Evangelical,
although you have raised an important issue about the importance of having the Word of God and not just the letter of the Bible, it seems to me that you went too far in charging the majority of Christians of putting aside the Spirit because they believe that by having the Bible they have the Spirit too.
Your general accusation need to be supported by some proofs, like a few quotations with the relative context. The one that started this thread looks like a twit (too short to really understand what the author meant; of course you may be familiar with his writing so I ask you to provide more quotes in context).
You said,
"Lee and Nee properly divide the Bible from God's Word (God's inward speaking).
The majority of Christianity believe God's Word = the Bible, because to them the Spirit ceased or is no longer relevant since the bible was written."
I am quite familiar with what Nee wrote, but I can't say the same for Lee. Again, if you can provide some quotes it will help our discussion. The same for the second point you made.
You said,
"So categorically we can say this sort of statement:
"Without the Word, there is no knowledge of God. "
is wrong.
The Bible itself says we can know God without the Bible,
Romans 1:20 "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.""
The irony is that you just need the Bible to prove your point. Granted that people can know that there is a God (knowing that God exist is different from having a knowledge of God, that is to know God). Even demons believe that there is a God and tremble! So, some people by looking at creation can infer that God exist. Good. That means that Genesis 1:1 is “written” in the creation. Fine. Can people find John 3:16 somewhere but in the Bible? Can they find John 1:1? How about Isaiah 53? Maybe Psalm 8? 1 Corinthians 13? How about Daniel 9? Or Heb. 1:1-2. Rev. 21-22? I could multiply the examples but I think you see my point. As Christians we have a complete revelation of God in both the Old and the New Testament. If people can know God without the Bible (as you said), how much more with the Bible and, as I have always said, with prayer.
That the Spirit and the Word are very much connected is not guess work. After the Lord Jesus was baptized and was led by the Spirit to be tempted He answered Satan's temptations with, “It is written...” and “Again it is written...”. If the Lord Jesus Himself used the Word, how much more we need to spend time in it.
You said,
"Jesus and his disciples had prayer times together. We find no example in scripture of them sitting down together for a "bible study".
Joh 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written.
(This verse could be enough to answer your statement.)
I don't remember reading they had prayer times together either. Where did you read that? (If you cannot find a verse you can use John 21:25, forgive my sarcasm). But I can find few places where they had what you called a “Bible study” (We might call it an exposition or explanation of the Scriptures). But before I mention some N. T. passages I would like to quote first from the Old,
Neh 8:1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel.
Neh 8:2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
Neh 8:3 And he read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
Neh 8:4
And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
Neh 8:5
And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people
and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
Neh 8:6 And Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God: and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.
Neh 8:7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
Neh 8:8
And they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.
Neh 8:18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the ordinance. (ASV)
What a “Bible study”!!!
How many times the Lord Jesus explained some verses of the Old Testament?
Mar 12:24 Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God?
Mar 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as angels in heaven.
Mar 12:26 But as touching the dead, that they are raised; have ye not read in the book of Moses, in the place concerning the Bush, how God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
Mar 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: ye do greatly err.
Mat 13:36 Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house:
and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
Here the Lord Jesus explained to His disciples the parable of the tares.
Luk 24:25 And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
Luk 24:26 Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?
Luk 24:27
And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luk 24:32 And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures?
There is nothing to add to this beautiful example!
Act 19:8
And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Act 19:9 But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and
separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
Act 19:10 And this continued for the space of two years; so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Paul did the same.
Act 28:23
And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded the matter, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening.
IN CONCLUSION
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Joh 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me.
Joh 14:25 These things have I spoken unto you, while yet abiding with you.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.
The Holy Spirit brings to remembrance the words of God. If people don't read the Bible, and pray, the Spirit will bring absolutely zero, nilch, nada, nothing, to remembrance.