Love
Love is a powerful force that can guide our actions, overcome our fleshly desires, and bring us freedom from shame.
W.R. Inge preaches about the transformative power of love as the ultimate way to surrender to God completely. By turning to this love, one becomes a willing prisoner to God, offering every part of their being to Him. Overcoming the flesh and worldly temptations is best achieved through love, which is described as strong as death and as unyielding as hell, separating all things from the soul that are not God-like. The more one embraces this divine love and becomes a prisoner to it, the more they will experience true freedom, guided by the love of God.
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HE who has found this way of love, seeketh no other. He who turns on this pivot is in such wise a prisoner that his foot and hand and mouth and eyes and heart, and all his human faculties, belong to God. And, therefore, thou canst overcome thy flesh in no better way, so that it may not shame thee, than by love. This is why it is written, Love is as strong as death, as hard as hell. Death separates the soul from the body, but love separates all things from the soul. She suffers nought to come near her, that is not God nor God-like. Happy is he who is thus imprisoned; the more thou art a prisoner, the more wilt thou be freed. That we may be so imprisoned, and so freed, may He help us, Who Himself is Love. (30)
Sermon Outline
- The Power of Love
- The Nature of Love
- The Benefits of Being a Prisoner of Love
- Freedom from Shame
- Increased Freedom
Key Quotes
“He who turns on this pivot is in such wise a prisoner that his foot and hand and mouth and eyes and heart, and all his human faculties, belong to God.” — W.R. Inge
“Love is as strong as death, as hard as hell.” — W.R. Inge
“Death separates the soul from the body, but love separates all things from the soul.” — W.R. Inge
Application Points
- Make a conscious effort to allow love to guide your actions and decisions.
- Recognize that love is a powerful force that can help you overcome your fleshly desires.
- Seek to be a prisoner of love, allowing it to bring you freedom from shame and increased freedom.