The Parable of Occupation

I want to preach you the word of God and what God laid on my heart for us today. I want to talk about the parable of occupation. Luke 19. Jesus is here and he is speaking to his disciples and it says this and they heard these things and he added and spake a parable because he was nigh unto Jerusalem and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. Everybody say immediately. There was an expectation. He could feel the expectation. So he wants to explain something because sometimes we can get really excited and not fully process all that we're about to commit ourselves to. This is one of those moments and meetth up here. And he said, "Therefore, a certain nobleman went to a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return."

And he called his 10 servants and delivered them 10 pounds and said unto them, "Occupy till I come." Occupy till the parable of occupation. There's just something to me in this story in the very first verse of this parable that we can easily just read right past. And that's that's that word I had you repeat immediately. Expectancy was high there. Jesus was nearing Jerusalem and excitement was building. His fame has was preceding him everywhere he went about the things that he was doing. Obviously, the miracles and signs and wonders that he was performing, the lives that was being impacted and changed have caused her caused there to be quite a crowd that was gathering around. In fact, when they found out where Jesus was going, they would go ahead of him and and there would be an expected crowd when he arrived.

They believed that they were getting close to the moment when everything was about to change. They were looking for a kingdom. They were looking for a throne. They were looking for Jesus to take his place. More specifically, they were looking for him to overthrow Rome to set things back right because they were not happy about the current set of circumstances that they were living with. They wanted their enemies to be to be abolished and for him to establish his rule. And honestly for them them for Jesus to set everything right based off of their expectation. We all have expectations. We all have a way of what we think things ought to be. And they were no different than you and I. But Jesus knew something they didn't understand.

There was going to be a delay. No one likes delays, right? There was going to be a delay between the arrival of the king and the full manifestation of his kingdom. So in order to prepare the audience to better understand what was about to take place, he decided to tell a story because Jesus is the best storyteller ever. He wants to tell him a story because often times you and I do better when someone tells us a story, especially when it's an allegorical story where we can pick some position inside that story where you and I belong. Jesus is sensing the the expectation there. So again begins to tell this parable. So he tells them about a nobleman who leaves his country. He travels off to a far country to receive a kingdom.

And then he promises that he's coming back. And before he leaves, he calls his servants together and he places something valuable in their hand with one simple command. He simply says, "Occupy until I come." It's a setting of this parable in many ways is exactly where the church is at today. It's where we are as the body of Christ. Jesus has come. Calvary has happened. Thank God. The grave has been defeated. Jesus has risen. The Holy Ghost has been poured out. The gospel has been placed into our hands. And yet, he has not returned for us yet. So, we're a lot like what was going on in this story. We are living somewhere between his departure and his return. And the question is, what are we supposed to do while we wait?

You ever thought about that? Ever ask yourself that question like, God, why have you put me here now? Why am I living in this hour? Why am I living in this age? What am I living in this day? Lord, what is my purpose for your kingdom? Now, here's what's what I know, and you guys hear me say this a lot. You have a kingdom purpose. In fact, I'd love for you to say it. Say, I I have a kingdom purpose. Kingdom purpose. You do. But do you know what your kingdom purpose is? In this story, we start to get a clue. But in order to fully process it, we had to unpack the story. We occupy a seat. We occupy a room. We occupy a building.

In other words, you and I are present. But that wasn't what Jesus meant when he used the word occupy. I'll read you from the New King James. It says this, verse number 13 of chapter 19. So he called 10 of his servants, delivered them 10 minutes, and said unto them, do business till I come. That was what the word occupy meant. Not just you had to be present. And I'm I'm glad that you're president. I'm glad that you're in the house of God. Give yourself a hand. You did good today. You got up. Probably a few of you didn't necessarily do it with a smile on your face, but you got up anyway, begrudgingly, maybe a little bit. Maybe you hit snooze five or six times.

Anybody else have someone like that in your house? Yeah. Maybe you're a first- timer. Maybe you look at the clock and and you get up before the before the alarm goes off. Anybody in here like that? Yeah. We're special that way, aren't we? I don't even know why I set the alarm. I'm going to get up before it anyway. Yeah. But occupy it wasn't about us just being present. Okay, I need you to to get this image in your mind. There's it's more than just showing up. I know our culture celebrates participation, but I'm going to be honest with you, it bothers me because I believe you needed to more to do more than just be present. God hasn't called you just to be present.

And he's called you to do business till he comes back. Doing business, trading, engaging, working with what has been entrusted to you. Jesus wasn't saying, "I want you just to sit in this place until I return." But he's saying, "I got something I want you to do. I want you to do something with the gifts and the talents and the abilities and the skill sets that I placed inside of you. There was a reason I created you the way I created you. That you have a kingdom purpose and a kingdom plan. I'm I'm leaving something in your hands and I want you to do something with it until I return. That is the mission of the church. The church was never created to be a waiting room for heaven.

