Pressed With Purpose — The Journey of the Oil

“He is the fresh oil… we are the empty vessel.”

PLANTED:

Before there is fruit, before fragrance, before oil—there is a planting. And nothing God plants is accidental.

Think of a seed: tiny, fragile, tucked away in the dark. It is buried before it ever blooms. This is the beginning of our journey with God. We are planted—intentionally placed by a loving Father into the soil of surrender, into seasons we may not understand, with the full knowledge that something holy is being formed in the hiddenness.

In John 12, Mary of Bethany kneels at Jesus’ feet and pours out a costly perfume, an act born out of a planted heart—deeply rooted in love, devotion, and an understanding of who Jesus truly was. She didn’t come with logic; she came with longing. Her worship wasn’t rehearsed; it was real. She had been planted in proximity to Jesus, and out of that closeness, something beautiful began to grow.

“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” — John 12:3

Being planted is about obedience in the quiet. It’s about allowing our roots to go deep in the soil of God's Word, watered by worship, cultivated by communion with Him. Even when nothing looks like it's growing—He is growing us. A seed does not sprout overnight, and neither do we. But in that hidden soil, identity is formed. Our values are shaped. And our hearts begin to long for what heaven longs for.

PICKED:

There comes a moment when the planted seed has matured, and the Gardener bends low to harvest. We are not just planted—we are picked. Chosen. Called. Selected for a purpose greater than ourselves.

Just like plants are harvested at the height of their readiness, God calls us when we are prepared—and sometimes even when we feel far from ready. He sees the oil in us, even when we feel dry. He sees the fruit of our surrender, the fragrance of our worship, and the potential of our "yes."

Mary was picked for a purpose that transcended time. Her anointing of Jesus wasn't just an emotional moment—it was a prophetic act of preparation. She was chosen to anoint the King before His burial, and she did it not with understanding of what was to come, but with love in her heart. Her obedience became a part of the eternal story.

“The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.” — Matthew 25:4

In the parable of the ten virgins, only those who prepared their oil were ready for the bridegroom’s return. This reminds us that being picked also means being ready—full of oil, full of Him. We don’t get picked because we are perfect; we are picked because we are willing. Available. Empty vessels, ready to be filled.

God isn’t looking for perfection—He’s looking for prepared hearts.

PRESSED BY:

And then comes the pressing.

If you’ve ever held an olive in your hand, you’d never guess it contained something as rich and healing as oil. But it does—after it’s pressed. The oil doesn't come easily. It is released through pressure. Through crushing. Through surrender to the process.

Gethsemane means olive press. And it’s no coincidence that this is where Jesus went to pray the night before the cross. He was crushed—not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally—for us. In His agony, He sweat drops of blood. And in that place of pressing, He whispered the words that define our walk with God:

“Not my will, but Yours be done.” — Luke 22:42

In our lives, pressing may look like heartbreak. Grief. Disappointment. Delay. It’s in these moments that we often cry, “Where are You, God?” But the pressing is not a punishment. It is a preparation.

In fact, the most fragrant oil is released through the greatest pressure.

Just like Mary, we may come to Jesus broken. And just like Mary, we are invited to lay it all down. She came not once, but twice, to sit at His feet—bringing sorrow, yes, but also bringing surrender. She knew her healing wasn’t in understanding the future. It was in worshiping the One who held it.

“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” — Luke 22:44

God uses the pressing to pour out something holy from within us. Our tears are caught by the One who wept. Our pain is seen by the One who bled. And our surrender is met with His anointing.

The pressing is sacred ground. Do not despise it. The olive does not fight the press—it yields. So must we.

A HEART TO HOLD ONTO…

Let this sink in, dear friend:

You are planted in purpose.

You are picked with love.

You are pressed with intention.

And it is all preparing you for something eternal. Something beautiful. Something only Heaven could write.

So stay rooted. Stay close to Jesus. Bring your brokenness to His feet like Mary. Let the fragrance of your life be worship poured out—not just in the moments you understand, but especially in the moments you don’t.

There is oil in your pressing. There is glory in your groaning. There is purpose in your planting.

He is the Fresh Oil.

You are the Empty Vessel. PURIFIED WITH:

Once the oil has been pressed, it is not ready for use until it is purified. The extraction is only the beginning. Impurities must be removed. Residue sifted. The process of purification ensures the oil is clean, concentrated, and made effective for its holy purpose.

This purification process is the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work in our lives. It’s the fire of refinement, the gentle conviction, the daily invitation to become more like Jesus—not out of striving, but out of surrender.

Purification is not punishment; it is preparation. It is the hand of a loving Father making sure we are vessels of purity, ready to carry the weight of His glory without distortion. It's where the unnecessary is stripped away and only what reflects Him remains.

