Zechariah 4:6, commentary and pictures

God promised Zerubbabel that the house he was rebuilding would be finished from foundation to headstone, not by human force or ability but by the power of God's own Spirit. The golden oil flowing from the olive trees through the golden pipes into the bowl and lamps is that Spirit imparted from God's presence, for churches and individual believers have no light in themselves but depend wholly on Christ to supply and kindle them. Human might and power — strength, talent, money, numbers, learning, eloquence, display, and the aid of rulers — come to nothing, and God's kingdom and cause advance by His Spirit alone making the ordinary means of grace effective. By that Spirit the great mountain of difficulty becomes a plain, every temptation and opposing influence is resisted, and conversion, growth, surrender of self, and victory over sin are wrought where human effort fails. The oil is received only by daily humbling, self-examination, confession, emptying of self, and prayer, and it flows continually only as it is imparted in word, action, and service, so receiving in order to give keeps the light burning brighter.

Zerubbabel's Temple Vision

The word to Zerubbabel was that his work of rebuilding the house of the Lord would succeed not by human force, strength or power but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts. Though adversaries obstructed the builders, the obstacle before him would be removed, and he who had laid the foundation of the temple would finish it by bringing forth the headstone amid shouts of Grace, grace unto it, its completion showing that the Lord had sent the message. The same assurance holds for all who carry forward God's work, that difficulties testing faith can be overcome by trusting God and relying on His Spirit for spiritual strength and heavenly help.

The vision surrounding the word showed a candlestick all of gold with a bowl on top, seven lamps with seven pipes, and two olive trees, one on each side of the bowl. The trees emptied golden oil out of themselves through golden tubes into the bowl, so that the lamps of the sanctuary were fed to give bright, continuous light. Might is a haughty tyrant leading to warfare, the scourge of the world, while right is a loyal subject, a representation of the perfect man in Christ Jesus, the foundation of all righteousness and peace, the oil which fills the divine flagons.

These visions were given when the Jews feared that permission to rebuild might be withdrawn, to bring encouragement and reassurance to those advancing God's work amid adversaries, obstruction and uncertainty. Great difficulties may test faith, but those who trust in God rather than human strength can persevere, and God can remove every obstacle hindering His cause until a seemingly insurmountable mountain of difficulty becomes a plain. The two olive trees are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth, standing before God, from whom the fullness of divine light and love and power is imparted to God's people so that they may impart light and joy and refreshing to others. God has abundant resources thus prepared, but lack of faith, earthliness, unbelief and vanity leave people unable to see His glory, and when the soul is vain His Spirit can do little for it.

Zerubbabel's confession of ignorance and desire to understand show his need of God's word to grasp that God's work cannot be advanced or held back by human ability or force, while the Spirit's grace given to the church is to be shared with the world. Man's appointed part under Zerubbabel as chief authority directing the work is to move forward in faith, and lack of faith leaves the work incomplete, whereas mountains of difficulty are removed until the work is completed wholly of grace by God's Spirit and not by human strength. That promise applies now in the perils of the last days already present, calling for men who will not fail nor be discouraged, with no negligence but full attention to the spiritual necessities of men and women, and diligence in using entrusted talents to return to God His own with usury. Zechariah 3 and 4 are to be carefully studied because much in them, in figure, gives encouragement that God's people may have a strength not their own, and this lesson to Zerubbabel must be learned by all connected with God's sacred work as essential for the last days. Chapter 4 is to be read together with chapter 3, especially the promise to bring forth the Branch and remove iniquity, as applying to the present time when the experience of Joshua is being acted over, with repentant sinners who have confessed and received pardon being reproached and accused by unrepentant transgressors.

Might Power and Spirit

Not by might nor by power means not by human strength, force, talent, or ability, and not with pomp and show and boasting, spectacle, or theatrical methods, for all such display comes to nothing. God's way is to make the day of small things the beginning of the triumph of truth and righteousness, so none need be elated by a prosperous beginning nor cast down by apparent feebleness. Those entrusted with authority and resources depend on God and must use His blessings faithfully to honor Him, with success coming through His power rather than self-exaltation or worldly methods. Gospel ministry therefore follows Christlike methods and relies on the Spirit, presenting truth plainly rather than trying to attract people by outward display.

