YOU ARE ANOINTED!
And so rather than loving life completely, compassionately – the Gnostics tended to love life partially, selfishly – living lives marked by what John calls: “…the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does…” (1 John 2: 16).
You are loved -- all of you is loved. Because you are God-breathed -anointed!
‘Break’ Any Dependency, Other Than A Dependency On Jesus.
“The world and its desires pass away, but [only] the man who does the will of God lives forever…” (1 John 2: 17).
Only the person who builds on God, builds on rock; everything else is sinking sand. Why “…the winds [blow] and beat against [that house, the house built on sand, and] that house [falls] with a great crash…” (Matthew 7: 27).
Become Vulnerable, Open, Child-Like.
• “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin…”-- 1 John 2: 1. • “Dear children do not let anyone lead you astray…” -- 1 John 3: 7. • “…Dear children [you] are from God and have overcome [the evil one], [for greater is the one in you] than the one who is in the world…” -- 1 John 4: 4.
Don’t Just Skim Over Spiritual Things – Let Spiritual Things Sink Deep Into Your Life.
“See that what you have heard -- [that is, the anointing presence and power of God] -- remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father [and thus experience the healing power of God]…” (1 John 2: 24).
“Stay with what you heard…Let it sink into your life. If what you heard from the beginning lives deeply in you, you will live deeply in both Son and Father… [and thus experience the healing power of God]” (1 John 2: 24, The Message).
“…Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life – and place if before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing… [So] don’t become so welladjusted to culture…that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. [And] you’ll be changed…” (Romans 12: 1 -2, The Message).
“…Take your everyday, ordinary life…and place it before God… [Embrace] what God does for you… [for if you] fix your attention on God, you [will] be changed…” (Romans 12: 1 -2, The Message).
You are loved! – You are anointed!