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OCCUPYING TILL CHRIST COMES

Introduction

In our text, we have one of the many parables of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ. Jesus used parables a lot in His teaching and preaching. In fact, it is recorded in Matthew 13:10 that His disciples even asked Him, "Why speaketh unto them in parables?" Jesus answered them by saying, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

i.e. He was telling them that the mysteries of the kingdom were for the spiritual man not the natural man. He taught in parables to hide truth from those who refused to believe Him.

A parable is a short story that is told to illustrate a truth. Some have said that Jesus’ parables are “earthly stories with heavenly meanings.”

The word “parable” means “to lay something along side another” referring to a comparison where one thing is compared with another, especially spiritual things with natural things, by which means those spiritual things are better understood, and make a deeper impression on an honest and attentive mind.

In this parable before us this evening, one of the truths that our LORD was trying to show his disciples was that the kingdom of God would be delayed. You will recall that the disciples asked Christ, in Acts 1:6 prior to His Ascension, "Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"

The Lord uses this parable not only to teach that the kingdom of God would be delayed, but also to teach what is expected of His servants while He is away.

Even though the kingdom of God would not come immediately, the disciples were admonished in the latter part of verse l3, to "Occupy till I come."

And, by the way that admonishment extends to us also!

I want to title the message tonight, "Occupying Till Christ Comes!" In this story, we see that the certain nobleman in vs 12, gave each of His ten servants one pound and then told them, "Occupy till I come."

The nobleman is representative of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ, by His Holy Spirit, gives each believer gifts and abilities with which to serve Him with.

When the nobleman returned, he desired to know how his servants had prospered. The first servant, having his one pound, had gained ten other pounds.

The second servant came, who also had one pound when his master had left, and he had gained five pounds.

But the last servant, having the same one pound, came and had not gained anything. But rather had laid up his pound in a napkin for fear of the nobleman.

When we lay this story along side of our lives as the servants of Christ, we need to understand that there will come a time when we will have to give an account to our LORD for the things He has given us responsibility over.

2 Corinthians 5:10 says, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

So it is of vital importance that we "Occupy till He Comes!" However, it is very easy for someone to misinterpret what the Lord is saying here.

Many times we confuse the definitions of words. The word “occupy,” here means “to be gainfully employed or to busy oneself with” Don’t confuse it with another definition of the same word that simply means “taking up space.”

There is a big difference between the two definitions. It should be obvious from the context here that we are to be doing more than just occupying space and sitting idly by waiting for the return of Jesus!

The context of the word “occupy” shows that we are to be busy about the Lord’s work, using what He has given us for His gain while He is in the far country.

We are to be gainfully occupied, that is, we are to be busy in His service!

Those servants who are faithful to work wisely and further that which has been entrusted to them will be rewarded! While those who do not work for the name of Christ, and the furthering of His Gospel will lose the reward that could have been theirs.

Notice we are talking of rewards and not salvation. Each of the servants in this parable were already servants of the master. No matter how they used the gifts of the master they were still his servants in the end.

Each of us who are truly saved are indeed Christ’s servants and what we do here will not change that. We did not employ ourselves with Him but in grace He made us His own. And what we do or fail to do had no bearing on our position. Only the rewards can be affected!

But the question is how do we do this? How do we occupy till Christ Comes? What are we to be busying ourselves with?

I.            WE NEED TO BE BUSY SERVING THE LORD WITH FEAR AND LOVE!

These servants were to be living their lives in anticipation and expectation of their Master returning! (Vs 12)

Not only that, but their Master made it clear that they were to be busy in His absence! (Vs 13)

So, two things should come to mind that served to motivate these servants.

                            1.          Their Fear Of The Master!

                            2.          Their Love For The Master!

The Master that I love is coming! I want to be ready because I want Him to be pleased with me!

               The Lord has always sought His servants love and fear!

Deuteronomy 6:4–“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

Moses told the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 6:13, “Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.”

Deuteronomy 13:4–“Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.”

Joshua also told them after they were in possession of Canaan in Joshua 24:14–“Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth:”

The prophet Samuel told them again in 1 Samuel 12:24–“Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.”

               Psalms 2:11–“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”

               A.         Our Fear Of The Lord Should Cause Us To Be Busy!

                             (Hebrews 12:25-29).

               B.         Our Love For Christ Should Cause Us To Be Obedient!

                            (i.e. busy with the things he told us to be busy with!)

                            (John 14:15, 23; 15:10, 14-16).

WE NEED TO BE BUSY SERVING THE LORD WITH FEAR AND LOVE!

II.           WE NEED TO BE BUSY EARNESTLY CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH! (Jude 3; Philippians 1:27-29)

Jude 3–“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

Philippians 1:27-29–“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;”

               A.        Our Warfare Is REAL! (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

                            It may be a spiritual warfare, but it is nevertheless real!

2 Corinthians 10:3-5–“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Ephesians 6:10-13–“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

We must not let Satan and his forces win the spiritual battle in our generation!

1 Corinthians 9:16-17–“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.”

As 1 Corinthians 16:13, 14 tells us, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done in charity".

                            Our Warfare Is REAL!

               B.        Our Witness Is REQUIRED!

Acts 1:8–“. . . ye shall be witnesses unto me. . .”

Matthew 28:19–“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations. . .”

Mark 16:15–“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Psalms 107:2–“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;”

1 Peter 3:15–“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

WE NEED TO BE BUSY SERVING THE LORD WITH FEAR AND LOVE. . .EARNESTLY CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH. . .

III.         WE NEED TO BE BUSY SHOWING FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE! (Philippians 2:12-16)

                A.      Our Mission!

                            Notice those words in vs 16—“Holding forth the word of life…” This is our MAIN mission, without it this generation IS DOOMED!

                            We must let the Light shine in a sin-darkened world

                            (Matthew 5:13-16)

               B.      Our Motivation!

What motivates us to show forth the Word of life?

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 tells us, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

Conclusion

Paul told the Church at Corinth, in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “…My beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Are you "Occupying" till He Comes? Are you busy about the things of God?

Are you doing the things the LORD would have you to do?

Christian, are you doing your part in the ministry of this Church?

This Church is only as strong as its weakest member!

Ask yourself, “What kind of Church would this Church be, If every member was just like me?”

What if you are not saved? Where do you fit in parable? Look at verse 14 and 27. If you continue to refuse the LORD it will not be well with you!

For the death that you will suffer is called the second death in the Lake of fire!

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!