Occupy Until I Come by Brother Curtis Hansen

         Good morning. If you would, turn to the book of Luke and the 19th chapter. We will start reading with verse 11.

        11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

        Jesus often used parables in speaking to crowds or to his disciples. He would use them in context they could understand and knew in the world at the time to teach heavenly truths to them. There is a way that heaven works which God wants you to reflect to others here on earth. We are going to read this parable of the idle pound as it expands what I said regarding reflecting heavenly truths here on earth.

        Everyone in life is designated for an assignment. Your assignment, your calling did not manifest in your life when you just walked into a church. It was there even before you were born. This goes into what is more commonly known as predestination. Jesus the man explained eternity. Jesus the word explains how to live life on earth. What did Jesus teach? He taught how heaven functions.

        12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

        13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

        14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

        15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

        The nobleman wants to look at his return of investment there in verse 15. Our daily struggle is not to win. Why is that? Jesus already beat everything. Your battle and my battle is not to win, it is to occupy until he returns. Jesus beat death, through the cross and resurrection. You and I are only here to occupy. The struggles and difficulties we face are occupational related. If in your walk, you are just praying for deliverance, you will never receive the victory. You're being short sighted in your prayers.

        16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

        17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.

        18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

        19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

        If you can handle a little and increase it tenfold, you can handle more responsibility. In handling a little, it shows God you can do the small things. Take care of that business. In return, God will give you a larger portion to handle. Whatever you are assigned, you are given by God is up to you to grow it for the kingdom.

        20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin.

        21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takes up that thou laid not down, and reaps that thou didst not sow.

        The third man is ignorant of the instruction. What he was told, he willfully ignored and has nothing to show as a result. The man flatters the nobleman but because he doesn't know the basics on earth hr doesn't know heavenly truths.

        22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

        23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

        That word usury is another name for interest. The problem isn't in what you did but why.

        24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

        25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

        26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

        27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

        Let's go back to verse 15 and ask yourself a question this morning. Are you using what God has given you? If you can't do the minimum of what he requires of you in a small setting, you won't gain the increase or extra responsibilities. Fearful servants are cast out. If you don't love what the word says, you assuredly won't live what's in heaven. How can you expect God to deliver you or give you an answer to a problem when you don't even know the sound of his voice?

        Let's speak about faithfulness. You need to exercise your faith. Big doors swing on small hinges. Do you take care of what you already have? If you can't care for what you are already in charge of, you're not promised more in the future. You can't give God 10% in the church and expect him to show for you 100% in your life. This also extends to time spent in the word, study, fasting, tithes, anything where you spend that time you reap in reward.

        There are two ways information is passed. 1) You have a mentor who you work under and learn the process and rules of something. 2) You work by trial and error. Trial and error is putting out fires, cleaning up messes that you make in life before you achieve some form of success. You have to deal with the consequences of your mistakes.

        How do you occupy? You build on your faith. Turn to Ecclesiastes chapter 9 and verse 10.

        10 Whatsoever thy hand finder to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, wither thou goest.

        Whatever you do, take pride in your work. Put your whole effort into it and not just a half measure. When you get the rules or the assignment, you need to know if you can have faith to run it.