Opening the Gates of Heaven Perry Stone

prevent a person from turning to God though repentance. The will of man includes the mental and spiritual ability to choose between eternal life and eternal punishment, to follow or reject the truth, and to choose between good and evil. God never forces His will upon an individual, but He provides each person the option of accepting Him by submitting his or her will to God by believing, or rejecting Him by choosing to not believe.

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. —J OHN 3:36

Satan does not play by the same rules and will use temptation, trials, and other circumstances as mental and spiritual pressures build to cause a person to make wrong choices. It is important to understand that when the human will shifts, so does the spirit world. Once a sinner chooses to repent, the adversary is rendered powerless to prevent the transformation (Rom. 8:35–39). The power of the will was present when Christ was in Gethsemane prior to His physical scourging and crucifixion. He prayed to the Father that if it was possible, to let the cup (of suffering) pass from Him. Then Christ said, “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Because He