Maturity and Agency

Introduction

The whole process of being “Born of the Spirit” (John 3:5-8) is the process by which God brings you to maturity

If you're not living in the Spirit, you are a baby - and that's why you're so fussy :)

NOTE: Make sure you're applying these truths to yourself, not others - or you will stay a baby

When I was a kid thinking about being an adult, I thought about “agency”

Agency is the ability to act in a given situation

As a kid, you’re constantly frustrated by a lack of agency - you’re not free to do what you want

As a child, I dreamed of being able to do whatever I wanted one day

All the snacks I would fill my house with when I was older

As an adult, I dreamed I would buy every toy I never had

Didn’t we all have similar dreams?

We become adults...

Reality sets in - reality that we weren't prepared for

We aren’t free to do whatever we want - we have responsibilities and obligations

Finances, work/life balance, relationships, children, etc

We enter adulthood carrying baggage that we don't fully understand

Why am I angry / afraid / depressed / anxious / disconnected?

We have character flaws, weaknesses, sinful addictions, etc. that we can’t shake

As a result, we don't have the freedom and control we thought we were going to have

We not only lack control of situations, we can’t even control ourselves (Romans 7:18)

Our sin further compounds these problems, increasing our addictions and weakening our self-control

The truth is, in many ways we're still children and we're still helpless

God restores self-control and calls us to maturity

Titus 3:3-5 “For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

We were enslaved to instinct, nature, and passion

But God in love set us free from that bondage and regenerates us by the Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.” Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

The Holy Spirit restores our ability - empowers us - to take command of ourselves

The fruit of the Spirit is a description of what maturity looks like

God does something better than give us control over our environment - He gives us control over ourselves

Whereas our sin, weaknesses, and trauma damage weakened our agency - God is cleansing and healing us by His Spirit, thereby restoring our agency

You must wake up from the lie that you are powerless

You have agency, but you must use it and reject “victim mentality”

2 Timothy 1:6-7 “Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”

You have to "rekindle” and “stir up” this gift of self-control

Receive His love - Titus 3:4

Exercise it and practice it

Consistency

Feed on the truth of God’s Word

Command yourself as one submitted to Christ - your authority is under authority

The unpopular truth: people don't experience freedom because they don't obey Jesus (John 15:5,10)

We have an opportunity...

Not to commiserate with one another over our weakness - but to encourage one another in these truths

We are not prisoners or slaves to our urges, faults, or weaknesses

Can you imagine if we all were living in the maturity and restored agency that the Holy Spirit gives?

Let this be a motivator to stir up one another, challenge and encourage each other towards obedience and faithfulness to Christ