence of God overshadowed him and the
glory of God burst upon him. He was afraid to even open his eyes
because he knew he was face to face with the Almighty.
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Lesson 10
God said, “Enoch, arise! Let’s walk together.”

From that historic day, a man who had set his face toward heaven
to love God, Jehovah, the Creator of all things, walked together in
fellowship with Him. Possibly no other historical person lived so
resourcefully and joyously as Enoch.
F. The fantastic journey.
When he was 365 years old, he and the Lord were walking
together. Enoch poured out his spirit to the great lover of the
universe, and after some time he said, “Lord, we have walked so
far and it is so late, possibly I should return home.”
Their fellowship was so pleasing to God that the Lord said, “Well,
you can just come home with Me and we will continue our
communion at My house.” Enoch said, “Oh Lord, do you mean I am
going to heaven without dying?” The Lord answered, “No other one
lived so close to Me and loved Me so dearly as you. I love you so
much. You must not experience the agony of death.”
With a touch of the Master’s hand, gravity released Enoch. He rose
from the earth with amazing velocity and as he looked back, he
said, “Lord, it looks so small.”
They traversed the solar system with amazing speed. Through the
first and second and third dimensions they traveled, beholding the
glory of the extragalactic nebulae. Finally they arrived at the
scintillating city of God where the singing of great multitudes
sounded like the roar of many waters. Enoch was listening to the
symphony of symphonics. He heard the planetary harps making
music to the Creator, but nothing seemed so glorious as seeing the
throne of God and the saints worshipping the Most High.
Enoch was home! He could now love God for all eternity.
G. Enoch is a type of the victorious bride of Christ:
1) He lived in an age of apostasy.
2) He was separated from the wicked world.
3) He prophesied of Christ’s coming.
Jude verse 14, And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam,
prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten
thousands of his saints.
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Lesson 10
4) Enoch foretold judgment upon the wicked.

5) He missed the period of tribulation (the flood).
6) This was all because Enoch walked with God and loved God!
H. Enoch was a man who rose above local circumstances and local
conditions to became a unique man of God.
2. NOAH’S LOVE
A. Jehovah searches for love.
After Enochs departure, God scoured the earth in search of a man
who loved Him. He found such a man in the person of Noah.
As Noah knelt before God, surrounded by a civilization given
completely to lust, he pledged his undying love to the Almighty.
B. Jehovah finds Noah.
God began talking with Noah. One day He said, “Noah, the sins of
men are so great I must remove them from the face of the earth.
Their sins are cancerous. But, you have found favor in My heart and
I will preserve you. You must build an ark to the saving of your
house.”
C. Noah’s big project.
Though Noah was no shipbuilder, his love for God was so great he
immediately began building this boat, according to the instructions
from God. Although it took him 120 years to build the ark, God’s
great love constrained him to untiring effort.
God’s love for Noah restrained Him from bringing judgment upon
the ungodly until the day that Noah, his family and the animals
were safely in the ark.
The tenderness of God watching over Noah before the Flood, during
the Flood, and after the Flood shows us that God is love!
3. ABRAHAM EARNESTLY SOUGHT TO LOVE GOD

Soon after the Flood, man ceased to look up and to love God. He instead
looked downward and fell deep into sin. God again searched the earth for
someone to love Him, but He found no one.
A. The Almighty finds Abraham.
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Lesson 10
At last, in Ur of the Chaldees, God saw a man who was earnestly

seeking Him. His name was Abraham.
Again, the tender heart of love revealed itself as Abraham extended
his love toward God. God became so carried away with Abraham’s
love that He promised to bless him and his seed after him, and that
all the nations of the world would be blessed through him.
God also promised that through Abraham would come the
Redeemer. This person would bruise the head of the serpent who
deceived man in the garden of Eden.
The entire history of Abraham can be summed up by saying that
God loved Abraham and Abraham loved God. In the solitary places
of the Promised Land, they talked together.
B. We see the tremendous love of God for Abraham at the time of the
destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. They resembled the garden of
God in natural beauty, but they became exceedingly corrupt.
Their sins were like cancers, destroying them. God, who is slow to
anger and great in mercy, looked down upon them and confided the
coming judgment to the patriarch Abraham.
Abraham, with a heart like God, began to plead that if there were
fifty, then forty-five, then thirty, and even ten people that loved God
in those great cities, would God save them.
God said, “Yes,” but there were not ten righteous people within the
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Two angels entered Sodom to warn Lot, who loved God, of Sodom
and Gomorrah’s approaching judgment. If this does not demon-
strate the true nature of God to love the unlovable and to save the
lost, it would be impossible to picture it.
As Lot ran through the streets of Sodom crying to the members of
his family to leave the accursed city, the very palpitation of God’s
heart was beating in his heart, for God loved mankind. Even his
own daughters and their husbands refused the love of God!
C. Abraham’s descendants.
After Abraham’s day, Isaac loved God, but not as Abraham had.
Isaac’s son Jacob loved God, but his love was not as great as
Abrahams.
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Lesson 10
4. JOSEPH LOVED GOD

