Mensa Otabil - The Holy Spirit Lives In You

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First John chapter 2, verse 27: «But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, just as it has been taught you, you will abide in Him.»

So John is still talking about how Christians must discern truth from error, from lies-the Spirit of Christ versus the Spirit of the Antichrist. He discusses the anointing that Christians have received, which we also have if we are Christians, that teaches us. However, he mentions the fact that the anointing in us teaches us, and we don’t need anyone to teach us. This can be a little tricky because people might interpret it to mean that nobody else should teach them as Christians. But if you examine the same passage, John states that the anointing that teaches you is not a lie, just as you have been taught.

John talks about two kinds of teachers: those who teach you the Word of God and the Spirit of God teaching you the Word of God at the same time. Both are complementary, and it is important for us to understand that God will always raise pastors and teachers to instruct us in the Word. The Holy Spirit also teaches us from within, especially regarding the specific actions we should take as Christians in our day-to-day lives. You don’t go to ask your pastor, «Should I do this? Should I do that?» The Holy Spirit in us leads us. In terms of the doctrine of the church, God has ordained people to guide us.

So, two things he says about the anointing: first, he says the anointing abides in us. We’ve explained that the anointing there refers to the Holy Spirit. He abides in us. The Holy Spirit is not a visitor to the believer; He doesn’t come in and go out. He abides-He is a resident. This is a major concept because it’s a New Testament idea, different from the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would come upon special people, equip them, enable them, and anoint them to perform a task. After the task or mission is accomplished, the Holy Spirit leaves them. The Holy Spirit did not reside permanently in the people of the Old Testament, but because of what Christ accomplished for us, the Holy Spirit doesn’t just come upon us to use us; He abides. He is a resident-He is at home inside the believer. That’s a very important concept that we need to live by and live with.

Then he says that if the anointing abides in you, you must abide in the anointing. The Spirit of God doesn’t just live in us; we must also live in Him. What does it mean to abide in the anointing or to live in the Holy Spirit? It means that we must be aware of His presence, we must be submitted to His presence, and we must follow His leading. Then we are abiding in Him. We bring our lives into agreement with Him, and we live the lives that He wants us to live.

So, the Christian life has different components from this passage: there is the presence of God in us, and there is also the life of the believer in the Spirit of God. If the Spirit of God is in you, you are walking in the Spirit of God, obeying the Spirit of God, and living by the Spirit of God. Your choices, your decisions, are all influenced by the Spirit of God, and that is the anointing in you. John says nobody needs to teach you that. I don’t need to come and say, «Don’t sin,» «Don’t commit adultery,» «Don’t fornicate,» or «Don’t lie,» because the Spirit in you already teaches you how to do the right things with God, and you need to follow that anointing that stays and abides within you.

Let us pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, thank you for the presence of Your Holy Spirit. I live my life through Him. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»