We were never called to simply survive until Jesus comes. Just just limp my way into heaven. No, no, no. We are called to be overcomers, to be conquerors, to be victorious, to take what he did at Calvary and keeping marching forward in the day and age in which we live in. We're called to do more than just sit on a church pew. Amen. We are not waiting for the king. Why? We're going to be working for the king while we wait. And that's what I want to preach about today in the parable of occupation. The king has gone away. But ladies and gentlemen, he's coming back. God. Do you know that? I hope that you expect more than what we have here. Because if this is the best as it gets, we've been sold something very short.

This is not heaven to me. I'm thankful for where I live. I'm thankful that I live in the United States of America. I still think it's the best place that you can choose to live. But this isn't heaven. I don't want to be satisfied with what I have here. I like my creature comforts, but there's a there's a day coming where I'm going to walk on streets of gold. There's a day coming where I'm going to get to see the King of King and the Lord of Lords, the one who died for me. That that's what I'm talking about. Where there's no more tears and no more sorrow, no more sickness, no more pain, no more death. Anybody ever excited about that? You know, the Bible says you should encourage one another with these words.

Hey, this is not as good as it gets. There's something better coming. Do you have that expectation down inside of you? I'm per I'm purposely provoking you. Are you excited about heaven? Are you excited about heaven? See, what what I'm afraid of is we become so comfortable with Babylon. We become so comfortable with the United States of America that we don't often find ourselves longing to go home. This world is not my home. As the old song says, I'm just passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. Do you feel that? Do Do you do I What I'm afraid of is we don't live with that earnest expectation anymore. We don't live with God. There's something more than just this. We become very satisfied with the temporary.

The nobleman leaves and receives the kingdom. And he says this in Lukeapter 19:14. But his citizens hated him. Oh my. Everybody say, "Oh my." And sent a message after him, saying, "We will not have this man reign over us." Wow. Negativity. No one's seen that coming, right? This guy's going to go be he's going to be the king. Why would you do Why would you say bad things about the guy who's going to be ruling over you? We don't want you. We We hate you. We don't want you reign over us. They reject him. They send word after him say, "We will not have you reign over us." This isn't political resistance. It is an outright rebellion. Now again, I want you to think about where we are in our world today.

This is not just something that we see in a distant story. This is the world today that said we don't want his values. We don't want his rule in our life. Doesn't that sound familiar that we're living in a world that's very comfortable saying that we don't want Jesus reign over us? People may want his comfort, but they don't always like his commandments. They they want a savior, but they don't want a king. They want they want relief for their time of trouble, but they don't want to commit entirely over to him. They they they want just enough as long as they stay in control. There's something the church needs to remember. Culture does not determine whether Jesus is king. Listen to me. Public opinion does not determine whether or not he's king.

Political systems does not determine whether or not he is king. He is king whether people acknowledge him or not. Verse 15 starts by saying, "And it came to pass. It already took place. They didn't get a say in the matter. They can say they hate it. They can say we don't want you. But guess what? He was still the king. And we live in a society that sometimes wants to reject Jesus as king. But I'm telling you, he's still the king. He's still on the throne. He's still alive and well. He's just as powerful as he's ever been. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. And he keeps his word and he's coming back for us. We got to be ready, ladies and gentlemen. We got to be ready.

This ain't time to be playing patty cake for Jesus. This isn't time to just be present. This isn't time to just show up on a church bill. This is time to be engaged in the church's finest hour. Don't miss our opportunity that has been afforded to us. Don't let us be poor stewards of what God has given us when he commanded, "I want you to occupy. I want you to do business until I come back." That's the command. Are we doing business for Jesus? Or are we happy just showing up? I like this says not if but when must be one of the most important words in this entire passage. Jesus was telling his disciples I'm going away but I'm coming back. Don't lose faith.

Don't lose hope. I'm I'm coming back. And the rejection of the king does not cancel the return of the king. The world may mock him and ignore him. The world may redefine truth according to what they feel is right. May maybe decide to move beyond Christianity. But none of that changes the reality that's already been set in place. He declared, "I'm coming back for you." Thank you, Jesus. You got to hang on to that. We're living in a crazy day where there's a whole lot of opinions and a whole lot of things are being redefined as truth. In fact, when we know the word of God has stood the test of time, I choose to believe this. This has been around a lot longer than there's been a government.

It's been around a lot longer than there's been countries and nations. This goes back to the foundations of the world. this has stood the test of time. I choose to believe this. You can choose to believe whatever you want, but I'm telling you, I believe this. I don't have to defend it. It's done real good all by itself for a long time. Jesus is telling him, "Hey, I'm coming back." And when he comes back, he's returning for some kingdom that has been moving forward. He's returning back to someone who has taken his word at face value that I want you to do business to occupy until return. We are occupying temporary territory under the authority of an eternal king. You and I, whether you know this or not, we are ambassadors.

