1 John 2:27 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.

It’s a little ironic that this verse is a bit confusing unless you’ve experienced it. However, when you have experienced it, it makes perfectly good sense! John, who wrote this letter, was the one who recorded Jesus’ words in the Upper Room Discourse, and in that we have, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) That of course is the “anointing” John is writing about here. We have trouble talking about the Spirit because He is a member of the Trinity and has a personality, but at the same time He functions as a tool of the Father and the Son, and as such, can seem like a thing. That’s the case here, where the Japanese expressly says “the oil of the anointing.” Today, at least in English, saying that someone is “oily” is hardly a compliment, but in the context of the Old Testament, it was a blessed thing. Olive oil was used as a medicine and a cosmetic, so saying that someone was oily would have been a compliment! John’s point here is that when we have a continuing relationship with the Holy Spirit, He fills us in on everything we need to know. The problem is, modern society, modern “science,” discounts the metaphysical, and says we can only trust what we can see and hear physically. Their saying that doesn’t change reality, however, and the reality is that there is indeed a spiritual realm, and there are plenty of lying spirits out there trying to distract us and draw us away from God’s truth. That’s why John keeps saying, “abide.” (Or, as the NIV here says, “remain.”) Our emotions are transitory, but our faith must not be. That’s why, the more we have transcendent experiences in the Spirit, the deeper we need to plant our roots in the Word. If we are relying on feelings, we will have no stability. “Spirit” and “anointing” might seem ephemeral, but abiding is concrete.

I think every believer struggles with this to some extent. Most of us tend to lean one way or the other, but both are necessary. Lean too far one way and you become legalistic. Lean too far the other, and you have no roots. I was deeply blessed to be raised with Biblical roots that are very solid, and it was on that foundation that I learned of the things of the Spirit. I’m still learning and growing in both areas! As a pastor with Teacher gifting, I am to lead the believers to put down deep roots, while enjoying the heights of the Spirit. I can’t teach them to abide if I’m not doing so myself, and I can’t inspire them to reach for the heights unless I’m allowing the Spirit to carry me up there myself. I’ve got to live out what I preach, and I’ve got to share what the Lord has revealed to me. However, it’s not just a “got to,” it’s a glorious “get to.” The privilege of abiding in the anointing is beyond words to express!

Father, thank You for Your incredible grace toward me. It was a compliment when one preacher though he was scolding me for being “too balanced!” It was also a huge blessing when a recovering alcoholic said I was “addicted to the Bible.” Neither of those things would be possible without You. May I indeed live out all that You have planned for me, so that the Body of Christ may be built up, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!