The spirit requires the soul and body as organs for expression. It is like an important person who must have a steward working for him to accomplish his desire.
It can also be likened to an electric current which requires wire to show forth light. Should the soul and body lose their normality under the attack of the enemy, the spirit shall be shut in and denied any means of outlet.
The adversary is familiar with the requirements of the spirit; therefore, he frequently acts against the believer’s soul and body. When these parts cease to function properly the spirit is blocked of its means of expression and so forfeits its victorious position.
During such a period one’s mind may be confused, his emotions disturbed, his will weary and powerless to actively govern the whole being, or his body overly tired and temporarily lazy. They must resist these symptoms at once or else their spirit will be blocked in and they be unfit either to engage the enemy in resistance or to maintain their ground of victory.
Shortly after their spirit is shut in, the believer loses their aliveness. They seem to be withdrawn, seek to be alone, and seldom undertake anything publicly.
They like to withdraw from others, not wanting to be seen. Perhaps they think there is something wrong with themselves, not realizing their spirit is being blocked. They appear to have no interest in reading the Bible and to have no word in prayer. Their past working with the Lord and experience, whenever recalled, appear to be meaningless. They feel no power in preaching: as though they were merely going through the motions.
Should they allow this blockage of the spirit to be prolonged, they shall be attacked even more severely by the enemy, tempted to fall back into the things that used to gratify them before they knew the Lord.
Were God not to intervene, due to their own prayer or that of others, the believer would be suffocated spiritually.
For lack of knowledge, their reaction may simply be one of surprise and they may accept the all-too common attitude of giving up.
Because no spiritual experience or sense occurs without a cause, we should search it out carefully and not permit any weight to persist upon us.
Satan tries to imprison the spirit in a dark chamber so that the soul is without the guidance of the spirit. As soon as the blockage is lifted, however, the believer once again can breathe easily and be restored to his normal liveliness.
Whenever a child of God is in such a hemmed-in situation, it is vital that they exercise their will towards speaking the Word against the enemy, lifting up their voice to proclaim the victory of the finished work of the Cross and the defeat of the enemy.
They must wholeheartedly oppose the work of the adversary in both their spirit, soul and body.
They must continue to activate their will actively to resist the blockage.
Prayer, is one means of opening the spirit. But it is best to pray aloud. The best thing for the saint to do is to claim the victorious name of the Lord Jesus over every onslaught of the enemy.
In addition to prayer, they should exercise their spirit building it up, so that it achieves is normality.