Excerpt from- The Spiritual Man- Watchman Nee
'This is the work of
the cross. The attitude of saints towards their possessions most assuredly
signifies whether they continue to preserve their self life or whether they
have consigned it to death. If we desire to tread a pure spiritual path we must
allow God to so operate in us that our hearts can be severed from everything
pertaining to the world and be totally released from the intent of Lot’s wife.
This is the prerequisite for experiencing perfect life in Christ. We can
despise all the things in the world only after the Holy Spirit has shown the
reality of heaven and its perfect life. Matters below and matters above defy
comparison. The experience of the Apostle in Philippians 3 begins with
esteeming everything as loss and proceeds to suffering the loss of all things.
Therein does the Apostle come to know Christ and the power of His
resurrection.
Such is the perfect
way. Often we are unconscious how powerful our self is until tested in regard
to material matters. At times it seems we require more grace to lose our wealth
than to lose our life! Earthly things truly represent an acid test for soul life.
God’s children who indulge in eating and drinking and in ease and comfort need
a deeper cutting away of the cross to free their spirit from the bondage and
influence of the soul and to be free to live in God. Any who still hanker after
the things of the world have yet to learn how to lose their soul life through
the deep penetration of the cross."
Is this truth? Does this writer- Watchman Nee speak the
truth? Is he speaking from God's word?
Php 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the
flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the
flesh, I more:
Php 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of
Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the
law, a Pharisee;
Php 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church;
touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I
counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but
loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I
have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may
win Christ,
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his
resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto
his death
Is this message just
for the apostle and no other? Do we have to be some special person in order to
want this connection with God by faith? Can the average, non-apostle type
person seek God in this way? Do we have to count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord? Could we lose all we possess and still hold
fast to Christ? Could we count all our possession but dung so we could win
Christ? Just how attached to our possession are we? How attached are we to our
lives- the earthly, fleshly part of our life?
Is this us?
'Any who still
hanker after the things of the world have yet to learn how to lose their soul
life through the deep penetration of the cross.'
I think it is me.
Please, Lord,
please… help me learn to lose my soul life through the deep penetration of the
cross! Please! Save me from myself!
More tomorrow by the
grace and mercy, the will of our Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever!
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