02 Oil for the Light

Oil for the Light

(Exo 25:6) The word “light” here, signifies “light-giver”; that is, the lampstand with its seven lamps which stood in the Tabernacle. In the Sanctuary natural light was in a measure shut out. Light during the night was supplied by the golden lampstand. The lamps were ordered by Aaron and his sons from evening to morning before Jehovah (Exo 27:20-21). The children of Israel were commanded to bring the pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually (Lev 24:1-4).

Primarily, the lampstand represents Christ, who, whilst He was in the world, was the light of the world; on Him the Spirit of God rested in all its fulness. He was anointed to teach and preach (Isa 11:2-3; Isa 61:1). And even after His resurrection, it was through the Holy Ghost that He gave commandment to His apostles whom He had chosen (Acts 1:2). Now believers are exhorted to shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life (Php 2:15-16), bearing their testimony, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but in the words the Holy Ghost teacheth (1Co 2:13). It was for this purpose the apostle Paul besought the saints to pray on his behalf, for the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Php 1:19). The Greek word here used implies “additional supply.” Testimony for God in the Church and in the world, can only be kept up in its spirituality and efficiency, by the continual communication of grace from God through the Holy Ghost, out of the sufficiency which is in Christ Jesus. In Acts 2.we read, the Spirit was given at Pentecost; and in Acts 4., in answer to prayer, the disciples were again filled with the Holy Ghost, and with great power gave their testimony. The lamp is provided for the night season. It is during the present night-time of the world that the Church is called upon to hold forth the Word of life in the power of the Spirit of God. Whilst Christ was in the world He was the light of it, but that sun set behind the hill of Calvary when the Son of Man bowed His head upon the Cross. From that time till the appearing of “The Morning Star” the word of Christ to His disciples is, “Ye are the light of the world.” “Let your light so shine” (Mat 5:14-16) that God may be glorified. And Pentecost supplied the oil for the light, that the lamp might burn continually. What is now needed is the continual additional supply. In Exo 27:20, the word to Moses is, “Thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.” The supply of the Spirit of God is to be kept up in answer to prayer; and if the people of God were diligent in seeking that supply, would there not be additional power in the ministry of the Word?

Ministry should not be haphazard talk, but the result of careful study of the Word in dependence on the Holy Ghost. When Stephen, full of the Holy Ghost, spake in the council, they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake (Acts 6:10). The secret of effective speaking is said to be “prepared unpreparedness,” being thoroughly up in the subject, but leaving to the Spirit of God to direct the utterance. Then after the feast there may be twelve baskets left, and there is always a fresh supply, for God’s truth is never exhausted. The lamp in the Tent of the Congregation was to be ordered by Aaron and his sons continually “BEFORE JEHOVAH.” It is a matter of great importance, that ministry should be exercised consciously in the presence of God. The divine presence not only realized by the assembly according to Acts 10:33, “Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things commanded thee of God,” but also by the speaker as delivering God’s message, and with the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified (1Pe 4:10-11). Remembering that God hears every word, and that He is his most discriminating listener. If preaching before an earthly potentate would call for such care and circumspection, how much greater should it be, when speaking in the presence of the Majesty of heaven and earth.