EXODUS 27:20-21: GATHER THE OLIVES AND BRING THE OIL
20 “You shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually. 21 In the tent of meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the Lord; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout their generations for the sons of Israel.
In Ancient Israel modern conveniences did not exist. Neither the wilderness nor the Promise Land had electricity or indoor plumbing or natural gas lines. Thus the Mosaic Tabernacle and the Temple of Solomon was reliant upon olive oil for light and wood for sacrifices, both to be provided by the people of God. (Lev.6:9-13; Neh.10:34).
USE YOUR HOLY IMAGINATION TO ENVISION THE PEOPLE OF GOD WORLDWIDE GATHERING OLIVES DURING THIS TIME OF SHAKING TO PRESS ON TO KNOW THE LORD BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH A NEW FRESH INTENSITY OF PREPARATION, FULLNESS AND ANOINTING, SERVICE AND WORSHIP !!!
“Social Distancing” is wise right now. However, We need to take advantage of this season of drawing near to the God and Him drawing near to us. The Father is jealous for His people and the Spirit He has made to dwell in us. As tragic as Covid-19 is…we pray for the plague to be stopped, people to be healed, a cure to be found…we must keep in mind the Ekklesia (the Church of Jesus Christ) is to lead the way in repentance and humility and compassion.
Seek the Lord, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the Lord’s anger. (Zephaniah 2:3)
Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:4-8)
Check out this amazing video link how to gather and produce olive oil. Clue: The Shaking goes before the gathering! The shaking is here, let the gathering, pressing and filtering begin for a harvest of fresh oil!
No oil…no light…no ministry…no service…no need to gather!
The COVID-19 virus has spread worldwide, now declared by the WHO an official pandemic. The virus has spread to all the continents in the world but Antarctica. Public gatherings, all non-essential business closed, in-shelter mandates and thus, our churches are now closed. Major sports venues are cancelled, entire seasons are on the ropes. Schools are closing, some states leaning toward not reopening until the next academic year. Airports are in chaos. National borders are being closed around the world. I could go on and on, but you are likely totally inundated with this information to the point of nausea.
Like many of you I am sure, I have been asking the Lord a fundamental question, “why?” We know pandemics are not unusual. Jesus himself predicted or warned these events would come as “signs” of the end of the age and His return. Most of us know this stuff (Matt.24; Mark 13; Luke 21).
“But why is this pandemic different? This pandemic seems to qualify as a legitimate “beginning birth pangs or end-time sorrow”, this is not false labor. From here on out these signs of Christ are only going to get stronger, longer and closer together.
This morning my wife (who daily diligently searches the Scriptures) read this passage above from Exodus 27:20-21 to me. She knew this passage was live changing for me when I was a very young Christian in the early 1980’s.
I believe I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit to revisit this passage. I heard part of the reason “why” God is allowing this pandemic.
He is waking up and stirring the church to get ready for difficult days, tribulation and to be ready for His return!
Regarding the Exodus 27:20-21 passage, the people of Israel, were charged by God through Moses to gather and press olives to extract the precious oil. This Olive Oil was essential to the functioning of the Mosaic Tabernacle in the Wilderness and later the Temple in Jerusalem.
The “clear oil of beaten olives”was used for three primary purposes:
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To fill the Lamp-stand in the Holy Place so there would be Light to approach the Table of Shewbread, to offer incense on the Golden Altar of Incense. Ultimately, once per year, the Light would show the way for the High Priest enter the Most Holy Place to atone for the sins of Israel on the Day of Atonement. (Ex.27:20)
For the church, the type is clear, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit to be the Light of the World in order to fully reveal God and the way into the Father’s presence through the offering of His blood. In turn, we are to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit who reveals who we are in Christ and how to approach the Father with praise and thanksgiving (Eph.5:18; 1:15-17).
2. To make the Holy Anointing Oil to pour on the priests to consecrate them for the work of the ministry before the Lord and on behalf of the people. (Ex.29:7)
Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit to be the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, who sacrificed Himself to take away our sins and reconcile us to the Father. We too are anointed with the Holy Spirit to be ministers of reconciliation, forgiveness and healing to our world. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us and guides us into the the truth of Jesus Christ (John 14-16).
3. To mix oil with the unleavened cakes and wafers as a grain offering well-pleasing to the Lord.(Ex.29:2)
Jesus was continually permeated with the HolySpirit in all His words and deeds of service to glorify the Father.
As most of you know, OIL is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like “oil”. There are several biblical symbols of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Fire, wind, and flowing clean water are all symbols that help us understand the work and personality of the Third Person of the Godhead.
Likewise, the follower of Jesus and the collective community of Jesus Christ need to continually be:
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Filled with the Holy Spirit to be the light of the world (Eph.5:18; Acts 13:52)
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Anointed with the Holy Spirit to announce God’s forgiveness and redemption found only in the Blood of Jesus (Luke 4:17; 2 Cor.1:21)
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Saturated with the Spirit when we both speak and serve for God’s glory (1 Peter 4:10-11)
We need to bring the oil of the Holy Spirit to our gatherings, our churches and our world for the revealing of God’s powerful love everyday…morning and evening! Just because you were filled or baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues or prophesied or laughed 30 years, 3 weeks or a few days ago ….DOES NOT mean you or your church is Spirit-filled today or in this very moment.
