THE MANDATE TO – OCCUPY TILL I COME: INVOLVES FOLLOWING GOD’S PLAN, PURPOSE AND PURSUIT IN YOUR LIFE!
“And he CALLED his ten servants, and DELIVERED them ten pounds, and SAID unto them, OCCUPY TILL I COME” Luke 19:13.
“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not DISOBEDIENT unto the HEAVENLY VISION” Acts 26:19.
There’s the CHOICE to make in life in terms of either being – FULFILLED in life and godliness (godly living) – or to make the CHOICE of being – MERELY SUCCESSFUL in life as many have found themselves. And it’s only by following God’s PLAN, PURPOSE, AND PURSUIT in your life that FULFILMENT in Christ Jesus stead comes to reality. That’s what it means for one to earnestly enact the charged, assigned, and commissioned mandate to “OCCUPY TILL I COME”, so that you don’t just attained success but the fulfilment therein.
“And say to Archippus, TAKE HEED to the MINISTRY which thou hast RECEIVED in the Lord, that thou FULFIL it” Colossians 4:17.
The quest there in the concept to – OCCUPY TILL I COME – is you are prepared to let God be the lead in the concept, especially when you are subjected to circumstances that’s different from your expectations as Philip the evangelist experienced by following God’s plan, purpose and pursuit for his life – Act 8:1-40; Acts 21:7-9. As Philip the evangelist in obedience – can you afford to move from a place of GLAMOUR SUCCESS to a DESERT PLACE in life when it’s God’s plan, purpose and pursuit for you? And especially when you know that in God’s plan, purpose and pursuit, the ride and drive may not always be pleasing but you can deduce it’s your place of FULFILLMENT in Him. I want you to know for sure that doing life and living godly in Christ Jesus, is all about following God’s PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT for your life and possible ministry rather than just having a mere glamour SUCCESS for men applaud and hype. Following God’s plan, purpose and pursuit for your life it’s the only guarantees for God’s APPROVAL and your fulfilment in Him.
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this PURPOSE the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” 1 John 3:8 (John 18:37)
“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man APPROVED (ACCREDITED , ATTESTED) of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know” Acts 2:22/Emphasis Mine.
“And we know [with great CONFIDENCE] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] CAUSES all things to work together [as a PLAN] for good for those who love God, to those who are CALLED according to His PLAN and PURPOSE” Romans 8:28/Amplified (Ephesians 1:11).
“Study and do your best to present yourself to God APPROVED, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skilfully teaching the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15/Amplified.
A person who is keen only for a MERE glamour SUCCESS inclination and attachment, will not see the need to leave such GLAMOUR place (position) to attend to a single person business outfit’s or Gospel Ministry as Philip the evangelist did in obedience – especially as to go to such a place in the DESERT (remote) which was accomplished by Philip the Evangelist – who sees obedience to God’s instructions far higher, richer and fulfilling as written in Acts 8:8, 26-29.
“. . . 8 And there was GREAT REJOICING in that CITY . . . 26 But an angel of the Lord SAID to Philip, RISE and PROCEED southward or at midday on the road that runs from Jerusalem down to GAZA. This is the DESERT [route]. 27 So he GOT UP and WENT. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch of GREAT AUTHORITY under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to WORSHIP. 28 And he was [now] returning, and sitting in his chariot he was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the [Holy] Spirit SAID to Philip, GO FORWARD and join yourself to this chariot . . .” Acts 8:1-8, 26-40.
“And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of PHILIP THE EVANGELIST, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy” Acts 8:7-9.
And such obedience of Evangelist Philip to DIVINE order and command, is only possible of a person whose objective is not about being successful or to have a global or the glamour success but of being in obedience and FULFILMENT in Christ Jesus stead in God; Evangelist Philip was someone whose goal is to be a disciple and follower of God’s plan, purpose and pursuit; and one who truly believes in WHOLENESS of God’s lead and will go WHEREVER the Lord LEADS as Philip the evangelist did in Acts 8. Such attitude toward God’s intent, is what I called and considered as one who is – OCCUPYING TILL HE COMES and OBEYING THE HEAVENLY MANDATE or ASSIGNMENT irrespective of the norm and prejudice that’s about the person.
Hence I am asking you today – WHAT IS YOUR WORTH IN GOD’S BLESSEDNESS IN CHRIST JESUS? or How do you WORTH yourself in life and godly living in Christ Jesus? Is it by material achievement called SUCCESS or by being ACCOMPLISHED in God’s given vision and mission called FULFILMENT in His assignment irrespective of the norm about you?
