{"id":62097,"date":"2025-11-19T08:51:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T05:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=62097"},"modified":"2025-11-20T20:34:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T17:34:05","slug":"have-you-reached-the-level-of-a-spiritual-father","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2025\/11\/19\/have-you-reached-the-level-of-a-spiritual-father\/","title":{"rendered":"HAVE YOU REACHED THE LEVEL OF A SPIRITUAL FATHER?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The First Epistle of John is a book addressed specifically to three groups of people: children<\/strong>, young men<\/strong>, and fathers<\/strong>. These are not physical children, young men, or fathers, but spiritual stages<\/strong> \u2014 spiritual children, spiritual young men, and spiritual fathers.<\/p>\n

1 John 2:12\u201314 (ESV)<\/h3>\n

12<\/strong> I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name\u2019s sake.
\n13<\/strong> I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
\nI am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
\nI write to you, children, because you know the Father.
\n14<\/strong> I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
\nI write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Each group is described by characteristics that define them.<\/p>\n

\n

SPIRITUAL CHILDREN<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Concerning spiritual children, John says their sins have been forgiven, and they have come to know the Father. What does this mean?<\/p>\n

When a person is new in the faith, the first thing they experience is the lifting of burdens<\/strong> \u2014 the heavy weight of sin that once oppressed them. They begin to feel lighter, free, at peace in a way they cannot explain. They feel loved in a unique way. This is why John says:
\n\u201cYou are children because your sins are forgiven<\/strong> and because you know the Father<\/strong>.\u201d
\nThese two experiences mark the early stage of spiritual life.<\/p>\n

\n

SPIRITUAL YOUNG MEN<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For the young men, John says:
\n\u201cYou are strong\u2026 the word of God abides in you\u2026 and you have overcome the evil one.\u201d<\/p>\n

This stage represents spiritual growth<\/strong>. Here the believer faces strong temptations<\/strong>, satanic attacks<\/strong>, spiritual battles<\/strong>, and resistance because of Christ<\/strong>. Such a person is called a young man spiritually because, although they are pressed on every side, they do not let go of God. Their prayer life remains active, their study of the Word does not diminish, and even in sickness or hardship they do not turn away from God.
\nWhy? Because this is a season when the strength of God works powerfully in them, enabling them to overcome the evil one.<\/p>\n

\n

SPIRITUAL FATHERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n

But spiritual fathers are described differently:
\n\u201cYou know Him who is from the beginning<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

What does this mean?
\nWhy does John not say: \u201cbecause you have preached much\u201d or \u201cbecause you have stayed long in Christ\u201d?
\nInstead he emphasizes: \u201cbecause you know Him who is from the beginning.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

To truly know God from afar \u2014 from the beginning \u2014 is the mark of deep spiritual maturity<\/strong>.
\nEven the apostles were called our spiritual fathers because they were granted to see God from the beginning, in ways the scribes and priests did not.<\/p>\n

That is why the same epistle begins with:<\/p>\n

1 John 1:1 (ESV)<\/h3>\n

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands\u2026<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This was fulfilled when Jesus began to explain to them the things written about Himself from long ago \u2014 in the Law of Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophets: how He was present with Israel in the wilderness through the rock, the manna, the bronze serpent; how He appeared to Abraham as Melchizedek; and how He revealed Himself through various signs such as the fish that swallowed Jonah. Yet before this revelation, they did not understand.<\/p>\n

Luke 24:44\u201345 (ESV)<\/h3>\n

44<\/strong> Then he said to them, \u201cThese are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.\u201d
\n45<\/strong> Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Once a person sees God this way, God no longer becomes a God of events<\/em> but a God of all time<\/em>.
\nA spiritual child sees God only in today\u2019s events. A spiritual father sees Him yesterday, today, and forever<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

THREE AREAS WHERE YOUR EYES MUST BE OPENED TO KNOW GOD \u2018FROM THE BEGINNING\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. The Scriptures<\/strong><\/h3>\n

To become a spiritual father, you must see Christ from the very beginning of creation, just as He taught the apostles (Luke 24:44).<\/p>\n

2. Your Life Story<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You must recognize God\u2019s work in your life from the very beginning \u2014 even from birth.
\nDavid became a shepherd of Israel because he recognized God\u2019s hand while he was tending sheep, when God helped him defeat the lion and the bear.<\/p>\n

1 Samuel 17:37 (ESV)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cThe LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Likewise, a spiritually mature person can identify God\u2019s hand in many events of their life \u2014 even before salvation \u2014 and learn His voice.<\/p>\n

3. After Salvation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After being saved, as you walk with God over time, you must learn to recognize His presence in the different seasons you pass through \u2014 in hardship, in need, in abundance, and in success.
\nLearn His ways with you.
\nKnow Him from the beginning, so you no longer remain a spiritual child.<\/p>\n

\n

To become a spiritual father, you must know the God who has been there from the beginning<\/strong>, not just the God of today\u2019s events.
\nSit down and reflect deeply on your life step by step.
\nStart with the Scriptures: see how God walked with His people.
\nThose who failed to see Him from the beginning complained and eventually crucified Him.
\nBut those who recognized Him were transformed and became His apostles.<\/p>\n

Become a spiritual father.<\/strong><\/p>\n

God bless you.<\/strong>
\nShalom.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Share this good news with others.<\/p>\n