The Spiritual Man Vol 2

The Collected Works of Watchman Nee #13

by Watchman Nee

Believers today very much lack knowledge as to the existence and operation of the human spirit. Many are unaware that in addition to their mind, emotion and will they also have a spirit. Even when they have heard of the spirit, many Christians either consider their mind, emotion or will as the spirit or else plainly confess they know not where their spirit is. Such ignorance enormously affects cooperation with God, control over self, and war against Satan, the performance of which in all cases requires the operation of the spirit. It is imperative that believers recognize a spirit exists within them, something extra to thought, knowledge and imagination of the mind, something beyond affection, sensation and pleasure of the emotion, something additional to desire, decision and action of the will. This component is far more profound than these faculties. God's people not only must know they possess a spirit; they also must understand how this organ operates -its sensitivity, its work, its power, its laws.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality

256 pages, Unknown Binding

First published May 3, 2013

About the author

Watchman Nee (Chinese: 倪柝聲; pinyin: Ní Tuòshēng; Foochow Romanized: Ngà̤ Táuk-sĭng; 1903–1972) was a Chinese Christian author and church leader during the early 20th century. He spent the last 20 years of his life in prison and was severely persecuted by the Communists in China. Together with Wangzai, Zhou-An Lee, Shang-Jie Song, and others, Nee founded The Church Assembly Hall, later which would be also known as the "Local churches" (Chinese: 地方教會). or more commonly as (聚會所) meaning "assembly hall"

Born into a Methodist family, Watchman Nee experienced a religious revival, and joined the Church of Heavenly Peace, Fuzhou in 1920 at age 17 and began writing in the same year. In 1921, he met the British missionary M. E. Barber, who was a great influence on him. Through Miss Barber, Nee was introduced to many of the Christian writings which were to have a profound influence on him and his teachings. Nee attended no theological schools or Bible institutes. His knowledge was acquired through studying the Bible and reading various Christian spiritual books. During his 30 years of ministry, beginning in 1922, Nee traveled throughout China planting churches among the rural communities and holding Christian conferences and trainings in Shanghai. In 1952 he was imprisoned for his faith; he remained in prison until his death in 1972.

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watchman Nee supports his facts with bible scripture. Focus is on spirtual aspect of a Christian.

[Reese Walling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part two of one of Watchman Nee's first works, the Spiritual Man, is an incredibly deep and profound book, opening up the deeper matters of the believer's inner life. In this volume, Watchman Nee dissects the various matters and functions of the spirit within man (Job 32:8; 1 Cor. 2:11; c.f. 1 Thes. 5:23), including the intuition, fellowship, and conscience. He then helps the reader to realize what a life looks like that walks according to the Holy Spirit in our spirit, contrasting this with a natural life according to fluctuating emotions, desires, and even various feelings that come from God or demons. Ultimately, this life is a life of faith, governed by the intuition within man's strengthened human spirit, directing it to live in the will of God.

[Hannah Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this volume of the Spiritual Man with a small group ten years ago and it forever changed my walk with the Lord. When I first started this book, I was one of those Christians who didn't understand the difference between my spirit and soul and I didn't understand what it meant to live by the Holy Spirit. This book is so deep and thought provoking, that it took me all these years to finish it. I would read one section and ruminate on it for days afterwards. I recommend this book for every Christian who desires to grow in their faith and spiritual walk with the Lord. Be prepared to be challenged and stretched. I look forward to reading the other two volumes from Watchman Nee.

[Terri Buckingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most important first step Nee makes is to teach that there categorically is a difference between the human soul and spirit. It's my own conviction that one of the most telling measures of maturity is being able to discern between these two. Do I necessarily agree with all of his categorizations? I don't know. But I love that he took the challenge to make such an exhaustive study of this important topic. It's formative. Skim it. Study it in depth. Whichever. But you need to know about this work. It's important.

[Esther Hong · Rating 4 out of 5]

The standard of a true spiritual life lies in how much our will is in union with God's will. (486)

We should be happy because we have done the will of God, not because we feel happy. His will should suffice to make us happy. (487)

[Samuel Maina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would not forget how towards the end of this book Nee describes a carnal Christian.
To me it seems like a channelled book....with deep truths for a spiritual being.
I would not mind re-reading.