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LUKE 19:11-20, 27
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.
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.
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 thou 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.
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Occupy...
- “Keep busy with...”
- “Take up all the available space...”
- “March into another’s territory by military force for the purposes of conquest and occupation...”
- “Consume all of one’s attention or time...”
- This is our Master’s command to His servants – His followers, the ones He trusted with His resources. These ones are His disciples as opposed to mere citizens. Nigeria needs more men and women in every strata to whom Jesus can commit Himself, His life that is light.
- The Master first committed His resources equally to each of His servants and then commanded them to occupy till He returns. There are many in Nigeria in whom Christ is located. They need to go ‘do business’ for the Master; being totally consumed with this mission.
- These disciples were occupying in the midst of citizens who hated the King, they were even profitable in that evil environment. In Nigeria, there is hostility to Jesus (and the message of Calvary) both in society and in the church, yet the Lord’s disciples MUST gain ground by making disciples.
- They marched into hostile territory, conquered, occupied and gained ground for their Master. The only hope for transformation in Nigeria is the Church – a Church ready to forsake all ties to the world and march into the enemy’s camp to rescue those held captive by Satan, a Church that grows in numbers of disciples and not just members.
- There are those disciples who did not occupy till the Master returned. What a waste! The life entrusted to them that was profitable in the hands of the others was rendered worthless because of their short-sightedness.
Luke 19:15
The glorious thing is this - no matter the opposition, no matter the hostility, no matter the rage, JESUS CHRIST has been set up as KING and He will come and rule those who hate Him!
Psalm 2:6
“Yet I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion...” KJV
“Don’t you know there’s a King in Zion…” Message
“I have placed my chosen king on the throne...” NLT
PRAYER:
- Lord, we pray for Nigeria today. We present Nigeria and her 36 states at the throne of grace today. We seek mercy and grace from You for Nigeria today.
- Lord, Nigeria must be occupied for You until You come! We declare Your kingdom come and Your will be done in the midst of Nigeria.
- Father, You have set Your chosen King on Your holy hill of Zion. Let Jesus Christ be Lord indeed over the Church in Nigeria.
- Your Church in Nigeria is the only hope for the transformation of the nation. There is no other way. So, Lord, visit Your Church in Nigeria.
- As the Church in Nigeria arises to pray over the next few days – encounter her in Your mercy. Restore the revelation and preaching of the cross-centred gospel, the complete gospel to the pulpits of the Church in Nigeria.
- Lord, the rods of Your strength are already in Nigeria. Lord, stir them up. Stir up Your Peters, Your Mordecais, Your Esthers, Yours Lydias, Your Obadiahs, Your Annas for the transformation of Nigeria. Lord, position them strategically in every strata of society for Your glory. Use them to make Your enemies Your footstool.
- Lord, cause Your disciples to go to work in Nigeria with what You have invested in them. Lord, let Your life be reproduced in and through them. Make them profitable servants. Help them to gain much ground from the enemy.
- Lord, please help those Your disciples who are not occupying for You. Change their attitudes and stir them up. Let not Your life in them be a waste in Nigeria. In the day of Your power cause them too to catch fresh fire and be free from their complacency and short-sightedness.
- Lord, let many of those who hate You in Nigeria be won into the kingdom for You and let them too become rods of Your strength in Nigeria.
The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” 2 The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
Rule in the midst
of Your enemies! (Psalm 110:1-2).