You're going to hear me talk a lot about this over the next few months because God has just really settled this in my spirit to wake this church up to realize in its full potential. Do we have jurisdiction, and I use that word correctly, and authority to walk into the enemy's territory and say that doesn't belong to you? Come on. God. All I got to do is wake one or two of you up to be prayer warriors. I appreciate those that showed up in the prayer room today. I appreciate those who took time out of their schedule this weekend to show up at 24-hour prayer. I appreciate in advance all of you for coming tomorrow night to family prayer. Because I want to tell you the thing, the single greatest thing we can do as a church is pray.

The single greatest thing we can do is pray the word of God. Because when we do that, you know what we're doing is we're taking the things that have already been established in heaven and we declare them down here. I just need one or two of you to buy in and everything's going to change. The church, we we we have a job. Jesus is coming back. We have to build our life around the fact that this is not my home. But while I'm here, I have a job to do. It's not about me building up my kingdom. And now there's nothing wrong with you having your things. You've heard me talk about that before. have your things and and and plan for retirement because the Lord may tear a little bit longer than you plan on.

So, you should do that. But, however, that should not be your sole gain and purpose. That shouldn't be your sole focus. That shouldn't be all your dreams about what kind of thing you're going to do here for yourself. There's so much more value that you have to the kingdom than that. And too many of you are selling yourself short. Let me say it this way, okay? This is this is what I'm afraid of that I'm combating today as a pastor in 2026 in an apostolic Pentecostal church is that we are satisfied by having our heaven ticket punched that we're happy. Pastor Kevin, are you telling me I shouldn't be excited about being filled with the spirit? No, I'm telling you, you should be ecstatic about the fact he's filled you with his spirit.

But do you understand why he filled you with his spirit? This isn't just a get out of hell punch card. If that's all you think you have done, you are selling yourself way short on what he really wants to do through you. He is saying, "I will fill you with my spirit so that you and I can partner together to grow the kingdom." But so many people don't realize the full potential they have. Now, please can can I just can I be me? It's pastor appreciation Sunday, so maybe I can be me and you'll still appreciate me at the end of this. I love our church. I love it. I know our crowd's low today. It's this is this is one of those Sundays that pastors all across the nation know that fall break Sunday is like a low day.

I get it. I want you to go on vacation. I'm not upset by anybody's not here. So, don't you tell them pastor preached about them. I didn't do that. I want them to enjoy their time. But here's what I love about our church. I love that we come in and we're a spiritfilled church. I love that this is a place where we watch lives be changed on a weekly basis. We watch families be put back together. We watch bodies be healed. We we we see things happen regularly. We watch people being filled with the spirit. I love this church. But what I'm afraid is that there's a lot a lot of us that we we get satisfied and pacified by just being in service on Sunday and having a moment where we're in this altar area up here and the worship team's leading us and and we feel God's presence.

And I'm thankful that that happens every every Sunday without fail. That happens at this church. It is a norm for here. But what I'm afraid of is that we feel like we have accomplished all God wants us to do by just checking that box that we were present. When I challenge you to read the word of God and show me where it says that's what you're supposed to do, show me chapter and verse where it just says all you need to do is just be present before me and make sure that you were good that week and I'm satisfied with you. The Bible doesn't say that, but it's full of commands about you and I partnering with him to grow his kingdom. And what I'm afraid of is too many of us are not fully processing that that is an obligation, not a suggestion, but a requirement.

We're not going to get a participation award in heaven. Let me show you. This parable is some hard truth to process. You got to fully allow yourself to be open to what he's saying. Because what I'm afraid of is we can feel like I'm in a good place because I I show up regularly. I I'm occupying space inside the church building. I am participating in giving. So, I should be good to go. When I want to ask you, what have you done for the kingdom? What have you done for the king? Stay with me. You guys still appreciate me? Okay. Okay. Okay. I'm getting a little nervous up here. I going to reclaim my cake. The church has to live with one eye on the assignment and one eye on the horizon because he's coming back.

We work because he said occupy. He says, "Do business until I return." But we watch because he said he's also coming back. And there's something sobering about that because his return will not only reveal his authority, but he's also going to reveal, you ready for this? Our stewardship. Now, stay with me for just a minute. Okay? The king's coming. The king is coming. He's coming back. You know why? Because he said he was coming back. and he keeps his word, right? But not only is he coming back to reveal his authority and to establish his throne forever, but he's also going to ask for an account for what we have done. Did you know that that you and I got to give an account for what we've done?

