Copyright 2009 Theresa Harvard Johnson
James 1:2-4 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”**
Have you been through a storm lately? Are you in the midst of one now OR maybe just coming out? Either way, storms are and will be a part of this life as long as we live. When I was a child, I didn’t understand that… and I long sometimes for those days to come back again. Right now, there are some people dear to me that are really going through. In praying for them, this question rose in my spirit: “Why are they STILL going through this storm?”
This particular storm has been like a Tsunami for one of my friends and their family. If it wasn’t for their faith, I am sure they wouldn’t have survived this far. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had at least one storm like this in my own life and at that time I didn’t think I was going to make it — even with the Lord on my side.
Whenever I think about that period of my life, I thank God… because truly, only HE could have gotten my family and I through it. Today, I see the fruit from that experience even though the pain seemed unbearable. I found myself asking the Lord, “Why did this situation in my life happen?” He gave me the answer, and then He said this to me: “I want the OIL from your life Theresa.”
As I sit here this morning, I believe the Lord wants to encourage many of you. There are things you are dealing with in your life right now that seem unbearable. It may be a health issue, a concern for a child or other loved one who has made some bad choices. Whatever it is, the Lord wants you to know that HE WANTS THE OIL from your life. And I’m here to tell you, that if you are willing — HE will get it. You see, He wants that old thing called PATIENCE to have its perfect work…
*The Oil*
Oil is mentioned more than 200 times in the Holy Bible. The olive was the most significant source of oil. Using poles, the people of God would dislodge the olives from the tree (Isaiah 17:6) and then reduce them to a pulp. It took thousands of olives to get any significant amount of oil. When the pulp was placed in wicker baskets, the highest and lightest grade of oil would run out — constituting the “beaten oil” — as referenced often in the bible (Ex. 27:20, 29:40; Lev. 24:2). This oil had multiple uses including cooking and baking, healing balm and fuel for lamps throughout the bible. Spiritually, it was used to SET APART or to SEPARATE prophets, priests and kings for service (Isaiah 61:1; Lev. 8:30; 1 Sam. 10:1; John 12; John 19:39-40; Hebrew 1:9). Oil was also used to represent worship unto God. His provision, and sacrifice.
The most common reference to oil in the bible is that is represents the ANOINTING of Jesus Christ – the power to destroy strongholds and release burdens. This oil, which ran from Aaron’s beard, represented God’s authority and glory. It represented being CONSECRATED by God and made Holy. Throughout the New Covenant, it used to describe the VERY ACTIVE PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ and in the lives of God’s people.
*The Oil in Us*
Releasing the oil in us is dependent on our ability to stay in the race, walk through the valley and end this journey as conquerers. Like the olive, we must be KNOCKED DOWN FROM OUR TREE! We must be CRUSHED AS PULP until submission comes! We must have the LITTLE OIL run out! THEN we must allow God to press out the good stuff, the BEST OIL! You see, God wants to USE OUR LIVES FULLY!
Trials test our faith…
Am I saying that He causes our trials? No! Our disobedience to His words activate our trials, and other trials are allowed by God so that we might learn. In this, I am saying to you that when the trials come they come to make us WEAK so that God can be our STRENGTH! They come so that God and God alone can get ALL the GLORY from our lives! They come so that we can PRES THROUGH THE NATURAL and see and experience Jesus and the Holy Spirit in everything!
Truly, all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord. TRIALS… the Tsunamis and Hurricanes come so that we can be PERFECTED in Him! When my family and I were in the midst of our Tsunami, I couldn’t see straight! I didn’t want to hear God! I didn’t want to be ministered to by anyone! I laid Voices of Christ down, and began to go back into my old mindset! Quite honestly, I wanted to die! This trial was so bad… that I had no concern for Heaven or hell. Don’t think strangely of me when you hear this! I know from my own experiences that a believer can be so broken that you want to completely give up everything! But the SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD would not let me go! My spiritual family would not release me! They fought for me and my family through intercession and prayer… and I tell you, we are still standing today! The LORD pressed us through it…
I AM A BETTER CHILD OF GOD because of that storm! My faith increased because of that storm! My hope was reconciled because of that storm! I am writing this to you today because you must know that your storm IS for your perfecting. That storm that you are running from is a FRUIT PRODUCER. The end result of that storm is to see you standing after rains saying, “Jesus Christ got me through this. My faith in the Lord is stronger now that it was before.” It is coming to a place like I did in which the Lord and those around you can say, “I can SEE the oil.”
We appreciate things a whole lot more when we lose them and when we do not have access them anymore. This applies to many things in life naturally and spiritually.
MANY ARE STILL GOING THROUGH THEIR STORM TODAY BECAUSE THEY WON’T ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HAVE HIS WAY! Some people need to confess, confront, forgive, to apologize and/or repent openly to get their next level. Lord knows I’ve been there… and its never easy admitting your faults. What the Lord wants us to do is to STOP fighting in the natural and to fall to their knees and PRAY their way through this situation or circumstance until the storm passes and the sky clears. This is what the Lord shared with me this morning. The tidal waves and heavy rains will be a lot less forceful when we allow the LORD to be LORD in our lives. All God wants is the OIL FROM YOUR LIFE…
HE wants the oil!
He WANTS the oil!
He wants THE oil!
He wants the OIL!
That oil is your patience, your strength to stand with him, your willingness to learn the lesson, and the fruit….
Remember to:
1. Become like the olive and accept your crushing. Let’s be real here. The problem with most believers is that they need to be BROKEN. They are battling selfishness and pride. They do not want to submit. It’s not that they don’t know how. The sooner you submit, the easier riding your storm will be. It took a pole to knock those olives down from the tree! (James 4:1,7)
2. Stay in the race.
Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
3. Walk through the valley.
As David mentioned in Psalm 23, he had to walk through the valley. That’s a picture of patience! Resist the temptation to reject God’s will for you in this situation. In doing so, you are resisting the devil and according to God’s word, the devil has to flee. Let the Lord minister to you as you move through. The lessons you will learn are invaluable.
4. Remember that you are a conqueror, an overcomer. Romans 8:37, ” Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
Some of the best lessons I’ve learned in my life have been through the blood, sweat, pain and tears. Look at the lesson Jesus taught us with HIS OIL.. during His greatest trial. God has given us His best and expects our best in return.
Peace and Blessings
