#1548. THE OIL SPEAKS OF THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (15/7/26)
- Matt Beaney
- Jul 15
- 4 min read
Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (currently posted on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) as we continue our series: I Will Dwell Among Them.
Today, we reflect on the truth:
As God provided oil as fuel for the lampstand, so He gives us His Spirit - His presence - to empower our lives.
To watch this devotional, please select the link below:
“Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it…See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”’ (Exodus 25:31-37, 40)
‘“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)
In scripture, oil is often a symbol of the Holy Spirit. In the natural, oil was required to keep the lamps burning; in the spiritual, the Holy Spirit is required to keep us, and our churches, burning for God. Our life and effectiveness depends upon the Spirit.
How are we to obey this command? God is not asking us to remake the candlestick and to set it up and keep it burning somewhere! Rather, we are to obey it in light of Christ. We are obey it by being filled with the Holy Spirit.
This is, in part, what Jesus meant when He said:
‘”I am the vine; you are the branches.”’ (John 15:5)
The candlestick’s design was very much like a vine and branches; but now, this symbolism is fulfilled as we remain in the vine - remain in and draw life and strength from Christ.
Response
As God provided oil as fuel for the lampstand, so He gives us His Spirit - His presence - to empower our lives.
To let the oil of the Spirit cause us to burn brightly means:
Ask: Ask for the gift of the Spirit’s presence to fill you. As the priest entered the Tabernacle, and drew near to God, so let’s draw near to God and ask for His presence - His oil - to fill us.
Avoid: Avoid doing things that grieve and quench the Spirit. The very fact that the light was in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, and was served by priests who had washed and prepared themselves, point to the need to purse holiness and cleansing along with our pursuit of the Spirit presence.
Act: Let your light shine before others by doing good works for Christ - The Spirit empowers those who are seeking to be a light in this world.
This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of CCP; to watch our anniversary video, please select the link below:
Community Group Study
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.
On Sunday, we continued our I WILL DWELL AMONG YOU series, reflecting on God’s design for the Tabernacle and how this speaks to us of how we are to seek to build the church.
Please read Exodus 25:31-4 and discuss:
Personal Reflection - What particularly inspired or challenged you from Sunday’s message? How did God speak to you through it?
The Lampstand's Meaning - The various elements in the Tabernacle foreshadow heaven, and what we now enjoy in Christ (See Hebrews 8:5). What are the various things that the lampstand (the menorah) symbolise for us?
Jesus, the Light of the World - This great light, illuminated for the priests the way toward the Most Holy Place - the presence of God. How does this harmonise with what we read in John 8:12?
Keeping the Lamp Burning - The lamp was to be constantly supplied with the finest oil (See Exodus 27:20-21). How does this point to how we are to depend upon the Holy Spirit, and how do we make this a reality?
SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)
From Exodus 25:31-34, we see that the lamp also represented the ministry of every church - she is to be a light. How can we become the light that God wills for us to be?
Share Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.
Practical Next Steps – Who is God putting on your heart to reach? Are there any ‘people of peace’ (*see note) in your life—those who are receptive to you and spiritual conversation?
Let’s pray together:
Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.
Pray for one another's SIV opportunities and boldness in following the Spirit's promptings.
Pray specifically for the “people of peace” in our lives—asking God to open hearts and provide opportunities to speak life and truth.
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