The Oil

Numbers (NIV)

8 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.’” 3 Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the Lord commanded Moses. 4 This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold—from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the Lord had shown Moses.

The light and the lampstand are connected by one and only one thing to function properly. The Oil. Wikipedia defines “Oil lamp” as “An oil lamp is an object used to produce light continuously for a period of time using an oil-based fuel source”. The lamp is an instrument that needs an oil to give the light. With out the oil the lamp has no power to produce light continuously. “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.” Exodus 27: 20-21 (NIV) 

As it is for the lamp, we alone have no power to show the light continuously. In Zachariah 4 it is mentioned about the solid gold lampstand and two olive trees. “Olive oil is the pure oil obtained from the fruit of olive trees. No oil obtained using solvents, re-esterification processes, or mixed with other vegetable oils qualifies under this description.” –the olive oil times. In this chapter golden oil, which pour from the olive branches, is related with anointment. The most important verse that should be highlighted in this perspective is verse 6. It says …“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” In one review this verse explained as, “Might emphases on collective strength, the resources of an army. Power emphases on individual strength. God says, “not by the resources of many or one, but by My Spirit. It will not be by your cleverness, your ability, or your physical strength that the temple will be rebuilt or the light will be shone, but by the Holy Spirit.”

1. The Oil 

As the lampstand needs the oil to produce light, with out the Holy Spirit we cannot shine the light Jesus Christ. The necessary resource for God’s work is the Holy Spirit. “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” Jhon16:7 (NIV). Jesus made it clear, that to be able to defeat the devil and shining the light, we need more power than what they possessed. He promised us. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV). "I will send the Holy Spirit, just as I promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven" Luke 24:49 (NLT). He stressed the importance of the power of the Spirit in the believer's life. 

2. The Holy Spirit glorify Jesus 

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” John 16: 12 -15 (NIV) 

3. Continual shining 

We need constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit, and being aware of His presence with us at all times. He is a Person. He will talk to us. We must permit Him to direct our lives. "Be filled with the Spirit" Eph.5:18 (NIV) "Walk in the Spirit" Gal.5:16 (NIV). "Be led of the Spirit" Gal.5:18 (NLT). "Live in the Spirit" Gal.5:25 (NLT). "Covet earnestly the...gifts" 1 Cor.12:31 (NLT). Let's keep coming to Him daily to "Be filled." It's not an option; it's a must. Without Him we fail. With Him there is victory.

Galatians (NIV) 

522 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.