PROVISION FOR PROTECTION "These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him." (1 John 2:26-27) -- Tomorrow:
"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things . . . But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." (1 John 2:20,27-29
Devotion 23 of 30
Having declared the ultimate promise, the Spirit now returns to the matter of our protection against those who would detract us from it. The very people who "went out from" John and company were engaged in an energetic effort to "deceive" the people. John was moved to write about this because that is NOT how it appeared.
By saying these men were "trying to deceive you," the sufficiency of Divine provision is emphasized. Without that provision – "the anointing" – the false teachers could neither be detected nor resisted. No man's intellectual abilities, however cultured and seemingly proficient, can protect the soul against the delusion of "antichrists." This is because they are empowered by the devil himself, who has "deceived the whole world" (Rev 12:9). Indeed, "the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19, NKJV). Our protection against the lie, therefore, cannot come from the earthly realm. We must have Divine provision! Praise God, that is precisely the circumstance of those in Christ Jesus. They "have an unction from the Holy One" – the Holy Spirit of God, given to them by God, because they are the sons of God (Gal 4:6). Among other things, this is His provision for protection.
THE ABIDING ANOINTING
"And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you." The "anointing" is of little consequence if it does not remain! Samson could tell you that it is possible for the Spirit to depart from the very one He has endued (Judges 16:20). Therefore, the receiving of the anointing is not emphasized, but His abiding.
Because His ministry is realized ONLY as He remains with us, we are admonished "quench not the Spirit," and "grieve not the Spirit" (1 Thess 5:19; Eph 4:30). Those who make much of the free will of man do well to take heed to this matter. Just as God does not force His will for good upon us, we cannot force the Spirit to act against His will. He is repulsed by unwilling hearts, and will not conduct His ministry for those who grieve Him. If, however, we remain tender in heart, and strong in faith, the Spirit will remain with us, imperfect though we may be. It is our willingness and tenderness that endear us to the Spirit of God.
THE ANOINTING THAT TEACHES
" . . . you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie . . . " At this point, we make a dramatic departure from all that the world has to offer. We also come into sharp conflict with much flawed doctrine. There is no question about what is actually stated. That is what makes it so arresting. Other translations also draw our attention to the statement itself. "You do not need that anyone teach you" (NKJV,NIV,NRSV), "you have no need for anyone to teach you" (NASB), "you have no need that any one should teach you" (RSV).
Remember, these are not Apostles, nor is there the slightest suggestion they were, as members of Christ's body, endued with a power uncommon to all believers. Further, the teaching of reference is not ordinary teaching, like that which John himself is doing. There is no suggestion here that believers can exclude themselves from all teaching, navigating through life on their own. There is, however, a kind of teaching that can only be accomplished by God. In my understanding, this is what men refer to as application, or making the truth relevant.
We do NOT need HOW TO programs, something that has suddenly become a major thrust in Western world Christianity. This ought to be evident to us by the almost total absence of such instruction in the New Covenant writings. A few examples of this will suffice. In all of these things, we are given no procedures or routines, as carnal men are prone to require.
1. Abstain from fleshly lusts – 1 Pet 2:11
2. Make no place for the devil – Eph 4:27
3. Husbands, love your wives – Eph 5:25
4. Seek the things that are above – Col 3:1
5. Fight the good fight of faith – 1 Tim 6:12
6. Put on the whole armor of God – Eph 6:11
7. Be strong – 1 Cor 16:13
These are representative of an endless number of exhortations. There is rarely, if ever, a routine provided through which these admonitions can be realized – at least not as men think of a routine. Of course, it should be evident from Israel that procedures do not impart wisdom, make people willing, or induct them into the presence of God.
In the matter of crafty false teachers, a sort of spiritual intuition is required. This is what makes faith practical. The "anointing" correlates the truth we know with the life we live. Thus believers who were having their goods plundered are described as taking such injustice joyfully, "knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance" (Heb 10:34). That was a knowledge that was not gained by earthly teachers. It came from "the anointing" who clarified what was believed and possessed to the believer.
Elsewhere, this is called "opening the eyes of our understanding," or hearts (Eph 1:15-18). This is included in the wisdom that "is from above" (James 3:17). It is the condition described by James who asked, "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?" (James 3:13). It is the "wisdom and spiritual understanding" Paul prayed the Colossians would receive (Col 1:9).
It is true that "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" are "hidden" in Christ Jesus. These are the treasures required to avoid delusion and appropriate the blessing. Unless they are given to us, we cannot possess them. They are simply inaccessible to the flesh and the natural man. Were it not for "the anointing," we would be unable to effectively bring the truth to bear upon life's circumstances. Simply stated, no man can effectively teach us HOW to use the truth. That is a work reserved for the Lord Himself, and is realized in our fellowship with the Son (1 Cor 1:9).
A classic example of this type of teaching is found in the love of the brethren. Frequently we are admonished to "love one another" (1 Pet 1:22; 1 John 3:11; 3:23). Yet, it is the Lord Himself who effectively teaches us to do so. This is expressly stated in the word of God. "But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another" (1 Thess 4:9). Thus the truth was effectively taught to the Thessalonians, not by precept, but by "God Himself." The requirement to love is not the teaching described, but the effective means of accomplishing it.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for an internal Teacher.