Watchman Nee's Testimony
By John Woodward
April 13, 1998
This week, we dip into Watchman Nee's biography. Doctors advised that a time of rest for him in the healthier climate of in China's Kuling Mountain would improve Watchman's lung condition. In 1929 he spent many weeks there to recuperate, meditating on God's Word and his perspective on the Christian life.
" 'When I first came to the Lord', he says, 'I had my own conception of what a Christian was, and I tried my utmost to be that kind of Christian. I thought a true Christian should smile from morning to night. If at any time he shed a tear he had ceased to be victorious. I thought, too, that a Christian must be unfailingly courageous. If under any circumstances he showed the slightest sign of fear he had fallen short of my standard'.
"But his serial reading of the New testament had brought him back and back again to Paul's autobiographical letter, 2 Corinthians, where he read ' as sorrowful...' and the words arrested him. A great Christian who shed 'many tears', who could be 'perplexed', and who could even 'despair of life itself' must be very human. Is it possible, he asked, that Paul despaired ? This was just where he himself had been! 'I discovered,' he says, 'that Paul was a man , and the very sort of man I knew.'
"There began to dawn on him the secret of Christianity that is summarized in the words: "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.' Now as he learned to trust God hourly for his very life, he came to a new place of rest in Him."
-from Against the Tide, by Angus Kinnear (Victory Press) p. 107.
The previous year Nee had written his lengthy and profound book on The Spiritual Man . This shows that illumination in applying the deeper truths of the cross is an ongoing process. He had been blessed by the writings of T. Austin-Sparks and Jessie Penn-Lewis in the previous months before his recuperation at Kuling Mountain. His continuous reading of God's Word was vital to his spiritual growth and biblical insight.
This meditation on the deeper life, did not distract Watchman from a heart for evangelism. The couple who provided his daily lunch at Kuling opened their hearts to the gospel. Thereafter, he would read the Scriptures with them and provide food for their hungry hearts.
Father, help us to continuously read Your Word with a receptive, hungry heart. Grant us greater illumination to appreciate that You are the source of our sufficiency. We rest in You. In Christ's name, amen.
Scriptures cited: 2 Cor 6:4-10, 1:8-11, 4:7-10 c.f. 3:4-6
JBW
April 13, '98
The purpose of Grace Notes is to highlight the dynamics of abundant living as summarized in Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (NKJV). Many articles are available online to freely use for personal ministry, newsletters, etc.. (To find an article by topic or key word, click "Grace Notes"/search.) Please pray for God's blessing on this internet ministry.
Grace Fellowship is an international discipleship, counseling, and training training ministry. (GFI does not charge fees for counseling, but is supported through tax deductible contributions. In Canada, through Crossways to Life, 79 Weber St. E. Kitchener, ON. N2H 1C6
Phone: 519-696-2500 http://www.CrossWaystoLife.org.) To request resources or inquire about hosting a conference, please contact us: john@gracenotebook.com.
Grace Notes editor - Dr. John Woodward
from Grace Fellowship International
President of GFI - Dr. Charles Solomon,
P.O. Box 368, Pigeon Forge, TN 37868 USA.
Phone: 865-429-0450 Fax: 865-429-0144
Home page: http://www.GraceFellowshipIntl.com
Home study: http://www.GFICounselingInstitute.com
Online video and audio: http://www.GFImultimedia.com
Online video channel: http://www.YouTube.com/gracefellowshipintl
Multi-language books & tracts: http://www.SolomonPublications.org
"Man as Spirit, Soul, and Body": http://www.BiblicalPsychology.net
Praise & prayer news: http://gfipraiseandprayer.blogspot.com
Children's Ministry: http://www.CarawaySt.com
GFI Bookstore: GFI site and 1-888-66GRACE (toll free in USA)
Online giving: http://www.gracefellowshipintl.com/ Home / Give
Subscribe ...
Subscribe to receive Grace Notes for free!
You may also wish to read ....
Next article by date ...
Prayer and Abiding by John Woodward
Other publications by John Woodward ...
So Long, Self by John Woodward
A Fruitful Prayer Pattern by John Woodward
A Career in Modeling by John Woodward
Come and Dine by John Woodward
A Banquet of Blessings by John Woodward
The Virgin Birth (Part 1) by John Woodward
The Virgin Birth (Part 2) by John Woodward
The Virgin Birth (Part 3) by John Woodward
Greater Works by John Woodward
Core Values for the Christian Family by John Woodward
View Comments
Add Comment