Latent Power of the Soul by Watchman Nee

Latent Power of the Soul Reviews

• 
  Lauren

  Very informative and eye-opening. From this I take away this quote in the conclusion:
  
  "I believe many people are so rich and strong that they give no ground for God to work. I frequently recall the words, "helpless and hopeless." I must tell God, "All that I have is Yours, I myself have nothing. Apart from You I am truly helpless and hopeless." We need to have such a dependant attitude towards God that it is as if we cannot inhale or exhale without Him. In this way we shall see that our power as well as our holiness all come from Him. Whatever we have is from Him." (p. 85)
• 
  Andrew

  I don't know how to think about it, but Watchman Nee's book The Latent Power of the Soul was certainly eye opening. The book finds scripture to describe the human body, spirit, and soul. In particular, it focuses on how the soul, powerful from the beginning, was immobilized at the Fall. Since then, Satan has been enticing humans with their own "soul power", seeking to counterfeit God's work and thereby steal His glory.
  
  The practical for us is to resist our own devices of influence: crowd, emotion, and mind manipulation. Instead, we ought to pursue His means only - ask God for His wonder working Spirit: depend upon Him. This seems to apply well to revivals, faith healers, and even the true tasks of prayer, joyfulness, and evangelism.
  
  I find Watchman Nee's applications real and helpful, but I'm only skeptical of the argument he used to get there. Soul power is a new concept for me.
• 
  Milly

  I'm not sure if you'll ever find a spiritual book as deeply profound as this one. Consequently, Watchman takes you back to the beginning of creation and explains expounds on the spiritual behind the physical of all that still affects you and me in the world all around us.
  
  Great foundational source of inspirational spiritual knowledge…
  Regards, Milly
  
• 
  Dr. Paul T. Blake

  My summary of Nee's comments in this book: mankind has supernatural powers inside himself that are separate from God's supernatural powers. However, as soon as man accesses/utilizes these, they become demonically fueled. Therefore, we must stay away from them. Hope that helps.
• 
  India Lee Starks

  This book stopped me in my tracks. It’s eye-opening on more than one level, and more than one eye. After one of the chapters I had to stop, pray and repent immediately. Watchman Nee is unprecedented in his instruction, topics, and depth of topic coverage still, to this very day! He treads on the deeper meanings of our faith and our journey, but does so in a way a child could understand it! Given the lack in authentic, Holy Spirit lead teaching, I don’t know what I would have done without Watchman Nee’s books! He has undone a lifetime of incomplete and incorrect teaching! This book is a must read - as are all his books!!
• 
  Gerald

  This was a fantastic piece from the renowned Watchman Nee. A friend in the Lord advised me to read this book and I did not regret doing that.
  This book shades more light about the first man that God created in the garden of Eden and the amazing power He bestowed on as a living soul. The author does this with convincing scriptural references.
  This book explains that miraculous events that are not from God can be attributed to the performer being able to draw from the latent power of the soul that God hid away after the fall of Adam.
  There were some things written in this book that I disagree with but all in all, it was a good read.
  If you are new to Watchman Nee books, I will not suggest you start off with this one. You will be better starting with 'The Normal Christian Life' or 'The Spiritual Man'.
• 
  Olivia

  Watchman Nee is a great writer in terms of helping any lay person understand deep spiritual matters concerning the spirit and the soul. The devil has deceptively crept into our society and is using different means to have man submit to him by using mans' soul i.e. through things like yoga, meditation, and many eastern religious practices. Surprisingly in the church the devil has also maneuvered in and distorted spiritual practices that, without knowledge and discernment many believers are worshiping him while thinking they are worshiping God. Reading this book therefore gives much knowledge and revelation to every believer seeking to walk blamelessly and in purity with God. May we not be those who perish for lack of knowledge.
• 
  Esther Hong

  "What power do you want—what you may feel or what you cannot feel?" As soon as I heard, I understood. I therefore answered, "I want what I cannot feel." So she said, "You must remember that there is no need for people to feel the power which comes from the Holy Spirit. Man's duty is to obey God. For the power of the Holy Spirit is not given for man to feel."
  
  The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit (1 Cor. 15:45).
  The soul itself is living, yet it cannot make others live. But the spirit is not only living in itself, it can also make others live. Only the spirit is capable of quickening people into life.
  
  Other verses: Jn. 5:19; 12:24-25
• 
  Royce Ratterman

  A good work for the researcher and enthusiast. Read for my personal research on left/right brain function, LSD effects, and savant syndrome. I found this book's contents helpful for my studies. This work seems to overlap other similar studies. A short read for the interested individual, but not factually Biblically based. Looking at humans with the eyes of 'current' perception forces one to speculate on latent powers rather than innate abilities.
• 
  Debra

  Reads like a thesis, very repetitive and quotes only from one source, aside from the big book. Don't agree with some statements such as animals are so base and "mere flesh", science and scripture have already proven otherwise. Understandably it was written in 1933. Not too persuasive but there are strong points. It's important to read carefully.
• 
  Mae Cannon

  "My hope for today is that you may be helped to know the source and the operations of the latent power of the soul."
• 
  Margaret

  I enjoyed the book but wondered if some Christians wouldn't be able to grasp what the author was talking about in regards to the subject matter and this fact might be more damaging than helpful.
  
• 
  Jeremie

  I thought it was great. However, i am having a hard time with his quoting of the Bible. Must be read carefully.
  
• 
  Catherine Finger

  A glimpse of heaven a al Nee-splendid!
• 
  Samuel Maina

  Wow!
  
