The second practical outworking of sanctification is, ‘Victory Over Temptation’ and it is very important because temptation precedes sin and Jesus Himself said in Matt. 26:41, “Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” So, how does this help us gain victory over temptation? 1 – Be certain you are totally committed to Christ’s Lordship! Rom. 12:1-2, you are to be, “a living sacrifice.” 2 – Realize you are powerless to overcome anything on your own, because you are a slave to sin, Rom. 6:14-18. 3 – Put on the whole armor of God, Eph. 6:10-20, ‘Truth, Righteousness, The Gospel, Faith, Salvation, The Word, and last of all Prayer. Paul says in Ephesians 6 that prayer is an offensive weapon not a defensive weapon. 4 – Quote God’s Word, you must read it, study it, meditate on it, memorize it, and then quote it out loud! It was the (rhema) the spoken word, the uttered word, the quoted word, that put Satan to flight and silenced him in the desert, by Jesus in Matt. 4:1-11 on the ‘Mount of Temptation.’ By the way if you are going to use God’s Word against Satan, you better know it well, because he knows it pretty well too. 5 – Claim the victory through prayer for help and praise God for your position of sanctification, past tense in Christ. I Cor. 1:30. We are already victorious, and we fight from the victory side! 6 – Relax and rest in Christ and trust Him to gain the victory by faith, Hebrews chapter 11. 7 – Meditate on the things of God and utilize, ‘Positive Mental Replacement,’ that is, ‘The Power of Positive Spiritual Thinking’ according to Phil. 4:8, “Finally, brethren whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” 8 – Consider the fact that Christ died for that particular sin and it would greatly hurt Him if you yielded to it, Rom. 6:13. 9 – Remove yourself from the temptation if at all possible. Paul said in I Thess. 5:22, “Abstain from all appearance (every form) of evil.” I Cor. 6:18 says, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is outside the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.” So, if it looks evil or has the appearance of evil, or sounds evil, don’t even go there.

So, we see that sanctification is a setting apart to God from the world and sin, a purifying or making holy, a growing into spiritual maturity and the three basic elements are separating, purifying and maturing. We also see that there are three tenses of sanctification; Past – the believer’s perfect standing before God through Christ’s imputed righteousness at salvation, delivering him from the penalty of sin. Present – the process toward Christ-likeness which is progressive throughout the Christian life, delivering him from the power of sin. Future – the instantaneous act in holiness at our glorification, at His appearing, delivering us from the presence of sin. This manifests itself in ‘Growth toward maturity’ and ‘Victory over temptation.’

Is there any question then why God wanted a sanctified people, priests, and nation to dwell in? He was a Holy, Pure, Perfect God and he desired to dwell in the midst of a holy, pure, undefiled people. In order for us to pray effectively, God must be at the very center of our lives and ministries, the very center! And we must be a holy, separated, sanctified people. I have found in missions you must be a clean vessel and a Spirit filled vessel to be effective for God. It is no different in evangelism, teaching, pastoring, serving, singing, being a deacon, elder, usher, board member or janitor. Service is service to God, it doesn’t matter to Him what you are doing. They kept the altar fire burning for 540 years Lev. 6:13, but someone let it burn out. A clean Spirit filled vessel is so important to God especially in Prayer, because what we are is far more important than what we say or do to God. Remember, it’s “The ‘Effectual Fervent Prayer’ of a righteous man, a holy man, an innocent man, a sanctified man, that avails much.” James 5:16. God desires to dwell in the midst of His people and they must be a holy, separated people or He can not pitch His tent among them.

Can I ask you a question, where are you on your journey, your pilgrimage, through your desert? On the bank of the Jordan, or on the brink of disaster? It doesn’t matter to the Lord, he wants to pitch His tent in the very center of your situation and be a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day to guide, protect and comfort you in your journey through the desert. The pillar of fire provided light at night and warmth during the cold desert nights and the cloud provided cover from the hot, scorching sun during the day plus guidance they could see. So, the fire and the cloud provided guidance, protection, comfort, and assurance. “For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy, that He see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.” Deut. 23:14.

God wants to sanctify you and make you holy so he can walk and live in your camp and in your tabernacle. Will you let Him do that for you today? He desires and deserves to dwell in the midst of a holy, sanctified, consecrated, committed people. So, that when you pray in your desert tent, He will hear and answer the cry of your heart. Until next time we will see you, “…Between The Lines…”

“Prayers In The Desert” – ‘Num. Ch. 1-6’ – Part #9