How much Oil is needed?

The quick answer is … ALL of it – ALL of however much God has given to you.

In an attempt to share how the HolySpirit led me to the above answer, I’ll be referencing three seemingly unrelated yet connected life-giving stories from the bible:

First, a few foundational context:

With all of the above context in mind, let’s dive in!

Zechariah 4:1-14

A seemingly half-awake Zechariah is shown a vision and was asked to describe what He saw. He did (Zechariah 4:2-3) but had no clue what they meant, so he asked the Angel who initiated the conversation.

Skipping through the “you-mean-you-ate-of-the-tree-of-knowledge-in-the-Graden-of-Eden-yet-you-don’t-know-what-this-means?” #Salty side comment in verse 5 🤣, the Angel told him the answer – an important truth: The continuous supply of Oil is the Word of God.

Still seemingly hazy about the answer provided (or maybe he forgot, as is the nature of all human kind), Zechariah asked again (Zechariah 4:11) – this time, he was more specific.

It appears as though the Angel ignored him at first because Zechariah had to ask the question again! (Zechariah 4:12) … If you ask me, I think the Angel gave him a side-eye like “didn’t-we-just-go-over-this?”.

Again, skipping through the repeated “you-mean-you-really-don’t-know-this?” side comment in verse 13, the Angel answered (this time) using terms that Zechariah would understand.

At first glance, it might seem as though the answers in verse 6 and verse 14 are different but they are the exact same!

Both answers are the exact same – JESUS.

Key Take-Away: The Oil is the Spirit of Jesus – the Word of God. He is Spirit and Life –John 6:63. His lovely Name is Flowing Oil –SOS 1:3(TPT).

God is very aware of our forgetfulness; He made provision for that too!💖

Next stop … 1 Kings 17:7-16

There was drought (and consequently famine) in the land. God told Elijah to go to the city of Zarephath, and that He had instructed a woman (a widow) to provide food for him. Jehovah Jireh (our Provider) in action again! 😊.

Elijah did as he was told. On arrival at the city gate, there was the widow. Without any time-wasting 😊, Elijah asked for water and food (1 Kings 17:10B-11) … the widow’s response (inverse 12 and in a nutshell) was “no can’t do, I don’t have it to give“.

First of all, let’s all acknowledge that we all saw the same thing: God asked someone who was on her last meal to provide food for another person! We all caught that right? If you didn’t, consider taking a moment to read 1 Kings 17:8-12. In it is an important point to note about God’s ways of doing things: not by human effort, might, or wherewithal … it goes beyond the humanly possible.

Second of all, the widow’s response was not what you’d expect from someone who had a prior conversation with God, where He was like: “Hey darling, I want you to provide food for My fiery friend. He’ll be coming over shortly and will be staying at your place for a while”. Her response had a different tone or tune, it sang a different song. No doubt, God instructed her – He certainly did. I’m convinced of this because God does NOT and can NOT lie. I also know that He speaks from the perspective of what He has already done. That said, when did He do this … when did He do what He had done … when did He tell (command, instruct) the widow of Zarephath to host Elijah by providing food for him?

My guess is verse 14 – when GRACE entered the chat. Then came the Spirit-Word of God (THE Oil) to the widow saying:

In between promise #1 that she will be supplied (given) all that she requires/needs, promise #2 that she will not die but that she will instead outlast the drought because (and promise #3) the drought will end, is where God commanded/instructed the widow to provide food for Elijah. God’s Word (in this case: His promises) is both the Command and the Grace (ability) needed to carry out the Command.

Upon hearing God’s Spirit-Word to her, something changed – the widow was enabled (graced). She did what she was commanded to do. Another point worth noting about the God’s way of getting things done through us is that God’s Word (i.e. instruction, command, or promise) to do something is the Spirit (Power, Grace) that does it. Furthermore, God provides for what He calls us to (do or be),and what He provides(Grace: THE Oil)is sufficient… it is exactly right and inherently MORE than enough. It is all we need to take the first and every step in Faith.

