Mensa Otabil - The Anointing Within
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Welcome to a brand new week. This week, we go back to First John and chapter two. As you might have noticed, our studies go between passages in the Bible, and we will try to have a broad view of the Word of God and follow different tracks in our study and devotion. I hope it helps you to know the Lord better and to know the Word of God also better.
So we go back to First John chapter 2, starting from verse 20: «But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.» The word «anointing,» as it’s used in this passage, means the Holy Spirit, and the «Holy One» refers to Jesus Christ. Basically, what the passage is saying is that what we call the anointing-the Holy Spirit’s presence in us- is from the Lord Jesus Christ. This simply means that the anointing or the Holy Spirit’s presence in us cannot be opposed to what Jesus Christ stands for.
So if anybody says he is anointed, but what he is doing or teaching or expressing is opposite to what Jesus stood for, then that anointing does not come from the Holy One. That’s what John is talking about; he is using this to address the believers of his time and our time as they may fall prey to the Antichrist because all kinds of things are being taught in the church at this time. John is saying, «Listen, if it’s the anointing, if it’s of the Holy Spirit, then it should agree with the Holy One. It should agree with what Jesus Christ stood for and what Jesus Christ taught.»
So, a couple of thoughts to stay with us: first, is that the Holy Spirit is our teacher. Jesus Christ Himself had prayed and told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would be our teacher, and John is telling us the same thing. The Holy Spirit helps us to know all things. He is the one who teaches us; He is the one who instructs us. Because the Holy Spirit is our teacher, whatever we consider to be our knowledge of the Word of God, whatever we consider to be what God is saying, must have come from the Holy Spirit. If it came from the Holy Spirit, then it must agree with what Jesus Christ taught. There can be nothing that people are teaching and speaking boldly that is in conflict with what Jesus Christ taught and exemplified. So basically, the Holy Spirit is our teacher, but His instruction is in agreement with what Jesus Christ taught.
The second thing that John also teaches us is that the Holy Spirit teaches us all things. He teaches us all things, not some things, but all things. That’s very important because, you know, many times we take the instruction of the Holy Spirit as relating only to our spiritual life, and so we limit our spiritual life to, «Ah, this is what God is telling me.» But when it comes to other aspects of our life, like our finances, our relationships, our careers, our goals, our objectives, our motives, we don’t want the Holy Spirit’s instruction there. But John is saying the Holy Spirit doesn’t just teach us the Bible; He doesn’t just instruct us in church. The Holy Spirit instructs us everywhere.
So if you’re married, you must listen to the Holy Spirit’s instruction. If you have a relationship with somebody, listen to the Holy Spirit’s instruction. If you’re going to make a decision for your career, listen to the Holy Spirit’s instruction because He teaches us all things. The Holy Spirit is versatile. The Holy Spirit cannot be boxed into one aspect of our lives. All too often, many Christians live a dual life: one life in church and another life outside of church; one life supposedly for God and the other life supposedly for themselves and the world. But the Holy Spirit teaches us all things, and that’s what John is instructing us-that He is in us, His instruction agrees with Christ, and He teaches us all things. May He truly be our teacher.
Let’s pray: Say with me, «Heavenly Father, I receive the Holy Spirit as my teacher. Instruct me in all areas of my life, in Jesus' name. Amen and amen.»