But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. (1 John 2:2 NKJV)
But you have an anointing....
If you want to ignite a theological debate among Christians, you need only to mention the Holy Spirit. The range of understanding of the person and the function of the Holy Spirit from Cessationists to residents of Azuza Street is extreme. But I see another extremity present even among Christians of the same denomination or church - extreme variety in how well we individually know and commune with the Holy Spirit who we all agree has indwelled us when by faith Christ redeemed us.
We tend to focus on the outward visible actions of the Holy Spirit depicted in the bible and lose sight of the consistent biblical depiction of His anointing as a common gift to all Christians who share equally in the infilling by and blessing of the Holy Spirit, and lean toward an counter biblical belief that certain people have received a double drenching and others a single drop. In Truth, the anointing of the Holy Spirit doesn't belong to any of us. We all belong to Him.
This also seems true -- if we are equally indwelled, we don't equally know the One indwelling us. And those who don't know him well seem furthest from His gifts. Many Christians pray feely to the Father and the Son, but never to the Spirit. They shout prayers to a perceived distant Heaven when they could whisper them to the Holy Comforter within their very hearts. They ignore Paul's admonition to the Corinthians (12:31 NKJV) to Earnestly desire the best gifts.
And you know all things....
Our common indwelling seeds in us One who can whisper a confirmation of truth and rejection of fallacy. Earlier John used a Greek word translated as know which means knowledge by experience. That's the human way. Here (under the guidance of the anointing) he chose a different word which is translated as know. It means knowledge by intuition. This intuition is given by the Holy Spirit. Availability of this Holy intuition resides in all whose hearts belong to Christ.
Some say the only way to know Him is by reading the Word He inspired. Imagine applying that argument in human terms. What if you lived with the great author Earnest Hemingway, but chose to only get to know him by reading every word he had written. You would come to know a great deal about him, but would suffer a complete lack of intimacy and personal relationship. This is also true with the Holy Spirit. He lives not just with, but within us and yet it is possible and even common among Christians to lack intimate relationship with Him.
Our bibles, and pastors and teachers have taught us to know Him as a part of our common experience. This is important but is only intellectual ascent to His existence. But do you know Holy Spirit intuitively in your heart? Is His name on your tongue? In your prayers? Do those who know you, see evidence of Him?
Do you know Him on His terms, or only on yours?
Copyright 2013 Mission of the Master Ministries, Inc. May be quoted in whole or in part without prior written permission if a link is provided to http://wordworkswednesday.blogspot.com
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