June 11, 2023 - Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭12‬-‭13

“He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” Luke 19:12-13 KJV

Jesus, as you told this parable, you were giving us a challenge on how to live after you left the earth. You are the nobleman who has left but will return to establish your Kingdom here on earth. You have given us all what we need to carry out your work here on earth and you have told us to occupy until you return. This is an interesting word that I think we skip over too quickly. Lord, teach us what it really means to occupy. The meaning of occupy is to take up a place; or to take or hold possession or control of; or to fill or perform the functions of. This means that we can take possession or control of what you have left us in charge of. You sent us out with your authority to occupy. We have been left here with all the authority needed to occupy and rule over the enemy. We don’t have to ask or beg for you to push back the power of the enemy that is working around us. No, you gave us the authority to push back what he is doing and take back ground.

To occupy means that we as Christians should rule. Again, help us understand what that means. It doesn’t mean that we force other people to bow to you and command the world to become Christians. It does mean that we can command the spiritual powers of the enemy to bow to your will. Help us take authority over the enemy. We should not and cannot allow him to have free reign in our world. We must take the authority that you have given us and use it to occupy our world. We cannot sit back and let him take more and more control over the world. Lord, please teach each of us how to occupy and let the church take back what the enemy has stolen from us.

In Jesus name, amen.