The third place
I expect that you were confused about where the third place is?
The challenge is understanding that after we are born of the Spirit into God’s Kingdom we will be faced with moment by moment choices: to submit yourself to the Spirit and be controlled by him or to remain under the control of the flesh or old sinful nature. The third place is where you choose to limit the rule of God in your life and circumstances.
There the “I” or the old sinful nature still dominates. And if a Christian persists in staying there, he does not grow spiritually and is ineffective and unproductive. To such a persons Paul, would say, “Brother (or sister as the case may be), I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:1.
In a real sense as the door of the “flesh” is left open, you are allowing Satan access. And over time you know what? The third place could well become the second place!
God’s will for those of us who have been raised with Christ is to set our hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Again Paul writes in Galatians 5:13/16, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
Let me make it clear that being in the third place is not God’s will for you. The first place it must be. But it’s your choice.