Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute forever in your generations. He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.”

Exodus 25:6-7

He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the Lord continually. The light is to shine continually before the Lord. Do you have enough oil in your lamp? Is your lamp continuously burning so that the light can shine in the darkness around you. Where does the oil come from? What about the golden lampstand that Zechariah saw in a vision? Think about it! Is it possible to keep the light burning? Yes, it is possible, for all things are possible with God. In the book of Revelation there is a warning to the church in Ephesus that the lampstand can be removed, [see Revelation 2:5]. The importance to believer’s everywhere is to remember where we have fallen and repent, so we do not lose our own candlestick. How can we keep the oil burning in our own life so that we will be ready for the coming of the Lord. We must not lose our first love that we witnessed within our own heart. It was through Jesus Christ that we have first seen the light of his love and the forgiveness for our sins.

The love of Jesus for humanity in his sacrifice on the cross has brought us back from sin into the light of God. This is so amazing, but the reality of it seems to have dissipated within the Christian church. It is so easy to make up excuses such as it was only for the early church. Yet, this lamp is to burn continuously, for generations. No one can change the truth of the word of God. The word is God’s will and testament to all humanity. Jews and Gentiles. It does not matter of what race you are, for God’s word will stand forever throughout eternity. You will either chose to believe it or not. For believer’s the warning is given to Ephesus, the church at the end of the apostolic age. Not all believers were walking in the truth of Christ. Remember that the vail or curtain at the entrance to the Holy of Holies was torn in two after the death of Jesus on the cross. At that time, no one could have imagined what his death would mean to those who believed in the son of God. The apostle Paul reveals this in First Timothy, chapter 2. Let’s look at verse 5 of chapter 2.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus.”

1 Timothy 2:5

One mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus. Jesus is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Under the Aaronic priesthood, nothing could be made perfect. Aaron even paid tithes to Melchizedek who was a type of Christ, [see Hebrews chapter 7]. Christ being the Priestly-King brought the earlier law that was a carnal commandment into the power of God that now is an endless ever living life. How amazing is this that we would have now an everlasting priesthood through Christ where the light will ever shine for all generations. We must remember what Jesus said about himself, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life, [ see John 8:12].” The light of life is in Jesus. Jesus is the light that shines in a dark place to reveal the truth about men’s sins. Jesus had the anointing oil that burned strong in shining the light of God. In Luke 4, verse 18, it stated he was anointed to preach the Gospel to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, and to recover the sight of the blind.

Jesus is our example for the continued burning of the oil in the lamp, for shining light in those darken areas of our life. It is this anointing oil, which is the Holy Spirit that burns the light through Jesus, and this is carried on through those who believe in the Son of God.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

In Matthew chapter 5, we are given the reason why we are to let our light shine before men. It is so men may see our good works and glorify the Father who is in heaven. Our light is on a lampstand, and it is fed by the oil that is poured forth from the Holy Spirit. Are we missing the oil of the Holy Spirit? Are we hiding the light so no one can, see? What about the foolish virgins who asked for oil? It is up to each individual to carry their own oil in their lamps. It is the measure of faith in receiving that oil in order for His light to burn through us.

For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Luke 11:10

Are you asking for the oil. The father will not deny you when you ask for it. Look at verse 13 of Luke chapter 11, “how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” How much more shall the Father give the Holy Spirit to you who asked him for it? Just remember that you must be blameless as you stand before God before you can receive the Holy Spirit. That is why we should pray daily for anything that our own conscience would bring before us as sin. Sometimes we may find ourselves just wandering around not sure where we are going because we have not prayed about it or asked God about it. You cannot get it from another person or demand it. You must ask God through Jesus for the oil.

Do all things without murmurings and disputing’s, that ye may be blameless and harmless, children of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”

Philippians 2:15

We must not hide the light under a bushel but on a lampstand where it can shine the light in the house, [see Matthew 5:15]. We need the Holy Spirit who is the oil for our lampstand. Oil is the symbol for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit forms the church. The Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ. This is the Church Age that we are living in at the moment. However, in the future after the rapture of the church, God will maintain a witness in the world through the two olive trees where the oil will burn in the lampstand. The two olive trees represent Joshua and Zerubbabel who fulfill Zechariah’s vision in chapter three and four of Zechariah. You can read about these two amazing men that God uses during the tribulation period at the end of this age, as a witness to those on earth, [see chapter 11 of Revelation]. These two prophets represent the tribe of Israel and Judah.

Joshua and Zerubbabel will have 3 and a half years to witness upon the earth. You too, are a witness upon the earth if you are a believer. The importance of your testimony is not to be taken lightly. Each person who is a believer, has a testimony of Jesus. If your testimony is not based on Jesus, then it is vanity. In Revelation chapter 19, at the end of verse 10, it states, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” That oil of the Holy Spirit is to bear witness to Jesus in who He is and what he has done for us on the cross. The oil keeps the fire burning for our daily walk and fellowship with God and each other. The Holy Spirit will convict us of sin and point us to Jesus who has reconciled us back to the Father God. This oil of the Holy Spirit will give us the victory over the flesh and will guide us towards service to each other and those around us. It is the oil that sheds the love of Christ within our hearts. The oil we have today is from the Father and Jesus prayed to the Father to give us the comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth that will dwell within each of us.

This oil will continue to burn the light as you yield yourself to Him and not hinder His power in your life. Let the oil abide in you forever.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;”

John 14:16