Another excerpt from "Release of the Spirit - The Breaking of the Outward Man" by Watchman Nee

From Chapter IV - "How to Know Man"

Publisher New Wine Ministries, UK. First British edition 1968.

Copyright. Copied with permission.

 

 

To touch man's spirit we must wait till he opens his mouth and talks.  Few ever arrive at the place where they can touch man's spirit without first hearing what he has to say.  The Word of God says: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:31).  Whatever his real intention may be, his spirit is revealed by what his mouth speaks.  If he is haughty, a haughty spirit will manifest itself; if hypocritical, a hypocritical spirit will be evident; or if envious, a jealous spirit.  As you listen to him speak, you can touch his spirit.  Do not merely pay attention to what he says, but especially note his spirit's condition.  We really know man not by his words alone, but by his spirit.

 

On one occasion when the Lord Jesus was travelling toward Jerusalem, two of the disciples saw that the Samaritans did not receive Him.  They questioned Him:  "Lord will Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them as also Elias did?"  (Luke 9:54)  As they were speaking, their spirit was revealed.  The Lord's reply was, "Ye know not of what spirit ye are" (9:55).  The Lord shows us here that to listen to man's words is to know his spirit.  As soon as the words are uttered, the spirit is revealed, "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

 

There is another point to bear in mind.  When you are listening to a conversation, do not allow the topic under discussion to distract you from the spirit.  Suppose two brothers are involved in a quarrel, each one blaming the other.  If this matter is brought to you, how are you to deal with it?  Although you may have no objective way of checking the facts if only the two are present, you do know that, as soon as they open their mouths, their spirits are revealed.  Among Christians, right or wrong is judged not only by action but also by the spirit.  When a brother starts to talk, you may sense immediately that his spirit is wrong, though you may lack factual information in the case.  One brother may complain that the other scolded him, but immediately you sense his spirit is not right!  The real issue is with the spirit.

 

Before God, right or wrong is determined not so much by the deed as by the spirit.  How often is the Church a wrong deed is accompanied by a wrong spirit.  But if judgement is made solely according to the deed, we have dragged the Church into another realm.  We should be in the realm of the spirit, not in that of mere outward action.

 

Once our own spirit has been released, we can detect the condition of others' spirits.  If we contact a spirit which is closed, we have to exercise our spirit in judging the issue and discerning the man.  May we be able to say with Paul, "We henceforth know no one according to flesh"  (2 Cor. 5:16).  We do not know man according to the flesh, but according to spirit.  Having learned this basic lesson, we provide a way for God to work out His purpose.

 

Watchman Nee

___________________________

 

In Christ

Abigail, NZ