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The Spiritual Man (3 volume set)

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I first started reading this book with an open, but cautious, mind. As one reviewer wrote, it seemed that this book is based on only one verse, and I was a bit skeptical about it. It wasn't until I delved further into this book to discover that the one verse statement is not correct. The book is very Scriptural. The Bible many times shows the differences between the spirit and the soul, but our English translations are not always clear.

1 Cor. 2:14-15 says: "But a soulish man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God... but the spiritual man discerns all things..."

1 Cor. 15:44 says: "[Our body] is sown a soulish body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a soulish body, there is also a spiritual one."

Jude 19 says: "These [mockers] are those who make divisions; they are soulish, having no spirit."

Most translations translate the word "soulish" as "natural", but in the Greek it is the adjectival form of the word "soul". There are more passages, but these are just a few to get you started.

Those who have warned against this book are right to say that we should always put the Bible first, but they are not right in saying that it is un-Biblical. I recommend reading this book with an open mind, the Bible (and maybe Strong's Concordance) in hand, a prayerful heart, and discernment.

This is an excellent book that will really aid you in your walk with God, teaching you to walk by the Spirit and not yield to the flesh, putting your spirit, soul, and body in the proper alignment. One should remember that Mr. Nee wrote this book in his early twenties. For those familiar with his later works, the level of maturity is slightly noticable. As he grew in faith, he refined some of his teachings later. So that should be kept in mind when reading. As with all things, please compare this book's words to Scripture and prayerfully receive God's teaching. For those who want to live by the spirit, this book will definitely get you off to a great start.

From the first chapter:

"What is the significance of distinguishing the spirit from the soul? There is a great significance. It has much to do with the spiritual life of the believers. If believers do not know the boundary of their spirits, how can they understand the spiritual life? If they do not understand the spiritual life, how can they grow in their spiritual living? Because believers are either negligent or ignorant of the distinction between the spirit and the soul, they never grow in their spiritual life. Moreover, many times they take something soulish as spiritual, constantly remain in a soulish living, and do not seek after spiritual things. If we mix up what God has separated, we are bound to suffer loss."

Although many people claim to be worshippers of God, God is still looking for true worshippers (John 4:23-24). The book clearly shows the reason why a Christian needs to be guided by his spirit in stead of his soul, and how he could be spiritual in order to serve God. The book is an excellent experiential guidance (rather than a doctrine) for believers to experience, or rather to touch the living God who dwells in their spirit, in order to know Him, serve Him, and worship Him according to His heart's desire.

"Many Christians are born again and have participated in the Lord's resurrection but lack the manifestation of the power of the resurrection." (p.51)

According the the Scriptures, "a complete person is a tripartite being, a person with a spirit, a soul, and a body." (p.6)

Watchman Nee reveals how Scripture teachs us that man is spirit, soul, and body. Nee explains how God created man to join His Spirit with man's spirit (i.e. the eternal center of a man). The spirit is to govern the soul of a man (i.e. thoughts, emotions, will) and then the body. He calls the spirit of a man the "inner man"; the soul--the "outer man"; the body--"the outermost man." Before the inner man is regenerated by the Holy Spirit, a man's spirit is inopperative. His spirit is there, but in fact... it is dead! The soul then tries to function as only the spirit can do. Thus, the soul coupled with the power of sin... produces flesh! Man is then a frustrated being.

Nee submits that most Christians live a "mixed" life. Many Christians are unaware of this divine created order of God. Therefore, many believers can not distinguish the difference between the spiritual life and the soulish life; a life powered governed by the spirit and the life ruled by man's own natural life. The Christian life is to be a Spirit-led and a Spirit-driven life. The Holy Spirit has regenerated the spirit of a man and is to continue to be the power that controls and governs him.

However, many Christians allow their soul to interfere with the Spirit's work. Again, this produces flesh! The Spirit is hindered from joining with man's spirit while the soul of a man is not in full submission to the Spirit. It is any wonder why many believers live a defeated life. They are trying to produce in their natural life what can only be birthed from the Spirit at work in the spirit.

Nee speaks from experience. There is absolutely no way a person can speak on this subject with not having first identified its activity in their own life. Nee wonderfully describes the battle going on in each Christian. Our soul wants to govern, but the Spirit must rule for God to be glorified in us.

I have yet to read a book such as this. It has taken me over a year to read volume one in "The Spiritual Man" three-volume series. It's depth into the biblical teaching of the tripartite nature of man and the nature of God is unparalled to any book I know in the past or present.

Skimming over the book every time I would pick it up to read again... I saw how Christ had been at work in my life. At first I was overwhelmed by the depth of spiritual meaning and how I was to see this expressed... if ever... in my daily life. I was relieved to find that the Lord was working out my new-found knowledge into spiritual exprience.

I know why Nee states in the beginning that "the enemy hates this book." If the Christian can ever apply these spiritual truths to his own life... there will be nothing that stops him from fully expressing Christ's life in the power of his resurrection. What at first may seem like spiritual arrogance... turns out to be a truly humble man writing of deep spiritual things he learned in experience and articulated by the grace of God.

Volume one unveils the mystery behind spirit, soul, and body... and teaches readers how to continually be mindful of the diviine order God has set in place for us to walk in Christ's life. If you want to know the true meaning of "denying self" in order that you might know what it is to "take up your cross daily"... then this spiritual masterpiece is for you.