The widow held on to the Word of God to her. She held on to (and did NOT lose) Faith – the evidence of the promises God made to her. She believed and acted in obedience to God’s Word. True to His nature, the Word of God did what the Word of God said 💖. His Word to her was fulfilled to the letter! The bowl of flour was NOT exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty for the entire duration of the drought/famine (1 Kings 17:16).

Key Take Away: The Oil given is sufficient for the duration of The Wait (the drought, famine, or relay race). There’s always going to be a Wait Time in our walk with God. I will some day (in the future: 2025) understand this Wait Time to be a Time Relay, and will then refer to it as God’s 555 Timer – a device that controls the timing of a God-glorifying event – God’s Grace Timer.

Okay, last but not least … Mathew 25:1-12.

Here, Jesus uses the parable of ten virgins to describe two categories of people – both called, both given everything they needed to respond appropriately to God’s call – Oil (The Word of God), BUT only one was chosen.

WHY?

The parable of the ten virgins gives us some insight into this.

The five foolish virgins were careless hence the name. The foolish tend to care less about the things of God. Case in point: the foolish man who built his house upon the sand (Matthew 7:26-27). With both the man and these virgins, they heard the Word of God but did not do the needful – they did not receive, trust (hold tight to), or rely on the Grace of God. As we saw with the widow of Zarephath, doing the needful (doing the Word of God) is made possible only by Grace (the Spirit of God) – this is what the Angel told and explained to Zechariah inZechariah 4:6.

We are able to the needful, howbeit humanly impossible, when we believe (actionably, purposefully, usefully receive or keep) the Word of God … when we hold tight to what we’ve been given by God: His Spirit-Word (THE Oil) – all of it. Herein lies the difference between the five foolish virgins vs the five wise virgins. Both were on the same playing field like that of a relay race … both were given all they needed (Grace: The Spirit-Word of God, THE Oil), BUT the foolish five took their God-given Grace forgranted (they cared less about the Spirit-Word of God … they treated Him with less care … they certainly did NOT treat Him as Holy).

One way to look at or better understand the difference between the two groups is that the five foolish virgins held on to a portion of the Oil that they were given – this translates to partial, half, or lukewarm trust in (and obedience to) the Word of God. On the other hand, the five wise virgins held on to ALL of the Oil they were given – this translates to full, unreserved, absolute trust in (and obedience to) the Word of God.

As with any relay race, there was a delay (a planned delay). Nevertheless, the measure of Oil given to each one of them was given based on all things considered (including the delay).

When it was time for the expected end, time to go meet the Bridegroom (the One to Whom and by Whom they were called), the foolish virgins were out of oil – one could say that they were running on fumes or out of juice. They asked the wise virgins for some of their oil BUT they (the wise virgins) said “NO“.

While the wise virgins were right to say “NO“, up until a few weeks ago, I always thought their response was very “not-nice” and not remotely “Christianly”. I went as far as wondering why Jesus would choose (seemingly) not-nice people.

To help correct my misguided perspective on the matter, the HolySpirit showed me what the wise virgins did by saying NO.

In not giving their Oil away, the wise virgins did NOT lose Faith [SeLah]. This is why they were chosen … why they were allowed to come near (to enter in). Also, it is why the answer to the question: How much Oil is needed? is ALL OF IT – ALL of what you’ve been given.

Key Take-Away: The amount of Oil given is exactly what is needed –no more, no less.

The summary of the matter is this 😊 …

Thank you Abba for the gift of YOU (Your Word and Your Spirit). Your Word is the Voice and expression of Your Love. Everything You speak to me is like joyous treasure, filling my life with gladness. Word of God, Your Name is Flowing Oil (Songs of Song 1:3 TPT). You are the joy and the rejoicing of my heart, my heritage forever. Be everything I am and ALL I know. Nothing else will do. Spirit of God, HolySpirit – my marrow, Your presence releases a fragrance so pleasing. I never want to be without You. Thank you for performing ALL things on my behalf.