Might is a haughty tyrant leading to warfare, the scourge of the world, while right is a loyal subject. Right is a representation of the perfect man in Christ Jesus, the foundation of all righteousness and peace, the oil which fills the divine flagons. The lesson is to ask whether a thing ought to be done rather than saying it can be done, and to keep studying the chapter and asking what its symbols mean until its full meaning is grasped, with the great mountain becoming a plain and the headstone brought forth with shoutings of grace, grace unto it.

God's kingdom is established on earth not through human strength or power or methods, but through the work of His Spirit. The Spirit makes the ordinary means of grace effective and is the source and efficiency of His people's effectiveness. He cleanses the mind from mere worldly training so that judgment can discern the deep things of God and the heart becomes susceptible to the teaching of the Word. Prayer empowered by faith can then pull down the enemy's strongholds.

God's cause is advanced not by the secular sword, not by the protection of rulers, and not by the aid or cooperation of men, but by God alone doing all by His Spirit. Faith in God is therefore the most effective defense and gives a protection more powerful than that of princes. God's servant can thus go forward fearlessly without seeking human defense, and may even protect rulers rather than be protected by them.

The work is not done by spending large sums of money, nor by securing more conveniences and preparations to get out of perplexity, nor by costly outlay and display and expensive buildings. It is not done by numbers, status, learning, or eloquence, for God can accomplish the work through few as well as many. David's numbering of Israel insulted God because it treated the size of the army as the measure of Israel's strength. The counsel is to bind about the edges, make no calculations for absorbing means, and take hold interestedly and do the work with what is already in hand, with Christ dwelling in the heart as a vitalizing power like blood in the body, trusting a deeper teaching than man's teaching rather than human wisdom and many preparations. God's unseen hosts work with those who join themselves to Him as channels of light, including humble, overlooked believers, and His Spirit rather than human power or resources gives character to His work.

The Spirit is not bound to men's lines, ways, methods, or exact plans, and God does not always work as men have planned or calculated. He works in a mysterious way to perform His wonders and surprises men by revealing Himself in His own way. Those who work with God must therefore seek His will in every plan and emergency and follow it in the way He directs. Those carrying responsibilities in His institutions must give the Lord room to work, seek wisdom from above for every important decision, labor together as brethren, and follow the different plan God shows to meet circumstances as they arise instead of being corralled to act exactly as dictated by others.

Human might did not establish the church of God and human might cannot destroy it, because from age to age the Holy Spirit is an overflowing fountain of life. God alone can make His truth triumph, so His workers must depend wholly on Him and maintain living faith even when success seems impossible. Souls are converted through God's strength, and sharing in the triumph of His truth is a privilege. Victory comes by faith, and all who strive lawfully in perfect harmony with the law of God will triumph over all opposition, with the guardianship of holy angels given to those who carry forward God's work in the face of all foes. His Spirit remains with true missionaries and gives them power for service.

Golden Oil and Lamps

The golden oil emptying from the two olive branches through the golden pipes into the golden bowl and into the lamps is the Holy Spirit imparted from God's presence to those consecrated to His service. It is communicated by the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth, and heavenly messengers impart it to preachers of the Word so that ministers continually replenished may impart greater strength and efficiency to the church. This supply meets the hunger and thirst for righteousness and the great need of souls wrestling with doubt, despair, and hopelessness, and through cleansed and prepared human vessels the church's work continues under God's power, grace, and care despite mighty foes until completed in victory. Power and success in preaching do not lie in men and women but in God behind the human agent, for the Lord Himself makes the impression and the Spirit takes the things of God and shows them to people, so that no one glories in self or in any man but in God. Victory by this Spirit requires inward purity, cleanness of heart and soul, heart piety, and holiness, with preparation through self-examination and prayer.