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” — 2 Corinthians 1:21–22

You may feel like you're in a fire right now. You may feel like everything is being stripped away. But could it be, beloved, that God is not taking something from you—He's removing what doesn't belong? Could it be that He's refining your heart so that when people see you, they see Him?

Just like the anointing oil in the Old Testament was made with the purest ingredients, we too are being purified, not for perfection’s sake, but for presence. The presence of the Holy Spirit desires a holy dwelling place. Not one of flawlessness, but of yieldedness. A vessel that says, “Cleanse me, Lord. I want more of You.”

PURPOSED FOR:

Oil was never made to stay in a jar.

It was never intended to sit on a shelf.

Oil is meant to be used—for healing, for consecration, for worship, for light. The same is true for your life. You were purified for purpose. You were set apart not just to be holy—but to be used by God.

The oil that flowed from Mary’s jar didn’t just bless Jesus—it filled the entire room with fragrance. Her worship became a witness. Her sacrifice left a scent that lingered. This is what happens when we walk in our God-given purpose. It overflows. It touches others. It glorifies Jesus.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners… to set the oppressed free.” — Luke 4:18

Jesus was anointed for a purpose: to bring good news, to bind up broken hearts, to set captives free. And now, we carry that same Spirit. His anointing empowers us to walk in compassion, to love when it’s inconvenient, to speak truth with grace, and to shine light in the darkness.

Friend, you are not random.

You are not forgotten.

You are anointed with heaven’s oil for such a time as this.

You may not be holding a microphone, but your prayer life shifts things in the Spirit.

You may not be seen, but your obedience echoes in eternity.

You may not feel strong, but the anointing breaks yokes, not your strength.

Don’t underestimate the oil you carry. Don’t bury your jar.

There is purpose in your pain. There is meaning in your worship. There is power in your “yes.”

PROTECTED BY:

After the oil is purified and set apart, it becomes something sacred—something worth protecting.

In ancient times, oil was used not only for anointing, but also for protection. Shepherds would pour oil on the heads of sheep to prevent insects from burrowing into their ears. Oil was applied to wounds for healing. Kings were anointed with oil to signify divine covering and authority.

The same is true in your walk with God. His anointing on your life is your protection. The Holy Spirit is your seal, your guide, your comforter, and your defense.

“You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured on me.” — Psalm 92:10

We are protected not because we are strong, but because we are anointed.

We are protected not because the road is easy, but because our Shepherd walks with us.

And when the enemy comes—when fear creeps in, when lies swirl around, when discouragement knocks—we don’t fight in our own strength. We rest in the covering of our anointing. We stand under the wings of the Almighty. We remember that we are consecrated, chosen, and protected.

The anointing on your life will make you a target for warfare. But it will also be your weapon. Your intimacy with Jesus, your daily surrender, your quiet obedience—this is what builds a shield of fire around your heart. This is what crushes darkness. This is what keeps your lamp burning when others go dim.

You are protected by the One who calls you His own. And nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate you from His love.

HE IS THE FRESH OIL… WE ARE THE EMPTY VESSELS

Let’s return to the widow in 2 Kings 4:1–7. All she had was a small jar of oil. It wasn’t enough in her eyes. But when she brought her emptiness to the Lord and began pouring in faith, the oil flowed.

Friend, the miracle was in the empty vessels. The oil did not pour until the vessels were gathered, prepared, and empty.

“A full Christ is for empty sinners, and for empty sinners only…” — Charles Spurgeon

We often think we need to bring God our strength. But He invites us to bring Him our surrender.

He is the Fresh Oil—eternally flowing, perfectly pure, always sufficient.

We are the Empty Vessel—needy, desperate, and ready to be filled.

The more we empty ourselves of pride, fear, and self-reliance, the more He pours.

The more we yield, the more He fills.

And as long as we remain positioned in faith, the oil does not stop.

A FINAL INVITATION

Let’s be like the wise virgins in Matthew 25—lamps trimmed, hearts full, oil stored up through daily intimacy with God. The secret to being ready is staying filled. Prayer. Worship. The Word. Stillness. Surrender.

“Do not get drunk on wine… Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” — Ephesians 5:18

Jesus is coming back for a bride who is burning with love and overflowing with oil.

So if you feel planted, stay rooted.

If you feel picked, say “yes.”

If you feel pressed, let it pour.

If you're being purified, lean in.

If you're being purposed, walk boldly.

If you're weary, rest in your protection.

You are part of the sacred process.

You are His vessel.

You are His delight.

Let the oil flow. Let it fragrance the world.