Every Man in his Place

Judges 7:21″ And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.”

Here was a great Victory over their enemies, which were many:
Judges 7:12 “And the Midianites and the Amalekites, and the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seaside for multitude.”

These had come into the land to plunder the goods that the Israelites had harvested.
They were a vast number of them which had banded together to go through Israel and take all they wanted.

But God was ready to intervene, and spoke to a man, Gideon, about the saving of Israel from them.

In case you think Gideon was godly; he wasn’t. He, and much of Israel had taken up with the gods of the people they dwelt among.
This was the reason that God permitted the bands of these nations to come and take their harvests, year after year.
But finally, God appeared to Gideon and called him to the work of saving Israel.

Judges 6:14-16 “And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
And he said unto him, O my Lord wherewith shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.”

There was an exchange between the Lord and Gideon; a lot of doubt and unbelief to overcome; but finally, the Lord sent him to tear down the altar of Baal, which his family and the men of the city worshipped. He was then to build an altar to the Lord and offer a bullock on it.

When done, the city came against him; but his father stepped up and said:
Judges 6:31 “And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? Will ye save him? He that will plead for him, let him put to death whilst it is still morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.”

Gideon the blew a trumpet to call men to battle against the Midianites. They. Came by the thousands.
But the Lord ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9).
The Lord wanted Israel to know Him: He can save with few or many.

Judges 7:2 “And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the MIdianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand has saved me.”

He knew the pride of man’s heart, and knew if many fought against many, and won; they would say it was numbers, not the Lord that saved them.

So the Lord told Gideon to tell all who were fearful to go home. Twenty two thousand left.
But there were ten thousand still.

The Lord said, there were still too many. So He made a test.
Bring all the men down to the water, those that picked up the water into his hand and lapped like a dog, was to be set aside.
Those that bowed down and drank from the water, were to be let go.

There were three hundred men that lapped the water.
Judges 7:7 “And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thy hand: and let all the other people go, every man into his place.”

Now, all along, the Lord has encouraged Gideon to do what He has told him to do.
From His first appearance, to his father standing with him, to the miracle of the fleece; once wet, and the ground dry; the other time the fleece dry, and the ground wet.
Now after sending all but three hundred men away, the Lord encourages him again.
(Notice how God is in charge over every one; the Midianite and his dream, as well as the Israelites)

Judges 7:9, 11, 13-14
“And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down into the host for I have delivered it into thy hand.
And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shalt thine hands be strengthened to go down into the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.
And when Gideon was come, Behold, there was a man who told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.
And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.”

Wow! God spoke directly through the enemy!

After hearing this, Gideon worshipped. Worship is counting God worthy of our all: praise, and obedience.
Judges 7:15 “And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.”

He divides his men into three companies; giving each man a trumpet, and empty pitchers with lamps in the pitchers.

He told them: Look on me and do what I do. When we come to the outside of the camp, when I blow the trumpet, so should you blow your trumpets; and say the sword of the Lord and of Gideon.

So they came around the camp:
Judges 7:19-22a “So Gideon, and the three hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in there hands.
And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held their lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.
And they stood every man in their place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow:”

Coming in the middle of the night, when the watches were just changed: new men coming and going in the camp. Men entering into their tents for sleep; when suddenly, trumpets were blowing, lights were flashing, and men were shouting about the sword of the Lord and of Gideon!

What a scene of sudden chaos! Who would know whether the man entering the tent was friend or foe. Best not to take any chances, and strike him down!

Fear came upon the Midianites, and they ran; running into and fighting there own men, not sure what was happening.

This was a great Victory for the Lord.
And it was accomplished by one man, standing with God in the calling he was given; and leading the rest to stand “every man in their place.”

What of us? Has God called us to a work? A prayer time? To witness for Him?
Then surely He will encourage us, in the work; however the encouragement comes.

And we should stand in our place, looking to Him for guidance, and doing as He directs us.
He has given us voices, and lights; let us use them under His guidance.

Go down to the Potter’s House.
Jeremiah 18:1-2 “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there will I cause thee to hear my words.”

