BLOCKAGE OF THE SPIRIT
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. - Psalms 42:5
PREAMBLE:
Blockage of the spirit makes the mind confused, and man's emotions disturbed. This will make the body overly tired and temporarily lazy. It is a state of confusion or hopelessness in the pursuit of life. Also, the Blockage of the spirit can mean anything that has the power to hinder the free flow of the move of God to man's spirit. Hence, it can be summed up to mean a state in which man's spirit is hindered from accessing the things of the spirit. In such case, man may be restricted from gaining access to the spiritual realm, and for that reason limited in operation to the physical realm only.
CAUSES OF THE BLOCKAGE OF THE SPIRIT
a) ADVERSITY - A difficult situation, misfortune, or tragedy. It can also be called, a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune.
Situation in such days can make you to faint. But you must remember;
Proverbs 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
You must prepare your mind to show courage in the face of adversity. Knowing that, "the downfall of a man is not the end of his life."
b) SIN - Sin has rightly been given an acronym; "Simple Instructions Neglected". When a man is indulging in sin, his spirit man will be blocked from receiving instructions from the Lord to navigate in the journey of life.
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE OF FEW BELIEVERS IN THE FACE OF BLOCKAGE OF THE SPIRIT
In one of our Dayspring Online Mentoring Hub's Life Classes. The issue of Blockage of the spirit was practically discussed. Probing questions were raised. One of the questions was: "How do you feel when you are confronted with the experience of Blockage of the spirit?"
Some of the class members responded:
Respondent #1: It can be a very terrible and frustrating experience, I feel disconnected from God, there is this feeling of emptiness and helplessness within my soul... But, through sincerity with God and with myself I approach the throne of Grace to obtain Mercy for restoration in times of need.
Also, I engaged in fellowshiping with men of like passion that can help out at such time through cooperate prayers as iron sharpneth iron...This is my experience.
Respondent #2: Spiritual exercise becomes uninteresting, I cried out like the psalmist; "why art thou disquieted oh my soul." I cried out my heart in prayer and most importantly sought help from fellow believers, making it explicit to them that I was dying spiritually. I finally got revived.
Respondent #3: Sir, in my own experience, I felt empty, no passion for scripture, likewise I can't pray like before, even after the prayer I knew I just wasted my time without results, but God through my brother and mentor restored me.
Respondent #4: This is a deep story you ask us to share Daddy....it's a long one, but thank God for His servants. Through teaching, and study, I am able to return and balance.
MANIFESTATIONS OF THE BLOCKAGE OF THE SPIRIT
The Blockage of the spirit is called shut-in spirit that is, the spirit that has no interest in spiritual matter. For example, no interest in:
1. Reading the Bible - at this point, our spirit man is hostile to the truth of the Word of life. Reading the Bible will appear like a burden, and so we do not feel life engaging in it.
2. Time for prayers - The art of praying will become so difficult and tedious when we are experiencing the Blockage of the spirit. The difference between the time your spirit man operates freely and when it is blocked will be glaring. In a season of Blockage, you will lack the passion to seek the Lord like the previous time. At the verge of the arrest of Jesus Christ, He took three of His Disciples to the prayer mountain:
And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. - Luke 22:45
3. Fellowship with believers - Relationship among believers ought to be a thing of joy. But when a man is suffering from attach of Blockage of the spirit, the relationship may turn sour. When you notice a vibrant Brother or Sister started drawing back in the fellowship without any genuine reasons, you need to check paradventure the enemy of his soul had shot arrow against him. The divine counsel is clear:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25
RESULTS OF THE BLOCKAGE OF THE SPIRIT
When you have Blockage of the spirit you have tendency to lose interest in spiritual matters. Hence, lack of interest can lead to:
Spiritual suffocation - One of our on-line class members in her experience responded;
"Well done sir, in addition, spiritual suffocation requires spiritual resuscitation. Hence, the need to call for help when you observed these signs is very important. Many believers are suffocating spiritually but refused to call for help until the inevitable happens."
Hence, another contributor said; "'Exactly, and a problem shared they say is half solved.' Such should not be bottled up, the victim should seek help from men of God and brethren around."
Prophet Jonah was one of the examples of leader who suffered spiritual suffocation.
And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. - Jonah 4:8 -9
OPENING THE BLOCKED SPIRIT INVOLVES:
a. Seeking spiritual help in counselling.
b. Exposing yourself to accountability partner.
c. Making yourself available in the fellowship even if it does not seem reasonable to attend.
d. Prayer - You must pray aloud. You must prepare to claim the victory in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Watch out for the next episode: "The Poison of the Spirit"
Rev'd Dr. Nathaniel Tade Obaniyi
President, Dayspring Vision.
