THE OLIVE... Olive tree is an ever-green tree, bearing edible fruits that are often crushed and squeezed, oil extracted and stored in vats. It is still used today for the finest cabinetwork. The tree grows very slowly, but it attains a great age. The Mount of Olives is a hill to the East of Jerusalem and the Kidron Valley. The mount gained its name from extensive olive groves, which were famous in the ancient world. Olive Oil is a substance most commonly produced from the olive berry. Oil was used primarily in cooking, but additionally as a cosmetic for the body, for medicinal purposes, as a source of light and for anointing kings and priests. Governor Zerubbabel of Jerusalem had started to rebuild the temple, so God had a Word of encouragement for him through Prophet Zechariah’s vision: The first object that he sees is a solid gold lamp stand with a bowl on its top in which seven lights are burning. The lamp burns continuously because it has unlimited reservoir of oil. Standing on either side of the lamp stand are two olive trees! Noteworthy is the processes that olive goes through before extracting oil. Despite the uphill task that your accomplishment must require, God’s message is “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit”... Zechariah 4: 6b (NIV). Where the press was used, the pulp initially produced by the press was often subjected to further extensive pressing. Stone presses were set up to process the quantities of berries available at the Mount of Olives. The word for “oil press” was gatt-semen, hence the name Gethsemane. This building task seems like a mighty mountain that cannot be levelled with mere human strength or resources. There is a hand of God working out the strength of a child of the kingdom. In every situation, Zerubbabel can be assured that no height is so great that God cannot level it with the workings of His Spirit. The task will be accomplished despite all difficulties and oppositions he had encountered in the past. “Then the people around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building” Ezra 4: 4 (NIV). No aim at true accomplishment can by-pass the process therewith- Jesus Christ is the process! His sacrifice, His tears, His pains, His denials at Gethsemane is the process! Jesus signifies the bowl that has the graces and the oil: There is no alternative to godliness- the graces to accomplish godliness leads to divine favour! These graces must be processed in your life on a daily basis. The more you are able to submit to discipleship, the more you progress in godliness. The more you behold the teachings at the feet of Christ, the more The Lord’s glory is being transformed in your life into His likeness. Christian, you must allow God through spiritual leadership to massage these graces into you; only by these processes will the spices from the olive trees beautify your life. These graces produce ...“perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint you”...Romans 5: 4&5a (NIV). Friend, human efforts without The Holy Spirit will burn itself out. He alone provides power for the Church, for the individual in ministry. The image of a lamp stand reminds us that we are called to be light bearers as witnesses of God in our world. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.... let your light shine before men”... Matthew 5: 14-16 (NIV). I summon God’s process to be fulfilled in the life of this reader! I summon God’s Word to be sure and His prophesies to come into reality! The workings of heaven for you are coming to manifestation. A life is truly a life when it affects others! Lord, make me a channel of graces. God is the source of the two anointed olives- Your source is divine because at Gethsemane, Christ settled this with the Father! If you have not known Jesus, let Him find you to rescue- He is the bowl. All that pertains to life and godliness is in Him! He is Jesus! ...“there is hope for a tree...yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant” Job 14: 7-9 (NIV). Any man found in Christ receives the true gifts that their glory fades not. ...“Because You will not abandon me to the grave nor will You let your Holy One see decay” Acts 2: 27 (NIV). ayanfeLAMPROS. NOTE: TNCBC (The New Covenant Baptist Church) NIV (New International Version)