In the Crucible with Christ

Quarter 3, Lesson 12
“Dying Like a Seed”
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MEMORY VERSE: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls
into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much
grain.” John 12:24, NKJV
LESSON STUDY INTRO
• This week’s lesson focuses on the expected outcome of our
trials – dying to self and living for God.
o The lesson points out that God allows various “crucibles” to teach
us total surrender and dependence upon Him (Qtly, Sun, par 1;
Mon, last par; Thu, last par; Fri, par 1).
1. We must die if we want to live (Sab, Sun)
• Jesus used the example of a seed to teach that true life only
comes through death to self (Jn. 12:24; Lk. 9:24).
All who would bring forth fruit as workers together with Christ must first fall
into the ground and die. The life must be cast into the furrow of the world's
need. Self-love, self-interest, must perish. And the law of self-sacrifice is the
law of self-preservation…. Those who for Christ's sake sacrifice their life in this
world will keep it unto life eternal. The life spent on self is like the grain that is
eaten. It disappears, but there is no increase. A man may gather all he can for
self; he may live and think and plan for self; but his life passes away, and he has
nothing. The law of self-serving is the law of self-destruction. DA 624.1
• The religion of Christ calls for us to surrender our own rights
rather than contend for them (Phil. 2:5-11; 1 Cor. 9:3-12).
o Jesus never contended for His own rights, but the gospel message He
bore contended for the rights of fallen humanity.
Jesus did not contend for His rights. Often His work was made unnecessarily
severe because He was willing and uncomplaining. Yet He did not fail nor
become discouraged. He lived above these difficulties, as if in the light of God's
countenance. DA 89.4
Christians need not contend for their rights. They stand under the protection
of the banner of Christ. RH, January 3, 1899

2. We must die to understand God’s will (Mon-Thu)

• “Dying comes before knowing God’s will” (Qtly, Mon, title)
 o Understanding God’s will requires death to self and a
transformation of nature. It must be remembered that spiritual
things are spiritually understood (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 2:14;
Qtly, Mon, par 1).
• • at least a couple ways our selfish natures prevent us
There are
from understanding God’s will –
o Self-importance makes us unwilling to listen to or obey
God’s instruction (1 Sam. 2, 3).
• Sometimes God “waits for us to become neutral enough to hear
and eventually obey” (Qtly, Tue, last par, emphasis supplied).
o Self-reliance leads us to trust our ways over God’s ways (1
Sam. 10:8; 13:8-14).
• Self leads us away from God’s will in two primary ways
o We interpret God’s will to be the same as our will
o We get tired of fighting and surrender to the wrong side!
The reason many in this age of the world make no greater advancement in
the divine life is because they interpret the will of God to be just what they
will to do. While following their own desires, they flatter themselves that
they are conforming to God's will. These have no conflicts with self. There are
others who for a time are successful in the struggle against their selfish desire
for pleasure and ease. They are sincere and earnest, but grow weary of
protracted effort, of daily death, of ceaseless turmoil. Indolence seems
inviting, death to self repulsive; and they close their drowsy eyes and fall
under the power of temptation instead of resisting it. AA 565.2
3. Death to self can only come through the Holy Spirit (Thu)
• It is through the power of the Spirit that we crucify self (Rom. 8:13)
o God promised spiritual success to His ancient people, not as a
result of their own “might” or “power,” but as the result of the
working of the Holy Spirit (see Zech. 4:1-14).
The Christian's life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a
transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life
altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working
of the Holy Spirit. DA 172.1

CONCLUSION
All who consecrate body, soul, and spirit to God's service will be constantly
receiving a new endowment of physical, mental, and spiritual power. The
inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command. Christ gives them the
breath of His own spirit, the life of His own life. The Holy Spirit puts forth its
highest energies to work in heart and mind. 6T 306