God searched the earth diligently for someone to love Him. He found
such a being in the person of Joseph.
Joseph loved God and from his youth communed with Him. He
revealed his love to God by walking in holiness. Joseph refused to be
contaminated with sin and demonstrated his love to God by forgiving
his brothers and Potiphar’s wife.
The story of Joseph is written in tender love. He is almost a perfect
type of the Lord Jesus Christ who was to come.
Joseph loved God when he was in a pit, when he was in slavery and
when he was in prison. He continued to loved God as Prime Minister of
Egypt.
After Joseph’s day, there was darkness across the horizon. God sought
in vain for someone to love Him. For 400 years He found no man
worthy of notation in His book.
5. MOSES AND LOVE

God found Moses, a man who was willing to give up a throne in a
heathen empire in order to follow Jehovah.
Many generations had passed since God found one who sincerely loved
Him as had Abraham. They talked face-to-face and Moses heard the
voice of God and obeyed Him.
Here again, was demonstrated the essence of Divinity in unmistakable
terms.
God loved Moses and Moses loved God, and because of this love mighty
miracles took place.
God delivered Israel from slavery; He led them through a great desert
to the promised land, because one man looked up and loved Him.
6. SAMUEL’S LOVE AND OBEDIENCE

Sometimes generations passed before God could find someone to truly
love Him.
Samuel broke through this veil of unbelief. He loved God and heard
Jehovah’s voice. From childhood he walked with God and through this
communion blessed a nation.
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Lesson 10
7. DAVID LOVED GOD ALL HIS LIFE

David learned to love God when he was young. He felt the compassion
of the Most High surging through his being. As the result of David’s
love, God worked miracles for the people of Israel.
The sweet songs that David sung to God, and his complete reliance on
Him to deliver him, caused God call him “a man after God’s own
heart.”
The beauty of David’s worship of Jehovah is unparalleled in history.
Love was like a tidal wave breaking over the soul of David.
After David’s death, God looked through-out the earth, for those who
would follow Him and love Him in order that He might reveal again
His life flow of love.
8. DANIEL’S LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS

We see this mighty demonstration of love in Babylon when God
reached out to save the nation through Daniel.
“God is not willing that any should perish.” His love manifest through
godly men placed in areas marked for judgment.
Daniel continually cried out against the heathenism, paganism, and
sensuality of Babylon. He was the heart of God for that nation.
Unfortunately, Babylon refused to serve God and had to perish
because of its sin.
9. QUEEN ESTHER LOVED GOD

We see the love of God operating in the Medo-Persian Empire through
Queen Esther. God used her to save the Jewish people.
In a miraculous way, God placed Esther on the throne of a world
empire. Through her tender intercession, Jehovah reconciled a nation
to Himself.
God’s love is unmistakably shown in placing such a lovely person on
the throne of a heathen kingdom.
10. JONAH’S FORCED LOVE

Where in literature can we find the personality of God and His love for
fallen humanity so majestically demonstrated?
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Lesson 10
Jonah, possibly the strangest preacher who ever lived, was angered by
the success of his own sermon and the revival it spawned. He did not
have a heart of pure love for God—a compassionate heart.
11. GOD’S GREATEST EXPRESSION OF LOVE—JESUS