Are you just a mere glamour SUCCESS driven inclination person or a person of FULFILMENT in the heavenly assignment. It must be noted for sure that SUCCESS is good but it’s relative in life to all and it’s of God however; but God’s earnest desire is for us in Christ Jesus stead to have and achieve FULFILMENT which is far beyond just being SUCCESSFUL. For we are blessed of God and He wants the best for us and to have us to be successful in our life’s endeavours but not at the EXPENSE of His eternal plan, purpose and pursuit for our well-being in Him. Amen. So, there’s the need to balance the pursuit for success and to being fulfilled in God by following His plan, purpose and pursuit for us respectively as charged to – OCCUPY TILL I COME.
“Beloved, I pray that in every way you may SUCCEED and PROSPER and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]” 3 John 2/Amplified.
“BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath BLESSED us with all SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ: . . . 5 having PREDESTINATED us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, . . . 11 in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being PREDESTINATED according to the PURPOSE of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” Ephesians 1:3, 5, 11.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way PROSPEROUS, and then thou shalt have GOOD SUCCESS” Joshua 1:8.
Unlike SUCCESS which is relative to all, FULFILMENT is not just only of God, but it’s a place of being readily, willingly and obediently set to accomplish in the wholeness, completeness and fulfilling of the Lord’s given and driven – PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT – in LIFE and GODLY living. And it’s in doing this God’s given and driven charge in an unhindered and uncompromising way; and with anything of sorts outside God’s intent, just as our Lord Christ Jesus did in 1 John 3:8; John 18:37 and Apostle Paul did in obedience as in Philippians 3:1-16, and upon which others like Archippus was exhorted, admonished and charged to do likewise also as written:
“And say to Archippus, TAKE HEED to the MINISTRY which thou hast RECEIVED in the Lord, that thou FULFIL it” Colossians 4:17.
“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not DISOBEDIENT unto the HEAVENLY VISION” Acts 26:19.
BEING FULFILLED in life and godliness (godly living) is about living a God GIVEN and DRIVEN PURPOSE LIFE; that’s what brings about MEANINGFUL FULFILLMENT in God’s BLESSEDNESS in Christ Jesus stead; which is far beyond – from just being a merely SUCCESSFUL person by material accumulation that’s of no heavenly implications under God’s assigned plan, purpose and pursuit.
Therefore I urge you today to follow God’s PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT for your fulfilment in Him, in Christ Jesus stead, because success is RELATIVE in matters of doing life and living godly.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this PURPOSE the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” 1 John 8:3.
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. TO THIS END WAS I BORN, AND FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I INTO THE WORLD, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” John 18:37.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his PURPOSE. 29 For whom he did FOREKNOW, he also did PREDESTINATE to be CONFORMED to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did PREDESTINATE, them he also CALLED: and whom he called, them he also JUSTIFIED: and whom he justified, them he also GLORIFIED” Romans 8:28-30.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath BLESSED us with all SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ . . . 5 having PREDESTINATED us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, . . . 11 in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being PREDESTINATED according to the PURPOSE of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” Ephesians 1:3, 5, 11.
“And say to Archippus, TAKE HEED to the MINISTRY which thou hast RECEIVED in the Lord, that thou FULFIL it” Colossians 4:17.
“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not DISOBEDIENT unto the HEAVENLY VISION” Acts 26:19.
“Philip [the deacon, not the apostle] went down to the city of SAMARIA and PROCLAIMED the Christ (the Messiah) to them [the people]; 6 And GREAT CROWDS of people with one accord listened to and heeded what was said by Philip, as they heard him and watched the miracles and wonders which he kept performing [from time to time]. 7 For foul spirits came out of many who were possessed by them, screaming and shouting with a loud voice, and many who were suffering from palsy or were crippled were restored to health. 8 AND THERE WAS GREAT REJOICING IN THAT CITY . . . 26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Rise and proceed southward or at midday on the road that runs from Jerusalem down to Gaza. This is the DESERT route]. 27 So he GOT UP and WENT. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship. 28 And he was [now] returning, and sitting in his chariot he was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the [Holy] Spirit SAID to Philip, GO FORWARD and join yourself to this chariot . . .” (Acts 8:1-40) Kindly read the entire chapter for context.
“And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of PHILIP THE EVANGELIST, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy” Acts 8:7-9.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way PROSPEROUS, and then thou shalt have GOOD SUCCESS” Joshua 1:8.
“Beloved, I pray that in every way you may SUCCEED and PROSPER and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]” 3 John 2/Amplified.
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