Zechariah 4-6
The Craftsman Part 2
The Oil of the Holy Spirit
As we continue in our study we will see the work of the fourth Craftsman, Jesus, who will overcome the final world power, the Anti-Christ. Part of the redemptive work accomplished in His coming as Savior of the world is that He is the mediator of the New Covenant. Hebrews 10:1-16
Jesus told us in John 16 that when He returned to heaven He would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit. The work of God will be done by the Holy Spirit through those who serve God.
The oil from the olive tree was sent directly to God’s anointed witnesses. The oil is sent through seven pipes to each of the seven lamps on the lampstand. The seven pipes to each lamp represent the seven Spirits of God that we read about in Revelation 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, and 5:6. The Seven Spirits of God are described in Isaiah 11:1&2 and the ministry of God to us through Jesus (the Branch) and the Holy Spirit.
In 70 AD the Temple was destroyed by Rome. This put an end to the ministry of the High Priest and the Temple in Jerusalem but it was not an end of the Priesthood. The Temple and the Ministry of the Priest were meant to give us an understanding of How God relates to mankind and how mankind is to relate to God. It is a physical picture of what is happening today spiritually.
Jesus is our High Priest. In Revelation we see Him standing among seven lampstands which represent the seven churches in Chapters 2 and 3. In the old temple the High Priest was to take care of the lampstand by replacing the oil and trimming the wicks to keep the lamps burning brightly. The High Priest was to keep the twelve loaves of fresh bread on the table. The loaves of bread represent God’s Word. The lamps represent the illumination or understanding of the Word of God to the world. In John 1 we are told that Jesus is the Word. In John 14-16 we read of the ministry of the Holy Spirit which was given at Pentecost in Acts 2. In Revelation 2 and 3 we see Jesus doing the work of the High Priest trimming the wicks of the seven churches in order to keep them burning brightly. However, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to not only give understanding to the Word, but to empower believers for ministry by the giving of Spiritual Gifts to believers. 1 Corinthians 12-14
In Chapter 5 we see the conviction of the Holy Spirit in the world as Jesus described in John 16:8-11. We are to proclaim the Gospel to the world by how we live and what we say, but Jesus made it clear that we are not alone in this. As we proclaim the Gospel the Holy Spirit is bringing conviction in the heart of the people as they see the Gospel being lived out in our life and as we share the reason for our hope in Christ Jesus to the world and to Israel.
Chapter 6 speaks of the world wide judgement to come in the Great Tribulation. Here we see that our High Priest is also crowned as King. Hebrews 7&8 speaks to this. For true believers Jesus is High Priest and King presently. In Luke 17 we read that the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was to come. Jesus replied in verse 21 that the kingdom of God was in their midst but would not be observed by signs. However, there is a footnote regarding the word “midst” which tells us it could be translated “within you.” So which translation is right? I believe both are. The kingdom of God is set up within the heart of the believer when he or she surrenders their life to Jesus and asks Him to come into their heart. The believers are in the midst of the unbelievers to be a witness to them. So the question becomes where do you stand?
One day the Church will be taken out of the world and Israel will complete the task given to them by God to bring in the Most Holy. They will receive Him as king and He will set up His kingdom here on earth for a thousand years of perfect peace, security, and prosperity. Until that time, if Jesus is king in our heart, we have work to do. We are ambassadors of our King to a lost and fallen world. We are to warn of what is to come and to proclaim the hope of the Gospel. Where we stand and what we do is based on what we believe in our heart.
Is Jesus reigning in your heart?
Pastor Dave