More Oil & Vinegar

by Ken Pullen

ACP

Saturday, September 5th, Two Thousand & Fifteen In The Year of Our Lord

Oil and vinegar do not mix. Are not by their composition compatible. Oh, yes, if emulsified by man they make a delicious and healthy dressing for salads, but by their very nature oil and vinegar do not, cannot be mixed. Man must use extreme force and constant stirring, shaking, mayhem in order to even get them somewhat together on a very temporary basis. Even then, if truly examined, one would clearly see no oil truly mixed with any vinegar — each of its own merely suspends for a time near its opposite which it is repealed by. The characteristics of oil and vinegar are oil is thicker, of more substance and lasts longer. It does not evaporate as does vinegar. Oil lubricates. Oil quenches. Oil, also while being of more substance, still rises above vinegar consistently. Every time. Always has. Always will. Oil always is above vinegar. And while the pressing of the grapes can make good wine, when left open to the yeasts and bacteria encircling this world the good pressing turns acidic and becomes bitter, turns to vinegar by its very exposure to this world.

Oil throughout the Scriptures represents the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit of God poured out onto those who believe, follow, and obey in faith.

Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Psalm 45:7 — King James Version

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Hebrews 1:9 — King James Version

But ye have an unction [anointing] from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

1 John 2:20 — King James Version

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Matthew 25:1-13 — King James Version

Vinegar, soured, acidic wine to intoxicate and confuse is what the world laughingly in its mocking manner thinking itself clever offered up to God dying on the tree while He forgave them their sins — if only they would acknowledge them and ask forgiveness and turn to Him. But, no, they offered Him vinegar, soured wine mingled with myrrh or wormwood, which was the custom to cause stupefying qualities — the custom was to give the condemned this mixture so they might not be sensible of the pain and misery they were about to endure. Also, every Roman solider was given vinegar, soured wine in their rations as the common belief was vinegar lengthened ones life, and it can be said they not only offered our Lord this mixture as a way for the world to interfere in the total pain the Lord endured on the tree taking on the sins of every person, but it was to also appease their conscious while also attempting to prolong His misery;

They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

Matthew 27:34 — King James Version

And He did not take it. Because Oil and vinegar do not have any part of one another. By their very nature in what we know as oil and vinegar, and by the very nature attributed to those elements when discussing them in a spiritual context. At least the Lord did not take this particular mixture of vinegar which was offered to Him.

By my nature I am quick to become intense. Much more intense than many people. It is my nature. How God created me. The temperament in which God created me. Now this temperament can be used in the service of God and Jesus, or it can be used carnally of the world. I pray each day to God our Father to make me of His use, an instrument of His and His Son, Jesus Christ the Lord’s use.

Yet at times when I am encountered with the darkness all about us I at times do not react gently, tenderly, with patience as I am instructed to do. I also at first instance tend to forget a foolish person will never be changed by my words, my intensity, my passion and zeal and faith. Only the power of the Spirit of God can move in a foolish person and make the deaf hear, the blind to see, taking them from the utter darkness they walk in to bring them humbled before God repenting of their sins, asking forgiveness, and committing their life to Jesus Christ the Lord. No man or woman can work this grace, this mercy, this forgiveness and salvation of God. We can only be the salt of the earth, that light on a hill for the glory of God to be seen in us and have those seeing the light give God our Father honor and glory. Not us. We can be examples. Good stewards. We can preach and exhort. But even all of that may not be enough.

So we must always know and turn to and rely upon prayer.

I tend to forget this in the throes of verbal tennis. I am getting better at this lately, all thanks to God our Father by removing more of my self and not resorting to my base nature and allowing the Spirit of God to use me for His service in His manner. Also, after receiving and reading an article about dealing with foolish people, which is posted here on ACP I am referring in my heart and mind to what it reminds me of and not resorting to a lower level, my of human nature level as frequently — Dealing With Foolish People — By Mary Whelchel

This brings us to what motivated me to write this.

