Keep Pressing!
Olive press
We all want the anointing oil of the LORD to flow out of our lives, and we know it takes the pressing of the olive. But, we ask ourselves,"What is it going to take to get it? What level of sacrifice do I have to endure?" We identify with physical, emotional, mental, and even social pain. And we endure it all to receive the oil. While this may be an element of the press, it is NOT the press that releases the oil. Shocking? Not really.
Our example is are the Israelites in the wilderness. We all know that the generation that saw God's mighty hand deliver them from Egypt would not make it into the promised land because of their unbelief. But, do we know they never lacked anything? In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses gives the people an account of their 40-year journey in the wilderness. And although those who drew back in fear did not experience the land flowing with milk and honey, they did not want for anything, "For the LORD your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; YOU HAVE NOT LACKED A THING"' (Deuteronomy 2:7, New American Standard Bible). Let that sink in. They. Lacked. No Thing.
So if the press is not physical struggle with finances, health, etc., then, what is it? It is the pressing of your faith. It is like Peter when he walked on water knowing that naturally, he could not. It's like the disciples that went out without any provision for their comfort and believed God beyond what was comfortable and saw demons subject to them! It's the pressing of faith beyond familiar knowledge and understanding, through doubt and unbelief, and into the supernatural.
Above is the picture of an ancient olive press that was used in Biblical times. You can see the basket where the olives would be, and you can see the massive stone that was used to "press" the oil out of them. The olive had to literally be crushed for the precious oil to be released. It was pressed beyond recognition. When Saul who became Paul experienced his transformation, he talks about this, "And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom..."(1 Corinthians 2:1 NASB). Now, what you may not know about Paul is that he could have come with superiority of speech. He was a natural born Roman citizen who was a doctor of the Law of Moses, in line to be one of the elite members of the Sanhedrin. His education was stellar. But he did not rely on his education, "I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power," (1 Corinthians 2:3-4 NASB). Why did he lay aside everything that was familiar to him his entire life to minister to these people?! For one reason, "...so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:5 NASB).
To rely solely on human wisdom and knowledge stifles you from learning to walk in the Spirit. TO BE CLEAR, this is not to say that you forget what you've learned in your life, nor that you do not need to continue to grow in the understanding of the Word. It is to say, however, that without the Spirit the word will never produce life, and it is a press to reach into the supernatural beyond familiar knowledge and understanding.
HOW DO YOU MAKE THE TRANSITION? Take baby steps. Use your faith on the smallest of things, even though it may feel foolish and beyond natural reason. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how to follow His leading. The more you do that, the more you will be able to use your faith on bigger things and see the salvation of the LORD. But know that it is a PRESS or a FIGHT of faith.
DON'T RELENT, DON'T WITHDRAW! KEEP PRESSING!
