Embracing Suffering: The Path to Spiritual Fruitfulness

Devotional

Day 1: Perfecting Sonship Through Death

True sonship in Christ is perfected not by self-improvement, but by dying to self—laying down our desires, will, and flesh so that the life of Christ may be fully formed in us. This death is not a physical one, but a spiritual surrender, a crucifixion of the old self so that the new creation can rise in the likeness of Christ. Just as Jesus was made perfect through suffering and death, so too are believers called to embrace the process of dying to self, knowing that only through this can we be brought to glory and fulfill our God-given assignment. [18:55]

Hebrews 2:10, 14-15 (ESV)
"For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering... Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense God is asking you to surrender your own desires or will? How can you take a concrete step today to lay that down before Him?

Day 2: The Necessity of Dying to Self for Kingdom Fruitfulness

Unless we are willing to be sown like a seed and die to our flesh, we cannot bear spiritual fruit or inherit the kingdom of God; it is only through this process of dying that the corruption of the old nature is removed and the new, incorruptible life in Christ emerges. Just as a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to produce much fruit, so must we embrace the death of self so that the life and power of God can be made manifest in us. This is the path to true productivity and perfection in the Spirit, and the only way to bear the image of the heavenly man. [28:39]

John 12:24 (ESV)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

Reflection: In what practical way can you “fall to the ground and die” today—letting go of pride, comfort, or self-preservation—so that God’s life can bear fruit through you?

Day 3: Embracing the School of Suffering

Every believer, regardless of their specific calling, must pass through God’s school of suffering, where we are pressed, broken, and refined for the sake of our assignment and the kingdom; this training is not punishment, but preparation, equipping us with the endurance, character, and faith needed to fulfill our destiny. Just as rigorous training is required for those who serve in demanding roles, so too must we accept the discipline of the Father, knowing that the intensity of our training is determined by the greatness of our calling. In this academy, we learn to endure hardship, misunderstanding, and even seasons of silence, trusting that God is shaping us for His purpose. [34:37]

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 current hardship or trial you are facing. How can you choose to see it as God’s training ground for your growth and destiny, and what would it look like to “count it all joy” in this season?

Day 4: The Call to Endure Hardship for the Sake of the Kingdom

The true citizens and ambassadors of the kingdom are those who, like the apostles and heroes of faith, are willing to endure suffering, persecution, and even death for the sake of Christ, refusing to bow to the pressures of the world. Their love for the kingdom surpasses their love for comfort or even life itself, and they are marked by a resolve to “return with honor,” no matter the cost. This spirit of endurance is what sets apart those who carry the battle to the gates of the enemy and lay the foundation for generations to come. [44:52]

Revelation 12:11 (ESV)
"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."

Reflection: What is one way you can demonstrate your love for God’s kingdom above your own comfort or reputation today, even if it means facing misunderstanding or hardship?

Day 5: Building Spiritual Resilience in a Generation Unprepared for Hardship

Many believers today lack the spiritual resilience to withstand life’s storms because they have not been disciplined to endure hardship; God calls us to raise a generation that can stand firm in faith, not crumble at the first sign of trouble. Just as soldiers are trained to survive in the harshest environments, so must we allow God to pour us from vessel to vessel, breaking our self-sufficiency and changing our character, so that we are not spiritual “cannon fodder” but arrows in His hand. This process is essential for fulfilling our purpose and advancing the kingdom. [51:50]

Jeremiah 48:11-12 (ESV)
"Moab has been at ease from his youth and has settled on his dregs; he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into exile; so his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed. Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I shall send to him pourers who will pour him, and empty his vessels, and break his jars in pieces."

Reflection: How can you intentionally embrace discomfort or challenge this week as an opportunity for God to build resilience and depth in your faith, rather than seeking the path of least resistance?

Sermon Summary

This morning, we invited the Holy Spirit to move among us, asking God to prepare our hearts to receive His word deeply, so that it would bear fruit in our lives. Reflecting on recent teachings, we revisited the parable of the mustard seed, recognizing that its true focus is the Kingdom of God, not just faith. The journey of the Messiah, as revealed in Scripture, was a preparation for His earthly assignment, culminating in His death—a necessary passage to bring many sons to glory. In the same way, each of us has an assignment ordained by God before we were formed, and the fulfillment of that assignment requires us to follow Christ’s example: to die to ourselves.

This death is not physical, but a surrender of our desires, will, and self. The life we receive in Christ is not an improvement of the old, but a completely new creation. The old must be crucified for the new to rise. Scripture makes it clear: flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Only through dying to self can we bear the image of the heavenly man, Christ. Just as a seed must fall to the ground and die to produce fruit, so must we be sown, broken, and transformed.

God accomplishes this death in us through rigorous training, tailored to the nature of our assignment. The intensity of our preparation is determined by the destiny tied to our lives and those we are called to impact. Using the example of the Navy SEALs, we see that the world understands the value of discipline, endurance, and sacrifice for a cause. Their training is relentless, and only a few make it through. Similarly, God is not seeking quantity but quality—those willing to endure hardship for the sake of the Kingdom.

