The oil is the Holy Spirit.

This is a quote from a sermon by Horatius Bonar, about the foolish virgins having no oil. Alongside 'What is a church?', which is looking at lampstands right now, this may be useful. I am particularly interested in the oil of consecration, the oil of daily food, the oil of fragrance and the oil of healing, as I am in need most, of instruction about them.The oil is the Holy Spirit. To oil He is likened throughout all Scripture, though in some places to fire, and to water, and to wind or air. There is the oil of consecration (Exodus 30:25); of daily food (1 Kings 17:12); of fragrance (Esther 2:12); of joy (Psalm 47, Isaiah 61:3); of healing (Luke 10:34); of light (Zechariah 4:12). The Holy Spirit is all these.

Hi, This has been on my heart of late and I do want to respond. In your post, you quoted someone else as saying:The oil is the Holy Spirit. To oil He is likened throughout all Scripture, Sadly, many in church try to homogenize those two sentences. The second half first, He is "likened" to oil is I think accurate. The first part "the oil is the Holy Spirit" is not accurate, even though many in church today use it as though it was.Let me explain. Samuel went to the house of Jesse to anoint a king. God told him to go, and he took some oil with him. But he did not know which son he was going to anoint. After he had looked at all the sons but David, he was perplexed because he had not heard from God as to which son would be king. So he asked Jesse, do you have yet another son, which he did. When David was brought forth, then and only then did God speak to Samuel and tell him to anoint David as king. What would have happened if he had just looked for the one who "appeared" to have all the "right stuff" to be king and anointed that one. Do you think for a second that the Holy Spirit would have come upon him as He did with David? Oil in the church is only useful and symbolic if we are acting upon the express will of God by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Anything else is religious and ineffective. There is no substitute for hearing from God. Jesus said He did not say or do anything, without first hearing from the Father. Dare we do our ministry any different? Is it any wonder we have lots of oil around but see little if any result? Just my thoughts, I appreciate yours. God bless you and keep you.because He lives,Lahry

Oil in the church is only useful and symbolic if we are acting upon the express will of God by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Anything else is religious and ineffective. There is no substitute for hearing from God.This is absolutely true. I agree with all you've said, actually, but I've never seen oil used inappropriately. The original context of the quote in the opening post, is Horatius Bonar making an aside to the symbolic significance of oil as it appears variously in scripture, (where of course, it was being used expressly as God directed in each situation) but his main sermon was based on the 5 virgins who had no oil. It is the last post by crsschk on this page. in R.A.S.A.https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=2637&forum=35&start=40&viewmode=flat&order=0Michelle,Sorry to be so tardy in replying. It is worth your looking into the thread called 'What is a church?' in the last couple of pages of it, where philologos expounds on the lampstands at the start of Revelation (which are lit with oil), and on Aaron's ministry (type of Christ) was specifically to tend the lights in the tabernacle. The seven branched lampstand of the tabernacle, (in which all seven channels are connected as one, with seven outlets to be lit) is replaced in the New Testament, by individual lampstands (churches). The whole thread is worth a read, but it will take about 3 hours, I believe.'What is a church' opening post here. https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=4793&forum=35&166To understand this picture more, you have to know that 'Immanuel' means 'God with us' or 'God tabernacles with us'. Then, see that a person who has received the Holy Spirit has become a temple or tabernacle (tent) within which the Spirit dwells. Christ's ministry within my tabernacle is... you get what I mean? Please go ahead and post in the 'what is a church?' thread, if you want to bring it back up.

Lahry saidOil in the church is only useful and symbolic if we are acting upon the express will of God by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Anything else is religious and ineffective. There is no substitute for hearing from God.I'd like to testify that the symbolism of the oil is not lost on God and one would not use oil every time one prays for someone else in person, but, led by the Holy Spirit where healing is part of the need, the Lord ministers the soothing, comfort and protection which the oil represents (wine represents cleansing).dann saidI don't think the oil in the lamps of this parable have anything whatsoever to do with how real oil is used in the church.As a picture of fulness with the Spirit, (from which all other ministry flows - although it seems to be a different picture), understanding what Jesus meant about being prepared spiritually, and then being prepared spiritually, it may be more connected than at first glance. I thought Lahry raised a very practical point for the real Christian's life. It is vital to the 'success' of praying for a person, that one learns how to wait in the Spirit for the word from the Lord for their situation and allow Him to put the words into one's mouth to pray, immediately believing that this word is the word of life to them, at the very least, connecting God to their need in fact.