That same oil is divine light, love, power, grace, heavenly life, and sacred truth as a message to bear. It is conveyed by heavenly messengers to those joined to God by faith, and received from the witnesses who stand before God's throne so the believer can give clear light to sinners. When messengers first receive that oil and fire from Christ they present the truth with fervency and shine in distinct rays amid moral darkness, and that love flows out in good works and heartfelt service to bring light and truth to those in darkness, error, and sin. When God's people surrender themselves to Him and serve without self-seeking, His power works through them and their lives reflect His character and spread grace, but institutions claiming to be His instruments must be made holy by pure principles, for losing connection leaves the heart unsoftened by grace.

The lamps and vessels fed by this supply are the churches and individual believers, who have in themselves no grace, light, or fire of God's love and glory and are wholly dependent on Christ the source of all light. Christ supplies the church's spiritual light and kindles its flame, and the oil sought in prayer and received from God keeps the lamps burning brightly so they can enlighten others. Without this supply the lamps grow dim and cannot shine clearly into moral darkness, so believers must put away selfishness, self-sufficiency, and ambition that block it. Consecrated people receive that grace of the Spirit in order to share it with others, and receiving in order to impart is how their lives become Christlike.

This is the same oil of grace that the five wise virgins took in their vessels with their lamps, and it is the strength of every child of God and the only power that can heal him. Without it God's people are asleep like the foolish virgins with no oil in their lamps, following the impulses of natural temperament. When the lamp is going or gone out, faith and love and knowledge of God and the truth have left like water leaving a leaky vessel, and character cannot be transferred from another. Placed in right relation to God, every human plan succeeds only in that relation, and this is the privilege of the church in every age, that if she puts her trust in God she will advance.

The light comes from a supply the lamp cannot provide for itself, and hearts can reflect light only through living connection with heaven continually filled with God's love, or their light will go out. A person receiving truth through divine and human ministry becomes a fresh instrument for passing it on, so that like a lamp supplied with golden oil, one steadily burning lamp can light many others. The holy oil is the daily spiritual supply received by each consecrated vessel and passed on in daily service, and work in Christ's lines by that supply builds lasting Christian character and enduring results. Receiving light without sharing it leads to spiritual darkness, while taking in and giving out makes it burn brighter.

Victory Over Opposition

The word to Zerubbabel promises that the great mountain of difficulty standing before him will become a plain, so that apparently insurmountable obstacles testing faith are removed when God's people trust Him rather than human strength, and the foundation he laid is finished amid praise to grace rather than to impressive buildings, costly furnishings, or human resources. Applied to sanitariums and to all advancing work, influence and success come not from outward display or expense but from faith working through love to purify the soul, while the Holy Spirit works upon mind and heart. Trusting God and relying on His Spirit brings spiritual strength and heavenly help for persevering faith.

Every temptation and every opposing influence, open or secret, may be successfully resisted not by human strength or ability but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, so that neither wicked men nor devils nor evil angels can hinder God's work, destroy it, or shut out His presence from His people, any more than they can stop rain from heaven. Victory comes through full surrender to Jesus and reliance on God, who is willing to accomplish great things through weak human workers without regard to numbers. That blessing comes when the way is prepared by removing hindrances, confessing and forsaking sin with subdued, contrite, humble hearts, overcoming the world, the flesh, and the devil, and in faith claiming God's promises, and then the Spirit's blessing falls upon the church and its assemblies.

In the last great conflict victory does not come by human resolutions, intellectual might, science, vast armies, weapons, or every other facility for fighting, but only by My Spirit through power imparted by God to exercise living faith in God rather than faith in faith itself. Without that living faith exercised in the power of God even an angel host could not help, while with it believers become invincible, steadfast, immovable, holding the beginning of confidence firm unto the end. Obeying the orders of their Captain, the Lord of hosts, they pass through battle more than conquerors.