We now turn to the New Testament, where every page tells the story
of the great Creator who is the very essence of love.
A. When the archangel, Gabriel, spoke to the virgin Mary, he
signified that love itself would walk as a man on the earth.
Luke 1:31, And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and
bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
B. The proclamation of love.
Nine months later, the angels of heaven proclaimed with trumpet
blasts, “Peace on earth, good will toward men. Today a Saviour is
born.”
Here was God in the flesh; a master stroke of divine LOVE.
C. The manifestation of love.
Jesus explained it in John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he
gave his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish but have everlasting life.
God did not merely feel sorry for the world. Christ Jesus declared,
“God so loved the world.” Jesus is God’s sweetest manifestation of
love.
When we look into the eyes of Jesus, we are looking into the eyes
of love. When we hear the words of Jesus we are hearing the
words of love. We can better understand God’s love by studying
the acts of Jesus. We see Him with outstretched arms reaching for
human wreckage: the harlot, the outcast, the diseased, the
demon-possessed. Jesus is God’s hand reaching out in tender
compassion.
We behold God’s love in action as a legion of demons comes out of
a demoniac and enters a herd of swine. When we see him sit at
the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, we come to
further understand the love of God.
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Lesson 10
When the Lord Jesus gave sight to blind Bartemaeus, he, for the
first time beheld the love of God.
D. The demonstration of love
The crowning demonstration of God’s unfathomable love took
place when wicked men nailed the Lord Jesus Christ to the cross.
He consistently revealed God’s love for humanity. Even on the
cross, while suspended between the heavens and the earth, His
arms outstretched to the east and to the west, we hear Him say
in, Luke 23:34, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they
do. This is what God had been doing for 4,000 years—seeking to
get mankind to love Him!
Since Christ’s crucifixion on the cross, God has daily sought for
those who will love Him in spirit and in truth.
12. PAUL LOVED GOD

Paul loved God and demonstrated it in heroic missionary adventures.
He opened empires through the expression of divine love.
II Corinthians 11:24-28, Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes
save one.
v. 25, Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered
shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
v. 26, In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in
perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the
city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among
false brethren;
v. 27, In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and
thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
v. 28, Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me
daily, the care of all the churches.
13. EARLY CHURCH FATHERS AND MARTYRS LOVED GOD

The fathers of the early Church loved God and walked with Him.
Many of them paid for this love by dying a martyr’s death. The annals
55
Lesson 10
of the Church are studded with brilliant luminaries who shine with
the luster of love for God. Every martyr who was burned at the stake
is a revelation of God’s love. Every persecuted Christian is a further
revelation of God’s love.
14. LOVE IS STILL REACHING

A. Love reaches for communists.
To this hour, the arms of the God of love are outstretched. They
are extended toward the great communist world where wicked
men boldly proclaim His nonexistence.
B. Love reaches for nations.
God’s arms are outstretched toward the great continent of Africa,
a land torn by revolution and bloodshed. Her countries are in deep
turmoil within and without.
God’s hands are outstretched toward the new nations of the world
trying to find themselves in these confusing times. God’s hand is
outstretched to all races, nations and governments.
C. Love reaches for men.
Not only is God’s arm outstretched to nations, but also to
individuals. It has been so during all of history. His arm is
outstretched to church members, begging them to walk with Him.
God’s loving hand is outstretched toward sinners living in the
deepest sin.
God is love toward all men. This is the message the world needs
today!
15. MY PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF THE LOVE OF GOD

Personally, I have witnessed the love of God and have felt this mighty
love.
When I was seventeen years of age, I was rebellious in spirit and soul.
God, in His compassion, healed me of tuberculosis in the last stages.
Even though many years have passed, I still bear scars on my lungs,
but each X-ray shows that I am completely healed.
The Lord Jesus saved my soul, breathed His love into my heart, and
caused me to love Him.
This prompted me to leave my father’s house and began preaching the
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Lesson 10
Gospel of my Savior. As I better understood His love, my dedication

became firmer. “I will go where You want me to go, dear Lord. . .”
became more than a song to me. It became a way of life. My love for
Jesus has led me to one hundred nations of the world—sometimes in
deprivation, sometimes in misunderstanding, but always in victory
and joy. A million times over have I seen His love demonstrated to
humans in the saving of thousands of souls, in the healing of myriads
of bodies, in the lifting up of the downtrodden, and in the humbling of
the exalted. Down the pathway of life, I have constantly read GOD IS
LOVE.
I John 4:8, 16, He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
v. 16, And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.
God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in
him.
16. HOW LOVE WORKS

Galatians 5:6, For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any
thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Faith works through love.
17. LOVE SERVES

