TEXT - Revelation 6:5-6
(Watch the archived sermon, from these notes, at the end of this post below.)
Hurt Not the Oil and the Wine! This was revealed with the opening of the seals, particularly the 3rd seal.
From the text; It was the most difficult time of church history, the dark ages, when it seemed as if all hope was gone for the little true flock of God. It was a midnight time for the true church. The false church with the state behind it was charging for the hope of life.
The beast [Living creature (Ezk 1:9), with the face of a man, before the throne of God], says, "come and see." A black horse with a rider having a pair of balances in his hand appears. And another voice in the midst of the four beast (the Lamb), saying; "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine."
Oil and wine are associated together.
Oil represents, the Holy Spirit. (Lev 8:12, Zech 4:12, Matt 25.)
Wine represents, stimulation of revelation. (Acts 2)
ACTS 2
They were stimulated by revelation. What stimulated them? The Holy Spirit, which is the Word. John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
This didn't happen in the Old Testament, but now at the birth of the New Testament church.
What took place in Acts 2, was not a bunch f confusions, fanaticism and disorder. The Holy Spirit does not work that way. It is always in order! Yes, they were stimulated as wine stimulates the senses of a human body. But more importantly, their soul was stimulated, their life was changed. Your "five senses" do not save you, however, they do show that natural life is there, not necessarily Spiritual life. This stimulation has to go deeper!
Stimulation, is to encourage something such as an activity or a process so that it will begin, increase, or develop.
THE 3RD SEAL - William Branham
"When the truth of a promised Word of God has been truly revealed to His saints that's filled with oil, they all get stimulated. Wine is a stimulation. Glory, I feel it right now, stimulated with joy, shouts. And when it does, it has the same effect upon them that--that wine does upon a natural man; because when the revelation has been given of a truth of God, and the true believer filled with oil, and the revelation is revealed, the stimulation becomes so great that it makes him behave hisself unnormally. That's right. Glory. Maybe that's what's the matter with them now. That's right. It makes them behave theirself unseemingly."
EXAMPLES OF NATURAL STIMULUS
Wine will stimulate in a physical way, a ball game or party will stimulate people, vitamins and medicine all stimulate in a physical way, for a purpose, or because of a reason needed.
It makes a person happy, full of joy and can activate certain physical responses that can be good, or bad. Too much or too little stimulus can be bad for you physically. It is really stress working in the body. Without stress (tension, the five senses, good and bad) we would never have become a Christian, we would just be a rag doll.
SPIRITUALLY
The Holy Spirit is our stimulus and that is the Word.
Notice: It can be there and you as a Christian dry up spiritually or react with fanaticism.
EXAMINING ACTS 2
When the Holy Ghost came upon the 120 Jews in the upper room, the whole atmosphere around them changed, being in one accord.
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
They were happy, full of joy as they obviously came out of the upper room with great boldness. Speaking in other languages of which those that were from those other regions understood. Perhaps, glorifying God before the people that came together.
Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine (drunk). Happiness and joy, with a new found boldness, and what some considered gibberish talking, cause some to mock.
However, the 120 were completely in order, as Peter declared to the people what was taking place, scripturally.
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,...
With the stimulation of the Holy Ghost, he preached, sanely, and sensible in harmony with the Old Testament prophets. Regardless of how he felt in a physical way, he and they were under control of their own senses.
THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
Another examples of stimulation of revelation - the woman at the well - she ran to the city and told the men... They knew something had happen, not just because of her testimony. They knew something had happened to the woman, she was changed!
What does this stimulation of revelation do now? Was that only for the early disciples? No, it for as many as the LORD will Call. It will activate you in a positive way. To respond to the revealed Word the same, with happiness, joy and boldness!
THE 3RD SEAL - William Branham
"When I see that God promised to do a certain thing in this day, when He promised to break off these Seals in this last day, and you don't know the joy, the glory, when I seen Him reveal this, stand there and watch it happen, and know that I'll take any person or charge, He never did say one thing to us but what happened that way. And then to see the joy that's in my heart when I see His promise for this last days as He promised to do it, and here I see it vindicated and made perfectly right."
STIMULATION OF REVELATION PUTS YOU INTO ACTION
It will put you into action - it will get the train moving down the track, and not just blow the steam out of the whistle!
With the Holy Ghost stimulation; it does not mean you will be UP spiritually all the time. Life goes through cycles, churches do the same. But it will continue to be there (stimulation) to motivate you positively whether you or the church is up or down. To overcome, is an action, and is a stimulation.
Ruth and Orpah are examples. Ruth was stimulated to go with Naomi, regardless of the difficulties around them. Orpah, went back.
People that stay the course, through the good and the bad are people that are stimulated by revelation and are blessed. People do not understand that.
Marriage is the same. Don't jump ship in the storm, even if it looks calm on the shore. Stimulation of revelation will hold - that is an action.
Note: This was preached Wednesday 3-2-2022 - View the archived service below.
Pastor Bill Ivy - Living Word Tabernacle, Campbell Missouri - billivy@livingwordtabernacle.com