Wrong traits of character and natural and acquired tendencies to evil, the old nature born of blood and of the will of the flesh with its old ways, hereditary tendencies, and former habits, are overcome by God's Spirit rather than by human might or power, for man cannot overcome the mighty foe who holds him in thrall and God alone can give the victory. Christian growth is accomplished by the Spirit as believers cooperate with divine agencies by using opportunities, taking root in Christ, and opening hearts to the Holy Spirit, and the greatest battle ever fought is the surrender of self to the will of God and the yielding of the heart to the sovereignty of love, since what cannot inherit the kingdom must be given up. Those in every position of trust must learn meekness and lowliness from Christ and have no excuse for manifesting a wrong trait, first seeking the Lord for wisdom and grace and asking for the gentleness of Christ in dealing with others and correcting what needs correction, so that faithfulness is not rude and the worker is true to duty, true to position of trust, and true to God as a faithful steward. In rescuing the tempted and fallen, victory does not come through human strength alone but through God's power, as Christ's grace reshapes character and living connection with God through Jesus Christ supplies power for the battle, so that prayerfully laying hold of God through Christ brings victory.

Conversion of the heart, saving knowledge, new birth, and power to change and subdue human hearts come only by the Holy Spirit, not by human strength, ability, eloquence, effort, earnestness, or persuasive speech, and human work must be joined with divine power or even earnest, persistent labor ends in disappointment. Unless God's power works with human effort to make truth effective, water the seed, bring growth, and prepare hearts for truth to take root, labor cannot bring saving knowledge to the heart. Those who labor for God in every stage of the work, including educators, are not alone but must advance in dependence on the Spirit, through whom results beyond expectation are brought.

Applied to the church, the verse teaches that God's work is established and carried forward by His Spirit rather than human strength or power, and its stability and endurance come from God's presence with work founded on right principles that will continue. God alone must be the shield, strength, and sufficiency of His commandment-keeping people waiting and watching for the Son of Man to come in the clouds of heaven, which means having faith in God, knowing privileges from Him, and keeping a distinct living connection with Him rather than trusting men. God in the midst of the church militant gives His love as light in the morning, feeding each lamp with the golden oil of His grace and love so she shall not be moved.

Ministry Through Spirit's Power

Truth is impressed on minds, conviction and conversion are wrought, and preaching lives only by God's Spirit, not by human strength, power, ability, learning, eloquence, temperament, physical strength, loud delivery, learned arguments, or forceful speech. Without the Spirit the presentation of truth is fruitless, having no more power than wind to impress souls aright, especially amid moral darkness, false doctrines, heresies, and deception, and the breath of God must be breathed into the soul before it can be filled with power. Resources for saving souls must come from heaven, with the Holy Spirit confirming the spoken word, and prayerless zeal cannot produce right progress, while earnest humble prayer receives power through Christ's righteousness to carry truth to the world, convict minds, and convert souls. The carnal mind is dark and must be illuminated by the Spirit, so simple teaching can be most effective, and every believer is to serve without discouragement when people, even learned people, fail to understand spiritual things. The minister's part is to know God's word and submit to His will, and it is heart reception of the pure principles of the gospel that makes a person an honor to God and an influence that wins souls to Christ, magnifying Jesus through His sons and daughters when He can impart to them the fullness of His Spirit, and only in this way can human agencies prevail against satanic agencies.

