Archive for the ‘Love’ Category

Confirming His Word

Friday, April 26th, 2019

FATHER spoke in Leviticus chapter 26:

3 ​‘​If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them,

4 ​​then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

5 ​​Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; ​​you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

6 ​​I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; ​​I will rid the land of evil beasts, ​​and the sword will not go through your land.

7 ​​You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you.

8 ​​Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; ​​your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.

​9 ​‘​For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 28:

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Mark wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 16:

19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

And it is written by THE SPIRIT in Hebrews chapter 13:

 

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines…

Many believers are living each day without the revelation that Jesus is with us always and desires to confirm His Word with signs following.  The difference between us and the various religions around the world is the presence of Our Lord and Savior to confirm His Word with signs following.  It is proof positive of our trust and reliance on the Words of Jesus Christ Who fully expressed FATHER’S Divine Intent.

We must undo all past teachings which fail to exalt Our Lord Jesus Christ and His working in our midst.  We do not have to come up with some ritual to get the attention of Our Heavenly Father in order to convince HIM to act.  We do not have to beg Our Lord Jesus to show up to perform some once-in-a-lifetime miracle.  We simply need to cleanse ourselves of the unbelief built up through years of what might be called spiritual neglect and get back to the basics of walking and being led by THE SPIRIT.

FATHER showed Paul the futility of his past and thus Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Corinthians chapter 2:

1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Paul had been an expert in the Law as he expressed his past: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  Yet Paul admitted by THE SPIRIT in Philippians chapter 3:

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

Let us jettison all past teachings which do not promote the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus Our Lord and get back to the simplicity of His Words.  He is with us always and is ready to confirm His Word with signs and wonders.  This is what differentiates us from those who follow the religions of the world.

Theology Or Divine? You Choose

Thursday, April 25th, 2019

What is Theology?  Theology is the critical study of the nature of the divine. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the supernatural, but also especially with epistemology, and asks and seeks to answer the question of revelation.

Epistemology is the branch of philosophy concerned with the theory of knowledge. Epistemology is the study of the nature of knowledge, justification, and the rationality of belief.

The Bible is a book of miracles and that is what separates it from the religions of the world.  Jesus’ birth was a miracle.  His ministry was confirmed by miracles.  His resurrection was a miracle.  Miracles confirm His Word even today and I am a testimony of His miraculous power after being spared from death five different, distinct times in my life.

Many believers have withdrawn from expecting miracles and have changed their focus to theology.  They no longer expect the unexpected but have become satisfied with simply studying and analyzing the Divine Nature of FATHER.  Numerology is any belief in the divine or mystical relationship between a number and one or more coinciding events.  Yes, FATHER is the supreme Mathematician but why spend countless hours analyzing numbers as though they will lead to a coinciding event as a result?

People have an innermost desire for the miraculous and will go to great lengths to experience the miraculous.  All of us are hard-wired to pursue the miraculous because it brings us closer to the Divine.  Will the critical study of the nature of the divine bring us closer?  No.  Will seeking and analyzing signs bring us closer?  Once again, no.  Will becoming an expert in numerology bring forth the divine?  Not in the least.  Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 12:

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

An adulterous generation is made up of those unfaithful to FATHER.  They are not walking in Agape Love but are seeking their own enrichment.  They are not walking in faith and trusting in Our Lord Jesus Christ.  They promote “conditional” theology.  Show me a sign and I will respond.  They begin trusting in signs utilizing numbers as though FATHER has to create some event with a specific number to get their attention.

We need to walk in faith, not theology or numerology.  Critical thinking will not get us closer to the Divine.  Seeking a relationship with FATHER and walking in Love will.  Studying and dwelling on HIS Word which expresses HIS Divine Nature will move us closer to the Divine.  Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Romans chapter 10:

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

And in Hebrews chapter 11, it is written by THE SPIRIT:

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

FATHER rewards those who diligently seek HIM.  If we want to walk with HIM, we must be diligent in our seeking and we will be rewarded for our commitment.  Let us not be occasional seekers but let us focus daily in our seeking.  By faith, Noah was Divinely warned and became an heir of righteousness.  Noah was not a theologian but walked in simple faith.

Seeking the Divine is not a complex, critical study which only a few obtain.  Jesus selected unlearned fishermen to be disciples to spread The Word with signs following.  We must begin to expect the unexpected as we diligently seek HIM.  FATHER will rewards us with the Divine and the miraculous.

The Truth Exposes

Wednesday, April 24th, 2019

Jesus spoke in Mark chapter 4:

21 Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?
22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.
23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

FATHER’S Truth stands on its own and those who walk in it will conduct their lives in full transparency. I don’t have to write down what I have told various people in the past, I simply recall the truth of the matter and stand on it. The Truth makes life simple.

Men’s motivations will be exposed as the Truth comes forth. Those of us who purpose to walk in Agape Love will welcome any exposure requiring correction for we do not think of ourselves to highly and seek purity of heart in all areas. I am willing to release any past doctrine or understanding so that the fullness of the Truth will reside in my heart. In the past, I have been partially blinded by men’s teachings and credentials because of my immaturity and willingness to be teachable but FATHER has shined the light on these teachings and allowed me to see the error. HE lovingly corrected my path and thus the fruitfulness in my life has once again increased.

Jesus warned us to take heed to what we hear. To the extent that we study spiritual Truth and apply Godly wisdom, it will be measured to us and we will be given an even greater ability to respond. If we have a teachable heart, then more understanding will be given. If we don’t have a yearning for Truth, even what we have will be taken away. We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by men’s opinions and traditions, their intellectual prowess, or pressure put on us by their followers to submit to their teachings. Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Words are at the pinnacle of Truth.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Timothy chapter 2:

5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

A mediator is one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant; a medium of communication, arbitrator.

