Embracing Adversity: The Path to Spiritual Maturity

Summary

Today, we reflected on the journey of spiritual maturity and how adversity is not just an obstacle, but a necessary part of our growth in Christ. As we look toward Easter and the resurrection, it’s a time to refocus and consider the path Jesus walked—a path marked by suffering, obedience, and ultimately, surrender. The passage from Hebrews reminds us that even Jesus, though perfect, learned obedience through what He suffered. This is a profound mystery: the Son of God, through adversity, was made perfect and became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.

We are all works in progress, unfinished masterpieces being shaped by God. There is a version of each of us that God sees—a more Christlike, mature self that is being formed through the challenges we face. Just as food that is not yet ready can be harmful, so too is spiritual immaturity dangerous, especially when paired with influence or authority. Maturity is not measured by knowledge, gifts, or church attendance, but by the ability to practice the Word, to distinguish good from evil, and to respond to adversity with faith and surrender.

Adversity is the “university” where God trains us. It is not something to escape, but something to go through, trusting that God is using it to shape us for our destiny. Like Joseph, who was sent ahead as a man but had to be tested and matured through suffering, we too are being prepared for the places God wants to take us. The areas of our lives that remain unsurrendered are the very places where we lack security and blessing. True maturity comes when we surrender our will, our control, and our comfort to God, trusting that on the other side of surrender is a greater blessing and purpose.

In every trial, there is meaning and purpose. We are called not just to go through adversity, but to grow through it, allowing God to mature us so we can step into the destiny He has prepared for us. Let us surrender afresh, trusting that all things work together for our good as we are conformed to the image of Christ.

Key Takeaways

- Adversity is God’s Training Ground for Maturity
Spiritual maturity is not achieved in comfort, but in the crucible of adversity. Just as Jesus learned obedience through suffering, we too are shaped and refined by the challenges we face. Adversity is not a sign of God’s displeasure, but His commitment to our growth and preparation for greater things. [19:33]

- Maturity Precedes Destiny—You Can’t Step Into Your Calling Unchanged
There is a version of you that God sees, one that is ready for the destiny He has spoken over your life. The old, immature self cannot inherit the fullness of God’s promises. Maturity is the bridge between where you are and where God wants to take you, and adversity is the process that brings about that maturity. [04:16]

- Surrender is the Gateway to Security and Blessing
The areas of our lives that we refuse to surrender to God remain insecure and unfruitful. True blessing and abundance are found on the other side of surrender, as we yield control and trust God’s wisdom above our own. Jesus’ ultimate act of surrender in Gethsemane opened the way for our salvation; likewise, our surrender opens the way for God’s best in our lives. [42:12]

- Spiritual Maturity is Practiced, Not Just Learned
Knowing the Word is not enough; maturity is developed through constant use and practice, training our senses to instinctively respond in alignment with God’s truth. Like athletes who move from studying the playbook to muscle memory on the field, we must move from knowledge to practiced obedience, especially in the face of adversity. [32:35]

- Adversity Reveals and Refines Our Character for Kingdom Purpose
The trials we face are not random; they are purposeful tests that prepare us for greater responsibility and influence. Like Joseph, whose dreams were tested by years of hardship, we are being shaped into people who can carry God’s anointing and fulfill His purposes. The process may be painful, but it is producing an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison. [28:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:29] - Praying for Ukraine and the Power of Courage
[01:08] - Introducing Hebrews 5: Suffering and Obedience
[02:28] - The Mystery of Christ’s Perfection Through Suffering
[03:04] - The Call to Maturity and Spiritual Growth
[04:16] - Maturity, Adversity, and Destiny
[05:29] - The Danger of Immaturity and Unfinished Growth
[08:02] - Becoming More Like Christ: The Unfinished Work
[11:13] - The Pain of Delay and the Cost of Unfinished Lives
[13:06] - Immaturity and Its Consequences
[15:05] - Misconceptions About Spiritual Maturity
[18:55] - God’s School of Adversity
[21:23] - Surrendering Control: Thy Will Be Done
[23:10] - Processing Adversity Like Jesus
[26:21] - The Eternal Weight of Glory
[28:52] - Joseph: Tested by the Word, Prepared by Adversity
[32:35] - Practicing the Word: From Knowledge to Instinct
[36:26] - Gethsemane: The Place of Surrender
[42:12] - The Blessing of Surrendered Lives
[44:46] - Prayer of Surrender and Invitation to Christ

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

---

### Bible Reading

- Hebrews 5:7-14
_During the days of Jesus’s life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil._

---

### Observation Questions

1. According to Hebrews 5:8, what did Jesus learn through suffering, and why is this significant?
2. In the sermon, what analogy did the pastor use to describe spiritual immaturity and its dangers? [[06:47]]
3. What does the passage say is the difference between “milk” and “solid food” in the life of a believer?
4. How does the sermon describe the process by which believers become mature? [[32:35]]

---

### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the writer of Hebrews emphasizes that even Jesus “learned obedience from what he suffered”? What does this teach us about the role of adversity in spiritual growth? [[02:28]]
2. The sermon says, “Adversity is God’s training ground for maturity.” How does this perspective challenge the way most people view suffering or hard times? [[19:33]]
3. The pastor mentioned that “maturity is not measured by knowledge, gifts, or church attendance, but by the ability to practice the Word, to distinguish good from evil, and to respond to adversity with faith and surrender.” What does this look like in real life? [[15:05]]
4. What does it mean that “the areas of our lives that remain unsurrendered are the very places where we lack security and blessing”? How might this play out practically? [[42:12]]

---

### Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about “adversity university”—the idea that God uses hard times to grow us. Can you think of a recent challenge or trial in your life? How might God be using it to mature you? [[19:33]]
2. The pastor said, “There is a version of you that God sees, one that is ready for the destiny He has spoken over your life.” What is one area of your life where you sense God is calling you to grow up or mature? [[04:16]]
3. Are there any areas in your life that you have not fully surrendered to God? What would it look like to surrender those areas, and what fears or obstacles hold you back? [[42:12]]
4. The sermon compared spiritual maturity to moving from “milk” to “solid food.” What is one practical way you can move from just knowing God’s Word to actually practicing it this week? [[32:35]]
5. The story of Joseph was used as an example of someone who was tested and matured through adversity before stepping into his destiny. Is there a “dream” or calling you feel God has placed on your life that you are waiting for? How might God be preparing you right now? [[28:52]]
6. The pastor said, “True blessing and abundance are found on the other side of surrender.” Can you share a time when surrendering to God led to unexpected blessing or peace in your life? [[42:12]]
7. When you face adversity, is your first instinct to escape it, complain, or ask God what He wants to teach you through it? How can you shift your mindset to “grow through” adversity instead of just “go through” it? [[24:23]]

---

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to spend a few moments in silent prayer, asking God to reveal any areas that need to be surrendered and to give strength to trust Him in adversity. Encourage each person to pray, “Lord, I surrender. Help me to grow through whatever I am facing.”

Devotional

Day 1: Maturity Comes Through Adversity

True spiritual maturity is forged in the fires of adversity, not in comfort or ease. Just as Jesus, though perfect, was made perfect through obedience and suffering, so too are believers shaped and refined by the challenges they face. The hardships and trials of life are not signs of God’s displeasure, but rather His means of preparing His children for their destiny. The old version of ourselves cannot step into the fullness of what God has for us; it is through adversity that we are matured and made ready for the next season. [04:16]

Hebrews 5:7-9 (ESV)
"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him."

Reflection: What is one current adversity in your life that you can begin to see as God’s tool for your growth, rather than just a problem to escape?

Day 2: Practicing the Word Leads to Spiritual Maturity

Spiritual maturity is not just about knowing the Word, but about practicing it until it becomes instinctive. Like athletes who move from studying the playbook to muscle memory on the field, believers must train their senses through constant use, learning to distinguish good from evil in real-life situations. It is in the daily practice—especially in moments of adversity—that faith becomes action and the teachings of Christ become second nature. [32:35]

Hebrews 5:13-14 (ESV)
"For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to move from simply knowing what is right to consistently practicing it, even when it’s hard?

Day 3: Adversity Produces Perseverance and Completeness

Trials and difficulties are not setbacks but opportunities for spiritual growth and completeness. The testing of faith produces perseverance, and perseverance, when allowed to finish its work, leads to maturity and wholeness. Instead of resenting adversity, believers are called to embrace it with joy, trusting that God is using every challenge to shape them into the image of Christ and prepare them for greater things. [19:33]

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: Think of a recent trial—how can you choose to see it as a tool for your spiritual completeness rather than just a hardship?

Day 4: Surrender Unlocks God’s Blessing and Destiny

The greatest breakthroughs and blessings in the Christian life are found on the other side of surrender. Jesus’ ultimate act of surrender in the garden—“not my will, but thine be done”—opened the way for eternal salvation. Likewise, the areas of our lives that we surrender to God become places of abundance and security, while the areas we try to control remain stagnant. Surrender is not weakness; it is the gateway to God’s best for us. [41:31]

Luke 22:42 (ESV)
"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."

Reflection: What is one area of your life you are still trying to control? What would it look like to truly surrender it to God today?

Day 5: God’s Word and Destiny Are Shaping You Through Every Season

God has spoken a word and destiny over your life, and even when the process seems slow or difficult, He is using every circumstance to shape you into the person He sees you becoming. Like Joseph, who was tested and refined through years of adversity before stepping into his destiny, you are an unfinished work of art, under construction for a purpose greater than you can imagine. Trust that God is at work in you, even when you feel incomplete or unfinished. [28:52]

Psalm 105:17-19 (ESV)
"He had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him."

Reflection: Where do you feel “unfinished” in your life right now, and how can you trust that God is using this season to prepare you for your destiny?

Quotes

Adversity brings maturity, maturity brings destiny okay and so the question that is always asked whenever i talk to someone who's in faith i i often say this what are you going through what are you facing show me your adversary i'll show you your anointing show me your giant and i will show you what god has in store for you amen there's some there's some things that god takes us to takes us through that are imperative to our spiritual formation. [00:04:52]

If you are here and you have faith in christ the spirit of the living god lives inside of you then there's a work that is happening there's something happening inside of you that is moving you to a destination and that destination is in christ and looks like christ i love first john chapter three and two it says this dear friends now we are the children of god today you are the children of god there is no doubt about that today you are the child of god right now and what we will be has not yet been made known. [00:07:56]

There's something he has spoken over your life that is the future version of you the complete the done the perfect version of you amen that is in christ the version of you that that's living inside of you that's being that's growing right maturing that christ be formed in us it's happening every time you you you do something you know you're not supposed to do and you go there's conviction why is it because there's some there's there's a destiny there's something that god has spoken there's truth and life that god has spoken over you living inside of you that is contrary to the old ways that you used to live okay. [00:09:18]

You are an unfinished work of art amen you're unfinished so when someone disturbs you and someone drives you nuts you just remember they're unfinished they're not done yet they're not the version that god saw them yet but we're gonna pray for you and love you and forgive you because you are being edited so here's what the bible says he said you ought to be teachers you ought to be ahead of this you ought to be anybody ever heard ought to be. [00:10:47]

There is one school that is prescribed to every believer that is going to make you mature and grow you are you ready for what it is because no one likes this it's adversity we call it adversity university it's the struggle it's the fire and this is where your spiritual aptitude is built and we have something in us as believers as christians we just want to get out of all of adversity and god wants us to go through adversity he want christ was made perfect in obedience and suffering. [00:18:49]

How do you make someone who's perfect more perfect adversity and suffering position him to be able to take the role of the eternal priest forever and ever and ever to be able to secure all of us for eternity it was suffering he learned obedience james chapter one and two says this consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance and let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete and lacking nothing. [00:19:33]

Maybe you're not doing something wrong joe maybe you're doing something so right that god is about to promote your life in such a way that you can't even process it adversity university is this okay let me tell you what christians love we love we we love the crystal ball of being able to control the future in fact i hear a lot of people's prayers and i get nervous sometimes it's like crystal balls and and and and predicting and controlling the future controlling outcomes. [00:21:00]

If being a christian was to incubate us from trouble then why do we need help and why do we need comfort he gave us helper comforter why because he knew you've been born again you're about to go through adversity university and i don't want you to give up i want to keep your heart encouraged and if you'll lean and commune with the holy spirit and commune with me then you'll be able to make it through amen because you have a helper and you have a comforter amen. [00:22:40]

