The Release of the Spirit • 5 (The Church and God’s Work)

Sorry I had to miss last week's Release of the Spirit post. If you're just joining us, this is a review of Watchman Nee's book by the same title. Some newer editions have the title as Breaking of the Outer Man and the Release of the Spirit. You can follow the series backwards by going to week five here. Or, you can click on the Release of the Spirit link at the bottom of this post, which will assemble all my previous Watchman Nee posts in one place. I highy recommend getting a copy of Nee's book at Amazon. I've read it twice in the last six months or so, and it will go on my foundational books shelf. Those are the books I read and re-read every year or two.

Watchman Nee begins chapter five by explaining that prior to the Incarnation God’s work was not limited in any way by the flesh. Yes, by taking on the form of a servant, Nee says God’s work and power were [resticted] to this flesh, however, Christ’s humanity was not after all a limitation, because his outer person was fully subordinated to the Spirit of God working in his inner person. (49)

In this day and age God works through his church. God’s desire is to have the same freedom in working through the church that he enjoyed in working through the Incarnate Christ. This explains why it is so important for the outer person to be broken, allowing the release of the spirit. (51)

Nee examines these areas of Christian service in which the breaking of the outer person is vital: 1) Reading the Bible – In an unbroken state we will come to the Word to find support for our preconceived notions. It is in the release of the spirit that we connect with the heart of God, allowing the Word to read us as we read it. (52) 2) The Ministry of the Word – Nee defines the ministry of the Word as serving people with the Word of God. In complete brokenness there is nothing stopping the inner person from communicating the Word of God to those listening. They hear not just a voice, but are communicated to spirit to spirit. (54) 3) Preaching the Gospel – People do not get saved because of being intellectually convinced or emotionally titillated. Yes, reason and emotion are both important, but they are insufficient to change lives. The Spirit must be communicated by the spirit of the preacher to the spirit of the hearer. (54) This can only take place when the outer person is broken and does not impede spirit to spirit communication. (55)

How have you experienced spirit to spirit communication facilitated by the breaking of the outer person and the release of the spirit?