THE OIL OF GOD 

“And the foolish said to the wise, give us your oil; for our lamps have gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.” [Matthew 25:8-9] 

That the Oil is representative of the Spirit of God is often shown in Scripture. The wise had thought to make provision and acquire MORE Oil. That is to say more than just justifying Oil. This being sanctifying Oil, in that they were all virgins (born-again/justified). 

The foolishness (lacking good sense or judgment; unwise) of half of the virgins was that they were unwise spiritually. “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”  [1Corinthians 3:1] And after an exhortation of warning on the judging of every Christian’s work after regeneration, Paul says: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?…if any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon (Jesus Christ’s imputed righteousness), he shall receive a reward (for personal righteousness).”  

This is the equivalent of the fate of the wise and unwise virgins, at the time of Jesus Christ’s Return. The wise being welcomed into His Millennial Kingdom. They had secured more of the Oil’s graces wisely worked and built upon the foundation of the gift of eternal life in accord with the Holy Spirit. Works that equate to gold, silver and precious stones, that will survive the fire of testing and brilliantly shine in His Glory. Whereas the unwise works built on Christ will not suffice. They will be found to be without the Oil’s additional work upon the soul. And all their life’s works, many or few, shall be consumed in the Glory of His Return. And although the foundation eternally remains, their house anticipating His glorious presence is lost.   

The foolishness of the Christian is to work on Christ’s foundation in accord with the carnal mind, the World’s darkened, satanic reasonings. (“hath God really said” and “thou shalt not surely die.” ) Paul contrasts for the Christian the two wisdoms in which he may walk. That being either the wisdom of the World or the Wisdom of God. As seen in the first four chapters of 1st Corinthians and where he separates or defines the wise from the unwise, the carnal Christian from the spiritual Christian. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the World, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” [1st Corinthians 2:12] “…the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.…And I brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” [1st Corinthians 2:14;3:1] 

In 2nd Kings 4:1, Elisha is sought out by a widow of one of his servants. “The creditor is come to take unto him my two children to be bondmen…” 

Who is the widow? The Widow has in view the wise virgins before the Return of the Bridegroom. 

Elisha asks: “What hast thou in the house?” The widow answers, “a pot of oil.” Note that the OIL is already in the house as she petitioned and pleaded with the Prophet /“Word”. “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given: because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”) [John 7:37-39] 

As Paul declared to Christians, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? As Believers in Jesus Christ, then the foundation is flawlessly in place, and though we are carnal, there is OIL in the house! We have all within that we need to be fabulously wealthy before the Lord, full of hidden treasure gold, and silver and precious jewels. 

The prophet / Word directs her to “Go, borrow thee vessels abroad, of all thy neighbors, empty vessels; borrow not a few.” God is the provider of the Oil. It is the same Oil that was already in the house, that which we need in abundance to thrive and prosper in “….the deep things of God.” The Oil for the lamp of justifying eternal life is the same Oil for the sanctifying. “….and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” [Matthew 25:10] 

The problem is not the littleness of Oil, but the capacity to receive more. “Go borrow thou vessels….borrow not a few” equates to “…go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.” They both speak to the need of more capacity. Both speak to the cost / price to acquire Oil beyond the lamp and a pot. Both speak to a preparation of receiving, that is a yielding, (Romans 6:13) as the vessel must be within, and all that is un-yielded remains unfilled. “And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee…” …..“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father….” Great agony and sore discipline are often needed before the soul will increase capacity. “…how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”  

The Oil is boundless but our capacity we limit. “And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel.  And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.” 

“O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 

Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 

Now for a recompense in the same, I (speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.” [2nd Corinthians 6:11] We are to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) not with that which is of the World. That is the contrast of the wise and unwise; the wise and the foolish Christian. 

Our greatest need is the Oil of God, and the wisdom to seek it earnestly. 

“In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.” [Philippians 4:6] 

And “….out of him shall flow rivers of living water.” [John 7:38]