It leads us to the next part of the parable. When did the king leave or what did the king leave in our hands when he was gone? He said this in verse number 13. So he called his 10 of his sons, delivered them 10 minutes, and said unto them, "Do business till I come." Before the nobleman ever leaves, he does something very important. He places something into the hands of his servants. He gives them an assignment without also giving them something to work with. And this shows us something about the kingdom of God. God never gives responsibility without giving opportunity. God never gives responsibility without also giving opportunity. In Acts, as Jesus is going to send, Acts chapter one, he says, "Go ye to Jerusalem until you be doomed with power from on high."

He told them in Acts chapter 1, "You're going to be filled with the spirit so that you can do what?" Come on, you theologians in the room. What were we going to do with the spirit? Bees, witnesses. He didn't say, "I'm going to give you the spirit so you can speak in tongues." I know I'm in a United Pentecostal church and I just said that. The point of you having the Holy Ghost is not for you to sit around and speak in tonesues. You speaking in tonesues is evidence that the spirit is in you. Just like the tomb stone was rolled away to prove something changed inside the tomb. The tongues are there not as the complete work of the Holy Spirit but as evidence that you are filled with his spirit so that you can go be a why because that's kingdom assignment.

He gives you something with an opportunity. The nobleman gave them money and said take and do work until I'm gone. He filled you with his spirit, not for you to sit at home and say, "I feel good because I know I'm going to heaven." You guys are still appreciating me. He filled you with his spirit so that you could be a witness. He filled you with his spirit to engage the the the things he placed inside of you when he created you for your kingdom purpose and for his plan. And too many of us are not operating in all the areas that God has purposed in our lives. We're not truly being led by his spirit. We we feel his spirit when we come into this building.

We feel his spirit when we engage in prayer, but we're not asking God, where is it that you want me to go? What is it you want me to do? Lord, I know this isn't just for my own satisfaction that I'm not going to hell. But God, I have a bigger, higher calling, purpose because one day you're going to come back and ask me, "What did you do with what I gave you?" I say it one more time. God never gives responsibility, but also given opportunity. The servants were told not to produce something out of nothing. They were saying, "Take this, take what I'm giving you and occupy and work until I return." Every one of us has been entrusted with something. God has given us his word.

He's given us his Holy Ghost. He's given us time and influence and relationships and abilities and opportunities. We have a testimony. We have a family. We have a church. We have a generation to reach. And the question is not whether or not God has placed something in our hands. The question is, what are you doing with what God has placed in your hands? What are you doing? You have influence. Are you wasting it? What are you doing with your influence? You can know the truth, but you never share it. You have a testimony, but you never tell it. You sit in church filled with opportunity and still you stay spiritually unemployed. Jesus is teaching us that the kingdom of God is not merely something we receive.

It's something that we're responsible to represent. We are ambassadors for Christ. How are you feeling your role? We have been entrusted with the message of Jesus Christ in a world that desperately needs it. We've been entrusted with the truth in a culture that increasingly is confused. Are we helping? We've been entrusted with hope in a world that's filled with fear. We've been entrusted with light in the places where darkness has become normal. And what I'm afraid of is we become so separated and isolated into our little bubble. This isn't the whole gospel to the whole church. Did you hear what I said? This isn't the whole gospel to the whole church. This is the whole gospel to the whole world by the whole church. Let me let me put it to you this way.

I'm just curious. How many non-churched people are you really making an impact in? How many? When's the last time that you actually reached out to someone who didn't sit in the same pew as you? When's the last time before you walked into a restaurant, you said, "God, will you please place somebody in front of me today? When when's that? You know, Michael Brousard like so powerful. This guy comes back from flying from Saudi Arabia and he's he he and the stewardists are speaking in tongues in the back back part of the plane. If you haven't been around Michael yet, Michael, wave your hand. This guy's radical for Jesus. First time we went to dinner, we're we're anointing a lady in the in the parking lot at the old Applebees over here and praying with her.

I knew this guy's for real. Well, he's either crazy or he's for real. A little bit of both. He loves Jesus. He's living out his faith. He's living out his life because he understands there's a higher purpose for me. Do you understand your purpose? Do you understand? Are you who are who I'm I know I'm I'm plowing down your row right now. This is a parable about occupation. Are you occupying? Are you doing business on behalf of the king until he returns? If so, what are you doing? One of the dangers of thinking about blessing is that we can become more interested in enjoying what God has given us other than advancing what God has called us to do. He's called us to be light in the darkness to salt.

Are we being those things? We can begin to think the church exists primarily for us. That the church is here for our comfort. That God's here for my encouragement. That he's here for for my kids and my needs and my family. And thank God the church ministers to all of those things. But we're not supposed to be simply consumers. But we live in a culture that celebrates the consumer mindset. And guys, it is creeped in the back door of the church. It is creeped in when we become overly critical about everything that goes on in the church. Well, I mean, I don't know why we're saying I don't know why why that's going on. I don't know why they do this. I don't know why the sounds like that.

