The following article is an excerpt from Walking with God by Michael Phillips.

It is an incredible thing that the Founder of our faith conquered sin by emptying himself of self. What an unexpected weapon to deal the death blow to sin—self-denial.

Peter drew the sword and would fight sin by might. Judas would attempt to manipulate the divine will into an earthly mission against Rome’s rule But not the perfect Son. “Put away your sword, Peter,” says Jesus. “Do not lay up for yourself treasures on earth, Judas. My Father’s kingdom functions by different rules. I will conquer, not with worldly power, but in the simplicity of childship.”

There is only one way to change the world. Yet it is the one thing God’s people have steadfastly not done.

• It is easy to proclaim the gospel. It is difficult to die to self.

• It serves the flesh to draw the sword. It is difficult to lay down the sword.

• It is easy to preach. It is difficult to be silent.

• It serves the flesh to exert the will. It is difficult to relinquish the will.

Jesus had to win the Sonship-battle exactly where we do—in the will of his manhood.

He fought that battle on our behalf so that we too could become sons and daughters of yielding childship, so that we would have the courage, strength, and example to pray in our own unseen Gethsemanes, “Not my will but yours be done.” Jesus has birthed the possibility.

But only as we sink to our knees in our own invisible Gethsemanes, whispering the sacred words with him, do we bring his childship-life alive within ourselves.

– Excerpted from pages 47-49 of Walking with God by Michael Phillips