Here's what suffering does it makes you better makes you worse makes you harder tender weaker stronger but it never leaves you the way it found you suffering amen we don't just have a suffering savior we have a surrendering savior he surrendered to the process he learned obedience from what he suffered and once made perfect became the source of eternal salvation charles stanley said this adversity is god's most effective tool for advancement of our spiritual lives the circumstances and events that we see as setbacks our intense spiritual growth. [00:24:54]

We get the strength from the resistance right we get this it's the pressure that makes us strong second corinthians 4 17 says this our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine you need to put that on your wall okay you need to remind yourself there is something that god is doing in me that is eternal these things that come against me they are making me look more like jesus they are helping me move my destiny forward. [00:26:07]

God cannot move you forward this version of you into your next season because you can't carry stuff from one season to another it's not the season that changes it's you that changes that moves the season amen our future is held hostage by our maturity in christ places that god wants to take you he has to first make you let me let me share a scripture i love this passage and i know i say that a lot but i read all the ones i love so here we go. [00:27:10]

He was tested and the testing was the the university of of adversity that was making the the 17 year old joseph braggadocious kid with not all the wisdom in the world my brothers already don't like me and i have this special coat and maybe i should be bragging about the visions and the dreams god's given me to a man who's able to stand and reorder the world and its order during a during a famine and to be able to save the world by god's grace was able to go through heartache and and and being lied on and kept his character and kept his name and was able to go through that and there's a joseph that can stand number two in the world. [00:29:19]

There is a maturity level that god demands for the level of anointing he wants to put on your life amen so there's we got to recognize what god is doing there is this profound and interesting statistic 40 of birds in new zealand cannot fly forty percent of birds in new zealand cannot fly why because they don't have any predators they have no reason to fly said that's an easy that's cheese and crackers life that's what i want is it what you want is it what you need or do you need some things chasing you that's going to cause your wings to have to push and fight and climb and go to a different dimension and a level that the predator can't get to. [00:30:21]

Maturity isn't just knowing the bible it is learning to practice the word where it is your instinct that's what he's saying here he's saying they they have trained themselves to distinguish they've trained them there's a muscle memory in the growth they've learned how to not say whatever they want to say and and lash out at people who hurt them on facebook and they they're some they've trained their senses to be able to cooperate and align with the word of god because here's the truth of the matter and we can all admit this every one of us every one of us can tell us what we should do and should not do. [00:32:42]

It's easy to start it's not easy to finish amen i like it football playbook i should do a sermon series called playbook probably not though it'd be too complicated i'd have to have a playbook and a rule book and explain it at the beginning of every won't do it okay faithful fruitful that's what god wants for us oswald chambers said this if we're going to live as disciples of jesus we have to remember that all noble things are difficult the christian life is gloriously difficult but the difficulty of it does not make us faint and cave in it rouses us to over come. [00:34:00]

Let me tell you this if christ is our example god's greatest plan for your life and mine is on the other side of surrender it's on the other side of surrender i'm not talking about being in control i'm not you got it all together you know christianity you know how church goes you know church flow you know how ministry happens you know how the sausage is made in the kitchen now i'm talking about surrender surrendering control and surrendering to god he learned obedience from what he surrendered he was made perfect you see the areas of our life that are unsurrendered or not secure the areas of our life that are unsurrendered are not secure the areas of our life that we surrender to god that's where they'll be blessing that's where they'll be abundance the areas that we try to control and hold on to and say this belongs to us we got this god those are the areas that are dormant those are the dundrums those are the those are the areas where there's contention that's where the wilderness is that's where the desert is that's where there's lack of prosperity and shalom but the areas that we surrender to him the bible says because he surrendered forever there was a place that he would stand in the heavens at the right hand of the father forever and ever and ever on your behalf said he's righteous he's righteous she's righteous she's righteous these people can come but they don't deserve to come the satan satan's going they don't deserve it they don't deserve it and he says they are my brothers they are my sisters they are heirs look at the title on heaven their name is on there because we are joint heirs with christ with all of this stuff they belong here all made possible because somebody surrendered their rights surrender on the other side of surrender is a bountiful blessing and position in heavenly places amen. [00:41:51]

Chatbot

What is the role of adversity in spiritual maturity?

How does surrender influence our journey to destiny?

What lessons can be learned from Jesus's suffering?