I don't know why. And all of a sudden, it's all about me. And you misunderstood why you're here. It's about being in front of him. It's about gathering strength to really go be the church out there. Now, now don't get me wrong there. There's seasons and every one of us have seasons in our life when I need I need to come in and I got to get refreshed and I need to get in the altar and I need God to touch my life and touch my heart and give me strength. I need it. I need I need good good godly teachers and and and godly worship leaders who who who who help get us into the presence of God. Like, we need those things. But if that's my sole consumption relationship with God, I have really missed out what I am commanded and encouraged and instructed in the word of God to be.

It's more than that. Maybe we should ask God, "What am I doing with what you've placed in my hands?" Instead of asking God, "What else are you going to give me?" Wow. Jesus, what am I going to do with what you've already given me? Because servants in the parable were not, excuse me, servants in this parable were not eventually judged by what they wished they had. They were judged by what they did with what they were given. It's a very sobering thought. I may not have somebody else's platform. I may not have somebody else's gift. I may not have somebody else's resources. I may not have somebody else's opportunities. But I have something. And what am I doing with what God has given me? What are you Let me let me get down where you at.

What are you What are you doing, sir? What are you doing, ma'am? What are you doing with what God has given you? We We all can play the comparison game, right? The Bible says that to compare yourselves among yourselves is foolish. He knows what you can handle. He knows what you're capable of. And for you and I to try to argue with the creator and say, "Well, if you'd just give me what they have or what he has or what she has, then God, I'd be further along." But you didn't. You just gave me this. And the whole time he's saying, "Yeah, but you haven't done anything with what I gave you to start with." So I ask you again, what are you doing with God with what God has already placed in your hands?

Are you using those gifts and those talents and abilities to build your kingdom or his? Now again, I don't think there's anything in in my opinion, I feel like God's kids should be successful at everything they do. He partners with us. Why would why could you not be successful if God's your partner? But what I'm afraid of is we we misunderstand everything that comes into our hand is supposed to be consumed on self. When he's looking to say, "Well, can I can you be a conduit that I can use? Can you be as good steward of what I've already placed in your hand for my kingdom purpose and my glory and not yours? Amen. Praise God. God's going to come back and he's going to ask, "What did you do without putting your hands?"

Jesus has chosen to place the work of his kingdom in the hands of ordinary people like you and I. He could have chose angels, but he didn't. You know what he said? He said, "I'll choose my church." That's me and you. He chose us. to participate with him. Think about that. He chose people to have that have been redeemed by his grace and filled with his spirit to carry his gospel to the world. What an incredible privilege. But God's privilege comes with responsibility every time. Every time it comes with responsibility, obligation. The king has trusted us with his business. We cannot be casual when we do it. The king is looking for an increase. Look at this in verse number 20. It's not about preservation.

That's what that's not what he's looking for. He's not just saying, "Hey, just keep this." Okay? just keep it preserved. Keep the lock up. He didn't say he didn't say that you but I feel like that's what some of us want to do is we have our experience like I just want to keep it. I don't want to put anything bad around. I'm going to tell you right now, he's not afraid of anywhere you're going to go. If you're trying to reach somebody for his kingdom, he's not afraid. He's not intimidated. He will go with you. But you got to be willing. Look at this verse number 20 of chapter 19. Then another came saying, "Master, here's your mana which I've kept put away in a handkerchief."

What? Look, next verse. For I feared you. You collect what you did not deposit, reap what you did not sow. And he said to him, "Out of your own mouth, I will judge you. You wicked servant. You knew that I was a steward man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow." The servant did not lose what he had been given to him. He kept it hid. He didn't squander it, right? He didn't waste it. He didn't lose it. He didn't he didn't show up to the to to to the accountant and say, "You know what? I've lost it." Instead, he said, "I've kept it wrapped up. I kept it in this handkerchief. I knew I knew you were a hard man.

I was afraid that one day you were going to come back. So, so before I did any before I took any chances, before I tried to do anything, I I didn't want to come in here and say I broke it. You're you're not going to break it. You hear me? You're not going to break it. You you you can't destroy the kingdom. It's an eternal kingdom. It's forever set in motion, but you can't participate. He's not looking for you to to stick it in a box and bury it in the backyard. He's looking for you to do something with what he's given you. The assignment was occupy. The assignment was do kingdom business. The servant thought preservation was enough. But the king expected productivity. There is value in preserving the truth.

