Oil..

Part 4 of 7

If the "lamps" in this parable represent the soulish man, what does the "oil" represent? What are the wise to be filling their souls with, and what do the foolish seem to be neglecting? Over and over again, we see "oil" as symbolic of the Holy Ghost. As we recently saw, the believer needs a constant supply of the Holy Spirit (oil), in order for his lamp (soul) to shine and function properly in the world. He needs not only to be born of the Spirit but also to be constantly filled with the Spirit (Acts 2:1-4; Phil 1:19; Eph 5:18).

Here are just a few examples from Scripture that proclaim the relationship between oil and the Holy Spirit:

"Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? ... And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man" (1 Sam 10:1, 6).

"Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah" (1 Sam 16:13).

"And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him" (Lev 8:10-12).

"Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD" (Lev 21:12).

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over" (Ps 23:4-5).

"I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him" (Ps 89:20).

"There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise..." (Prov 21:20).

"...the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness..." (Isa 61:3).

"Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil" (Ezek 16:8-9).

"Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows" (Ps 45:7; Heb 1:9). This references the glory of God: "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him" (Jn 3:34).

The prophet Zecheriah had a vision of a bowl full of golden oil.. it received its supplies from two olive trees on either side of it, and poured it through seven golden pipes into the golden lampstand to keep it continually burning bright (Zech 4:1-14). Here, Zecheriah is expressly told that it was to proclaim the great truth, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts [shall this temple be built]. Who art thou, O great mountain [of opposition to this issue]? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain, and he shall bring forth the head stone [of the temple], with shoutings Grace, Grace unto it.” This supply of oil, then, here represents the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Simply said, the Holy Spirit is to be the oil in the lamp of man's soul. We require the Holy Ghost in order to shine; we require the Holy Ghost in order to cultivate the intimacy God is after. It is only by God's Holy Spirit that we can be transfigured into the bride of Christ (Rom 12:1-2), and thus the importance of us having and maintaining a true walk with Him! Are you faithful to the Holy Spirit? Faithfulness to the Holy Spirit means always acquiring MORE and MORE of Him! The wise virgins know this great truth, and are responding to it! Are we chasing the Holy Spirit? Can we be counted wise today?

To be continued..