What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. (1 Cor.14:26)
Service begins BEFORE the service! We bring the olive oil when we prepare for service to lovingly serve and speak to make our bothers and sisters stronger in the Lord.
The truth is we leak because we are EARTHEN vessels, therefore, we must constantly be filled with HEAVENS resources!
I find it interesting that Gethsemane means “olive-press”. Gethsemane was located at the foot of the Mount of Olives! What a beautiful picture how Jesus, the Israelite, fulfilled his call to gather and press olives to bring clear oil to the Temple of God for the Light of the Lamp-stand, the Anointing Oil and the grain offerings.
So during this time of isolation from the Temple ….from our regular church gatherings…we should spend time GATHERING ourselves like olives and throw ourselves into the “oil-press” of Gethsemane.
While we are “IN-SHELTER” ….let us gather in our individual hearts, our homes and in our families UNDER the SHELTER OF THE WINGS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD!
We can recommit ourselves to becoming members and ministers who are filled and flowing in the fruit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We can pray with Jesus, “Father not my will be done but Your will be done.”
The “pressure” of this season can press out of you the oil of joy and gladness to serve the Lord. The Oil Press of Almighty God can release a “fresh oil” of Anointing to preach, to pray, to prophesy in love, to heal the sick, to encourage the faint hearted and to set captives free from the demonic forces!!
This time of discipline can be a time of releasing “CLARITY” in our lives and the lives of our families and churches…we need “clear oil of beaten olives” to fill our lives. Olive oil ‘adulteration’ is a problem in the olive industry. Adulteration happens when olive oil is mixed with low quality oils like hazelnut, canola or soybean and then passed off as 100% Olive oil.
I fear we may have the some of the same unauthorized mixture of oil in the church. The oil filling the Lamp-stand of our lives and churches is mixed with cheap imitations. We need the “clear oil of beaten olives” filling our lives and churches. This “clear oil” comes from tribulation, trials, afflictions,sufferings, tests, and hardship pressed out of us by the firm hand of the Heavenly Father.
As Christians, How do we figuratively gather and press olives so we can be filled with the oil Holy Spirit to bring illumination, gifts and joy to the house of the Lord and the people of God?
Where do we find this desperately needed oil?
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Enter the Garden of God, Spend time in Gethsemane: The custom of Jesus was to PRESS in to God the Father in prayer and supplication. Find a frequent place of solitude where you can be alone with the Father and practice His presence and fully surrender to His will…to His cup of trials…Father not my will be done but Yours. This will become the foundation of ultimate obedience in difficult days ahead. PRESS ON AND IN TO THE FATHER IN THE OIL PRESS OF INTERCESSION! Do not “sleep in sorrow” but be awakened and filled with the readiness!
I believe, in part, this oil that fills our lives…our internal reserves…is the oil that the FIVE WISE VIRGINS possessed when the Bridegroom announced His coming.
The Garden of Gethsemane prepares us for the feast of the Bridegroom.
Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
Your godly CUSTOMS will eventually serve you and others in CRISIS.
18 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples…[ The Garden of Gethsemane ] And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. (John 18:1; Luke 22:39)
7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Heb.5:7-10)
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Climb the Tree of Life, Practice Righteousness: Obedience and worship under pressure will release a quality of life marked with supernatural gladness and joy! When you and I OBEY the command of the Lord Jesus, the joy and strength of God flows like oil in our lives. Things may be very difficult but we maintain a poise or a posture of hope and joy , explained only by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Men and Women of God who practice righteousness and worship at all costs release a fragrant atmosphere of the triumph of Jesus Christ, not some manufactured perfume or cologne from a department store.
To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spiritof fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting oftheLord, that He may be glorified. (Isa.61:3)
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness above Your companions. (Heb.1:9)
Your oils have a pleasing fragrance, Your name is like purified oil; Therefore the maidens love you. (Song of Solomon 1:3)
His shoots will sprout, And his beauty will be like the olive tree And his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. (Hosea 14:6)
Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:3)
For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; (2 Cor.2:15)
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Build a House, Embrace the Father’s Disciplinary Love: This arena is perhaps the most challenging. This is not just praying but coming under the deep disciplinary love of the Father to transform our lives into the likeness of Jesus Christ over an extended period of time or season. This pressure is often deeply woven into both righteous and unrighteousness behavior. We can suffer for the sake of the gospel and the cause of Christ. We can also suffer for sake of our unrighteousness or somebody else’s treatment of us. In all cases the “God of all grace” will pointedly and firmly work with us to shape us like clay on a potters wheel into vessels of honor useful and filled with His oil for others to benefit from. This season can release healing to our broken heart and genuine holiness in our character (1 Peter 5:10-11). Those trained by the Father’s discipline have incredible peace, stability and joy to share with others who are in need.
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. (HEB.12:4-6)
Come, let us return to the Lord.
For He has torn us, but He will heal us;
He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.
2 “He will revive us after two days;
He will raise us up on the third day,
That we may live before Him.
3 “So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth.
Hosea 6:1-3
We got this!