Yes. Absolutely. There's value in preserving the doctrine and garden it. Yes. There's value in honoring what a previous generation has handed us. Yes. But preservation itself is not the whole assignment. The truth was not given for us to merely to store. It was given for us to spread. The Holy Ghost was not poured out merely so that we could feel something on Sundays. It was given so that you and I could be the witnesses he wants us to be to talk about what God has done for you. So, I'm just going to ask you this question, and this is meant to be a a very provoking question. When is the last time, Listen to me, sir and madam, I'm asking you. When is the last time that you shared your testimony with someone?

When You know, I talked about Michael, but let me let me tell you about somebody else that's in church, and she's over in the kids church right now, so I can say this. And don't tell her I talked about her today, okay? But Sister Nancy Sharper, she is a soulwinning machine. She tells everybody about Jesus. She blows my phone up. I mean, I this is night I probably get 10 text messages a day from Nancy and it's always about somebody she just met. Somebody There's probably somebody in this room. If if Nancy has invited you in this church, raise your hand. Little Nancy Sharper. She's about this tall. Look, you see, because she understands the kingdom assignment. Sister Nancy has a washing machine and a dryer house, but she goes every Saturday to a laundry mat and does laundry.

Why? Not because she doesn't need her laundry washed, so that she can meet somebody. Oh my goodness. What if I had more than one Nancy? I don't know if my phone can handle two Nancies, but maybe. Do you understand my my my point here is somebody woke up one day and said, "You know what? There's something bigger than just me involved in this process. I'm thankful that he filled me with his spirit. I'm thankful that I speak in tong. I'm thinking that I'm baptized in Jesus name, but that's not the sum total of why he did that. There's a bigger plan and a purpose for my life. I need to get out and tell everybody I can about what he has done for me. So, when's the last time you told your testimony?

Because the Bible says that we overcome it by the blood of the lamb and the word of our But if you're not saying what God did for you, how does that apply to your life? Well, pastor, I don't have a cool one. You know, I wasn't a drug addict. Thank God I wasn't an alcoholic. Thank God I didn't live a broken life. Thank God. What a powerful testimony you have that God kept you. Why would you not tell that story? You don't have to be broken up and chopped up and placed in a blender and poured out and ran over by a train to have some great story. You can just say, "You know what? My life has been pretty vanilla for the most part.

But God has kept me all the days of my life. I've never been bound by drugs. I've never had a sip of alcohol. I've never smoked a cigarette. I've never said a bow. Thanks be to God of his mercy and goodness. What a powerful powerful testimony you have. But here's what I know. There's more stories than just that in this room today. So I'm challenging you. When's the last time you told somebody about what he did for you? It's a kingdom assignment. Praise God. We reach more people and we'll plant more seeds and disciple more families and pray more prayers and send out more missionaries and raise up more leaders and start more churches. If we could understand that God has given us everything we need already, he's placed it in our hands.

We have all the kingdom purpose and potential already in our hands, ladies and gentlemen. if we'll just occupy and do the work he called us to do and I'll be satisfied with just going to work and and and going to sleep and watching a TV show and having a few laughs and eating a good meals and and get up and rinse and repeat the next day and the next day and that I'm bored with that. I'm bored with that. I want to do a kingdom work. I want to see lives changed. I want to know that when it's all said and done and it comes back to get an account, I say, "You know what? It's a little bent up. It's a little rusty. It's got a few dents and along the way.

I got some scratches on it, but hey, I was able to increase it just a little bit. Not that I took what you gave me and hid it in a napkin in the backyard. Oh, to be radical. He said in verse 21, "I fear you." The servant's fear became his excuse. But ladies and gentlemen, fear is a terrible steward. Fear buries gifts. It silences your witness and it keeps people from slipping or from stepping into ministry. Fear will convince you at church that we just play defense when he's never called us to be defensive. He's called us to be on the offense. We're going to have to occupy some some some hostile territory. Remember verse 14. But his citizens hated him. The servant wasn't just doing business for in friendly territory.

Hostility never cancelled the assignment. Ladies and gentlemen, resistance did not excuse inactivity. Rejection did not release them for from responsibility. This is where the parable becomes real for you and I. Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:1, "Therefore, I exhort thee first of all that what's that word right there? supplications. Do you understand supplications? Like he's he's talking Paul's talking to his young protege Timothy and he's saying, "Look, Timothy, let me tell you something. First of all, let there be supplications. Any any of you been around like a two-year-old before? At any point in your life, just raise your hand if you ever been around a 2-year-old. Thank you." Now, for the next question, anybody ever raised a 2-year-old? Raise your hand. Yeah. Okay. So there there's this thing that they do and and then they have kids and then then and God help us all.

