Love and Sweet Tenderness

Love is the foundational motive of all that God has deemed spiritual and holy. Without love as the central governing force, all other spiritual endeavors produce little and remain very shallow. 

This point is made quite forcefully by John G. Lake, a man whose healing ministry in the early 20th century was one of the greatest this nation has seen. In his book, John G. Lake Sermons, he noted one of the problems he had seen with the various moves of God in his day: “We were absorbed in the phenomena of God, not in God Himself. Now we must go on!” 

Every move of God and all manifestations of God are wonderful, but we must be focused on the reason for all of it: to lift people out of the works of the devil and show them the love that God has for them. 

Lake went on to tell what he saw for the future: 

"I can see as my spirit discerns the future and reaches out to touch the heart of mankind and the desire of God, that there is coming from heaven a new manifestation of the Holy Ghost in power, and that new manifestation will be in sweetness, in love, in tenderness, in the power of the Spirit, beyond anything your heart, or mind ever saw. The very lightning of God will flash through men’s souls. The sons of God will meet the sons of darkness and prevail."In the 20th century, Lake saw something about the days we are living in today. These are the days when the Holy Spirit is moving in overwhelming power. But it is also the increase of love and sweet tenderness in the Holy Spirit’s power that will demonstrate to the world the depth of God that is beyond mere words. 

If we are going to focus on God’s power, we must keep His love, gentleness, and kindness at the center of everything we do and say. 

Jonathan, David’s covenant friend, was killed in battle along with his father King Saul. Years later, when David became king in Israel, he searched his entire kingdom to find a descendent of his covenant friend. David was overcome with the desire to show kindness — his covenant love for Jonathan — and he would not rest until a descendent of Jonathan was found. 

Love must become our motive for the miracles, kindness, giving, and all our other activities. Paul said it this way, “For the love of Christ controls us” (2 Corinthians 5:14 RSV). Love is always to be the dominant force in our lives. 

Love is so important that according to Ephesians 3:19 the fullness of God is directly linked to knowing the love of Christ: 

“To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (NKJV).When we develop a greater understanding of God’s love within us, and experience that love demonstrated through us, He will fulfill our lives in ways we have never dreamed possible. 

This life of love is the best way to live. It will give us the strength and control that Jesus demonstrated in His life. It enables us to rule over our emotions and remain unmoved by the actions and words of others. It makes us gentle and Christ-like in the midst of difficulties. It makes our walk, our talk, our actions, and our reactions a testimony to the goodness and power of God that dwells in our hearts. 

Make a fresh decision to pursue the God-kind of love today!

---

How's your love life? The most powerful force in existence is the God-kind of love. It is more powerful than anything known in both this realm and in the realm of the spirit. It is one of the greatest proofs that Jesus is alive in you. If you cannot say you exhibit this kind of attitude in your life then re-examine your commitment to talk in love. There are two kinds of love: "agape" love and "phileo" love (which is friendly or brotherly love). There is a sharp contrast between the two. One is born of the Spirit; the other is born of emotions. Where natural phileo love has its limits, agape is unlimited love. God's love born in you will stand strong even when your emotions have every reason to quit loving.