Anointed

INTRO

Welcome everyone, if you have a Bible you can turn to 1 John chapter 2. This is going to be our last time in 1 John for a while because next week is the start of Advent. Wow, where did time go? But this is a good text to pause on because it is a little bit of a review of everything that we have been talking about since we started 1 John. So take it as a review but also take it as a check in on what you have applied from John’s letter so far.

But before we read let’s pray for God’s help to hear His word this morning.

BODY

If you were not with us last week, this weeks text in connected to what we talked about last week which was the anitichrist/antichrists. We discussed how John gave us a filter to know when there is an anti christ in our midst. They are either anti Jesus or trying to replace Jesus. The don’t have any fellowship with the believers because they are too good for others, and they do not believe in the Son of God. But John said something in last weeks passage that he is going to expand on this week which is our anointing. I told you last week that our anointing from the Holy one is the Holy Spirit and since he is our counselor and comforter he is able to lead us to Jesus, lead us into all truth, convict us of sin, and help us to live lives holy to the Lord. So John is going to expound on how you and I, believers and followers of the Jesus the anointed, the christ, the messiah, can not be seduced by other teachers, other saviors, and to stay with the one who loved us first, Jesus. So that is where we are going, if you are ready say I’m ready. Let it be.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.

Remember John started off the letter in this way, that which was from the beginning, talking about Jesus who was fully God and fully man. Understanding who he is and abiding in that. Why is that important? Because that is what antichrists are coming against- christ. They are trying to manipulate and deter believers from believing that God would become man, live a life just like we lived with temptations, suffering, and pain. Would die a gruesome death. Be raised so that we could have forgiveness of sins and fellowship with the father by the Spirit of God. Why is that important? Because you can’t save yourself. On your best day, with your best actions and best attitude you cannot save yourself. Only Jesus was able to pay that price and make that way. Wow Josh, great job preaching to the choir. But what does John say about this? He says abide there! It’s not a thing that you did a while ago, it’s a daily fellowship with Jesus every day. Let’s talk about this work abide because John says it 23 times in this letter and 5 of those times is in these 4 verse.

ABIDE DEFINITION: to remain, abide, not depart, dwell.

I’ll let you pick which one makes most sense. But here is what John is doing. (walk down example and sit next to someone. I am not abiding with so and so. I am being present, staying, and tarrying with this person. Why? Because they are real. This is why we don’t abide, we keep thinking God is ethereal and far off. How you going to abide with that kind of God? But if we abide (stay, remain, slow down, not to perish) from the truth of the Gospel that Jesus is fully God and fully man, that he is the same, yesterday, today, and forever, that he is still the only one who can save us and bring us into relationship with the father then you too will abide with the son and the father. If he saved you yesterday, let him keep saving you daily. Why depart from that? Galatians 3:3 says,

English Standard Version Chapter 3

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Why turn to anything else is what this is saying? Then John reminds us of a promise.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

English Standard Version Chapter 17

17 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

This is why John is bringing the promise to mind. He heard Jesus pray this to the father on the night he would be betrayed. That we would have eternal life, abiding in the father and the son. It’s knowing the father and knowing the son, communion, intimacy, fellowship, whatever word helps you see the connection and relationship that Jesus gave us through his life, death and resurrection. More than just church attendance, more than just singing songs to him, more than Bible studies. All of those things are good! But if they are just actions without relationship we are missing the promise that Jesus gave us! And this is what is at stake with the anitchrists coming in and deceiving, that is why John writes this.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

Another way to write this vers is, “This is why I am writing about those who are trying to deceive you.” This is what is at stake, not some kind of cultish mentality or comparison or trying to pick enemies. They are trying to change your devotion to Christ to an antichrist. They want to get your affections, emotions and mindset off of Jesus and do something differently. But John comes again in with a reminder of what we have.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

So this is where we say goodbye, you have no need for a teacher. I’m kidding, and actually I do want to teach you about something here that I touched on last week but really want to dive into this week. This idea of anointing. So, as I said last week there were only a few people that were anointed by God in the old Testement. And when that happened God was calling you to do something special. Then we discussed how we have been anointed by the Holy one which is the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit is essential for us as Christians. Without the Holy Spirit, we would be powerless over sin, we would not be able to have the fruit of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, and as John is talking about here, the fellowship of the Spirit. All John is doing is reminding them of what he wrote in his Gospel found in chapter 16:12-14 where it says this,

English Standard Version Chapter 16

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you

SO the Holy Spirit, which is given to all believers, not just to pastors, elders, and the super spiritual, but to all sons and daughters is the Spirit poured out on. But here is the kicker about the anointing that I did not mention last week. Do you know who else was anointed in the Old Testament that brings the best picture to what Christians are called to be today? The priests.

