Are you Stuck?

Connection card question!Spiritual stagnation: what does that mean and why are we talking about it?Lauren’s experience“All or nothing” patternsDeanna’s experience“Humility” and guilt in common legalistic mentalitiesOvercompensating from our guiltDefining spiritual stagnation“Doesn’t move”, “just sits there”, “unattended to”, “unaddressed”Miriam Webster: “stagnation: a state or condition marked by a lack of flow, movement, or development”The Holy Spirit producing fruit vs intentionality on our endEph 4 “grow up in Him”Phil 3 “press on”2 Peter 3 “ grow in grace and knowledge”Hebrews 12 “strive/pursue holiness”1 Tim 4:7 “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness”Action verbs, the “do’s” are clearHow much is it us and how much is it the Spirit?It’s a both/and not an either/orThe heart and attitude behind the “doing”We were created to take part in disciplinesJustification (one time at salvation, relationship with God) -> Sanctification (ongoing growth process over earthly life, fellowship with God)Sanctification is an ebb and flow over the course of your lifeWe are not “doing” for the status of our relationship, relationship has been won and securedThe “doing” is the pursuit of growing in that relationship with GodFaithfulness in the pursuing of holiness are rewarded with primary benefits of godliness (to be like God and to be with God) plus some secondary benefits of peace, power, love, joy, wisdom, etcYou can get off track in the “doing”Community is keyThe mental battle in the “doing” for those who fight legalistic tendencies“Checking the box” Love breeds obedience which breeds more loveIt is a parental/authoritative relationship with the Father, He does ask us to do some stuff, and we are to obey, even when we don’t feel the love sometimes, we still obey Him as commanded God is a God of order, not of confusionDiagnosing spiritual stagnation, red flags/signals<br/> Pulling away Complacency/Blame shifting Self absorption Led by feelings (indicators)Prayers are seeking what He can do for you more than who He isConstantly taking, never giving backIf you’re not thinking about it or asking these questionsHe can grow your appetite for Himself to be thirsty for Him more and moreThe natural progression in the wrong direction away from the disciplines, it’s a slow fadeEph 5: 15-17 “be diligent in the pursuit of righteousness”Justifying your lack of diligence is easy and natural, but of the enemy, not of Christ“The doing” we are referring to are the spiritual disciplines, not just being busy with the same stuff the unsaved/world are busy doing tooThose that you look at and think “wow they’ve always got these disciplines under control” are also struggling to pursue holiness, no one is perfect, but you can learn to maintain the pursuit amid valleys, hurdles, and busynessHe is constantly working even when you don’t see itThe tempting lie to step away for awhile is actually idolatryThe Causes of stagnation: idolatry, busyness, SINThe ownership of sinSin is chosen not stumbled uponWe choose the idolatry, it has not chosen usThe constant battle of the believers to choose sin/flesh or spirit/power over sinConfession/agreement and repentance/to turn away fromRelationship never changed, but fellowship is restored when believers confess and repent their sins post salvationThe prodigal son parableBelievers are covered in grace every time they turn back to the Father in repentancePromo of next week’s episode!Are you stuc