How do we rightly respond to any change? The only right response is done by God’s living, devisive Word.  Accept this truth, that God’s pen is actively penetrating our soul, and splicing our emotions away from our spirit. He operates deeply so that we follow God and not our vascilating feelings. His Word is sharper than a double edged sword, and yet many resist the division that God intends. Separating our soul from our spirit is the biggest struggle we all face. The Word of God judges our thoughts, and we are found wanting. His thoughts are higher, and His Ways are mostly unpopular. When we disagree with the thoughts of man, it makes no eternal difference. Our Father does challenge us to agree with Him always. God’s grace comes upon us as the Holy Spirit.  His light shows us His better way, His view, His perfect perspective. Before we see like He does, we only intellectually discern things. To spiritually discern is to see through the Spirit of God. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matt 7:7 Before we humbly knocked, we may have felt, thought…

When I was a child, I talked, thought, and reasoned like a child. When I became mature, I put the ways of childhood behind me. Now, I realize that I only see Jesus as a reflection in a mirror; but the day is fast arriving when I shall see Him face to face. Now I know Him only in part; then I shall know Him fully, even as Jesus now knows me fully. Many have convinced themselves that they know all that God has to reveal about Himself.

LIFE is within the gift of faith tucked within the visible hard heart of man. Our outer hard shell works to protect the tiny seed of faith. Life thrashes against hard hearts to split them open. It is important that our tightly protected feeling nature gets broken. John 12:24-26 “Very truly I tell you, unless a (outer) kernel of wheat falls to the ground and (gets buried in Baptism) dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it  produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me.”

His Way thrashes us by His persistent grace. When God pours His Spirit into us, we are indwelt with new life in His power. The Holy Spirit does not bypass man’s spirit.  Before our feeling nature (soul) is pierced by the Spirit of God, our mind is entirely preoccupied with reasoning intellectually. We walk in our understanding, in our comfortable ways. In order for God to use us, He must break through our emotional, soul, thinking self.

Jesus always had the right word to give. The Holy Spirit comes into our spirit to enable us to know humanity and their needs. John 3:6 Speaks of the regenerated spirit, which is located at the center of a human’s being, male or female, in what is referred to as the inner man.  Nee draws three circles,#1 inward, #2 outer, #3 outermost. The inward is our human spirit wherein the Spirit of God dwells. 1 Corin 6:17. Our inward spirit is dressed in the clothing of the outward, our soul, our emotions. Our spirit and soul both wear the outermost, the physical body. Ever conscious of how we feel, our feelings bury  our spirit in a flurry of emotions. Nee accentuates the need for humanity to release the Spirit.  Our Father brings breakthrough as we crucify our flesh. With sweet obedience, we submit  our way to His perfect way.

“How to know Man” The Lord knows all about what drives each of His servants. He wants us to know Him,  so we can help more people. Help, NOT criticize or condemn. How sensitive and accurate was His touch and word?  As we VOLUNTEER to go through strict training to be led by the Spirit, some watch us and wonder WHY? Well, whatever in us is left untouched, prevents us from serving GOD and others. A proud soul can not effectively address the pride in another. If something persists in our soul nature, we look at others through a mirror that reflects our defects. We can not lead others into healing by releasing the spirit unless we have. “Oh Lord, do not let me go without Your refining touch, without thrashing my hard husk, without preparing me to represent You well. AMEN” The Words of Jesus thrash us with deep truth. If we possess the Holy Spirit we are either 1) Confined by our hard outer man shell, imprisoned, unable to come forth to produce more in the kingdom of God. 2) The Lord broke through, He forged a way out, and to His glory, our spirit was released to produce an abundant crop.

“If YOU are CONVINCED that you are a GUIDE for the BLIND, a LIGHT for those who are in the dark, an INSTRUCTOR of the foolish, a TEACHER of little children, because you have in the LAW the embodiment of knowledge  and TRUTH — you, who teach others, do you not TEACH YOURSELF?” Romans 2:18 – Does the Word of God command that we love God, that we trust God, that we rely on God, that we have faith in God with all our spirit, mind, and soul? What part do we play in our relationship to God? Is it to fully surrender to He who dwells within us? If we place our HOPE in things or people, we are hoping to gain peace out of our investment of hope. We hope for purpose, direction, help in times of trouble, and freedom from anxiety. The hope we invest in a mate, or in a leader, is that they will never disappoint us. The only Hope that is rock steady, the Hope that never vanishes or changes is Jesus. Romans 5:1-5 He is faithful.

