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I read Watchman Nee’s book The Release of the Spirit 45 years ago. While reviewing it this time, I caught myself thinking. . .
Wow, what great teaching! Why didn’t I really listen to this teaching back then and live it out through the years? I’m such an idiot!
The book teaches brokenness and starts by sharing this teaching of Jesus. . .
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:24).
Watchman Nee comments. . .
Anyone who serves God will discover sooner or later that the great hindrance he has in the Lord’s work is not others, but himself.
Haven’t we all found this out? It’s not God, others, or even life’s circumstances that limit our joy and spiritual maturity. It’s us as we have this sin nature that insists on self-seeking, feeling sorry for ourselves, and generally mucking up the great things God provides.
Nee continues. . .
It is basically because our outward man has never been dealt with. For this reason, excitement in revivals, pleading prayers, and zealous activities is but a waste of time. As only one kind of basic dealing can enable us to be useful before God — brokenness.
Brokenness isn’t humiliation, but a willing (without complaining) walking with Jesus that brings death to our ambitions, to our lascivious desires, and our earthly goals. We must be broken, we must die.
As Watchman Nee says. . .
What is this death? It is the cracking open of the shell through temperature and humidity working together in the soil. Once the shell of the husk is split open, the wheat begins to grow.
We all have the Spirit of God within us, but are we releasing the Spirit of God? Jesus continues his teaching about “seed dying” in John 12, with this verse. . .
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life (John 12:25).
The Greek word for “life” is “psuche,” also translated as “soul.” “Life” or “soul” in the New Testament is our mind, will, and emotions. The vain plans of our mind, the bitterness of our emotions, and our willful rebellions must all die for the Spirit of God to be released.
As Nee concludes. . .
The Holy Spirit has not ceased working. He makes sure one event after another and one difficulty after another come to us. These disciplinary workings of the Holy Spirit have but one purpose — to break our outward man so that the Spirit may be released.
Brokenness can be painful, but as the path of the Spirit, we ultimately find joy unsurpassed and a power that impacts the world.
Thanks, Watchman Nee, for this great teaching on brokenness in your book. I just hope I listen this time.