Jeremiah was God’s Prophet. He spoke to Judah for God. But when callled to go to the potter’s house, he did not refuse, because God spoke to him; but rather went, without question, to hear what God would say through the potter.
He didn’t say. “Hey, Lord, I am your prophet. I don’t need to go to a potter’s house. You know he only makes pots, but I give your message to priests, the king, and the people.”
No, Jeremiah wanted to hear the Lord’s Word, no matter how it came.

Jeremiah 18:3-4 “Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel as seemed good to the potter to make it.”

Now the potter uses clay and water, lots of water, to make the clay very pliable in his hands.
The two are mixed together, and when the clay seems soft enough; the shaping takes place.
The potter starts the wheel and puts the clay on; and begins to shape the vessel he wants to make.
But the vessel was marred, because the clay had a hard spot. The water had not been absorbed into that part of the clay, so when the potter’s hand was trying to form it, it refused to bend, and so it destroyed the pattern, marring the vessel.

Often we are the same way. The Holy Spirit has spoken to us, (in scripture water is a picture of the Holy Spirit working through the Word; Ephesians 5:26) trying to work the water of the Lord’s Word in us, and we just refuse to hear. It becomes a dry, hard spot in our life. Then when the Lord is forming us after His Will, we become marred, and unable to be molded into what He wants.

“so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”
So what does the potter do? What did He do with Israel? And what does God do with us?
Does He give up on us? No:
He takes the hard clay out , and then adds more water till the clay is completely pliable, so that the rest of the clay is reusable: to be able to be made into what the Lord wants.

The hard spots in us, are those things the Lord has told us to do, and we have put off.
We know what the Lord is telling us. We know what we should do; but we think we have a better plan.
We even come to believe that the Lord will not care…it is such a small thing.
But it becomes a hard place, and ruins the work of God in our lives, until it is removed.

But once it is removed, the Holy Spirit can add the water of the Word to us, making us pliable in His hands; so he can form us into a Vessel unto honor, meet for the Master’s use.
2 Timothy 2:19-21 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that Name the the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor and some of dishonor.
If an man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Mark 4:39. “And He arose and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, “Peace be still” and the wind ceased, and there was a great calm”

We know this story:
Jesus had bee so tired, HE had been asleep in the boat–even thru the storm.
But his disciples, had become scared (even tho He told them “let us go across to the other side)
Did they think He would take them out into the sea to drown?

But notice…He rebuked the wind. Like a father to a child which acting bad.

He said unto the sea; Also like a father; comforting a child which had been teased by another. Peace be still.

He Who created them at the first, keeps them; rebukes and speaks to them.

So He does to us. Sometimes we are like the boat in the wind, and sea. There is a great storm going on and we are getting tossed about.
Whether in our heads, or our emotions.
Life is sometimes storms.
How much we need Jesus Christ to speak to the storm and calm it.

Like the disciples, we are at a loss to do anything. I have been in a panic that rose and rose and seemed as if it was going to take over my reasonable thoughts. I did not know how to stop it.
But I knew Jesus could.
So I started to pray….”Lord I am in desperate need.. Please help me…Tell me what to do or just stop it yourself…. “. And so on I prayed covering everything.
What it was about.
What had just happened.
How I felt.
What I felt I should feel.
All the attitudes toward these things, and what I really wanted to do.

First, He rebuked me. Panic comes form the Adversary, the Devil. If I had gotten that far, there had been a time when I had been spoken to about this situation, and neglected to receive His Word.
Then, He began speaking to me about all the things I had talked to Him about.

We crossed that Sea, storm and all, and we made it safely to the other side, because Jesus heard my cry for help and arose to help me.
Sometimes the help we need is the rebuke of:
Mark 4:40 “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”

He will do the same to you. If you are out in a Sea of emotion, or in a wind of indecision; cry to Him. Get honest with Him. And He will get you to the other side.

The Fountain of Life Springing up within You

Psalm 36:9 “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”

John 7:37-38 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

In this feast, the celebration of God’s Salvation is looked at by water.
The priests and Levites would gather certain vessels, and in procession take them out the water gate to the wells outside the city.
They would be filled and carried back to the sanctuary; where they would be poured on the floor between the Brazen Altar, where the sacrifices were given; and the Holy Place where only the priests could enter.
In the temple there were steps behind the Altar, which lead to the Holy Place.

