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Your Takeaways For This Week
Release the Spirit: Breaking Through for Kingdom Impact
Breaking the Outer Man for Spiritual Impact
The Process of Breaking: Embracing Surrender
The Power of a Released Spirit
Practical Steps to Cooperate with God’s Breaking Process
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Hey, Equippers! Mike Brewer here.
Release the Spirit: Breaking Through for Kingdom Impact
Welcome to this week's edition of The Equipper—your 7-minute newsletter to help you grow spiritually and fulfill your Kingdom calling. Today, we’re unpacking the essential truth that for God’s power to flow through us, we must allow our outward man to be broken so the Spirit can be released. This teaching comes from Watchman Nee's profound book, The Release of the Spirit, and touches on some deeper insights God has been revealing about our flesh, soul, and deliverance.
Breaking the Outer Man for Spiritual Impact
Have you ever felt like there's more inside you that God wants to use for His glory, but something seems to be holding it back? You aren’t alone. In The Release of the Spirit, Watchman Nee explains that our outward man—our soul, emotions, thoughts, and will—can often hinder the release of our inner spirit, where the Holy Spirit dwells.
I have often said that the outermost man, the flesh, loves comfort. The soul, which is part of the outer man, loves to be in charge, leading according to its own thoughts and emotions. These are the two areas where demonization often occurs—either in the literal flesh or in the mind, soul, will, and emotions.
Nee describes this as the "breaking of the outer man." Just as a seed must be broken open for life to emerge, so too must the outer man be broken so that the spirit can be released to flow freely, bringing the life of Christ to those around us. In many cases, this breaking involves deliverance from demons, as God strips away the demonic influences that have taken root in our flesh or soul.
When the outward man is not broken and brought into submission to the Spirit, mixture can occur. This means that while some areas of our life may flow with the Holy Spirit, other areas are influenced by our unbroken, rebellious nature. As a result, a mixture of life and death comes forth. The apostle James spoke of this in reference to the tongue: “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be” (James 3:10 NIV). This mixture is rampant in the Body of Christ today. People who have not experienced the breaking of the outer man may speak life in one area and yet use their words to destroy in another.
When this breaking takes place, however, it results in humility and purity—transforming not only ministry but also friendships, marriages, and all relationships. The flow of the Holy Spirit is no longer hindered, and our life becomes an instrument of life, not death.
The outward man—especially when influenced by the flesh and soul—cannot comprehend the things of God. It stands in rebellion to His ways. But God, in His wisdom, uses trials and testings to break this rebellious nature within us. When we go through these difficult moments, we are being molded and shaped, often delivered from the strongholds of the enemy.
Key Insight: God uses circumstances, trials, and sometimes even suffering to break down our self-will, pride, and reliance on our own strength. When we surrender these things, our spirit can be released to do what it was designed to do—minister life, healing, and truth to a broken world. I encourage you to ask God what areas of your life still need to be broken.
The Process of Breaking: Embracing Surrender
In every Christian’s journey, God brings us to a place where we are confronted with our self. Maybe it’s our pride, our plans, or our need for control. In order to fulfill your calling and be effective in spiritual warfare and ministry, God must break through these areas.
This breaking process is not always easy. It can come through a difficult season at work, a relationship that challenges your heart, or a time of silence where God seems distant. But it’s in these moments that God is doing His deepest work in us.
Nee makes it clear that this is not something we can rush or bypass. We must learn to cooperate with God during these times, allowing Him to work His refining process so that our spirit can be set free to serve others in power.
Key Question: Where is God asking you to surrender? What area of your life is He seeking to break down in order to release His Spirit more fully through you?
The Power of a Released Spirit
What happens when the spirit is released? It’s simple but profound: the Holy Spirit is able to work more freely and powerfully through us.
Here are a few areas where you’ll notice immediate impact once the spirit is released:
Increased Spiritual Authority: When your outward man no longer controls your actions, you begin to walk in greater spiritual authority. You can operate in the gifts of the Spirit more effectively, especially in areas like healing, prophecy, and deliverance.
Deeper Connection with Others: The release of your spirit brings a life-giving connection to others. You are able to minister to their deepest needs, not just on a surface level but with the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through you.
Freedom from Striving: One of the greatest fruits of breaking the outward man is the release from striving. You no longer need to “make things happen” in your own strength. Instead, the Holy Spirit moves through you, producing lasting fruit without the burden of self-effort.
Scripture Reference: "Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." (John 12:24 NIV)
Practical Steps to Cooperate with God’s Breaking Process
Acknowledge the Breaking: Begin by recognizing the areas where God is working to break down your outer man. Is it through a difficult situation, a conversation that humbled you, or a season of waiting? Invite God into those areas.
Surrender Daily: Pray for God to help you surrender daily. Lay down your rights, desires, and plans, and trust that His ways are better than yours. This is a daily decision to yield to His will.
Embrace Humility: As Watchman Nee emphasizes, the breaking process often strips us of pride and self-reliance. True humility allows God's Spirit to flow through you to others.
Seek Accountability: Find a trusted spiritual mentor or prayer partner who can walk with you through the breaking process, providing guidance and prayer as God does His refining work in your life.
Reflection Question: What would it look like for your spirit to be fully released in your ministry, your family, and your everyday life? How can you allow God to break through the outer man so that His power can flow freely through you?
In Conclusion: Breaking for Breakthrough
The breaking of the outer man is not something to be feared or avoided. It is the key to walking in the fullness of the Spirit, seeing lasting fruit, and fulfilling your Kingdom assignment. As you allow God to break through the barriers of self, pride, and control, you’ll experience a greater release of His presence and power in your life.
Are you ready to embrace the breaking so that your spirit can be released for Kingdom impact?
Challenge for the Week: Take one area where you’ve been holding on tightly—whether it’s a relationship, a goal, or a hurt—and surrender it to God. Pray for Him to release His Spirit more fully through you as you trust Him with that area.
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