Galatians 5:13, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use
not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Serve one another in love.
A. Love is first to sacrifice.
B. Love is first to volunteer.
C. Love is first to labor.
D. Love is first to forgive.
E. Love is first to worship.
CONCLUSION:
God is wooing every individual. He wants mankind to love Him as He loves
mankind.
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STUDY GUIDE
LOVE
THE GREATEST POWER
IN THE WORLD
LESSON 11
LOVE AND THE LAST DAYS
INTRODUCTION:
In the last days there will be a love crisis! This shortage of love will be worse
than any shortage or crisis the earth has ever experienced.
READING:
Matthew 24:12, And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall
wax cold.
These are the words of Jesus Christ. We believe these to be the last days.
1. A CHURCH CAN LOSE ITS FIRST LOVE

The Ephesian Church was one of the great first century churches, yet it
lost its first love. This shortage is sign of the last days.
Revelation 2:4, Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou
hast left thy first love.
2. THE HUSBAND IS TO STAY WITH THE WIFE OF HIS FIRST

LOVE
You need not to be part of the problem in these last days. You can be
part of the answer. Hold your family together by prayer and love.
Divorce is not a cure-all.
Matthew 24:37-39, But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming
of the Son of man be.
v. 38, For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe
entered into the ark,
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Love and the Last Days
Lesson 11
v. 39, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
3. HOMOSEXUALITY IS A STEALER OF LOVE

Homosexuality and lesbianism are spirits, entities that change the
nature of the human person. They are evil and unclean.
Romans 1:26-27, For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections:
for even their women did change the natural use into that which is
against nature:
v. 27, And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman,
burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that
which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their
error which was meet.
4. BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN

The home should be a citadel of love and affection. It is where little
children are raised. It is put together by love. In these last days the
home is under fierce attack.
Matthew 10:21, And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death,
and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their
parents, and cause them to be put to death.
5. THE SEPARATION OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS IS

DETERMINED BY ACTS OF LOVE.
Matthew 25:31-40, When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all
the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
v. 32, And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall
separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from
the goats:
v. 33, And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the
left.
v. 34, Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye
blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world:
v. 35, For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye
gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
59
Lesson 11
v. 36, Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in
prison, and ye came unto me.
v. 37, Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we
thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
v. 38, When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and
clothed thee?
v. 39, Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
v. 40, And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto
you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Jesus identified the responsibility of believers to:
A. Clothe the naked.
B. Feed the hungry.
C. Give drink to the thirsty.
D. Take in strangers.
E. Visit the prisoners.
Christ declared that in so doing we have done these deeds unto Him
personally.
6. THE REWARD OF HEAVEN IS FOR THOSE WHO LOVE

CHRIST’S APPEARING
God wants us as believers to yearn and pray for the appearing of Christ
to His Church.
II Timothy 4:8, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that
day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
7. LOVE LOST AND FOUND

The Bible is actually the drama of God’s love affair with mankind. In
the opening scenes, we find that Adam lost his love relationship with
God.
Revelation 5:9, And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to
take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast
redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation.
60
Lesson 11
8. THROUGH JESUS LOVE RECONCILED MANKIND TO GOD

Christ is the ultimate expression of God’s love.
Romans 5:8-10, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
v. 9, Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be
saved from wrath through him.
v. 10, For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the
death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his
life.
9. THE BOND OF LOVE THROUGH CHRIST IS UNCON-
QUERABLE.
Romans 8:35, 37-39, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword?
v. 37, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
him that loved us.
v. 38, For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
v. 39, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
10. THE GREAT DAY OF CHRISTIAN JOY WILL BE THE
MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
A. Revelation 19:9, And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they
which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he
saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
B. All are invited to this love feast.
Revelation 22:17, And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let
him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is a thirst come. And
whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
61
STUDY GUIDE
LOVE
THE GREATEST POWER
IN THE WORLD
LESSON 12
THE GREATEST OF ALL
INTRODUCTION:
There are many great things on this earth, but only three are abiding.
READING:
I Corinthians 13:13, And now abides faith, hope, and charity,[love], these
three; but the greatest of these is charity [love].
1. FAITH CAUSES THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT APPARENT TO

BECOME REAL
We see faith functioning in men like:
A. Moses—leading over two million people into a hostile desert.
B. Elijah—calling fire down from heaven.
C. Howard Carter—buying a church.
D. Smith Wigglesworth—raising the dead.
2. HOPE REKINDLES THE FIRE OF ASPIRATION, MAKING

