OCTOBER 8
THE ANOINTING REMAINS IN YOU
1 John 2:27
As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him. (WEB)
I find today's Bible reading very interesting. Though God has given His Church the five-fold ministry as a gift (apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists), if we were stranded on a desert island and had no exposure to good teaching, we would be okay. The reason that we would be okay is because the anointing of God remains in us.
While some people might quote today's verse to justify their independence from the Body of Christ, I do not believe that this is what John is saying. 1 Corinthians 12 is very clear that we are called to live an inter-dependent life with each other just like a body is the sum of all of its parts. However, since the anointing lives in us, we do not need to put unhealthy expectations on other brothers and sisters to teach us things that the Holy Spirit has promised to do Himself.
My prayer today is that we would all be aware of the anointing that remains in us. God has not left us alone to figure out the Christian life all by ourselves. And even if our spiritual leaders sometimes do not give us what we need, we can take great comfort in knowing that we can go directly to the Source of Life that abides in us to find the answer.
John 14:16-17
16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever— 17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you. (AMP)
As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him. (WEB)
I find today's Bible reading very interesting. Though God has given His Church the five-fold ministry as a gift (apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists), if we were stranded on a desert island and had no exposure to good teaching, we would be okay. The reason that we would be okay is because the anointing of God remains in us.
While some people might quote today's verse to justify their independence from the Body of Christ, I do not believe that this is what John is saying. 1 Corinthians 12 is very clear that we are called to live an inter-dependent life with each other just like a body is the sum of all of its parts. However, since the anointing lives in us, we do not need to put unhealthy expectations on other brothers and sisters to teach us things that the Holy Spirit has promised to do Himself.
My prayer today is that we would all be aware of the anointing that remains in us. God has not left us alone to figure out the Christian life all by ourselves. And even if our spiritual leaders sometimes do not give us what we need, we can take great comfort in knowing that we can go directly to the Source of Life that abides in us to find the answer.
John 14:16-17
16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever— 17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you. (AMP)