God's servants must first receive heavenly life, truth, and oil before they can pass them on to others, for the anointed ones must minister to the minister, emptying through the golden pipes into the golden bowls and on into the lamps, which are the churches, and then spiritual nourishment flows through them to the churches. This receiving and imparting of the heavenly anointing is the work of every true devoted servant, who must receive the Spirit's power before speaking and speak gently to convicted hearts, with the golden oil from the olive branches as the Spirit's supply received and passed on. Without first receiving from heaven a minister cannot let flow what he has not received and cannot impart spiritual life to hungry, thirsty souls, no matter how much learning or moral energy he spends, for the tidings of joy and hope must come from heaven through abiding in Christ. The preacher must be full of the Word of the Lord, which is his light, and must first receive the golden oil of truth drawn from the refreshing, life-giving stream, with angels present as hearers and as messengers emptying the oil into the heart of the one who teaches. When that oil is received the application of truth becomes solemn and serious, the Holy Spirit works on hearts and angel messengers expel sin, unless the door of the heart is shut and Christ is refused admission and withdraws from those who persistently refuse the freely offered heavenly blessing. Without it sermons are destitute of heavenly dew and rain, long anecdotes and cheap fodder that leave sheep starving for the bread of life, perhaps moving feelings to tears without breaking hearts, and mingling common fire with the sacred by speaking politics and uncertain ideas that plant deep-rooted poisonous seed instead of blessing. Receiving the golden oil gives life, and where there is life there is no stagnation but constant growth to the full stature of Christ, a deep growing experience in heavenly things, walking with the Lord as Enoch did, and earnest prayer for the heavenly anointing to distinguish the heaven-born right from the common, producing short, spiritual, elevated discourses. This happens only when self is renounced and the minister is divested of his own peculiar habits, manners, and customs, comes into Christ's likeness, first eats the bread which came down from heaven and communes with God, and works together with God as Christ worked, and then his lamp of life flashes with clearness and power that all discern, carrying no stale, oft-repeated ideas or worldly, confusing ideas but a new perception of truth and a word that touches every case, so that where hearts are susceptible to the Holy Spirit's influence hearers feel inner life and the fire of God's love kindled within them.

Victory and effectiveness require inward purity, cleanness of heart and soul, heart piety, holiness which is wholeness to God, humility, consecration, prayer, submission to God's will, and seeking His wisdom, with less faith in what workers can do and more faith in what the Lord can do for them with clean hands and pure hearts. The two olive trees emptying golden oil through the two golden pipes into the golden bowl that feeds the lamps of the sanctuary represent the Holy Spirit and the grace of God on which ministers are dependent, continually supplying them so they can impart the Spirit to the church. Heavenly messengers impart this oil to preachers of the Word, and ministers of righteousness must be continually replenished from it so they in turn can impart greater strength and efficiency to the church and meet the great need and longing of souls wrestling with doubt, despair, and hopelessness. Ministers must rely wholly on God, seeking His wisdom and power in prayer, for the Spirit prepares both speakers and hearers, giving the message power to reach hearts and bringing people to conversion. The word to Zerubbabel is needed by all, rebuking trust in human advantages, plans, methods, money, travel, and business wisdom, and calling instead to humility, consecration, prayer, counsel of God, and being emptied of self so the human agent becomes the channel for the two olive branches through which the golden pipes empty the golden oil, and then mountains of difficulty become a plain and the work is finished with shoutings of Grace, grace unto it. Advancement and healthy growth do not depend on human might, power, calculations, or unsanctified men, but on God's Spirit through a living daily connection, for all divine wisdom comes from God and every capability and reasoning power is held in responsibility to Him. Left to themselves men reveal natural temperament and unsanctified selfishness, let human wisdom occupy the throne of the heart, follow their own light which heaven has not originated, and offer strange fire which the Lord will not accept, and without God their influence misleads. God works through men of humble and contrite spirit who are little in their own eyes, see their own inefficiency and weakness, make God their trust, and glorify Him rather than their own smartness for success, and being entrusted with great responsibility is no proof of fitness. Fitness is shown after test and trial by sensing weakness, depending on God day by day, and asking in faith, and then the Lord supplies His wisdom with increased knowledge and ability, gives symmetrical growth heavenward, and honors those who walk in humility, contrition, wholeheartedness, strict integrity, justice to fellow men, reverence, obedience, and living principles of righteousness. When individual believers do God's work in their own hearts by repentance, confession, and forsaking all selfishness and cleansing from defilement, feeling complete dependence on God, they receive the Holy Spirit, whose sufficiency becomes power in their behalf and gives grace to help in every time of need.