I highly recommend that you begin reading this book right away. If I was to recommend reading another Nee book before this one... it would most definitely be The Release of the Spirit by Nee. This book would work as a great precursor into what Nee unfolds in volume one of "The Spiritual Man".

I do not see why any believer should wait to read this book. It especially should be read by new believers... lest you learn the Christian life in many errors and needlessly walk in the wrong direction spiritually. The spiritual truths in this book need to be discovered immediately following new birth in Christ. Reading this book sooner than later will save you much heartache and aimless wandering from the divine spiritual order of God.

Once you have read Nee's insights into the spiritual order of things... the Word of God will come alive to you in ways never seen before. By the Word of God and the work of the cross... we shall be governed by the Spirit of God!

I look forward to reading the next two volumes.

I also recommend reading:
The Normal Christian Life (Hendrickson Christian Classics)
Christ the Sum of All Spiritual Things
The Centrality of Jesus Christ (Works of T. Austin-Sparks) Volume One
The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine
Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ (Library of Spiritual Classics, Volume 2)

My background is Presbyterian (both PCUSA and PCA). Spiritual Warfare is not specifically addressed in these denominations. As i suspect many other traditional churches do not address this. It is possible as a christian to live a life of relative comfort for a while. Or just to put up with oppression because we do not know what to do about it... until an unbearable situation (in the form of a type of calamity) shows up at our doorsteps, and it becomes very clear we are at war.

This books has helped me personally a great deal in identifying the "wiles of the enemy" in my walk. Both internal attacks, physical (illnesses), and external, and what to do about it. It has helped me to identify how the enemy can hinder us, and most of all deceive us.

I recommend this highly for those who are truly seeking to consacrate themselves to the LORD, to a hightened spiritual walk with God in obedience. It has greatly helped me in identifying error and prevented me from staying the wrong spiritual path (since i had begun going the wrong path unbenounced to myself .... when miraculously i was lead to read this book).

Below is an excerpt:

" Hence, when his mind is full of discouraging thoughts, he should not think that he is truly hopeless. If his mind is full of uplifted thoughts, he should not think that he is really doing well.
Furthermore, the believer should repeatedly confront the lies of evil spirits. Whatever thoughts the evil spirits have suggested in his mind, the believer must answer specifically with words in the Scripture:
Evil spirits will cause him to doubt, so he must reply with verses on faith.
Evil spirits will cause him to be discouraged, so he must reply with verses on hope.
Evil spirits will cause him to fear, so he must reply with verses on peace.
If he does not know what verses to use, he can ask God to show him. Alternatively, if he recognizes that these are assuredly from evil spirits, he can tell them, "These are your lies. I do not want them." This way of applying the sword of the Holy Spirit is the way of victory. "

I have read many books and gone to many lectures at thelogical college but never have I found one source of so much wisdom and insight into how to live the Christian life as this set.
So many of the unaswered questions I had were answered in these books!
Whatever you need to do to get these books and read them do it! They contain not just understanding but how to LIVE Christ in this world.

If you don't get convicted by the messages in this book, then, maybe - only maybe - you have chosen the fleshly or carnal pathway of most Christians instead of the spiritual pathway which is the only pleasing one in HIS sight. Pray for more revelation then about yourselves so as not to please it further but instead to long to please the Lord alone and to daily set aside ourselves as dead to sin and alive to God for HIS glory alone.

This series is terrific for the Christian who wants to break out of the religious rut and a must for those who want to help them. A solid foundation in the Bible is recommended. The Word of God is sharp and powerfull, dividing between Soul and Spirit. Do you know the difference? This series will help explain this and much more! Great price and great service from Amazon.

In my humble opinion, this book should be a recommended reading for all Christians, especially new believers, who could save themselves years of turning in circles trying to live the spiritual life to which God calls us. Nee stresses the importance of the separation between spirit and soul (Heb. 4:12), the achieved work of Christ at the cross and by His resurrection which not only forgives our sins but also enables/empowers us to live victoriously over sin. Nee treats thoroughly the spirit, soul, and body... with strong biblical basis, experience, and spiritual authority. First and foremost, a spiritual man/woman is a person who is led by the Holy Spirit in his/her spirit, the inner man. He goes on much, much deeper. This is deep and it takes time to chew and understand and receive the truths he exposes. Contrary to the few critics of Nee I have come across (I am honestly utterly appalled by their conclusions), this work has nothing mystical or gnostic. The best and most comprehensive work on the spiritual life, to be read with scripture and in prayer. You will thank God for it.

This is a monumental work by NEE 80 years ago! The book has stood the test of time. This is probably the most comprehensive work ever done on the subject of 'Soul, body and Spirit'.I believe Nee's work was inspired by the Holy Spirit truly. In Volume 3, Nee description of "The phenomenon of Passivity" and symptoms such as Inactivity, Lack of concentration, Loss of memory, Indecisiveness, Flashing thoughts etc., are very typical of what psychiatry calls as "Attention Deficit disorder" in the present times. These psychological symptoms are also typical of TOXICITY in the body especially "Heavy metal toxicity(eg., Mercury)" .My guess from Nee's description of his "frailty" and "sickness" is that he possibly had symptoms of toxicity. Medical science still does not have adequate explanations for the causes of illnesses such as ADHD and Chronic sicknesses such as Chronic Fatigue syndrome ,Fibromyalgia,Environmental illnesses including Multiple chemical sensitivities, Heavy metal toxicity etc many of which having psychological symptoms such as what is described in Nee's book. ( I know this from my medical education)

If you want to experience a deeper walk with Christ, this is the book for you.