The Oil never touched his skin flesh), even tough he was the high priest.This helps to remind us that Christ did away with what was wrong with our flesh to such an extent that we can now have the indwelling Holy Spirit. We don't have very fancy outside robes to make us priests, we have a simple robe of righteousness through Christ. What a big change!

likewise we also cannot enter into the holy of holies unless we are clothed in Christ.I think this is what I meant, with this verse in mind. Maybe I should have quoted it. Sorry guys.1 Corinthians 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: Here are some more with the same idea of being made fit for the King's presence.Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.Zechariah 33 Now Joshua [the High Priest] was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. Matthew 2211 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I like this thread, just haven't had time or something to participate.'Just me 2 cents', as someone told me to say, ha.The 10 Virgins, all 10 were virgins, yes ... but all 10 'had' oil, so they must have had the Holy Spirit at one point.The problem I see was, they didn't keep going back for more, as apparently the other's had and grateful for the 5, they made it.The 'going back for more', is the continual filling of the Holy Spirit, as in, continuous depending and feeding by the Spirit. (Or 'sowing' to the Spirit and not the flesh.)We reap from either, what we've sown into either.To "walk in the Spirit", is the minute by minute allowing by our own will for the Spirit to lead.Total Dependence.The more you depend on Him, the more you decrease and He increases. (Lots of oil).I guess we can't seperate the Holy Spirit from the Trinity too much. Jesus said, that He and The Father would dwell in us, and His Spirit.So ~ in essence, the more of HIM the more oil.To be so fine tuned to be "abiding in Him" increasingly is our "goal", as Paul said."That I may KNOW Him".There are verses that in the grammar, are really stating that we are to be 'continuously filled'.This is one, from the ALT version from e-sword.Eph 5:18 And stop getting drunk with wine, in which is reckless behavior, but continue being filled with [the] SpiritLike - we're saved, but we are 'being' saved and the grand finale would be our full salvation through death or resurrection day, to be counted worthy to stand before the Son of Man.Guess it always points back to continuous, active, private time, 'relationship' with Him, to where we know His Voice clearly and follow.That "period of darkness" prior to His return, is overflowing with importance.That period is what I think would go hand in hand with the discussion of how to stay or continuously be filled with His Spirit.That period of darkness, if not already upon us, may soon or rapidly be approaching.There's no way that you can "abide in Him" as in John 10 and Not have sufficient oil to get through that time. Again, when it comes to the Holy Spirit, we must keep Him in terms of the entire Godhead,, Trinity, or else it can get confusing to some, to seperate Them/Him too much.Good thread. Important stuff too. Thanks !Annie

Here is an old thread which looks in detail at the distinction between being 'filled' with the Holy Spirit and being 'baptised' in the Holy Spirit. It also looks at baptism as it appears in the Old Testament, speaking to us of the meaning with which God invests these blessings. https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?viewmode=flat&order=0&topic_id=3132&forum=36&post_id=&refresh=GoAnnie,Hello :-) I'm glad you've found this thread, too! Your advice to keep the Trinity in mind is also welcome. For many years, I was very comfortable with 'Jesus, the Son of God', and am now tuning in to 'Jesus, the Son of Man', Who was anointed for His ministry, as High Priests of old would have been, with specific oil. Recently, I have seen why John was careful to refer to Him as the Word made Flesh. I find this makes more sense to me as a 'man', of being like Him - as He was God's last word to the Hebrews (the Word) - and we must eat Him as the Word, to become like Him, to have our values lined up with His, and thus speak of Him to the world. Without the Holy Spirit making His word make sense, this would be impossible, of course.Understanding that He could never be separated from the 'holiness' of His 'only-begotten of the Father' being - makes 'the anointing' fit with previous pictures of anointing, in scripture.John 132 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. The way Horatius Bonar describes his listeners and likens them to the virgins, finally pointing up the difference in the 5 who were shut out of the Bridegroom's chamber as their lack of oil, is masterful. How one would have desired to go and spend time with the Lord immediately, to check on one's supply and fill up!I think it is helpful too, to think of more than one picture of the Holy Spirit at the same time, in this connection - to 'be like a tree planted by the water who has learned when there seems to be a famine of rain, to reach one's roots out a little farther, and draw on His all-sufficiency in a hidden place of refilling.

