1 John 2:27 “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, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him”.
Jesus had much to teach regarding the abiding life. In John 15 we find Jesus using picture language declaring Him to be the Vine, and we, the branches. John 15:4 – 5 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can you, except you abide in me……….for without me you can do nothing”.
This abiding life spoken of in 1 John 2:27 is a complete dependency on the anointing of Jesus within us. It is not an arrogant statement meaning I do not have to listen to another man teaching. The anointing is a witness from the Holy Spirit within me to truth. He is the Spirit of truth and, as such, will only witness to the same. Choosing to listen to God’s voice will bring His peace into my chaos within, independent of the circumstance. His peace is a hallmark of His presence. This is where I find my rest, entering into God’s rest. Hebrews 4: 9-10 “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His”.
There are so many voices attempting to control our lives, whether they be political, the media, others’ opinions, the voice of reason from within ourselves or any other……but there is only one voice we can depend on and that is the Voice of Truth from the abiding Life of Jesus Christ within us.
(Listen to the lyrics from the song “The Voice of Truth” sung by Casting Crowns on YouTube)
The anointing and witness to the Holy Spirit of truth cannot be arbitrary. God does not need my considerations, advice, opinions, biases or dispositions. Some of the afore mentioned are so ingrained in me that only the light of the Holy Spirit can reveal where I need to surrender in order to change. There can be no lofty opinions when I take the lowest place in humilty and sit at Jesus’ feet in surrender to “learn of Him”, (Matthew 11: 28-30). Sitting at His feet I empty myself of the dross that hinders spiritual growth. “He must increase, but I must decrease”, John 3:30. The divine Potter takes the vessel that was marred and makes it anew, a vessel fit for His purpose……all glory to God. (Jeremiah 18: 1-4). The clay on the Potter’s wheel yields to His safe hands. A lump of clay abiding alone is ugly and useless, but placed in the Potter’s hands becomes a vessel of beauty, worth and purpose.
Jesus was always in tune with His Father. He declared He only spoke the words His Father gave Him and He only did the things that pleased His Father. We, too, should learn to tune in to our Father’s voice and hear what He has to say. May the Lord help us in this until it becomes a daily supernatural “natural” experience. It is so easy to speak out of our sense knowledge, or aquired knowledge, but God’s words, thoughts and plans are so much higher than our limited opinions and knowledge. Father knows best!…..and God wants to be wanted! He loves us.
He who learns to sit still, moves quickest when the Spirit prompts.
Let us learn not to be too quick to offer our words to others, if God wants to speak His words into a situation. So often I have been lost, and found, in my own self righteousness but my prayer for me, and for you, is that we will be lost in Christ Jesus, but also found IN Him, bearing His image. As we abide in the Vine, the change will come and we will discover the glorious position of being completely dependent on the Abiding Life of Jesus Christ within – the Voice of Truth.
