Extra Oil

Last week, a brother's family invited me to visit them after a long long gap. Perhaps, over two/three years. Since there are brothers who are taking care of this family I deemed it best that those nearby can take care of this family. Therefore, I intentionally did not visit them as I used to. 

A few weeks ago, the father of the family had a serious health issue which was attended to by the saints who lives nearby. Though I was informed of the health issues, I decided to stay back and pray for the family. In fact, as a family and the church, we prayed for the father of the family. I was waiting for the proper time to meet the family.

The time finally came, and after a long long time indeed, my wife and I visited the family. As we fellowshipped about the family's situation, especially the father's health condition, the Lord gave me a burden to fellowship on the family's spiritual health condition. The instant words the Lord gave me was, "extra oil." Therefore, we had a wonderful time of fellowship on our need to wait for the Lord’s return and while doing so, we must have the extra oil by paying the price.

For the foolish, when they took their lamps, did not take oil with them; But the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (Matthew 25:3-4, RecVer)

Today, we must take care of our normal Christian life. Salvation is free but for the reward, we must pay the price to buy extra oil to be able to receive the reward. Daily, hourly, we must pay the price to buy oil. Daily, we must exercise to gain the extra Oil, the Spirit, to fill our spirit all the time. No one can pay the price and buy the oil for me. Nor can I, for anyone else. Each one has to bear his own burden. Each will be judged or rewarded. So, we must be prudent to pay the price to buy the golden oil, the Holy Spirit.

I released my burden of encouraging myself and all the saints present in the meeting to pay the price to buy the extra oil by taking care of our daily living. I also emphasized the need for the church life for our Christian life to grow. One important practical point is to be filled with the word of God in our mind by spending as much time as possible to read the Bible, pray over the word of God, spend time to pray daily, and pursue the Lord in all possible ways. Though I did not specifically told the saints to come to the church meeting, the sister of the family declared on her own that once her dad is getting better they would physically come to the Lord’s table meeting regularly. Later, we all prayed together and sought the Lord’s grace to be prudent virgins paying the praise to buy the extra oil.

But the prudent answered, saying, Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. (Matthew 25:9, RecVer)

Yesterday, in the online meeting with the seekers from Madhya Pradesh, the Lord gave me the same burden of the need to buy extra oil to be filled with the Spirit in our soul. For this, the price includes dealing with the world, denying the self, taking up the cross, loving the Lord, and following Him. There may be other ways of paying the price too. Whichever way, the price must be paid to buy the extra oil. This is the normal Christian life of laboring on Christ to gain the extra oil and to be transformed in the soul to gain the reward. This is also the way to make ourselves ready for the Lord’s coming.

Watch therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:13, RecVer)