FAITH PRODUCE REALITY
A. Hope operated in Hannah when she prayed for a baby boy. Her
hope was realized in her son, Samuel.
B. Abraham—Romans 4:18, Who against hope believed in hope, that he
might become the father of many nations; according to that which
was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
62
The Greatest of All
Lesson 12
C. I John 3:3, And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself, even as he is pure.
3. AGAPE LOVE
Agape is the greatest, grandest and most perfect expression of Jehovah
God on planet Earth. It creats men in the image and likeness of Jehovah
who unselfishly gave His only begotten Son. Love brings us into the most
intimate relationship with God there is. It is an expression of God
dwelling within us.
4. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE

A. Joy is love flowing.
B. Peace is love resting.
C. Patience is love waiting.
D. Kindness is love sensitive to other’s feelings.
E. Goodness is love making allowances and sacrifices for others.
F. Faithfulness is love proving constant and unfailing care.
G. Gentleness is love yielding.
H. Self-control is love triumphing over selfish inclinations.
5. LOVE IS THE TRUEST EXPRESSION OF GOD

Let the love of God within you abound toward all men. In so doing, you
become a child of God.
63

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STUDY GUIDE

INDIANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

LeSEA Publishing Company

A video and audiotape are available to assist you.

All scriptures, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from

Copyright © All Rights Reserved

LOVE—THE GREATEST POWER IN THE WORLD

Printed by LeSEA Publishing Co.

1. What is Love? ................................................................................................ 5

Love is like an angel with one wing.

Love is like a row boat with one oar,

Love is not love until it is shared.

Love cannot be shared with a totem pole.

Man LIKES inanimate things,

And LOVE is ALIVE!

EARTH’S GREATEST SECRET

1. LOVE AND THE BIBLE

2. WHAT IS DIVINE LOVE?

3. THE SECRET REVEALED

5. GOD IS RICH IN AGAPE AND MERCY

6. AGAPE IS ABOVE HUMAN INTELLIGENCE

9. CHRISTIAN LOVE IS THE FRUIT OF GOD’S SPIRIT

10. LOVE IS THE LORD

11. THE DOUBLE POWER

12. LOVE IS THE LIFE OF OUR BEING

13. LOVE IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW

d) all thy mind; and

14. PAUL GAVE SIXTEEN CHARACTERISTICS OF AGAPE

15. YOU NAME IT AND LOVE IS GREATER

16. LOVE, THE BIGGEST SECRET HUMANS NEED TO DIS-

17. GOD WANTS EVERYONE TO BE A PERSON OF LOVE

1. THE FATHER’S LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL

2. THE LOVE OF FATHER GOD REMOVES THE CURSE

3. MAN DOES NOT MERIT GOD’S LOVE

4. GOD’S LOVE IS FOR ALL TIMES, GOOD AND BAD

5. GOD’S LOVE IS THE BEST THING IN LIFE

6. GOD LOVES THE RIGHTEOUS

7. GOD’S LOVE DRAWS MEN

8. GOD LOVES GIVERS

9. GOD CORRECTS THOSE HE LOVES

10. THE FATHER’S LOVE IS BEYOND HUMAN COMPRE-

THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST

1. TO UNDERSTAND LOVE, A PERSON MUST UNDERSTAND

As the song says:

2. JESUS CHRIST IS THE WORLD’S GREATEST EXAMPLE OF

3. AGAPE LOVE IS REDEMPTIVE IN NATURE

4. AGAPE LOVE IN JESUS CREATES COMPASSION

5. IN DIVINE AGAPE LOVE, CHRIST GAVE HIS LIFE

6. THE AGAPE OF JESUS IS TRIUMPHANT

7. JESUS’ LOVE IS A CONSTRAINING FORCE

8. JESUS’ LOVE PRODUCES LIFE

9. CHRIST’S LOVE IS BEYOND KNOWLEDGE

10. CHRIST’S LOVE IS A WALK

11. THE AGAPE OF CHRIST DEMANDS A RESPONSE

THE LOVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. GOD HAS NO RELATIONSHIP TO FEAR AND DARKNESS

2. GOD IS LIGHT AND THE DEVIL IS DARKNESS

3. GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR

4. AGAPE LOVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT BROODED OVER

5. THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH AGAPE LOVE BRINGS THE

6. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OPERATE THROUGH

7. WITHOUT THE AGAPE LOVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE

11. THE BELIEVER’S SOURCE OF LOVE IS THE SPIRIT