As they poured the water onto the floor they would be quoting:
Isaiah 12:2-6 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the well of salvation.
And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

On the last day, the great day of the feast, they would pour no water; but quote this passage: looking up to God to supply the Salvation in the Holy One for them.

This time, Jesus stepped to the stairs behind them and in fulfillment of prophesy, He cried:
“If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

Here was exactly what they were quoting about. Here was the Messiah, the Savior.

What would they do with Him?
John 7:40-43 “Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
Others said, This is the Christ. Some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
Hath not the scriptures said, that Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
So there was a division among the people because of him.”

They talked about Him, but none made the decision that He had offered.

He gave them Light to see that He was indeed the Savior, who had been promised.
He spoke plainly to them and gave them the offer of Life; real, flowing, powerful life; like the water.

This He would supply by His Holy Spirit, within His believers.
John 7:39 “But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”

They saw light, and knew the power of His Word, and life; but refused to yield to that truth.
John 7:45-46 “Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees: and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”

God’s Light has been shown to you; He is indeed the Savior, Christ Jesus.
What will you do with the Life He has offered you?

Will you come to Him, and receive it; receive Him?
John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

Would you be a Follower of Jesus?
Matthew 16:24. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

(This is for born again ones, for they have received the Holy Spirit, and grace for all their way.)
If any man will come after Me. What does it mean to come after Jesus?

First, it means that you get up from where you are in your life and leave it. To come after means leaving; But not in the physical sense.
It is a “leaving” of the past attitudes, past sins, and past pursuits to come after Him.
2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, ”

Second, it means you follow Christ, by being obedient to His commands on your life.
John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

Third, it means to suffer for, and because of Christ. Every follower of Christ will, sooner or later, come to the place where they must choose the world or Christ, and if you choose Christ; the world will make you “suffer” in some respect.

Fourth, it means to stand with those for whom Christ died: other Christians.
John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

You deny yourself and take up YOUR cross and follow Him. You need to “bear” your cross, to the place in your experience that you no longer resist His will in anything.
Your cross is anything God has required, which cuts across your will. There you need to say “no” to your will; and do God’s Will for your life. This is to bear your cross.

This is a very personal thing, between you and your Lord; for He says, “if any man will”. It is not any Church, any group, any family, even; but any man.
The personal aspect is important. The necessity of it dates back to our beginnings:
We were not consulted in our creation: Where we were born, in what family, or when we were born, and the person we were born as.

We just were, and that was that.
As Christians, we are to come to the place in our experience that we don’t just acknowledge God’s Creative Right, but we submit to it.
We will be the creature before the Creator.
Letting His choice for us, be our best.

For some of us, we must acknowledge, we have been having a fit with God about ourselves, in some realm, since we knew God.
Maybe it was our family: Why put me with these people?
Maybe it was our abilities: Couldn’t you at least make me GREAT in something?
Maybe it was our looks: My nose is too big; my eyes not blue enough; You could have made me prettier than “them”.

Whatever it is; we are not satisfied with our circumstances, or (often) ourselves.

So, here is a GOOD place to follow Jesus:
Matthew 11:25-26 “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.”
Jesus came to do the Father’s Will, and never tried to do otherwise; even to His shame and death.

Jesus said He came to give life, and to give it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
If you are a Christian, He offers this abundant life within the life He gave you in your beginning; and in what He gives you now as His servant.
In this abundant life there is joy of spirit, peace of heart, courage in peril, love of others, and a personal relationship with the One Who loved and saved you. (More personal than any other relationship you will ever have: for He knows everything about you, and loves you.)

Would you be a follower of Jesus?
Then come after Him, by denying yourself, picking up your cross and following Jesus into your abundant life. Not without troubles, but always with His presence and power by the Holy Spirit to help.

The Fountain of Life
Psalm 36:9 “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”

Have you drank from the fountain of Life?

Well, if you have, then that living force ought to be turning into a “river of living water” within you.

