Bible OfflineBible OfflineDownload free
Back to the blog

Steps of death and life

by Rapha Abreu··4 min read
1
Share:
Steps of death and life

The journey with God is not a ladder of personal achievements, but an altar of daily surrender. Every new spiritual level, every greater responsibility, and every deeper purpose require something from us: surrender. In the Kingdom of God, growth does not mean accumulating, but emptying.

There is a truth we often avoid: every spiritual step carries a death. The death of pride, of personal plans, of human expectations, and often of what we insist on calling a “dream.” But it is precisely in this place—the death of our “self”—that we find true life.

God never calls us to lose, but to exchange. He invites us to surrender what is limited in order to receive what is Eternal. The more we pour out at His feet, the more room we create for Him to live in us.

Death that gives birth to life

“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

John 12:24

Jesus made it clear that the principle of the Kingdom is death that produces life. The seed must be buried and seemingly “lost” in order to bear fruit, and it must be continually watered so that this fruit may truly be good. The same is true for us. Every new level in God requires that something in us be left behind, while we remain faithful in caring for what is new.

The Christian life is not a single act of surrender, but a continuous process of renunciation. It is daily, constant, and deep.

The enemy tries to present this death as frustration, as if God were taking something away out of selfishness—as if He enjoyed seeing us suffer for letting something go, and nothing more. But the truth is that He is preparing fertile ground. He removes what limits in order to plant what will bear fruit. What seems like loss is, in fact, preparation.

Consecration is not comfort

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Romans 12:1

Consecration is total surrender. Not partial, nor selective. God does not call us to a comfortable faith, but to a transformed life. A living sacrifice means that we are constantly placing ourselves on the altar—pouring out and burning our own wills, desires, and plans.

Hebrews 12:11 reminds us that no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness. The process may hurt. Renunciation may feel heavy. But the result is maturity and growth.

The more something requires of you, the more it is able to reveal your potential. God does not waste processes. He does not require death to humiliate, but to empower. He wants to create space in your hands to entrust you with something greater, and He will not empty you to leave you with nothing, but to fill you with what comes from Him.

From death to purpose

“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”

2 Corinthians 5:16-18

The Lord is a specialist in transforming stories. He turns slaves into rulers, as He did with Joseph. He turns persecutors into apostles, as He did with Paul. Everything begins with a word from Him that pours out faith and grace, producing obedience in the human heart.

The enemy’s word carries condemnation and constant accusations. But God’s word produces conviction, purpose, and direction. When God speaks, He does not destroy your identity—He redirects and strengthens it.

Faith starts small, but it grows as we obey. Every surrender brings more favor, and every death brings more life. And as Philippians 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” God does not stop in the middle of the process; He always finishes what He starts.

The more you die to yourself, the more you live for God. The more you surrender, the more you discover who you truly are in Him.

Do not be afraid of the death the Kingdom requires. It is not the end—it is the beginning of something far greater.

Rapha Abreu

by

Rapha Abreu

Rapha Abreu é Jornalista e Produtora cultural, e faz parte da equipe de marketing, redação e produção de conteúdo da Mr. Rocco.

Read next

Prayer: Purify and restore
·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Purify and restore

Father, today I stand before You, acknowledging my need for the presence of Your Holy Spirit. There are areas of my life that often resemble dry, weary, and barren land. There are times when my faith weakens, my heart becomes heavy, and my soul thirsts for the water that only You can offer. Therefore, I ask You: pour out Your showers of blessing upon me. May Your Spirit renew what is worn out, restore what is broken, and bring life where there is dryness. Just as You promised to pour water upon the thirsty land, I acknowledge my dependence on You. I do not want to seek satisfaction in the fleeting things of this world, but in the inexhaustible source of Your presence. Fill my heart with Your peace, strengthen my faith, and help me remain close to You at all times. May Your Spirit flow through my life like rivers of living water, bringing hope, direction, and renewal to every area that needs Your touch. Holy Spirit, fall upon me like a flood. Invade the places in my heart that I have not yet fully surrendered to the Lord. Wash away my worries, my fears, my insecurities, and everything […]

Read more
The crisis of life “with” God
·Rapha Abreu

The crisis of life “with” God

We live in a generation that values what is visible, shareable, and recognized. In the midst of this, life with God faces a silent risk: losing the value of what is done in secret. What should be the foundation of our faith—intimacy with the Father—is often replaced by a spirituality that is visible, yet empty. Jesus taught us a completely different path—a path where what is done in secret is not optional, but essential. Where It all begins “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen…” Matthew 6:6 A true life with God is not born in public, but in secret. It is there, away from human eyes, that the relationship is built, the heart is aligned, and faith becomes real. Jesus was not only teaching about prayer, but about priorities. What we do in secret reveals where our heart truly is. When that place loses value, faith begins to grow shallow, and everything starts to feel difficult. Without secrecy, there is no depth. Without intimacy, there is no real transformation. Public expressions may impress, but it is the secret place that sustains. I know there are days when […]

Read more
New beginnings
·Rapha Abreu

New beginnings

Ruth’s story doesn’t belong only to the past; it resonates deeply today. In a world marked by loss, unexpected changes, and difficult new beginnings, her journey reveals that God continues to write stories of redemption amidst pain. Ruth didn’t have an easy life. She faced grief, uncertainty, and displacement. Yet, her faith, her choices, and her perseverance led her to experience something far greater than she could have imagined. And this also speaks directly to us today. In the midst of pain “But Ruth said, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.’” Ruth 1:16 Ruth loses everything that, humanly speaking, gave stability to her life. A widow, a foreigner, and without guarantees, she decides not to turn back. Ruth’s choice to stay with Naomi reveals a faith that doesn’t depend on comfort. Today, many people face similar losses—emotional, familial, professional. In the midst of all this, the decision to remain steadfast in God continues to be an act of faith. It’s not about having answers, but about choosing to trust even […]

Read more