This is a theological issue whether you're a fatalist or not in your life. Whether you say I'm stuck, whether you say that's just the way I am,

whether you have a vision for growth and change and becoming what you are not in 10 years than what you were 10 years ago.

That's a theological issue of whether you believe this

text. So what do you do when you believe your current spiritual state is permanent.

How does the Bible address spiritual fatalism?

That's the question John Piper answers from 1st Peter 2, 1 to 3

in this episode of Light and Truth.

This sermon was originally preached

at Bethlehem Baptist Church on January 30, 1994.

Spiritual faith. Spiritual fatalism. It's a deadly thing in the church. It's a tragic thing in the church. It's a tragic thing in the church. It's the belief or the feeling that you're stuck with the way you are. Spiritual fatalism says, this is all I'll ever experience of God, where I am right now, my Christian life.

This is the level of spiritual intensity that I have and I will never have anymore.

I see other people with strong desires.

I hear the way they pray.

I see the way they love their devotions.

I watch their intensity of obedience I will never be like that

Why well just because just because just because just, that's the way I am.

Spiritual fatalism.

It's the feeling that genetic forces, families of origin, present circumstances, are just too strong to allow me to ever become more zealous for God,

Titus 214, more fervent for God.

Romans 12, 12, more delighted in God,

Psalm 37, 4, more hungry for Christ, John 635,

more at home with spiritual things, Romans 8. 5, more bold, 2nd Timothy, 1-7, more constant,

...