You see, God’s power is living. It is not a dead, or stagnant thing. He does not save, then desert, and say in effect, “Go ahead and make your way through a hostile world; you will get to heaven alright, but you have to fight you way there by yourself.”
NO! Christ Jesus has promised never to leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus saves to the uttermost.

That means: He saves from the love of sin. This is conviction by the Holy Spirit of the wretchedness of it.
He saves from the guilt of sin. We are born again, and become clean through His sacrifice and resurrection.
He saves from the power of sin. Called Sanctification: it is a setting aside to God of all ourselves, little by little, till we are willing subjects of His Kingdom here, and now, in all our circumstances.
He saves from the presence of sin, when we go to Heaven.

John 7:37-38. “In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
Now when you get water flowing, what does it do?
It keeps flowing, one way or the other: when it flows downhill, and it meets a rock in its path, it just flows around it.
This is the way of the Living Water, which is the Holy Spirit within you giving light (John 14:26) and life, by the graces of joy, peace, consolation, strength, and love. (Galatians 5:22-23)

But what if there is a dam to the living water? Then it builds up until it flows over.
Living water cannot be stagnant, it will find a way around, over, or through any obstacle it meets. (Yes, in us as well.)

It is, of course, better if there are no hinderances to the flow of life to us, and through us by the Holy Spirit. (He will get His help through to us, but how often the enjoyment of it is quenched by some hinderance within us. Some hardened place within our hearts: a root of bitterness, or hurt feelings, which will not respond to the gentle influences of the Spirit, as we should.)
Ezekiel 36:26-27: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues (here is the working of the force of that Living Water), and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them.”

Perhaps, something hinders your enjoyment of the Lord to you? Some error of hearing His Words, or anger, or hurt.
Then seek the Lord, for He is willing and able to see that it is put right. Are you willing to give it up?
The Holy Spirit will help with that as well, if you will come to Him and seek it.

Let the Living Waters flow out of your inner most being, and yield to the Lord: He is the Fountain of Life: and in His Light you will see light.

The ground of our Heart
Luke 8:5 “A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.”

Today we are going to talk about the ground of our hearts. All ground is not the same.
Some, is prepared ground: cultivated, ready for the seed and growth.
Some is hard, for it has been traveled on. The feet of many have walked over it, so it is hard and unable to receive the seed, without a lot of work.

Which ground are we?
Let us consider the Lord’s parable:

Luke 8:5 “A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.”

Here is one of the hard ground hearers. They have been beside the field, but are not part of it. There has been no making the ground ready for the Word. When the word of God comes in the seed, the ground does not receive it. The Word sits on top of the heart.
Luke 8:11-12 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.”

In other words, the heart hears the word, but pays no attention to the serious warnings about sin , or the Gospel of good news.
The devil is very glad for these people. He has no trouble taking the word from their hearts, and making it disappear in their memories. They have had a life where everything that has happen to them, makes them hard against the world, people, circumstances. Nothing will make them yield. They are defiant against all, though they may appear very smooth. These are the people who hear the Word, but nothing changes, because the Word of God can not sink into their hearts so they could believe, and be saved.

Luke 8:6 “And some fell upon rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.”
This is the ground that has stones in it. Since it is part of the field, it gets seed, and it springs up! But then the roots come against the stones and become unable to grow. They soon die.

Luke 8:13 “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation, fall away.”
This ground is the hearts of those who, having heard of the Gospel of Salvation, are overjoyed! Their minds are understanding the Word, and all it’s promises, and are ready to go forward in the Christian Life. Or so they think.
Until there are problems, and temptations.(These are things which say, “You want me. I am really great, greater than what God is giving you). And as Christians we have the same problems and temptations, as everyone else. The difference is in the presence of the Holy Spirit within us for guidance; and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) encouraging us through the difficulties.

But when the decisions to stand with God come, the Stoney ground hearers, give up. Their minds had received it, making their hearts joyful. But now it was time, for the hearts affection for Christ Jesus, to hold fast. But there was no real affection for Christ; only joy at the promises the Word gave, for themselves.

Luke 8:7 “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.”
Here is the ground which is cultivated, but not all the weeds and thorns were out of it, when it was. They are there, though not seen, when the seed is sown. When the seed springs up, so do the thorns.

