The Way to Be Victorious All the Time
To maintain victory in the spirit, it is essential to recognize and resist the enemy's attacks, deal with weights on the spirit quickly, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit in your attitude of will.
Watchman Nee emphasizes the necessity of maintaining a victorious spirit to resist the devil's attacks on our soul and body. He explains that spiritual weights can hinder our buoyancy and authority, urging believers to quickly recognize and surrender these burdens to the Lord. The struggle against the enemy is a wrestling match where we must stand firm in Christ, ensuring our spirit remains liberated and empowered by the Holy Spirit. When our spirit is triumphant, we gain clarity and discernment, while a shadowed spirit leads to confusion and deception. Ultimately, a pure and clear spirit allows us to follow God's will with ease.
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Now finally, as to the keeping of the position in the spirit where these things can become true, and where you will have your spirit perpetually in victory. As you walk in victory resisting the devil in his attacks on soul and body, you will find the "wrestling" in spirit, which Paul speaks of in Ephes. vi. 12, become your experience. The enemy will attack your spirit, so that you may lose your centre position of victory, where you detect, and resist his onslaughts on your circumference.
For instance, you must understand that if a weight comes on your spirit you lose all buoyancy, and when the weight goes off it there is spring. The first "weight" on the spirit should be dealt with in a moment. Pray that you may be able to recognise quickly, and take the victory at once, so that you may get free quickly. Practise taking "weights" to the Lord immediately. When the spirit is in triumph, the work looks so easy, but once there comes the weight, then the spirit goes down, and how dark everything looks, the work is heavy, the "bogies" are many, and at times, like Elijah, you feel you are going to die!
It is when your spirit is in victory, that you have "authority" and "power over all the power of the enemy." The Holy Spirit is the "dunamis" that conquers him, but the Holy Spirit can only manifest this power through a LIBERATED SPIRIT. A "weight" on the spirit crushes it, and prevents the heavenly dunamis going out against the enemy. He knows this, so he attacks your spirit. There follows a tussle; and he says "you must go under," and you say "No, I will not go under, I stand in Christ."
He says "You shall go in to yourself," and you say "I won't go in." So the "wrestle" goes on, until at last he flees--put to flight by the Spirit of God, and your co-operation with Him in your attitude of will. When your spirit is thus triumphant, you possess clear vision and perception; but when your spirit is shadowed, the mind is dull, and then the deceiving spirits can decoy you out of the path of God's will. The spirit must be kept pure, and clear, and full of light; and then you see so simply the path the Lord would have you walk in.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Importance of Maintaining Victory in the Spirit
- A. Resisting the devil in his attacks on soul and body
- B. Recognizing and resisting the enemy's onslaughts
- II. The Concept of 'Weights' on the Spirit
- A. The effect of weights on the spirit's buoyancy
- B. The need to deal with weights quickly
- III. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Victory
- A. The Holy Spirit as the 'dunamis' that conquers the enemy
- B. The importance of a liberated spirit for the Holy Spirit's power
- IV. The Tussle Between the Spirit and the Enemy
- A. The enemy's attempts to crush the spirit
- B. The spirit's resistance and cooperation with the Holy Spirit
Key Quotes
“A weight on the spirit crushes it, and prevents the heavenly dunamis going out against the enemy.” — Watchman Nee
“He says 'you must go under,' and you say 'No, I will not go under, I stand in Christ.'” — Watchman Nee
Application Points
- Recognize and resist the enemy's attacks on your spirit to maintain victory.
- Deal with weights on your spirit quickly to prevent the enemy from crushing you.
- Cooperate with the Holy Spirit in your attitude of will to experience His power and authority.