There was a time not long ago a couple of Satan’s minions engaged me in almost daily sparing here on ACP. They were totally contentious types, who later on admitted as much, first coming under the guise of asking innocent questions and thinking themselves so wise and cunning. The following is not a direct quote but paraphrasing to condense the gist of their initial comments; “Oh, it’s just innocent discussion, because you come off as being so superior, and we’re all just good people here doing the best we can, it’s you high and mighty holy rollers thinking you’re so righteous and holy and so superior that causes us all the problems we have.”

Later on when I was direct and said they were never truly questioning and only appeared here to cause contention and distractions and do the work of their master did they eventually capitulate and leave.

We must recognize evil and call it for what it is. No matter where. No matter in who or what. We cannot allow the vinegar to attempt to enter in and vigorously be stirred in among the oil causing confusion and making it hard to distinguish one from the other — truth vs. the lie, the right-ness of God vs. the evil of this world.

Recently what began as another mundane, keeping it light, trivial, being banal conversation with a relative of mine through marriage turned to a conversation of beliefs.

I was in an intense mood. Wasn’t in a mood to be light and abide fools easily this particular day.

And the conversation somehow took a turn to where we were discussing how utterly mad and crazy the world has become. How terrible things, gruesome and horrific things are every day commonplace occurrences now and the people are numb to them. Status quo. Due to the erosion of morals, ethics, principals, and our nation turning from God and Jesus and the Bible.

My relative through marriage said, “I blame it all on religion, if it wasn’t for religion none of this would be happening.”

That is one of the greatest lies and signs of massive ingrained ignorance the world has swallowed and regurgitates regularly.

I then said to him, “Do you even know what the fastest growing religion in America is?”

And he did not.

I said, “It is witchcraft, sorcery, demonic worship.”

To which the ignorant fool replied, “NOW THAT’S A RELIGION I CAN GET BEHIND!”

And the discussion escalated from that point to where the visit was cut short.

it did not matter anything that was said. I called him foolish for his ignorant and foolish statement and he was not going to hear anything else I said.

Oil and vinegar cannot and do not and never will mix.

In the course of this brief conversation he came back at me at one point saying, “So you think you’re smarter, your the smart one and anyone who doesn’t agree with you is dumb!”

I said, “No, I’m not really that smart at all. It is only through the working of the Holy Spirit in me through my faith and service to God and Jesus I know what I know. Not of my doing or my power, but through the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal things to those who have faith and believe upon God and Jesus as the living son of God. I believe every single word in the Bible. I do not rely on the foolishness, the failed knowledge of man.”

To which he had no understanding in his darkened worldly knowledge relying solely upon his failed worldly wisdom, so what I said only angered him further, and in short order he and his wife were on their way.

Each of us living daily as disciples of Jesus Christ the Lord need to increase our faith, increase our spiritual wisdom and understanding, increase ourselves in the ways and will of the Lord by turning to His inerrant Word and away from our selves, away from this world.

We need to be anointed in the oil of God’s right-ness, anointed in the oil of the Holy Spirit of God to know and do His will here on earth. Each as we are measured by the Lord our God.

May we not become vinegar. May we not take the world’s mixture of vinegar and gall.

May we remain pure and growing in the understanding and faith of Almighty God and Jesus Christ the Lord in these darkened and evermore darkening days.

May we not waver or fall or fail, but fight the good fight and win the battle. Putting on the full armor of the Word of God and increasing in our strength by His might, His Spirit indwelling us.

May we not become ensnared by or with the foolish, with this world, but know, know in our hearts and spirits by and because of the Holy Spirit in us, and may we stand boldly for the Lord for the days grow more wicked and we must grow more strong in Him.

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice in sufferings, trials, and tribulations. Rejoice in doing the works of the Lord and living in His will, His Word. Keeping our eyes, our hearts looking upward on heavenly, spiritual matters not becoming blemished by this world. Found pure and strong upon His return no matter what we must endure for His name’s sake.

Anoint yourself in the living Word of God.

Remove yourself from the bitter, stupefying qualities of this world.