Success does not depend on courage, experience, appearance, education, prominence, numbers, status, learning, eloquence, or impressive buildings, so God moves by His Spirit upon humble, obscure, illiterate men and women who love and fear Him to give the last message of mercy and carry out His purposes. A humble, lowly instrument with little courage and experience, coldly treated even by friends, can stand where the strongest and bravest have fled and do what greater men were rejected in doing, because success depends on the Holy Spirit. In Geneva this was fulfilled when the humble, inexperienced young schoolmaster Froment planted the Reformation through teaching children, explaining the Bible to parents, and distributing New Testaments and tracts, so that the truth took hold and Protestant worship was finally established. Therefore willing, devoted men are to be encouraged to show loyalty to principle and integrity to God by visiting people in their homes, taking a personal interest in those they meet, talking and praying with the unwarned about the soon-coming Saviour, and in unpretentious house-to-house work winning to Christ a class that ministers do not reach, following Christ's own way of taking personal interest in men and women and being a true missionary doing good everywhere He went. God's closing work of saving souls will be accomplished through His Spirit rather than through human strength and ability, learning, eloquence, or the counsels of supposed sages, while He holds accountable and passes by those given great light who devote time and means to self-service and refuse to deny self and take up cross-bearing work.

On Pentecost the assembled disciples received the sound as of a rushing mighty wind and cloven tongues like as of fire, Peter spoke with mighty power that convinced sincere hearers that Christ was the Messiah, and three thousand were converted in one day, more than were converted during all the three and a half years that Christ as the greatest Teacher sowed the gospel seed with mighty signs and wonders. Those who believe in Christ are sealed by the Holy Spirit, and when men give themselves to the control of the Spirit through the exercise of faith, God works mightily through them, not depending on human learning or eloquence or earthly power but choosing humble, unlearned instruments and imparting to them the power of the Holy Spirit to give them success, showing what can be done when men are controlled by the Spirit.

Gospel ministry must follow Christlike methods and rely on God's Spirit, presenting truth plainly in love rather than trying to attract people through outward display, spectacle, theatrical methods, harsh criticism, human methods, long anecdotes, cheap fodder, politics, or uncertain ideas that mingle common fire with the sacred and close hearts. Connected closely with Christ, workers can approach people with divine wisdom, meekness, patience, gentleness, love, and earnestness, and God can move on hearts. Those who present eternal truth need the Spirit's supply, pictured as holy oil flowing from the two olive branches, so that their words reform people without exasperating them, and when truth is spoken in love the Lord Jesus supplies its force and power, for this is the Spirit's work. The holy oil must fill the heart and shape speech, for truth spoken by the Spirit can reform without provoking or wounding, while harsh words driven by self are like common fire mixed with sacred service. Workers going from place to place must keep the channel of the heart unobstructed so they constantly receive that oil, which makes them meek, tender, and lowly in heart and enables them to avoid arousing feelings of bitterness and prejudice that would close hearts against the truth. The editor is to write with a spirit shaped by the Holy Spirit, not with sharpness or harshness.

God can work through simple means, and can do great things through few as well as many, as when He brought down Jericho's walls, and when His people follow His directions He can do what they cannot, for the work is arranged so that God receives the glory and the glory belongs to Him. The testimony's success in communicating light to His people and in setting before the backslider and the sinner his true condition, exposing sin and the immense loss from continuing in it, comes not from human strength, influence, or ability but from God's Spirit. One to whom God has opened that condition by vision is held responsible according to that light to lift up the voice and show God's people their transgressions and sins.

Receiving and Imparting Daily

Receiving the golden oil requires preparation through self-examination and prayer, for the Spirit is communicated by the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth to meet the needs of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Readiness comes by humbling the heart before God, confessing sins and errors, and emptying the heart of self and selfishness and of everything out of harmony with the principles of truth. Emptying of all self in personal surrender allows the Holy Spirit to control the life, and God makes His people honorable as they die to self so that holy oil is given to prepared hearts that Christ may be all and in all. To receive it a person must take time to pray, put on the whole armor of righteousness, take heed to self and to doctrine, have the soul purified and made ready as a cleansed vessel, and learn to reveal Christ's meekness and lowliness. That supply sanctifies through obedience to the truth, cleanses from littleness and cheapness of self, conforms to God's image in beauty of holiness, perfects a Christlike character required to enter the gates of the city of God, makes believers the light of the world whose good works glorify the Father, and then heavenly messengers supply living agencies to impart treasures of truth, things new and old, to others, with Christ dwelling in the heart as a vitalizing power.

