Rand Hummel challenges believers to examine their view of God and how it affects their daily lives. He emphasizes that our theology - what we believe about God - directly impacts the fruit we produce in our lives, and calls listeners to be imitators of God as His dear children.
Scripture TextEphesians 5:1
Main Points or Ideas
• The Command to Imitate God - The verse "Be therefore followers of God, as dear children" contains nine words that can change your life. The word "followers" means to imitate or be imitators of God, requiring us to know God really well.
• Wrong Theology Produces Bad Fruit - When we believe lies about God (that He doesn't love us, won't forgive us, doesn't care, is angry with us), we produce negative fruit in our lives like loneliness, anger, bitterness, and hopelessness. The speaker illustrated this with a tree diagram showing negative characteristics.
• Right Theology Produces Good Fruit - A proper view of God produces good fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control. When we truly understand that God loves us, forgives us, cares for us, and wants the best for us, our lives change.
• How to Grow in Love for God - Two essential steps: First, get to know God better by spending significant time with Him (not just ten minutes). The speaker shared his personal experience of spending two hours daily in Psalms for 18 months. Second, understand who you are - admit your wickedness and sinfulness, recognizing yourself as the chief of sinners.
• The Example of Dear Children - Children are strong in faith and naturally trust. As God's dear children, we should approach Him with childlike faith, believing He is wonderful, loving, and forgiving, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.
ConclusionGrace and peace are multiplied in our lives through the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ. To experience this multiplication, we must grow in our knowledge of God while honestly acknowledging our sinful nature, allowing us to be true imitators of God as His beloved children.
