anointed Living

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER OF JOHN

ANOINTED LIVING

 1 John 2:26-27

26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him.

NIV

There was and will always be those who would lead us astray. It is the way of the human condition, of the sinful nature. It has to be of that sinful nature because those who would lead us astray are leading us away from the truth, away from Christ and anyone who does that is definitely sinful. However, as John points out we have received an anointing, which he has to be referring to the anointing of the Holy Spirit because he also says his anointing teaches us about all things. Now, there is somewhat of a quandary. We also have a local shepherd who, in some sense, teaches us regarding the word of God. However, if we examine the work of the local shepherd, as defined as one of the gifts to the church.

Eph 4:11-13

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

NIV

Are all, the apostles, the prophets, evangelists, and the pastors and teachers needed to prepare God’s people for works of service? It would seem that is what Paul is saying, but then he might just be making reference to the pastors and teachers. Either case, their purpose is to prepare us for service, but the reason for the service is so the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach the unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature. So John is telling us that the Holy Spirit teaches us the truth about all things. Whatever we hear, from the word of any man, needs to be tested against that which the Holy Spirit, His anointing, has taught us about all things. Even though there are these pastors and teachers, they could be the ones who might be leading us astray. We cannot accept any words from man, without testing those words against the anointing that remains within us. Certainly for the most part the pastors and teachers should be called by God for a place in the body and for the express reason Paul talks about. They are to be preparers of the people of God. But it is the people of God who, through their works of service, built up the body. It is not the pastor who builds us up, but we do that ourselves, as he serves to prepare us for that service. Here again, the anointing of the Holy Spirit is needed to fully understand all things. He is real, he is not unreal or counterfeit. There are many who may come in the name of God, who are counterfeiter, appearing close to the real thing, but not the real thing. Even Satan may come as an anointing, appearing as an angel of light, but we have the real thing, we have the indwelling of the Spirit, the true anointing which has been given to us by Christ. Jesus said that he must go to he could send the comforter, the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit who would lead us into all truth. Let us listen to His voice within, learn from Him, and live as an anointed one.