THE POWER OF GOD's LOVE is so overwhelming in its Depth, its Height, its Width, and its Greatness, that no human mind can fathom it, although some have attempted to describe it, to write about it, and to sing about it. "The Love of God", wrote Frederick M. Lehman, the famous Song writer in 1917, "is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell".
Even the Scriptures testify to this very sweet theme in numerous ways in so many passages of the Holy Book. This is why I find this book "The Power of God's Love", by Brother Peter Msule, so engaging. The author, in my view, has crafted a very appealing description of what is probably the most potent force on earth: God's Love.
According to Brother Peter, "Love is the greatest need of man; even a wicked man has need of love". How true! I remember when Madelyn Murray O'Hare died in America; she was the most well known atheist in North America in 1960s. They found in her cupboard a hand written note, which read thus, " Won't anybody ever love me?" To this depth of man's yearning, God has responded by pouring out His love into man's heart and life, such that we all can drink of it. Men can, so can women. Children can partake of God's divine nature, which is love, just as much as adults can. The rich can, and so also the poor! (Matthew 11:28-30, Luke 14:22-23.) The remarkable result is that man is then able to love God, Love his neighbour, no matter which Faith the neighbour is, and also Love his enemies! Starting with John and Peter, and carrying on to us today, as disciples of Jesus, we are transformed into ministers of Love, the Holy Spirit playing a key role as the "Vehicle" of transfer or Conveyor of God's divine nature to man.Experiencing the Power of God's love is awesome. It can sometimes come through suffering. Peter Msule relates the experience of Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12, and then his own personal experiences, where he had encounter with God in Scripture, through dreams, and through various other experiences. But it cannot come without "Repentance from dead works", a process which, according to D.L. Moody, "includes: Contrition, Conviction, Confession and Conversion" from sin and self. And it cannot come without Faith towards God.
Experiencing the Power of God's love is great. It often comes by "impartation", the way the vine passes sap through to the branches (John 15) .
Read about "the Benefits of Death", death to "self", that is! Read about the "Shocking Contempla- tions!" And also about the amazing similarities between the manifest works of the flesh, and the Octopus! What becomes clear as you get into the book is this; "self" is probably one's greatest enemy. Many people think the Devil, Satan or Lucifer is your greatest enemy. Brother Msule shows that "even if you take out the devil from the world, people will remain sinful and wicked. However if you take self (the sinful nature) from the world, everyone will automatically become holy".
So you may think, "How is it possible for weak and vulnerable humans to get so close to the God who dwells in inapproachable light and to have such divine possibilities?" Simply, through The Power of God's Love! Still one wonders, "How can someone like this author, who is not very learned, come up with such a great treatise on such a huge subject matter?" It's easy. Like another song writer wrote about forgiveness, "once you've experienced it (the Power of God's Love) you just want to pass it on ". I think Peter Msule will readily agree.
J. O. Onigbinde
Business man, Elder, United Gospel Faith Tabernacle, Ray field, Jos.