Wow ~ 22 Pages, and from what I read of it (or 'could' for now - plan to go back later - it looked GOOD )I think the verse that brought me to my knees, so to speak, about the absolute Oneness (not 'Oneness Doctrine', of course), but the absolute 'one mind', of the Triune Godhead, was when I was listening to a guy broadcasting on International radio, promoting the "Jesus Only - Oneness Doctrine" and God gave me such a love & burden for that guy, that I got out the ol' "Puter Bible" (as I call it) and did 28 pages of verses for him, parts in bold and underlined, etc.While doing 'that', I could only fall down in reverence and marvel and mystery of 3 in 1.Unfortunately, even though it was only all Bible verses ... he said on the air, "that 'satan' had sent him something, to rob his truth" .... :cry: I hurt so bad for him. I've been called worse, (though, vot could be woice ?)... so that part didn't bother me, but that he would deny the Father, Etc. just broke me inside.Anyhow, the verse I liked best, and that I mentioned above is Joh 14:23 ~ "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and WE will come unto him, and make OUR abode with him." Well, anyways, I didn't mean to necessarily go off topic, but that one verse just gave me such a sense of unworthiness and yet Awe, that HE, in the Trinitarian sense, would "come into me" and make "Their abode in me". Phew !I don't know about you, but that is extremely Humbling. Yet the Awe is realising, as others have said, that being 'the temple' (phew), that the same Glory that was in the Holy of Holies, was now in man. Phew. No kidding phew ... makes ya tremble, really and makes ya understand why those like John and the Prophets, fell face first, like dead men in His presence ... and to think, He is in us ... OH, how could we forget it, while we're in this world, doing our stuff ? Also "Seated in Heavenly Places with Christ" ALREADY. Oh my. Help us to walk in Your Spirit Lord and not forget the Trinity abides in us also.God Bless you Dorcas, and thank you for glorifying The LORD by this thread.amen

Here is an extract from 'How to love like Jesus did' which is posted in the Other Speakers forum by freecd athttps://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=7096&;forum=34&1(Suggest use Edit menu, Find (on this page) oil, to locate paragraphs there (in second post).) This expo ties in exactly with Bonar's thesis.'The beauty of it is that those of us that are willing to live like Jesus, receive this miraculous person of the Holy Spirit, who changes us from the inside. The Holy Spirit is likened in the Old Testament to the oil that they used to anoint the kings and prophets. The oil that was used in the Old Testament has several ingredients! It's just interesting to follow it through! One of the ingredients is myrrh! You remember it was mentioned as a gift that was given to Jesus and myrrh is used to take the soreness out of a bruise. When the Holy Spirit comes into your life, He takes the soreness out of the bruises that people give to you. He takes the soreness out of the criticism that people offer. See, you don't have to do it yourself! The Holy Spirit actually takes the pain out of those things, so that you don't feel the pain you used to.Another ingredient is calamus. Calamus is used to take the acid or counteract the acid in the stomach. When the Holy Spirit comes into you, He takes that acidy feeling out of you, that irritability and resentment that you feel against people who appose you. He takes that out of you so that you've never met a sourpuss. You see everybody as beautiful in Jesus. You actually see them that way. The Holy Spirit enables you to see them that way. So don't say: "Oh, I couldn't, I can't overcome these things!" You don't have to! The Holy Spirit who did this in Jesus will do it in you. He will change you from the inside!Another ingredient was cinnamon, you know and it's a spicy flowery thing that gives energy and stimulation and when the Holy Spirit comes into you, what was lumpish and heavy and slow and ponderous becomes light and agile and filled with energy. The Holy Spirit gives you a new energy, a new facility in your thinking, a new agility in your mind, a new flexibility in your feelings. The Holy Spirit does these things in you.Now, just another ingredient is olive oil, you know, and it's used to take the wrinkles out of skin and to take all the things out that distract people from the beauty of the person and when the Holy Spirit comes into you He takes all those idiosyncrasies away. Another way we're all elbows, "Oh, I want to do God's will, but I want to do it so that they see it's me. Doing it in my version and they remember me!" The Holy Spirit takes away that desire for that individuality and that show of your own personality and yet He fills your personality with more variety and more diversity than ever before. Loved ones, this is why Christianity is different from all other religions, you see that? It's not just that Islam has the ayatollah and we have somebody else. That's not that. It's not even simply Jesus' death, but it's that the Jesus' death enabled God to send the Holy Spirit to us. The Holy Spirit is the one who enables us to be what God made us to be and He is yours really.Jesus changed my life when I came to know Him. He changed my life from an intellectual who was trying to make these things real by the power of my own mind and my self-discipline into a person who received the gift from God, who began to make me like God. Now, that Holy Spirit is for you and Jesus has sent Him here this morning and you can begin to receive Him if you will obey, really.'