552 The Spiritual Man
any worldly element or means to be substituted for the ability of the
mind. He must use it to think, reason, remember and comprehend.
Because the individual’s mental life has been protractedly passive,
the battle for freedom likewise requires a protracted period. Let him
understand that before he regains his liberty many of his thoughts
will not be conceived by him but rather will be inspired by evil
spirits who usurp his mind. For this reason he must scrutinize every
notion lest he unconsciously furnish new ground to the evil spirits
before the old is wholly recovered. During this period, therefore,
accusations which arise may not necessarily be due to his faults nor
praises be due to his merits. He should not abandon hope if his head
is full of despondent thoughts; neither should he be elated if it is
filled with exalted ideas.
The believer in addition should assail the lies of the evil spirits.
Every suggestion from the enemy must be met resolutely with the
truth of the Bible. Answer doubts with the texts of faith; respond to
despair with words of hope; reply to fear with words of peace. If he
does not know the appropriate verse, let him pray for direction; if he
recognizes that something is from his foes then he can say to them,
“This is your lie, I will not accept it.” Victory is obtained by wielding
the Sword of the Spirit.
During the struggle he must never forget the position of the cross.
He must stand on Romans 6.11, reckoning himself dead to sin but
alive to God in Christ Jesus. He already has died and has therefore
been delivered from the old creation. The evil spirits cannot now do
anything in his life, for what ground of operation they had has
hitherto been taken away on the cross. Each time the Christian
exercises his mind and resists the devil he is depending completely
on what the cross has accomplished. He perceives that his death with
the Lord is a fact; hence he strongly maintains that position before
the enemy. He has died; the evil spirits have no authority over a dead
person. Pharaoh could not hurt the children of Israel who were on the