Luke 8:14 “And that which fell among thorns are they, which when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with the cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”
These are the hearts which have hidden resentments, lusts or worries. They are ready to receive an answer for their problems. So when the Word of God comes, promising a NEW LIFE, they jump at it.
They are so anxious to get started with this life, that they “go forth”, eager to tell others of a change in life.
But then, their hidden resentments, or lusts, or worries come to the front, again; and they wonder why they are not different?
The truth is they have never received Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. They have received the word about the new life–yes, but not the person of the Savior. And when you receive Christ, His Holy Spirit comes to live and empower us .
Our old life, or flesh is to be subjected to Christ.

Galatians 5:16-17, 24 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

Therefore the old life choked out the Word, and they never truly had that new life promised: in Christ Jesus.

Luke 8:8 “And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bear fruit one hundred fold. And when he had said these things he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
The ground which is good ground, bears fruit. It too, had been prepared by cultivation, but the difference being: fruit.
And the reason for the difference is:

Luke 8:15 “And that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

An honest heart.

We are what we are by circumstances, birth, place, and the people around us, who have shaped us.
But when the Word of God comes, and we receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then all that we are, comes under the rule of Christ. We are to get honest about our past hates, likes, loves, and circumstances; giving all these things to Christ.
And in honesty, we are to do what He wants us to do. Seek to yield to the peace of the Holy Spirit, the patience, and long-suffering for others, that He wants us to do.
The “keeping” of the Word, is holding on to Him in love. And what He has given us by His Spirit, and in His Word, and believing He will see to us.
We bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23). And that helps us grow and bring forth more fruit…the fruit of a Christian, which is another Christian.

Which ground are we? Jesus said, He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

Sanctification is not imitating Christ; but Living by Christ’s Life.

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Sanctification is the setting ourselves aside to God.
Sanctification does not require us to fulfill the will of God as He makes it known to us, without the power to do so.
That would be like the Egyptian taskmasters which required Israel to make bricks without straw. (Exodus 5:9-11)

Instead, Sanctification is the growing life of Christ, in our life; whereby we experience by His Holy Spirit, the holiness, patience, love, peace, and power over the enemy of our souls; that is in Christ.

When Paul said:
Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life that I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

This is what he meant. That the life he used to live as the self-righteous Pharisee was over. He saw himself dead in Christ’s death.
“Good riddance” was probably his thought, for the life he had before, did not bring him closer to God, though he worked hard at it.
He also saw that now he lived by Christ’s life. That the life of Christ was so powerful that, not only himself, but everyone who trusted in Christ, could have His character formed in them.

For some time after being born again, I prayed about sanctification.
I had thought this must be some sort of holiness experience, which we have at some altar; or with some crisis experience in our lives.
Years ago, a man was teaching a Sunday School class about:
Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

And, if no one else got the message; I did.
This was the means of being sanctified.

I was to deny myself.
We think, that when we talk of denying ourself, we mean: just not doing what we want. We think it means denying things in our life.

When Jesus speaks of “denying ourself”, He means denying our intention to rule our life. And denying every way it shows up in our lives.
It is not just things we deny, but ourselves we deny.

If I wanted to follow the Lord, then I must co-operate with God, when He shows me His will. I must put aside my thoughts in the matter and do what He commands.
I must be honest about my attitude toward what He shows me, and ask for the power to change.
But again, Christ does not demand that we do His Will, without His enablement.

Christ has given us His Holy Spirit, not only to indwell us, but to give us the grace and power we need.
That power comes from our Risen and Glorified Christ. He has all spiritual blessings for me in Him, in Heaven.
Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”
Ephesians 2:6 “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
They are there in Christ, for us.
But how do we get them down here into us, especially in these circumstances?

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”

Notice, it is “in earth”, in us.

This is the means whereby we receive into our lives what Christ has for us.
As we yield to His authority in our lives, we become ambassadors of His Kingdom, and authority, here.

Sanctification is the setting aside of ourselves to God, for sacred use.
It is the practical work of having Christ’s Kingdom come within our hearts, and lives.

Where He rules, there is peace, joy, patience, and all the characteristics of Christ, in our lives.