There must ever be a continual daily interchange of taking in and giving out, receiving and restoring, which links human workers together with God. The holy oil emptied by the holy messengers represented by the two olive trees into the golden tubes and bowls is received into a vessel emptied of self and prepared to receive it, and capacity for receiving is kept up only by imparting in word and action to supply the necessities of other souls. That communicating happens by spoken words, by unconscious influence felt even when no words are designedly spoken, by a word spoken as seed sown, and by the presentation of a tract or paper or literature, with the result that hearer or reader thirsts for the water of life and believers become fishers of men. Giving out expresses the truth and increases the power of taking in, and as they impart what they receive new truths continually unfold to them. Fresh supplies must come every day, all heaven waits for channels through whom the holy oil can be poured as joy and refreshing to others, and work done this way abides while Christ abides within, represents Christ in character, brings great victories without blundering, keeps a personal lamp burning to guide a wanderer more effectively than a showy procession of lights, and contributes to lasting Christian character and enduring results. Under the hardest trial no expression of unbelief is to come from the lips, self must be hidden with no thread of self-seeking, and he that will lose his life will find it.

In the work of saving souls, workers are to serve in unity with Christ and one another, labor with one mind, and plead and work for sinners, relying on the Holy Spirit rather than on themselves. When workers are thus united, the Holy Spirit works to bring about new birth, cooperates with those who recognize Him and present Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away sin, and shares Christ's travail of soul for the redemption of the world and longing for the salvation of the perishing. God's servants are channels by which light is conveyed to the world, and when believing souls minister to others by precept and example, use all ability, and multiply channels for the Spirit to work, the holy oil received by the golden tubes is emptied and conveyed to the world till all are tested and proved, and God's love flows out in good works and heartfelt service to those in darkness, error, and sin. No one is prepared as a steward of grace unless ready to minister not to those who know the truth but to those perishing in sin, and anyone who by word or action binds about the work of saving souls works against God, so all self-serving must die to serve God.

The verse applies to the latter rain, when God will give largely of His Spirit, whose quickening influence is needed. Believers are to pray fervently and continually, trust God, act in keeping with their prayers, and watch in the Spirit.

No money is to be spent extravagantly to give character to the work by outward show, for costly outlay and display, impressive buildings, costly furnishings, worldly rank, wealth, and splendor cannot give character or strength or success, which come only by the Lord's Spirit. Every shilling is to be dedicated to providing healthful rooms, healthful surroundings, and healthful food, with furniture comfortable and convenient but not costly, and all surroundings inside and outside in harmony with the teaching of Christ and the expression of faith. God gives those who keep His way power and strength to influence others for good, and they are accountable to Him as stewards for how they use entrusted talents and abilities to honor His name, with influence coming by faith working through love. Applied to building and caring for God's house, this means churches should not neglect this duty or leave buildings burdened with debt while pursuing selfish interests, for neglecting that work reflects failure to act faithfully in it, and the gospel's humble beginnings in Jesus' birth and ministry show God's way differs from competing with worldly institutions or building grand structures. Great mountains of difficulty become a plain before God's appointed builders, with the finishing headstone brought forth with shoutings of Grace, grace.

Teachers and students need the Spirit's guidance and the heavenly oil to fulfill their responsibilities, given to those who consecrate themselves to God and submit to His control. The double work to be done for those who come to sanitariums, restoring their bodies to health and quickening their souls by the living principles of the Word of God, is accomplished not by human might nor by human power but by the Spirit of the Lord. The work of carrying the message forward and reaching people does not depend on a few speakers attending every meeting or on human strength or power, but on wholly relying on God and trusting His promise through organized, sustained effort including camp-meeting mission work.

