The Communion of the Holy Spirit by Watchman Nee Read Free Book Online Page B

person most gifted without may not have a victorious life within. If a man’s life is unclean, the Spirit’s outside working will not cleanse him inside. But if a person has the proper life within plus the outpouring of the Spirit without, he can be a most useful man.
    In the entire records of the New Testament no local assembly seemed to have been worse than the church in Corinth. Nevertheless, Paul did not negate or at tempt to blot out their outpouring of the Holy Spirit because of their inward immorality. He did not say that it was not good for the meeting there to have the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He merely stated that due to confusion caused by outward gifts there needed to be some order. Though they were quite disorderly, Paul did not declare their condition to be attributable to the evil spirit. He advised them to do “all things decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14.40). This, too, must be our attitude. If some brothers and sisters among us show abnormal attitudes or manifestations, they need to be tested or helped to be orderly. We cannot judge them as outrightly wrong due to their so-called abnormalities.
    Let me illustrate this. If someone should come to my room and see clothes scattered around in disarray, he cannot for this reason conclude that my clothes chest is not a chest and my clothes are not clothes. He can only say that these clothes are not tidily put away. Chaos can be restored to order. So that Paul only attempted to help set the Corinthian chaos and confusion in order. For example, he set right the order of speaking in tongues. If there was no interpreter, those who spoke in tongues were to keep quiet (see 1 Cor.14.28). Let the prophets speak one by one, he advised, at most letting two or three speak; and if there were more, let them keep silent and discern (see v.29).
    First Corinthians 14 is therefore a setting in order; that is, how things should be arranged after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit has become a fact. Henceforth, we of today need to pay more attention to
    1 Corinthians 14. On the one hand, we must learn to live victoriously; yet on the other hand, we must also seek the gifts of the Spirit. And thus we will maintain a balanced life.

BENEFITS OF THE SPIRIT’S OUTPOURING
    What benefits does the outpouring of the Holy Spirit bring to us? Since the Spirit’s inward work is more essential, why do we need this outward work of outpouring? We ought to realize that if those who know the Person of the Holy Spirit indwelling within and who live a holy life were to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as well, this would enable them to share their inner holiness with others. We know many people who are rich inwardly, but they are unable to supply to others what is within them. Men may admire them and respect them, but they cannot receive help from them because the latter lack the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Let us therefore consider what practical profits can result from the Spirit’s outpouring.
    1. Grants the power to communicate. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit gives you the power to communicate, that is to say, to channel forth what is in you to others. People who have learned much before God and yet lack the power to share with others are enabled to distribute the riches inside themselves once they do receive the outpouring of the Spirit. Yet those who only have the indwelling Holy Spirit can be likened to a power house whose impact upon its surroundings is minimal: there may be much light in the power house; nevertheless, the entire city lies in darkness. In order to channel light to the city there must be power lines to connect the power house with the city. If, of course, there is nothing in the power house, the connection of power lines is absolutely useless. But even if there is something in the power house, it is still useless without the power lines. In this illustration, of course, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit can be likened to the power lines. Is it not