Watchman Nee is a lot like me in that he took the few works of Jessie Penn Lewis, and the Lord used Her outstanding book “War on the Saints” to inspire Nee to write many, many books. Nee was writing in the 1950’s. Not that I always agree with him but most of the time, I do. In fact, I have read Nee books for 20 years before I had even heard of Jessie. It is rare for Nee to acknowledge that his work was inspired by something Jessie wrote. So I assumed it was ALL original until I too discovered Jessie.
As for me, when I have been inspired by Jessie Penm-Lewis, I make sure I acknowledge and reference her!
People do the same thing with my books and videos. There is this young woman with a Youtive channel who is redoing my videos and reading my books. Once, she acknowledged me as the author of the Zombie book but not in her video about spirit rape where all of the material she spoke on came from either one of my books or one of my videos.
I am not offended. I wish there were more helping me to share my work. I simply strive not to do the same thing with Jessie. The original author of any revelation ought to be referenced and acknowledged.
Here is an excerpt from Watchman Nee where he neglected to reference Jessie Penn-Lewis in Jis work called “Spiritual Discernment”:
The mind is the most active part of the soul. It used to be like a wild horse, but now it is being restrained by the will. And the will is in cooperation with the spirit. The way to a spirit-controlled soul comes about as follows: At the moment when the mind begins to think of questionable things and to wander, the first step of control is to discern, that is, to see the condition of the mind in the light of God. The second step is to drive out or cast aside such unhealthy thoughts. And the third step is to return to quietness in God’s presence. Then, begin to prove under the light received what are the permissible, even the acceptable, thoughts of God. Emotion is the lowest, the most unreasonable, part of the soul; yet it exerts the greatest power in swaying the will. Whatever emotion is attached to, the will will usually agree. For emotion acts like a favored child who always gets what he wants with a few cries before his mother. It almost seems that the entire life of a person is controlled by emotion: by what it likes or seeks after. Indeed, its like or dislike is rather irrational. However, if it comes under the control of the spirit, it cannot act so independently as it wishes. It has to yield to God’s approval or permission, though it will always strive against God’s wish. This is the striving between the spirit and the flesh. It causes the greatest pain to the soul. For the soul is not able to like what emotion naturally likes of a person, thing or affair. There in the very depth of man is something that desires after God. But emotion longs after things, and the mind frequently rationalizes and supports emotion. Thus, man is unable to live peacefully. If he is able to disregard his emotion and lay down his like, he will have peace.
This does not mean that God will not permit us to like any person, thing or affair. What He seeks to do is to get rid of the natural source of such like or dislike that is, to eliminate such independent choice. It will be right if there be no independent preference but rather there be delight in what God loves, in what person, thing or affair God takes pleasure in. Such is the spirit-controlled emotion. For the spirit lays hold of man’s emotion by exercising his will. Emotion is an irrational force; yet so also is the Holy Spirit a powerful force above reason. When emotion fails to be satisfied, it causes man to feel uncomfortable and unhappy. So also will the Holy Spirit be grieved when His demand is neglected, thus causing man the loss of peace and joy. Unless a person obeys the spirit and lets his emotion suffer, he will not regain peace and joy. Will is the highest faculty of the soul, yet it occupies only a small portion of the soul. For our life is habitually controlled by emotion and mind. The will seems to permit whatever emotion delights in. And when the mind seems to so logically argue, the will will likewise go along. As soon as the will decides, action immediately follows suit. Hence, sinning is an act of the will. What God and Satan contend over is the will of man.
Accordingly, the will is the center or crux of man. What the will inclines towards is what man moves forward about. We cannot be complacent about this. A spirit-controlled will inclines towards God’s will. It unites with God’s will, seeks after Him, and is able to rise above one’s own emotion and reasoning. A submissive will pleases God immensely, for He can use it to hold sway over the whole man.
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sometimes we mistake being demonized by being out of wack and unreasonable in our emotions. When the emotions are out of control, a person can seem to be demonized. Certainly the enemy will take as much advantage of the situation as much as he can, but casting him out when he has not gotten IN the person is not necessary when what one needs to do is simply bring bAlance to the emotions.
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