  Ascetism and a lot whole lot of stuff has been dealt with......
  
  
  http://sfy.co/i18wu
  
• 
  Kate Andjelkovich

  Book Review, "Latent Power of the Soul" by Watchman Nee.
  Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  
  Watchman Nee was a man before his time! I believe it was written well over 60 years ago, however, his writings are still prevalent about the Charismatic movement today. I think Nee encountered a lot of different religions during his life especially as he lived in China. He seemed to carry a lot of knowledge on Buddhism and Taoism. Nee warns Christians of a "psychic force" that springs up from the soul and how these forces are starkly similar to that of other religions.
  
  To start, Nee distinguishes between the soul and spirit. He claims that Adam had a supernatural soul with the ability to do things we cannot do such as name every animal, work in the Garden, and be in the presence of God. He states that these are things humans today cannot do because of the Fall. Since then, humans have struggled with the latent power of the soul and using it for their gain. Nee spends a lot of time on this subject and oftentimes, it was somewhat confusing. Nee speculates that all other religions are a product of this soul power as many miraculous things have occurred in these other religions. He goes on to say that they are demonic and makes the connection with Charismatic practices with the same soul power. Thus, Nee believes that this use of the soul power from Adam is always selfish and self-serving. Nee believes that holy laughter, prophecy, speaking in tongues, and more (in the Charismatic circle) are from this psychic force of the soul and not the Holy Spirit. To be clear, Nee believes in Charismatic gifts but takes a conservative approach. At times, he sounds like an old man complaining about the Charismatic kids playing on his lawn but it is for good reason.
  
  Finally, Nee warns Christians of the soul power hidden within us. That we should die to that part of ourselves and sacrifice that to God. When we do not, God cannot work because He cannot use it for His glory. He asks us not to force our power into situations of healing, prophecy, etc. Nee recommends we pray, "'All that I have is Yours, I myself have nothing. Apart from You I am truly helpless and hopeless.' We need to have such a dependent attitude towards God that it is as if we cannot inhale or exhale without Him" (p. 85). When we die to the latent power of the soul, which can be found in every religion, we make room for the fruit of the spirit and exhibit true Christlikeness.
• 
  David

  Was very happy to learn a few very important things for a Christian.
  
  In particular, the difference between hypnosis and a real prayer towards God.
  Someone may direct his prayers towards the person for whom he prays instead of directing them towards God who is in Heaven.
  "Your prayer is answered, but not by God. Even though
  you do not know hypnosis, what you have secretly done has fulfilled
  the law of hypnotism. You have released your psychic force to
  perform this act. "
  "God wants us to send our prayers to heaven by faith, regardless if our feeling be good or
  bad, or even if there be no feeling."
  "In appearance you are praying, but in actuality you are oppressing that person [for whom you are praying] with your psychic power. "
  
  Also, one more very important passage denotes that only the spirit is
  able to give life. The soul is useless.
  "The soul is itself alive and has life in itself. The spirit, however, is
  able to give life to others and cause them to live. The soul is itself
  living, yet it cannot make others live. But the spirit is not only living
  in itself, it can also make others live. Only the spirit is capable of
  quickening people into life. The soul, no matter how strong it is,
  cannot impart life to others. “It is the spirit,” says the Lord, “that
  giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing” (John 6.63)."
  
  Thank you! :)
  
  
• 
  Olamide OPEYEMI

  I think the author helps us with sufficient biblical evidence to discern the difference between the soul and the spirit, especially in Christian work. He rightly points out the danger of using underhanded, psychic means to achieve some measure of success in God's work.
  
  While I do share most of the caution that our brother has towards psychic injections into the Christian experience, I wonder if we may not become "over-careful", such that we will fear to ever use our minds, since it is given by God for a purpose (Romans 12:2). You know, a state where we gullibly refuse to allow our minds to work at all.
  
  However, in all fairness to the author, he reasonably reaffirms the proper use of the mind, without venturing into realms where the devil, and many of his deceived helpers, can highjack its use. I believe every Christian should read this for it will help us to be wary of works and wonders done (and even verified) yet, it is through dark means.
  
  The conclusion is this: regardless of all your natural abilities, you must not depend on yourself or else it won't be able to serve God's purpose. The admonished death to self is actually trusting in the LORD and not leaning on our own understanding.
• 
  Christine

  I’ve read a number of Watchman Nee’s books over the years.
  The Latent Power of The Soul is one of those interesting ones that from my perspective is an incomplete work.
  I believe that he was deep under the impression of Mrs Jessie Penn-Lewis’s writings, combined with his own thoughts on the subject of who we were before the fall of man.
  Some of the concepts he writes about can be found in the writings of the Desert Fathers and other spiritual writings, so it was not too foreign to me.
  It’s also why I feel Watchman should have spent more time researching the topic, although I sense a kind of haste, urgency in his writing to get this message out.
  
• 
  Al Green

  Seems like he is building a story parallel to that of the Bible; from Adam to Apocalypse, Satan is just trying to harvest man's soulish power.
  No Bible verses to uphold the ideas... He just tries to manipulate you with cheap tricks, like repeating 'we christians know that...' or 'It is obvious that', without giving any actual argument
  
  The man is confused. He takes new age and budhism and parapshichology for real, and then tries to argue that somehow God provided these powers but doesn't want us to use them? What?
  
  So, just second-class science-fiction...
• 
  Josiah

  Nee offers keen insight into the motivation of of mankind. Specifically, the draw upon the soul, a life of self. Whereas, God would use our spirits to "hopelessly and helplessly" follow after Him and give life to others through His Life-Giving Spirit. I highly recommend this book. It challenges the believer to take to heart Phil 2:5-7 as Jesus shows his own effort to not draw on his own soul but the Spirit of God. Be encouraged!