In our working for God we must not rely on the outpouring of the Holy
2. Must not rely on the Spirit's outpouring more than on prayer and faith.
In our working for God we must not rely on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit more than on prayer and faith. In God's work, prayer and faith are absolute necessities. The Spirit's outpouring gives us power; nonetheless, we should not desire after it as a shortcut. Prayer and faith cannot be substituted for by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In a meeting for the seeking of the outpouring, many may outrageously let loose of themselves. They think the more they let go, the more spiritual they become. This will result in many problems. We ought to realize that for the Holy Spirit to be released His working must begin from our inner spirit, pass through our soul, and reach to our body.
It is therefore most dangerous for a person to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit without first having the dealings of the cross within. In experiencing the Spirit's outpouring, what one receives is first the power of the Holy Spirit, and then it is released together with the strength of the soul and the energy of the body. And hence there is the danger that if a believer has not been dealt with by the cross, the release of the Holy Spirit's power will result in an impure amalgam as it passes through that person's undealt-with soul and body. Indeed, this process can be likened to how clean underground water passing through the various strata in the earth eventually flows forth as unclean water.
How do we distinguish whether or not it is the power of the outpoured Spirit that is being manifested? We can test it by means of the cross. The life of the body and soul needs to be dealt with by the cross; and then, at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, what is released is only the power of the Spirit. But if the life of the body and soul has not been dealt with by the cross, then the energies of soul and body will be released at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Here, therefore, we can discover an acid test: when a person is free and loses control, what will he do? The one whose bodily energy has not been properly dealt with by the cross will discharge its power at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The same is true of the soul. If the person's soul has not been dealt with, his soul power will be released.
May I speak seriously to my fellow-workers that they must especially guard against the release of their soul power. The weaker the physical strength,
the easier will be the release of the latent power of the soul.∗ For those who
have been dealt with by the cross, however, they can detect in a meeting for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit exactly what soul power is being released and from where. Someone may mislead a thousand unknowledgeable people, but he cannot deceive the one who has been dealt with by the cross.
∗ For a much more thorough discussion of this subject, the reader can consult Watchman Nee, The
Latent Power of the Soul (New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers, 1972). Originally published in Chinese in issues of Revival magazine, 1932, but now translated into English.—Translator
The Bible mentions two kinds of power: one is the power of resurrection (see Phil. 3.21), which is inside of us. The other is the power of the Holy Spirit which is outside of us, and is the power manifested at the Spirit's outpouring. If there is the power of the Holy Spirit without but not the power of resurrection within, the power of the soul and body will also be released at the release of the power of the Holy Spirit. Those with experience can discern these two streams. This is not what we seek. We want only one stream, that of the absolutely pure Spirit.
We must also know what is the resurrection life. Resurrection life is the power of living again. "Living again" signifies that power which has already passed through death. All the natural goodness in us—such as the power, affection and influence of the soul—must go through death. In a meeting, those who have been dealt with by the cross can supply others with a pure spiritual supply. The life they give is pure. There is not a mixture in it of soul or flesh.
In China there was a servant of God. He was a dear brother. He was very powerful and was used to win many souls. One day I saw him pour oil on the heads of thirty or forty people. He struck their faces, even kicked them. Yet they were all healed. No one should ever say that this was the result of the evil spirit. For no doubt about it, this brother had the power of the outpoured Spirit upon him; but he did not have the power of resurrection life within him. And hence there were these uncrucified behaviors present during this healing service. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit gives a blessed power, and the working of the cross purifies this power as it passes through the human vessel. For the cross stands against the old creation: with the cross the old creation is