Our culture is just I'm becoming an old man. I know it and I know why these old men get bitter sometimes. I know like it just happens one day. You wake up right you're mad at everybody. The world just the world just got stupid all of a sudden. But you ever noticed like a 2-year-old like we're having a conversation, you and I would be talking and a two-year-old was to come up and here's what happens. You know, like if it was my kid, this is my daughter, not everybody's, but my daughter would like, "Dad, dad, dad, dad, honey, I'm talking. Dad, dad, dad, honey, I'm talking. Dad, dad, dad, dad." That will wear you out. I mean, they will just, you know what that is?

That's supplication. He says, "First of all, let there be supplications." He's saying, "I want you to pester me. I want you to come in. I want you to constantly like, hey, God, God, God, God, God, God, God, God." Without being aware that maybe God's running the world, right? Because that's not a 2-year-old is not the 2-year-old has no concept that the adults are trying to talk. A 2-year-old is very concerned with who? And they need something. And so it's like, "Dad, dad, you never did that day. You were a good kid. She's looking sideways over there. Yeah, we all did it, right, as a kid and we seen it. So, so get that image next time you're trying to pray about something. He's saying, "This is the way you're to approach me as if I have nothing better to do than listen to you."

How different it would be if we approached God knowing I know. You know why the kid does it? You know why they do that? It's the same way Chasse made this statement today. She said, "Because I got these I got these two horses that live in my house. They got spots on them named Trip and Lulu and they will sit at my feet in that kitchen and they will not move." And she's like, "You know why they do that?" I said, "Well, I mean, because I give them something." She said, "No, because they are convinced you're going to give them something." So nothing else distracts them. What if we approached God convinced? I know you're going to give me something. Hey God. Hey God. Hey God.

Hey God. Hey God. So it ties us and I don't have time today but you go. I'll give you I give you some homework. Go go go. You you research this. How many times prayer and supplication are tied together in the word of God? How he's making the point of saying don't give up. Go. you keep at it because eventually if you keep at it, what do we do? What do we do as parents? Like, oh, what what do you want? I wasn't doing anything now. I'm sorry. You have my full attention. What do you need? That's what God's saying. Just keep at it. Convinced you're going to give me what I need. Now, here's here's something I want I want give you a little nugget.

I only got a few minutes and sorry this again I told you this is hot off the press. Normally a little bit more polished than this but Matthew 16 I'm I'm I'm going to show you something that that really changed me when I understood the words of Jesus better. Matthew 16:18. And I also say that you are Peter, and on this rock I'll build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I'll give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever you bound on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Now, here's the deal. I'm like, you know, I've preached this before, but it was just a few months ago that God really unlocked this for me better.

So, I thought about, you know what, he went he went down, you've heard me preach this before, like in the grave while they had him locked up in the tomb, he went down to hell, looked at the devil and said, "Give me the keys." And he said, "As he was leaving, my kids are coming back. When they do, they're going to bang on the door and let them in because the gates of hell should not prevail against it." And that was not fully comprehending what that meant. in ancient cities. And we've seen this because we just studied the book of Ruth a few weeks ago. You remember that? You remember when Boaz decided that he was going to be the kinsman redeemer and he was going to redeem Ruth.

You remember he said, "But there's there's a kinsman that is nearer than I and if he doesn't want to, then I will." But where where did Boaz go to conduct that business? He went to the city gate because this is good. This is good, Chris. It's at the city gates is where the business of the city is taken care of at the gates. It's at the city gates that the decrees are posted and the mandates are posted. And he said, "And the gates of hell shall not prevail." The mandates of hell and the decrees of hell shall not prevail against me. Think about that. Whatever hell declares, God says, "No, do did you hear what I just said?" Because hell does a lot of talking.

The enemy, he he spits out a lot of stuff and he declared in that in that very passage that the the decrees that happened at the gate, all the legal stuff there, they they can't stand against us. I override, I overrule. That's what our king does. Why? Because he gave us a a mandate to occupy and to to do business, to be the ambassador, to don't God, help me. I'm not getting across. Don't fail to understand the assignment. There is no higher authority than being filled with his spirit and understanding my kingdom purpose and operating in the assignment he's given me. I have full jurisdiction to be obedient to the word of God. And whatever hail says, it doesn't matter. He supersedes it. The gates of hell shall not prevail against the kingdom marching forward and moving.

That's our God. The church was never pictured as hiding behind locked doors. He gave his church the power of the Holy Ghost and he said occupy. This means there are times when we have to look at what is happening around us and say that's not how the story ends. That you have to declare that's not what your word says God. That's why you got to pray the word is you got to not not that God has to be reminded of his word. He knows what the word he knows what he spoke. He knows what he said. But we need to be remembered. There's some times when I say what you know what God your word says by your stripes I am healed. You might have an infirmity in my body right by your stripes I am healed.

