The Release of the Spirit • 9 (Meekness in Brokenness)

I don't normally post these articles until Tuesday, but if I don't do it now, I may not have a chance until later in the week. Tuesday, we'll be flying home from a physically tiring, but spiritually refreshing weekend.

If you're wondering what this is, it is a series of chapter-by-chapter reviews (maybe summaries would be a better word) of one of the most incredible books I've read in a long time. Go back to the beginning to read a little about Watchman Nee. Just to get you started: After spending twenty years in a Chinese Communist prison, Nee died in 1972. Before he was arrested, he had planted 700 churches with attendance of over 700,000. You can read the whole series here, or by clicking on the Release of the Spirit link at the bottom of this post.

God adjusts the means and speed of his disciplining process as needed according to the subject, until finally the will is broken. (83f.) The result is that all who have been enlightened and disciplined share a common trait: they become meek, which is a sign of brokenness. (84)

This is not to say that anyone who has been broken will speak with a soft uncertain voice, or that anyone who speaks in such a voice has been broken. True meekness, as is stubbornness is a matter of character, not a matter of the speaking voice. (84)

Nee outlines four qualities which characterize the person who is meek:

1. Approachable - This person is easy to talk to, open to the ideas of others, and teachable. (85)
2. Sensitive - The broken person is aware of those around him; he is responsive to their needs, sensitive to their feelings and would never intentionally hurt another. (86)
3. Ready for Community Life - It requires a measure of meekness to successfully live in community with other believers. Without such meekness, one will be more concerned with self than with relationships. If any wrong is done, the broken will sense his indiscretion and make it right. He desires to live in unity. He is not only in harmony with the Body, but he also has the mind of Christ, the Head of the Body. (86-87)
4. Easily Edified - The unbroken person often tends to look down on those less gifted, less talented, and less educated than he. This makes it almost impossible to receive edification from anyone - seeing only those more gifted, more talented and more educated as worthy to speak into his life. The broken man, however, is able to receive from others without arrogance or prejudice. (87)

Nee defines edification as being nourished and revived by God from spirit-to-spirit contact. This can only happen through the help of brothers and sisters in Christ. (88)

Share stories of when you have been edified through spirit-to-spirit contact with a brother or sister in Christ. Next week (09 16 2008), we'll cover the final chapter, and then a week later we close this series with a final wrap-up.