Title: Occupy Until He Returns
Memorize: So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ Luke 19:13 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading (Nkjv): Joshua 13:1-6
[1] Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the Lord said to him: “You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed.
[2] This is the land that yet remains: all the territory of the Philistines and all that of the Geshurites,
[3] from Sihor, which is east of Egypt, as far as the border of Ekron northward (which is counted as Canaanite); the five lords of the Philistines—the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites;
[4]from the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians as far as Aphek, to the border of the Amorites;
[5] the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon as far as the entrance to Hamath;
[6] all the inhabitants of the mountains from Lebanon as far as the Brook Misrephoth, and all the Sidonians—them I will drive out from before the children of Israel; only divide it by lot to Israel as an inheritance, as I have commanded you.
Message:
Sometimes, we think the word ‘occupy’ means ‘to be busy’ alone, but it is more than that. We must not keep ourselves ‘busy’ doing nothing substantial.
In our text, God did an assessment of how the children of Israel had possessed the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership, and His verdict was that it was below His expectation. This should be food for thought for the Church today.
In the same vein, when Jesus Christ said that we should go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature, He was actually saying that we should occupy the land so as to establish His reign on earth.
It is beyond keeping ourselves busy with Church activities; it is reaching out and preaching to as many souls as possible.
Beloved, how are you occupying while awaiting Jesus’ second coming? We must take back the nations for Jesus – you and me.
Reflection:
When last did you win a soul for Jesus?
HYMN 8 – FORTH IN YOUR NAME, O LORD, I GO,
1. Forth in your name, O Lord, I go,
My daily labor to pursue,
You only, Lord, resolved to know
In all I think or speak or do.
2. The task your wisdom has assigned
Here let me cheerfully fulfill;
In all my work your presence find,
And prove your good and perfect will.
3. You may I set at my right hand,
Whose eyes my inmost secrets view,
And labor on at your command
And offer all my work to you.
4. Help me to bear your easy yoke
In ev’ry moment watch and pray,
And still to things eternal look
And hasten to that glorious day.
5. Then with delight may I employ
All that your bounteous grace has given,
And run my earthly course with joy,
And closely walk with you in heaven.
Bible Reading In One Year: Matthew 23-24
AUTHORS: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE