626 The Spiritual Man
certainly shall flee. All this is related to the principle of the freedom
of man’s will. Just as in the beginning the believer permitted the evil
spirits to enter, so now he chooses the very opposite, the undercutting
of any footing of the enemy.
During this period of conflict the Christian’s will must be engaged
actively in various operations. Beyond resolving and choosing, he
also ought to resist. That is to say, his will must exert its force to
contend with the evil spirits. He moreover should refuse—shut the
door against—the entry of the enemy. By resisting he prohibits the
evil spirits from further working; by refusing he cancels the former
permission he had granted them. Refusal in addition to resistance
practically immobilizes all the perpetrations of the enemy. Resisting
is our attitude regarding what lies ahead of us; refusing is our
position regarding what lies behind. For instance: by proclaiming
that “I will to have my freedom” we are refusing the evil spirits; yet
we need as well to resist, that is, to exert strength in combating the
enemy so that we may keep the freedom we have just obtained
through refusal. Both refusal and resistance must be continued until
complete emancipation is won.
To resist is truly a battle. It requires all the strength of the spirit,
soul and body. Nevertheless, the main force is the will. To resolve,
choose and refuse are primarily questions of attitude; but to resist is a
matter of overt practice. It is a conduct expressive of an attitude. It is
wrestling in the spirit, which is to say, that the will through the
strength of the spirit pushes the evil spirits off the ground they
presently occupy. It is an assault against the enemy line. In resisting,
one employs one’s will power to drive, push and chase off. The
enemy spirits, even should they perceive the believer’s hostile
attitude against them, will not budge an inch from the ground they
occupy. They must be driven out with real force. The child of God
must mobilize spiritual power to immobilize and remove the enemy.
He must exercise his will to chase them away. A mere declaration of
intention is insufficient. It needs to be coupled with practical