Our hope in situations do not give us new life, or life to the fullest. People or situations can be helpful, but none give you eternal life. Desiring ‭REVELATION from the Holy Spirit, we invite Him to crack our hardened ways to expose our inner most way of resistance. With our given permission, He slices between our soul and spirit.  He already knows us in our purest nakedness. Any soul who does not feel as though the Word of God has penetrated them deeply – is wise to count itself at fault by not inviting Him to divide the soul to reveal whatever prevents growth. Only by invitation do we feel His piercing mercy. “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There, we will receive His mercy, and we will FIND GRACE to HELP US when we NEED it.” Heb 4:14 In God’s light, we view ourselves as He does.

What truth or lie we have chosen— to BELIEVE — about ourselves will either BIND us or LAUNCH us. Remember the spies. Some doubted God, others trusted that with Him, the impossible was possible.  Examine your heart: Has it executed its human reasoning? Does it believe fully in the inspired Word of God? Have you surrendered fully to permit the spirit of God to crack your hard resistance?   “When God opens our eyes, we will truly know the intents of our heart and the deepest thoughts within us to the same degree as He Himself knows them — this is REVELATION.” Naked before God, we see exactly what He does. A book with only 120 pages and chapter questions that cause us to slay our flesh in order that we can experience walking humbly by the spirit.

Matthew 22  ‘Love the Lord your God with all your HEART and with all your SOUL and with all your MIND.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘LOVE your NEIGHBOR as YOURSELF.’ When our outward man (soul) is not in harmony with our inward man (spirit) we see dimly. With an ear to hear, we fully surrender, with a great expectancy to be changed, used and effective. To taste and see, to bite into that personal slice of life that never disappoints, together.

“Revelation is the first step to holiness.  Consecration is the second. A day must come in our lives, as definite as the day of our personal baptized conversion, when we give up all right to ourselves and submit to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ.” Watchman Nee~

Let all we do, and all we think, honor God. Think about Who you are thinking about in every situation. What is wrong with this or them? Could God use someone like them, or me? Thoughts of doubt or hope? Criticism or praise? The damage, or the solution? Capture every thought about the tragedy, sickness, error, and others – and invite the Holy Spirit to convict, correct, or nudge you to repent, or act in confidence. Our thoughts in any situation REFLECT the condition of our heart. What does fill your heart? Mercy or condemnation? Compassion, or dismissal? Anger, envy, unforgiveness? Praise God for He invites us to examine the contents of our heart. He knows our motives. The Holy Spirit abides and shines a light. He is operating 24/7 to instruct, guide, comfort, and direct us in God’s Way. God’s thoughts are pure and above our opinions. Lord Jesus, we pray for revelation. Draw us close, humbly we pray to represent You. Give us mercy, wisdom, and guidance. AMEN ❤️

“The Spiritual Man” teaches: The devil is not an adversary that we meet head-on; he hides behind sweet voices, deceptive appearances, and well-disguised desires.

●SEDUCTION: Begins in the heart. It causes us to lose sight of spiritual principles. 2 Corinthians 11:14, “No wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light.” Temptation  presents itself in a pleasant form, a reassuring voice, a COMPROMISE that seems harmless. God’s word calls us to CAUTION: “Heed the voice of the Spirit, NOT the world” 1 John 4:1

■Lesson: Be vigilant, discern wisely. The illusion of seduction is disciphered with wisdom. James 1:5, be led by listening to the Spirit.

● SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS: The devil seeks to blind us spiritually so that we can NOT see the truth. Nee points out that this blindness is often progressive, building slowly until we are no longer able to discern right from wrong.
The ENEMY seeks to BLUR our spiritual vision. He deprives us of light so that we WANDER without direction, CLINGING to illusions and NOT to the truth.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 “The spirit of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers.” As we yield to the pressures of the world, its desires and INFLUENCES, our spiritual vision becomes increasingly blurred.

■Lesson: Eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, “the author and finisher of our faith” Hebrews 12:2. Feed our soul the Word of God. Restore spiritual sight.

●DEVILS ’s LIES: The devil is the “father of lies” John 8:44. He uses lies to lead us away from God’s truth. He seeks to destroy us with crafty  partial truths. The devil’s lie is not in the obvious statement of falsehood, but in the subtle distortion of the truth. He lies by telling us that we can do without God, that we don’t need His guidance.  “Sin is not so serious.”  These are lies that distort the image of God. Matthew 4:4.

■Lesson: Be rooted in the truth of God’s Word, which is sharper than any two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12. Know and live it and  dismantle the devil’s lies.

CONCLUSION: The deception, blindness, and lies of the devil are insidious traps that threaten every believer. However, by following the teachings of Jesus and relying on biblical truths, we can not only recognize these traps but also resist them. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” James 4:7. Let this truth be our strength and shield.” Watchman Nee

Once Nee’s challenge is fully undertaken, a selfish life is replaced by a life led in the spirit. It is my desire to read, discuss the contents with a person willing to be vulnerable enough to flourish in Christ. Amazon MX for 263 pesos or $14 USD.