It's exercising faith and saying this isn't how my story ends, not according to your word. This isn't how my story ends. And you remind you read it back to him. What do you You're declaring what is in heaven as on earth. God, what you have established and settled forever in heaven. I'm claiming where I am right now. I'm taking authority and jurisdiction where you have placed me. You you put me here and you said occupy until I I'm going to I'll stand my post and occupy until you return. I have no other mandate other than to stand and do what you asked me to do. But too many of us are sitting down and we're not doing what God asked us to do. I'm here to try to wake you up.

What are you waiting for? What more do you need to see to understand that we're living in the last days? It's time to stand up and be the church to take what God has given you to steward it correctly and understand that everybody I come in contact with is an opportunity for me to be a kingdom builder to spread his truth and his word to allow God. If we fully understood the power that has been entrusted to us, there's nothing that could stop us. Jesus, thank you. The nobleman come back and said, "What did you do with what I gave you?" To the one that was given 10, he said, "I've increased it by 10." He said, "Well done, thou good and faithful steward, and I'll put you over this."

It was given more. Well, the one that had five increased by five. See, it didn't matter just because the one only increased by five and one did by 10. God didn't look at him and say, "Well, why you why couldn't you match that?" That's why we don't need to compare ourselves among ourselves because we all have different talents and abilities and different skill sets. What you can do, I can't do. You're better at things than I am. But what he has given me the ability to do, I'm going to try to do with everything in me because I know one day he's going to come back and ask me, "What did you do with what I gave you? What did you do with what I gave you?"

So, I'm asking you as we get ready to close, what are you doing with what God has given you? He's not returned yet. And if the king has not returned, then ladies and gentlemen, the assignment's not over. Here's here's the deal. You don't retire out of this. The only way out is for you not to breathe anymore. And the best I can tell everybody's breathing. Some of you are sleeping, but you're still breathing. So, having said that is there's still time. There's still time. The fact that you're here today let you know that he's full of mercy. There's still time. Stop trying to disqualify yourself. Stop it. I don't care what you've done. If you've asked him to forgive you, he's faithful and just to forgive you and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

He's able to do that. That's his his word. First John tells us that. So stop using the excuse of what you have done. Today you're a new creature. Today there's new mercy. Today there's an opportunity to be a kingdom builder. Today you don't you don't have tomorrow, but you have today. You can't undo yesterday, but you have today. We have this moment. The assignment's not over. There's still time. There's still time to step into what God's called you. Still time to occupy. And so, I wonder if somebody today could say, "Jesus, I don't want to waste what you put in my hands. I don't want I don't want to bury the opportunity, God, that you've given to me." I mean, I don't know about you, but if I'm being honest with you, when I when I think about what he's asked me to do, I'm so humbled.

Like, God, who am I? God, who am I that you would even consider that I could help you with your kingdom? Lord, I'm a nobody. I'm a nothing. I'm a mistake. I'm a failure. I'm a mess up. And he says, "No, I kind of like you. I think I'll use you. When you read when you read through this, okay, when you read this, this this book is about a bunch of broken people, dysfunctional mess ups. This is like this is this book is like the island of misfit toys. That's what this is is. I'm so thankful because I'm misfit, too. But he does his best work with the misfits. Yeah. Wow. With the brokenness. That's all that's all we bring in is a bunch of brokenness.

And he says, "Give me that brokenness. I'll make it beautiful. I'll take your mistakes and your failures and your hurts and your pains and I'll weave it into the tapestry of my redemption and I'll take what the enemy has done to you and I'll weave it into a salvation story." What a God. What a God that doesn't look at the failures as a disqualification, but he looks at it as an opportunity to let his mercy and redemption flow. What a God. So, as I bring this to a close today, I don't want to bury my opportunities, and I don't want fear to make my decisions. I'm I'm sick of that. I I don't want anymore. I don't want my comfort to be my calling. I don't want to simply preserve what he's given me.

I want to use it because the king is coming. The king is coming. So maybe maybe your prayer today needs to be Lord, show me my assignment again. If you're okay, would you mind just closing your eyes right now if you're comfortable doing that? God, show us our assignment again. Remind us of what you want us to do. Show me whether you want me to reach. Let me see what you placed in my hands. Show me where I've become passive. Show me where I need to start praying again. Show me where I need to step back into the fight because I don't want to just simply be here waiting. God, I want to find I want you to find me working when you return. I want you to see me, Lord God, taking what you've given me and trying to make it more in Jesus name.

This altar is open. I don't know who needs to come, but it's open. I don't know. He needs to to bring what he's placed in your hand and bring it back to an altar again and recommmit it to his kingdom purpose and his kingdom plan. I don't know. But I I know someone needs to move today. The king is coming and he's going to looking for a return on his investment. It's prayer time, church. I would encourage everyone to do a little evaluating right now. See what God will speak to you.