PRIESTS WERE ANOINTED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT TO MINISTER TO GOD AND TO PEOPLE.

They were called and set apart for this service in the temple to go in and minister before God through temple services, but also to the people to help them with sacrifices and other laws that were being carried. It was a high calling and it was why Peter used it as helping Jewish Christians understand their identity as Christians when he says,

English Standard Version Chapter 2

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

So I want to help us understand how anointing and abiding are important together. When the priests were being anointed with oil for becoming servants of God’s temple, do you picture them running around? Do you picture them preoccupied with other things and making sure they had their whole life figured out? No. They were abiding, dwelling, being still so that God could anoint them to go into service for His kingdom.

So maybe the question for you is rising that was coming to my mind as I was studying this text this week. What does it look like to abide? What does it look like to be anointed? And how do I do either of those with my crazy life?

What does it look like to abide?

-Can I be honest today and point out that this idea of abiding is almost a curse word in our culture? Even in Christian culture at times. We are surrounded in a culture of what are you doing? What you posting? What are you getting done? What are you accomplishing? This is a struggle for all of us to slow down, rest, and dwell with God. People look at you funny if when they asked he what did you do today? I just dwelled with God. What do you mean you dwelled with God? I just stayed in my room, read His word, prayed, worshipped. My kids were taken care of, I didn’t need to do anything but be with him. People will be like okay Yoda.

Do you ever slow down? Do you ever just shut off the regular programming and spend time with Him. I mentioned last week that I’m up at 5:05 everyday asking the Lord to wake me up, fill me with His Spirit and then I go into a time of prayer and Scripture reading. Sometimes, I can get in a ritual and I can kind of sense that so I just turn on worship and worship. I don’t read, I don’t even open my mouth sometimes and just be.

Do you think if we ended our last song in this place, and the Spirit of God was hovering over us we would dwell? Would we not be so rushed to get to the next thing? Josh that’s not practical man, you sound like you want us to be monks. I’m not saying every Sunday, I’m just wondering can we tell when he is close? When he wants us to just surrender 5 more minutes. You lunch will be fine, you are meeting with the eternal one of heaven. The one whom the angels look on and say Holy, Holy, Holy, has just bent down from the eternal throne room and is wanting to have 5 more intimate fellowship with you. To just rest with him.

This looks different to each person, I know this. But if this is the promise that Jesus prayed for-eternal life, fellowship with the father, I want for my own life to take it seriously. I don’t know about you but that makes me desire longer worship times, longer prayer times, longer times of fellowship. And in that time, he anoints us. But what does that look like?

Now before I move onto that question, I want us to abide for 1 minute. Sit still for 1 minute. And I gave you room to write below that question on your notes. I’m not going to force you to right something but I want you to take 1 minute to ask God, what does it look like for me to abide more this week.

What does it look like to be anointed?

I know I don’t have enough time to talk about this today but I already mentioned that the anointing is the Holy Spirit. It is understanding what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3 where he asks the church in Corinth, do you not know that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit? Do you not understand that? Is that why you guys are still walking in the flesh and living in jealousy and strife? This is my paraphrase? You don’t have to live by your old spirit, your flesh, you have the Holy one of God to point you to truth. You have the third person of the trinity inside of you. Do you fellowship with him? Do you have any idea that God has chosen to dwell inside of you? That’s a pretty big deal. And that Spirit, is going to help you get into the Word of God. That Spirit is going to produce fruit in your life that you would not be able to do on your own. That Spirit is going to give you supernatural gifts to help you build up that Body of Christ. That Spirit is going to help you pray, and when you don’t even know what to pray, He is going to groan inside of you to pray the will of God. That Spirit is going to help you put to death the misdeeds of the body. That Spirit is going to help you cry out Abba father. That Spirit is in you. But are you slowing down enough to be filled? Or are you too consumed with your own agenda and schedule and world to even talk to him? To fellowship with Him. To understand that you have been anointed to be able to minister to God, and to minister to others.

The enemy will either lull you to sleep or make you so busy you just don’t have time for the Lord.

This is possible. I know it might sound impossible but this is what Jesus prayed for us to have: Fellowship with the father, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and to walk in everything that he has called us to walk in.