The continued existence of want and poverty is a standing memorial to this truth and a display of the riches of God's grace. It would not benefit Christianity for the Lord to remove poverty from the earth, because poverty leaves open a door for the exercise of faith and a means to reach the hearts of the afflicted by the gospel of goodness. By Christian liberality souls are reached that could be reached in no other way, as the helping hand of the gospel.

In business and institutional life faultless conduct requires a converted, consecrated heart with motives right with God, with self laid upon the altar as a living, consuming sacrifice, for the root must be holy to bear sound, healthful fruit acceptable to God. The inner lamp and inner life must be continually supplied with oil flowing from heaven from the true messengers through the golden tubes into the bowl, and then the Lord's communication never comes to man in vain. When self-seeking gives place to unselfish love and workers are clean, the golden oil emptied from the two olive branches through the golden pipes into vessels prepared to receive it is imparted to Christ's workers, so the fear of God and a sense of His goodness and holiness circulate, love and peace pervade every department, every word and work carries heaven's influence, Christ abides in humanity and humanity abides in Christ, and finite human character is replaced by the character of the infinite God. Then holy angels impress minds brought in contact with the workers, character wrought by divine power stands before the world as a witness pointing to the throne of the living God, the work moves forward with solidity and double strength with new efficiency in every line, men learn of reconciliation from iniquity brought by the Messiah through His sacrifice, the last message of warning and salvation is given with mighty power, the earth is lightened with God's glory, and the soon coming of the Lord and Saviour in power and glory is witnessed.

The golden oil is the only remedy and strength for individuals, families, churches, and institutions through entire conformity to God's will and character, requiring intense spiritual life and letting God make His own combinations and arrangements. God works through the two olive trees, His witnesses, causing them to empty the golden oil through the golden tubes into the golden bowls, His churches, and hence to the burning lamps representing His churches, and without this work no one is safe for one moment from Satan's machinations to deprave human nature and assimilate it to his corrupt principles. This oil revives the heart and the Spirit of God in human hearts, introduces a Christlike principle like leaven, and through the inspiration of God's Spirit satanic agencies are overcome.

Professed commandment-keeping people must awake and receive the holy oil from the two olive branches into vessels prepared for its reception. Receiving this oil gives a sense of work to do, causes light to shine, and produces a right example in the home, with parents taking up their God-given work for their children instead of choosing more agreeable work that lets children's minds become estranged from God.

God's work is not advanced by human might, power, ability, force, activity, hurry and bustle, or devised plans that keep the church busy yet hinder and retard the cause, but by His Spirit unto perfection. Those who counsel and plan must look to Jesus, work with all humility of mind, cooperate with God, and faithfully follow His directions, for soul-purification comes not by mere effort but by the Spirit, and judgment is according to faithfulness in following God rather than according to activity. Men in God's service who depend on human effort, wisdom, or presumption instead of God's power work on principles God cannot sanction and corrupt truth and righteousness, and God calls such workers to stop and consider because they are not working in harmony with Him and their spirit is not one with His Spirit.

The verse gives the word of the Lord for the work in which God's people are now engaged, teaching general dependence for all engaged in it: the work is not accomplished by human might or power but by God's Spirit, so all power and efficiency for service are not in self but are received from above from a higher source. Those who have the light of Bible truth must allow the Holy Spirit to work through them as they prepare the world for the coming of the Lord, and God is the source of their strength and directs the work according to His own arrangements. Receiving this message calls the church to move forward and upward in carrying the gospel to everyone and bringing souls to righteousness, while service from selfish motives bears no fruit for God's glory, believers are justified by faith and judged by works, and God's law requires obedience and condemns disobedience. God chooses thorough obedience even to walk alone like Enoch, and yielded hearts show true courtesy and sanctified action, with the Lord of hosts as their support.