Our view of God is often shaped by our experiences with our earthly fathers, creating a lens through which we see Him, sometimes clear, sometimes distorted. Spiritual maturity involves looking beyond this lens to see God as He truly is. In 1 John 2:13-17, believers are categorized into three groups: spiritually mature 'fathers' who have walked with God for years and gained perspective through experience; spiritually growing 'young men' who are strong in God's Word and actively battling evil; and spiritually newborn 'children' who are just beginning their journey but know the Father. John emphasizes that we fight spiritual battles from a position of victory, not struggling to achieve it. Christ has already secured the win, allowing us to face challenges with confidence. However, we must guard against worldly temptations that gradually pull us away from God. Satan rarely tempts mature Christians with obvious sin, instead using seemingly innocent things to slowly compromise our devotion. While God's standards may seem impossible to meet through human strength alone, nothing is impossible with God. By keeping our eyes on what lasts eternally rather than temporary worldly things, we invest in what truly matters—our relationships, legacy, and faithfulness that bear fruit for eternity.

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The journey to understanding salvation starts with acknowledging a profound truth - humanity's fundamental brokenness and separation from God due to inherited sinful nature. This condition affects everyone, regardless of outward appearances or good deeds, making us completely dependent on God's mercy for restoration. God's solution to this universal problem came through Jesus Christ, offering salvation as a gift received through faith rather than earned through works. When someone accepts this gift, the Holy Spirit takes residence within them, empowering them for godly living and effective witness. This transformation enables believers to share their faith authentically, knowing that while they are called to be witnesses, it is God who ultimately draws people to Himself. True repentance involves more than surface-level changes or apologies - it requires acknowledging our broken nature, turning from our own ways, and placing complete trust in God's mercy. This process leads to genuine transformation as the Holy Spirit works within believers, guiding them into truth and enabling them to be effective witnesses of God's power.

Our mission is to multiply God’s Kingdom through being and making disciples everywhere.
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Being an effective witness for Christ encompasses both verbal testimony and lived experience, much like an eyewitness in court testifies to what they've observed. This dual approach involves sharing the truth found in Scripture while also demonstrating how God has transformed one's personal life. The gospel message at the heart of this witness is simple yet profound: humanity's fall into sin, Christ's redemptive sacrifice, and the gift of salvation available to all who believe. Effective witness doesn't require extensive theological knowledge or perfect answers to every question. Instead, it demands authentic Christian living that consistently points to Jesus, a willingness to share personal experiences with God, and demonstrating Christ's love through practical actions. Most people come to faith through the witness of others, making it crucial for believers to actively share their faith through both lifestyle and intentional conversations.

Our mission is to multiply God’s Kingdom through being and making disciples everywhere.
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The fundamental conflict between God's Kingdom and Satan's influence reveals essential truths about divine provision in our lives. This reality is beautifully illustrated through the story of Abraham and Isaac, where God demonstrated His providing nature by offering a substitute sacrifice, establishing the powerful concept of Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Will Provide. This foreshadowed the ultimate provision of Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice for humanity's sins. While Satan attempts to distort God's character through various deceptive strategies - questioning His existence, authority, and loving nature - God continues to demonstrate His role as the ultimate provider. He offers not just material provision but, most importantly, salvation through Jesus Christ. This provision addresses humanity's greatest need: forgiveness from sin. Understanding these truths helps believers recognize that life's true purpose isn't found in career achievements, possessions, or worldly success, but in glorifying God through whatever role He has assigned to us.

Our mission is to multiply God’s Kingdom through being and making disciples everywhere.
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God's identity as Jehovah Rapha - the Lord who heals - reveals a fundamental aspect of His character and His relationship with His people. This healing nature, first demonstrated when He turned bitter waters sweet for the Israelites, extends far beyond physical restoration to encompass emotional trauma, mental health struggles, and spiritual brokenness. The journey to receiving God's healing often requires overcoming various barriers, including our reluctance to admit need, tendency to make excuses, and attempts to heal ourselves. True healing begins when we honestly confront our brokenness and actively respond to Jesus' question, 'Do you want to get well?' This involves taking concrete steps of faith, whether through seeking counseling, joining support groups, or sharing struggles with trusted friends. While God's healing power is constant, His timing and methods may differ from our expectations. The key lies in trusting His character as Healer and moving toward Him rather than remaining in our broken condition. This process calls for both faith and action, combining trust in God's healing power with practical steps toward wholeness.

Our mission is to multiply God’s Kingdom through being and making disciples everywhere.
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The metaphor of God as our shepherd reveals profound truths about divine character and human nature. Humans, much like sheep, are inherently vulnerable creatures who tend to follow others, make naive decisions, and quickly lose their way. This comparison isn't meant to diminish human worth but rather to illuminate our fundamental need for divine guidance and protection. God, as the Good Shepherd, demonstrates His care through both protection and guidance. Using His rod, He defends against spiritual enemies and dangers, while His staff provides loving correction and direction. Unlike a hired hand who flees in the face of danger, God remains steadfast in His commitment to care for His flock, even to the point of laying down His life. This shepherding relationship is deeply personal, with God knowing each of His followers intimately. This shepherding role extends beyond mere protection to provide abundant life and spiritual fulfillment. By staying close to the Shepherd, believers receive both the benefits of His protection and the wisdom of His guidance. This relationship requires trust, submission to His direction, and a willingness to remain within the safety of His care.

Our mission is to multiply God’s Kingdom through being and making disciples everywhere.
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The name Yahweh, revealed to Moses at the burning bush, carries deep significance in understanding God's character and His relationship with humanity. As the great I AM, God declares His eternal nature, supreme authority, and complete sufficiency. This name demonstrates that He is not bound by time or circumstances but exists as the ultimate source of everything we need. The burning bush encounter illustrates both God's transcendent holiness and His intimate concern for human suffering. While Moses had to remove his sandals on holy ground, God also expressed His deep awareness of His people's misery and His desire to intervene. This dual nature of God as both supremely holy and personally involved challenges us to examine how we view and relate to Him in our daily lives. When we truly grasp God as the great I AM, it revolutionizes our approach to life's challenges, relationships, and purpose. This understanding calls us to trust His sufficiency, respect His authority, and surrender every aspect of our lives to His leadership. Our faith grows as our view of God expands, transforming our perspective on everything from personal struggles to life's greatest purposes.

Our mission is to multiply God’s Kingdom through being and making disciples everywhere.
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The biblical account of Lazarus demonstrates that God's timing differs significantly from our human expectations. When Jesus deliberately waited two days before responding to Lazarus's illness, it wasn't from indifference but served a greater divine purpose. This delay exemplifies how God often works in our lives, using periods of waiting to transform us and deepen our faith. Waiting on God cultivates essential spiritual qualities like patience and self-control while building our dependence on Him. During these seasons, we face the choice between losing hope, attempting to solve problems ourselves, or trusting God's perfect timing. The waiting period becomes less about the resolution of our circumstances and more about our spiritual growth and relationship with God. God values our waiting because it positions us to witness His work in ways only He can accomplish. As promised in Isaiah 40:31, those who wait upon the Lord will find renewed strength and endurance. The key is shifting our perspective to see waiting not as a problem to minimize but as an integral part of God's transformative process in our lives.

Our mission is to multiply God’s Kingdom through being and making disciples everywhere.
Be. Make. Multiply.

multiplypeople.com