Week 17: Last week we read the Baptism of the Holy Ghost

A Study on the Holy Ghost

̶ Week 17 of 38 ̶

By David Wilson

Symbols of the Holy Ghost

Four principal symbols for the Holy Ghost appear in the Bible as seen in the following passages:

Oil:

Matthew 25:4, 8

⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, ‘Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.’

Here we see that the ten were virgins, meaning they were church members or believers. The “oil” denotes the Holy Ghost. While the bridegroom tarried, all slumbered and slept; then the cry went out to prepare to meet the bridegroom. When they “arose”—indicating the rapture—we find half of the church was backslidden.

The oil stands for the Holy Ghost just as the virgins are a symbol for salvation. We can’t be misled, thinking the oil represents God’s spirit. You don’t have to have the Holy Ghost to go to heaven. In this passage, when a person begins to backslide, the Holy Ghost (the oil in the virgins’ lamps) leaves first. Then, because of sin, they turn their back on God. A believer can lose the Holy Ghost but keep their salvation. That which is used, develops, while that which is not used, wastes away. One of our greatest concerns should be not allowing ourselves to spiritually “go to sleep.” For the Son of Man cometh in an hour that you think not, therefore watch and pray so that day takes you not unaware.

As the oil represents the Holy Ghost, it also represents the anointing, for as oil was used to anoint kings, it was also used to anoint vessels to the service of the Lord. To be filled with the Holy Ghost is to be “anointed” into God’s service. In the Old Testament, the anointing represents a divine dedication and a consecration to a holy office. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we have been anointed by God to be preachers, teachers and intercessors before God for the lost and the dying.

(Next week we will read about more symbols of the Holy Ghost.

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