Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is living and operative and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Psa.119:130 The opening of Your words gives light, imparting understanding to the simple.
[Part 1 of 2]Many Christians have an unusual number of problems. If these were merely outward problems, they would not be that important. But many of these problems point to inward darkness and to the lack of spiritual clarity; one should not treat this lightly. Some situations are necessary for a Christian in the course of spiritual progress. However, a Christian should not allow himself to remain indefinitely in darkness and unclearness. It is not God's will that we should constantly have problems; God does not wish to see us remain in darkness. How then can we become clear spiritually? Let us see what the Word of God tells us. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that when the word of God enters, we will be able to distinguish between what is from the spirit [which is one with the Lord] and what is from the soul [which is related to the self life]. We cannot discern the difference by merely asking ourselves inwardly; this will only result in confusion. The more we look inwardly and the more we search ourselves, the more problems will arise and the greater the darkness will become. One question will give rise to ten questions, and ten questions to a hundred questions; the questions will go on. On the other hand, if the word of God enters into us, there will be no need to ask questions; the questions will be gone, and we will become clear. In fact, we will become very clear indeed. For instance, you may meet a man on the street and speak something to him. Although the words may be correct, you feel very uncomfortable afterward. The words were proper and your intention was good, but inwardly you feel otherwise. An hour later you come across a brother and speak to him at length, and the words are helpful to him. This time you feel inwardly satisfied; you feel that a burden has been released and you have rendered a service to God. There is little difference in the words spoken on these two occasions, but there is a great difference in your inward feeling. This difference is very clear to you; it tells you that one is wrong and the other is right. Superficially, it seems that the words spoken on both occasions were identical, but inwardly, you perceive a difference. When the word of God is in us, we shall know from within what is from the spirit and what is from the soul. Once we have this inward knowledge, there will be no more questions. (Continued tomorrow)
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 79-80. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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