The Communion of the Holy Spirit

by Watchman Nee, 1994

Resurrection, the Holy Spirit, and the Church
This first section discusses man's creation as a perfect yet incomplete being, man's choice to delay the work of his own completion, man's inability to attain to God's required standard, and God's solution in the person of Jesus Christ. Part one is based on a sermon from June 13, 1948. Part two is from June 20, 1948.
1. Resurrection, the Holy Spirit, and the Church: Part 1
  - Resurrection
    1. The need of resurrection.
    2. In resurrection God obtains the representative man.
    3. Resurrection eliminated the restriction of time and space.
    4. The power of resurrection is the supreme power.
  - The Holy Spirit
    1. Transmit the resurrected Lord. (The primary work of the Holy Spirit.)
    2. The power of resurrection is in the Holy Spirit.
  - The Church
    1. Resurrection power moves and is stored up in the Church.
    2. The Holy Spirit manifests the resurrection power of Christ in the Church.
  - In Practice -- The true work of the Lord is always done with resurrection power.
2. Resurrection, the Holy Spirit, and the Church: Part 2
  - Death is the Greatest Restriction
  - Resurrected Man is God's Appointed Man
  - Resurrection Transcends All
  - The Church: Born of the Spirit after the Lord's Resurrection to be the Body of the Resurrected Christ, Joined in One with the Head
  - Need the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation
The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
This next section is a collection of sermons which explain the different ways which the Holy Spirit interacts with men in order to produce works. An important distinction is drawn between the power of the Spirit which transforms our lives, and the power of the Spirit which acts to transmit the message of Christ to others through spiritual gifts.
1. Outpouring of the Holy Spirit Explained (November 18, 1935)
  - Outpouring of Holy Spirit vs. Outpouring of Evil Spirit
  - The Two Outpourings Differ in Speech
  - Holy Spirit and Evil Spirit Differ in Working Principle
  - Conditions for Seeking the Spirit's Outpouring
    1. Without hidden or undealt sins.
    2. With an active will.
  - Why the Holy Spirit Is Poured Forth
2. Conditions for the Spirit's Outpouring - and Important Matters to Watch (November 18, 1935)
  - Matters to Be Watched on Receiving the Outpouring
  - Test the Spirits
  - According to the Principles of 1 Corinthians 14
  - Control the Spirit
  - Exercise after Receiving the Outpouring
  - Giving Testimony Once Receiving the Outpouring
3. Symptoms and Evidence of Receiving the Spirit's Outpouring (November 19, 1935)
  - Pentecost Does Not Literally Fulfill Joel's Prophecy
  - Manifestation's Vary
  - Seek and Test
4. Work of the Holy Spirit and the Benefits of Having His Outpouring (November 19, 1935)
  - The Work of the Holy Spirit
  - Difference between Indwelling Spirit and Outpoured Spirit
  - The Holy Spirit Works Within and Without
  - The Holy Spirit Bears Witness Concerning Christ
  - The Spirit Within More Important Than the Spirit Without
  - Benefits of the Spirit's Outpouring
    1. Grants the power to communicate
    2. Instills courage
    3. Removes self-consciousness
    4. Changes the atmosphere
    5. Can have the power to work
  - Some Questions and Answers
  - Difference between Regeneration and Filling
5. Further Talk on the Spirit's Outpouring (November 26, 1935)
  1. Concerning those who have received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
  2. Must not rely on the Spirit's outpouring more than on prayer and faith.
  3. The difference bewtween the outpouring and the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
  4. What is required of us in giving testimony.
6. Still More on the Spirit's Work and His Outpouring
  1. The Work of the Holy Spirit
  2. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
    - Acts 2:32-41 -- The outpouring is based on the glorification of Christ.
    - Acts 8:14-17 -- The Spirit given to unite scattered with the rest of the body of Christ.
    - Acts 10:44-48 -- The outpouring unites Gentiles with the body of Christ.
    - Acts 19:1-6 -- Another example of the Spirit falling upon the Gentile believers.
7. The Holy Spirit and the Law (November 20, 1935)
  - What the Law Is
  - Living under the Law
  - Life in the Spirit
  - Guidance of the Spirit Confirmed by the Bible
8. The Function of the Anointing Oil
  - Before God, Anointing Oil Is Sanctification
  - Anointing Oil Is Power upon Others
  - Anointing Oil Is Teaching in Us
9. The Body Being Anointed (August 1939)
  - Condition for Anointing Is the Natural Being Buried
  - The Use of Anointing
  - The Teaching of the Anointing
  - The Anointing and the Law
  - How to Be Anointed
Spiritual Judgment (Discernment)
This final section covers the principles involved in helping others by the power of the Spirit. The ability to discern the spiritual states of others is an important first step in helping them. The Spirit gives us insight both as to the problems as well as to how to deal with them.
1. The Principles of Spiritual Judgement (September 29, 1948)
  - The Five Principles (Criteria) of Judgement
  - Basic Condition for Spiritual Judgement
2. Spiritual Judgement: Using Our Spirit (September 30, 1948)
  On the subject of using our spiritual senses, further discussion is available in The Character of God's Workman.
  - Man's Seven Conditions
    1. The spirit in a person: right or wrong?
    2. Where man's strength is.
    3. Whether the spirit is closed.
    4. Is the person abnormal?
    5. Is there any pretension?
    6. The condition of the person's spirit.
    7. A kind of unknown spirit exists.
  - How to Judge with the Spirit -- This is dealt with in more depth in The Release of the Spirit.
3. Spiritual Judgement: the Basis of Diagnosis and Judgment (October 1, 1948)
  - Diagnosis
  - The Foundation of Judgement: Brotherly Love
4. Spiritual Judgement: Healing (October 2, 1948)
  - The Way to Healing
    1. Admonish
    2. Reprove

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