Many believers today are unprepared for suffering, having not been trained to withstand hardship. We have raised a generation that cannot stand in the day of trouble. Yet, the call to sonship is a call to enroll in the school of suffering, to be poured from vessel to vessel, to be broken and remade. The heroes of faith—Esther, the three Hebrew boys, Paul—embraced suffering and counted it an honor to endure for God’s purposes. We are called to do the same, not merely to endure suffering, but to count it all joy, knowing that through it, we are perfected as sons and daughters of the Kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. True spiritual fruitfulness and maturity come only through dying to self. The life Christ offers is not an upgrade of our old nature, but a completely new creation that can only emerge when the old is crucified. This death to self is the gateway to bearing the image of Christ and inheriting the Kingdom. [25:30]
2. The intensity and content of our spiritual training are determined by the weight of our God-given assignment. Just as a surgeon or a Navy SEAL undergoes rigorous preparation because lives are at stake, so too must we submit to God’s discipline, knowing that destinies—ours and others’—are tied to our obedience and endurance. [30:34]
3. Suffering is not an optional detour but an essential part of the believer’s journey. Jesus, our perfect example, was made perfect through suffering, and we cannot expect to escape what He embraced. The school of suffering is God’s academy for all His children, regardless of the perceived size of their assignment. [33:57]
4. The world often demonstrates greater commitment to their causes than many believers do to the Kingdom. The Navy SEALs’ willingness to endure hardship, even unto death, for the sake of their nation challenges us: do we love the Kingdom enough to lay down our lives, reputations, and comforts for its sake? [43:59]
5. We must not only enroll in the school of suffering but learn to count it all joy. Enduring hardship is not just about survival, but about embracing God’s process with gratitude, knowing that through every trial, we are being shaped into true sons and daughters who can carry the weight of His glory and fulfill His will. [58:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[12:56] - Opening Prayer and Heart Preparation
[13:36] - Reflections on Recent Teachings
[14:56] - The Mustard Seed and the Kingdom
[15:38] - The Seed, the Sons, and the Kingdom
[17:34] - Perfecting Sonship Through Death
[18:17] - Christ’s Suffering and Our Example
[22:18] - The Assignment and God’s Will
[24:49] - Death to Self: The Believer’s Call
[26:47] - Resurrection and the New Creation
[28:39] - The Necessity of Dying to Bear Fruit
[30:34] - God’s Training and Our Destiny
[33:57] - The School of Suffering
[37:06] - Lessons from the Navy SEALs
[43:59] - Loving the Kingdom Unto Death
[51:50] - Raising Resilient Believers
[58:11] - Counting It All Joy in Suffering
[58:50] - Closing Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1. Hebrews 2:10, 14-15 (ESV) — > For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
> ...
> Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

2. Galatians 2:19-20 (ESV) — > For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

3. John 12:24 (ESV) — > Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Observation Questions

According to Hebrews 2:10, what was the purpose of Jesus being made perfect through suffering?
In Galatians 2:19-20, what does Paul say has happened to his old self, and what is the result?
In John 12:24, what happens to a grain of wheat if it does not fall to the ground and die? What happens if it does?
The sermon compared the training of Navy SEALs to the spiritual training of believers. What are some specific hardships or disciplines mentioned that believers might face in their “school of suffering”? [[34:37]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “The life we receive in Christ is not an improvement of the old, but a completely new creation. The old must be crucified for the new to rise.” What does it mean for the “old self” to be crucified, and why is this necessary for spiritual fruitfulness? [[25:30]]
Why do you think God allows or even requires suffering as part of the believer’s journey, according to Hebrews 2:10 and the sermon? [[18:17]]
The Navy SEALs endure extreme training for the sake of their nation. The sermon asks, “Do we love the Kingdom enough to lay down our lives, reputations, and comforts for its sake?” What does loving the Kingdom “unto death” look like in everyday life? [[43:59]]
The sermon mentions that “many believers today are unprepared for suffering, having not been trained to withstand hardship.” Why might this be the case, and what are the consequences? [[47:23]]

Application Questions

The sermon says, “True spiritual fruitfulness and maturity come only through dying to self.” Is there an area in your life where you sense God is asking you to surrender your own desires or will? What would it look like to “die to self” in that area this week? [[25:30]]
Think about the “school of suffering” described in the sermon. Have you ever experienced a season where you felt pressed, broken, or misunderstood for your faith? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [[34:37]]
The Navy SEALs’ motto is “Return with honor,” and some are willing to die for their cause. What is one comfort, reputation, or personal ambition you might need to lay down for the sake of God’s Kingdom? [[43:59]]
The sermon says, “We must not only enroll in the school of suffering but learn to count it all joy.” What is one practical way you can shift your perspective to embrace hardship with gratitude rather than resentment? [[58:11]]
The message warns that “we have raised a generation that cannot stand in the day of trouble.” How can you help prepare the next generation (children, youth, or new believers) to endure hardship and suffering for Christ? [[51:50]]
The sermon uses the example of Esther, the three Hebrew boys, and Paul, who all embraced suffering for God’s purposes. Is there a biblical character whose endurance inspires you? How can their example encourage you in your current challenges? [[45:29]]
The sermon says, “The intensity and content of our spiritual training are determined by the weight of our God-given assignment.” Do you sense God preparing you for a specific assignment? How might your current challenges be part of that preparation? [[30:34]]

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