MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2025
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
“…Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13, KJV)
I. THE DIVINE MANDATE: THE CALL TO OCCUPY
When the Lord Jesus uttered the words, “Occupy till I come,” He was not merely suggesting a way for His disciples to pass the time until His return. He was speaking to a crowd gathered for the Parable of the Ten Pounds (or Minas), and His choice of words was deliberate and authoritative. The Greek word for “occupy” is pragmateuomai, which literally means to engage in business, to trade, or to be actively involved in the exchange of value.
In the Kingdom of God, this is a call to active engagement. It is a divine directive to impact your world with purpose and urgency. To “occupy” is to take territories, to grow the Kingdom, and to maximize every spiritual and physical opportunity to transform nations with the Gospel. It is an instruction to be a spiritual entrepreneur—investing the life of Christ into the lives of others until the Master’s return.
The Kingdom of God is not a passive philosophy; it is an advancing force. As a citizen of this Kingdom, you are stationed on earth as an ambassador with a specific portfolio: the transformation of your environment through the power of the Resurrected Christ.
II. THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE GOSPEL: A TRUSTED RESPONSIBILITY
One of the most profound realizations a believer can have is that they have been entrusted with something that God Himself values above all else: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul understood this weight of responsibility when he wrote in 1 Timothy 1:11: “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.”
A. The Gospel is a Commitment
When God entrusts you with the Gospel, He is not just giving you information; He is giving you His power (Romans 1:16). You have become a steward of the mysteries of God. With this trust comes a divine responsibility to:
Impact Your World: You are not an observer of history; you are a participant in its redemption.
Penetrate Systems: The Gospel is meant to influence the arts, education, politics, science, and every human system. You are the conduit through which the wisdom of God enters these arenas.
Transform Lives: There is work to be done. There are souls to reach whose eternal destiny hangs in the balance.
B. The Sin of Idleness
In light of this trust, there is no room for distraction. Idleness in the life of a believer is a betrayal of the trust of the Gospel. If the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, then withholding it through silence or procrastination is to allow the darkness to prevail where Light should be shining. Don’t be idle. Don’t be distracted by the temporal vanities of this world. Your purpose is larger than your personal comfort.
III. THE POSTURE OF EXPECTANCY: WATCHING AND WORKING
Your manner of life must reflect the reality of the Master’s return. We are living in the “end of the end times,” and our behavior should be governed by the imminent appearance of Jesus Christ.
Mark 13:35-36 warns us: “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.”
A. Sleeping vs. Working
In this context, “sleeping” is not physical rest, but spiritual lethargy. It is the state of a believer who has forgotten their mission, who has become “heavy” with the cares of this life, and who is no longer conscious of the urgency of the hour.
The Master must not return and find you doing nothing. He said in John 9:4: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” #### B. The Example of Jesus
This was the blueprint for the Master’s life. He was driven by a sense of divine timing. He understood that the window of opportunity for soul-winning and Kingdom expansion has a “daylight” period and a “night” period.
- The Day: This is our present opportunity—the age of grace where the Holy Spirit is drawing men to Christ.
- The Night: A time is coming when the door of grace will close, and the opportunity for labor will cease.
Be that faithful servant who is fully engaged in leading sinners to salvation. Let the Master find you in the harvest field, not in the lounge of spiritual apathy.
IV. THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE SPIRIT: BECOMING A WITNESS
Many believers feel overwhelmed by the scale of the world’s needs, but God never intended for you to occupy in your own strength. You have been empowered by the highest authority in the universe.
Acts 1:8 declares: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
A. The Holy Spirit as Your Enabler
The Holy Spirit is not just a comforter; He is your Enabler. He is the one who:
- Grants Divine Wisdom: To know how to navigate complex systems and reach difficult hearts.
- Infuses Boldness: To speak the Truth in the face of opposition and to stand firm in your convictions.
- Provides Guidance: To lead you to the specific individuals and territories God wants you to influence.
B. Taking Territories
When you function in the power of the Holy Ghost, you begin to “take territories.” This means displacing the influence of darkness in your family, your workplace, and your city. You become a witness of the Resurrected Christ—not just by your words, but by the undeniable impact of your life and the tangible presence of God that follows you.
V. CONCLUSION: THE HARVEST IS READY
The call to occupy is a call to the end-time global harvest. The fields are white, and the Master is counting on those to whom He has entrusted His Gospel. Function with divine wisdom, urgency, and purpose. Transform lives everywhere you go.
Remember, the power of God is on your side. The Gospel you carry is the only solution for a broken world. Go forth and occupy until He comes!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank You for the high honor of being entrusted with the Gospel. I thank You for empowering me by Your Spirit to be a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ in my generation. I declare that I function with divine wisdom, urgency, and purpose. I refuse to be distracted or idle. I am taking territories for the Kingdom, transforming lives through the power of the Word, and I am fully engaged in the end-time global harvest of souls. I am ready for the Master’s return, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
- Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
- John 9:4 (NIV): “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.”
- Mark 16:15-16: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
1 Year Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 7 & Amos 5-9
2 Year Bible Reading Plan: John 20:19-31 & 2 Chronicles 29
