The Love of God - Chambers, Oswald
The Love of God
a combined volume including
The Love of God
The Ministry of the Unnoticed
The Message of Invincible Consolation
The Making of a Christian
Now Is It Possible
The Graciousness of Uncertainty
Oswald Chambers
Combined volume copyright © 1965, Oswald Chambers Publications Association
Published previously as individual booklets, the following titles were combined and
published in a single volume in 1965.
The Love of God 1938
The Ministry of the Unnoticed 1936
The Message of Invincible Consolation 1931
The Making of a Christian 1918, 1935
Now Is It Possible 1923, 1934
The Graciousness of Uncertainty 1938
Scripture versions quoted: kjv; rv
Introduction
Source
The material in the love of god is taken from lec- tures and sermons given during nearly two decades of Oswald chambers life.
Publication history
The messages in this book were originally published as articles, leaflet sermons, and individual booklets. In 1965, six booklets were combined in a single vol- ume and published as a hardcover book titled the love of god.
The love of god (1938): David lambert1 identifies the first two chapters as messages given during chambers years in dunoon, Scotland 2 (18971906), and the final chapter if god is love why? As a message given to soldiers at zeitoun, Egypt,3 in 1917. This final chapter was printed as a leaflet sermon in 1918 and distributed in Egypt and in England.
The ministry of the unnoticed (1936): these are three talks that were given to students at the bible training college,4 London, between 1911 and 1915, most likely during the weekly devotional hour. They were published individually as leaflet sermons before being issued as a booklet in 1936.
The message of invincible consolation (1931): Lambert identifies the material in the message of invincible consolation as two talks given at an annual meeting of the league of prayer, 5 on 2 Corinthians 4:1618. Also included is the worker and things as they are, likely spoken to a league audience as well.
These appeared as articles in spiritual life magazine from September through November 1930.
the making of a christian (1918; 1935): the making of a christian was used as a topic in chambers bible correspondence course series, for which oswald wrote the following introduction:
The object of these studies is to stimulate thinking along christian lines. So many among us have a good spiritual experience, but have never thought things out on christian lines. It is just as true that a man may live a christian life without thinking it as that a man may think a christian life without living it; but to combine the two means that great help may be rendered during times of confusion, turmoil and tension like the present. Bear in mind that christian growth is based on the regeneration of a mans soul through redemption.
These studies were also delivered as blackboard talks to the troops stationed at the imperial school of instruction, zeitoun, Egypt, during July 1917. Chambers, ever the teacher, frequently lettered the complete outline of his lecture on a blackboard before launching into his subject. The making of a christian was printed in egypt in 1918 as a small booklet and made available to the soldiers. In 1935, Mrs. Chambers published a new edition of the book, edited for reading rather than for study.
Now is it possible (1934): this material is from three talks given to students at the bible training college, London, between 1911 and 1915.
The graciousness of uncertainty (1938): chambers preached the graciousness of uncertainty at a Sunday morning communion service, zeitoun YMCA camp, Egypt, on October 15, 1916. This sermon was omitted when the love of god was printed as a paperback in 1973; it is included here, along with the foreword to the first edition.
1. David Lambert (1871–1961): Methodist minister and friend of Oswald and Biddy Chambers. He assisted Mrs. Chambers with OC publications from 1917 until his death in 1961.
2. Dunoon, Scotland: small town west of Glasgow; Chambers spent 1897–1906 at Dunoon Theological College as a student, then as a tutor.
3. Zeitoun (zay TOON), Egypt: six miles northeast of Cairo; site of a YMCA camp, the Egypt General Mission compound, and, from 1916 to 1919, the Imperial School of Instruction, training base for British, Australian, and New Zealand troops during World War I.
4. Bible Training College (BTC): a residential school near Clapham Common in southwest London; sponsored by the League of Prayer; operated from 1911 until it closed in July 1915 because of World War I. Oswald Chambers was principal and main teacher; Biddy Chambers, his wife, was lady superintendent.
5. Pentecostal League of Prayer: founded in 1891 in London by Reader Harris (1847–1909), prominent barrister and friend
and mentor of Oswald Chambers.
Contents
The Love of God…………………………………………………………………655
Keep Yourselves in the Love of God …………………………………………. 657
If God Is Love—Why? …………………………………………………………… 658
The Ministry of the Unnoticed ……………………………………………….. 661
Can You Come Down? …………………………………………………………… 664
The Dedication of Following …………………………………………………… 666
The Message of Invincible Consolation …………………………………. 669
The Worker and Things as They Are ……………………………………….. 672
The Making of a Christian ……………………………………………………… 675
Now Is It Possible ……………………………………………………………….. 682
Will You Go Out without Knowing? ……………………………………….. 684
Do You Continue to Go with Jesus?…………………………………………. 685
The Graciousness of Uncertainty ……………………………………………….. 687
Foreword to the First Edition ………………………………………………….. 687
The Graciousness of Uncertainty ……………………………………………… 687