We need no one else to be our mediator and represent us before Our Heavenly Father. No one among the five-fold ministry is able to stand in the office of Mediator. Anyone who takes our attention away from the One True Mediator is promoting another christ (or himself) and is promoting division among the believers. We are warned against following and embracing such teaching.

Let us ask FATHER to reveal the fullness of Truth in all areas of our life and purpose to walk in full transparency. Let our hearts be cleansed from any and all false doctrines so that we will walk with a pure heart before FATHER. As Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 5:

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Holy And Acceptable

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019

The world is constantly promoting its agenda through all aspects of our physical senses, mostly through our eyes and ears.  Social media is filled with man’s views on just about every topic one can fathom.  Advertising sources promote their paths to social acceptance and trends which ultimately impact the immature.  Unless we are strong in faith and our beliefs based on FATHER’S Word, we too will be impacted by these agendas.

When people focus on the world’s ways, they tend to lose sight of FATHER’S ways and HIS Divine Intent.  People tend to follow the path of least resistance when compromise takes hold.  Laziness replaces steadfastness.  Short-term fixes replace long-term commitments to walk according to HIS Word.  Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Romans chapter 12:

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The renewing of our minds is not a one-time task but requires us to maintain a state of renewal as long as we are subjected to the world’s influence through the various media sources.  There are also those we come in contact who are promoting the world’s agenda and will try to influence us even in a passive fashion.  People attempt to protect their belief system by convincing others to agree with them.  The current political environment is a perfect example.

 

When we present ourselves to FATHER as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, then we can be used in a greater manner.  Our hearing improves as well.  Our goal should be to walk as vessels of honor, known to be Jesus’ disciples and spread the Gospel as He did.  Jesus spoke in John chapter 8:

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

What an honor it is to be a disciple of Jesus and walk in the same manner He walked.  As we mature into the fullness of abiding in HIS Word, we will be empowered just as the disciples were empowered when Jesus commanded them in Matthew chapter 10:

1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Notice how they were given the same power and authority Jesus walked in:

Matthew 4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

As we abide in The Word and walk in Agape Love, we will have a new compassion for those who are in need.  We will develop a deep desire to minister life and healing to all.  Let us express our Love by a daily commitment to be holy and acceptable in HIS sight.

 

Being Moved With Compassion

Monday, April 22nd, 2019

By THE SPIRIT, the Beloved Disciple wrote in 1 John chapter 3:

16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him (has no compassion), how does the love of God abide in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

 

The world system continues to focus on scarcity and why those who are powerful should go to war and insure their ability to increase their future resource availability.  In effect, the rich take from the poor.  The Kingdom of Heaven works in the opposite manner because there is no scarcity in FATHER’s Kingdom.

 

The riches of Heaven are hidden from the world and those riches not only include the Spiritual realm, but also include the physical realm as well.  There are no real shortages in the world but there is only the perception of shortages because the world does not have access to FATHER’S resources.

 

FATHER instructs us to have compassion toward those in need yet many have no revelation of the Spiritual laws concerning seedtime and harvest.  Moreover, many do not have confidence in FATHER’S Love being expressed in the area of a tangible harvest based on our actions toward others.

 

Jesus was not hesitant to feed the five thousand because He knew FATHER’S heart toward supplying needs accord to HIS riches in Heaven.  Matthew wrote in chapter 14 by THE SPIRIT:

14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”

16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.”

19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.

20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.

21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

As we allow ourselves to be moved with compassion and expect FATHER’S resources to become available to us, the Spiritual flow through us will begin to minister in our midst.  FATHER’S Love produces compassion toward others and resources begin flowing to spread the Kingdom.  We can hinder the flow by not allowing ourselves to be moved with compassion.  Each of us must decide to be led by The Holy Spirit when the situation presents itself.  It is easy to look the other way when confronted by those in need.  Let us not justify our unwillingness because of the person’s blindness.  After all, we were once blind ourselves.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Sunday, April 21st, 2019

In Luke chapter 21, Jesus spoke:

 

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

 

35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.

 

36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

 

37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.

 

38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

 

Jesus warned us to “take heed” or be on guard because His return will come when the world least expects it.  The ways of the world are constantly pulling on man’s ego to comply with its ways and traditions or Jesus would not have warned us.  Instead, He urged us to expect the unexpected.  Until then, we are to occupy until His return.

 

Today marks the anniversary of His resurrection and is truly a day of celebration.  Mary Magdalene was the first to receive the revelation of Jesus’ resurrection.  In Luke chapter 21, it is written by THE SPIRIT:

 

9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.

 

10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.

 

11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

 

In essence, Mary Magdalene was the first apostle of the New Testament for she was sent to give the disciples the message of Jesus’ resurrection.  Interestingly enough, they did not believe her even though they had witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead as well as many others.  Jesus knew Mary’s heart and her willingness to believe for she knew first hand of His power when He cast the seven demons out of her.

 

This is not a day of tradition but one of remembrance that Jesus Christ is alive and well, sitting at FATHER’S right hand.  We should be celebrating this day with praise and thanksgiving by expressing our gratitude toward FATHER for bringing forth HIS Divine Intent of Love and restoring us to HIM through HIS Son.  Psalm 148 says it all:

 

1 Praise the LORD!  Praise the LORD from the heavens;  Praise Him in the heights!

 

2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!

 

3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light!

 

4 Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens!

 

5 Let them praise the name of the LORD,  For He commanded and they were created.

 

6 He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away.

 

7 Praise the LORD from the earth, Sea monsters and all deeps;

 

8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

 

9 Mountains and all hills; Fruit trees and all cedars;

 

10 Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and winged fowl;

 

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth;

 

12 Both young men and virgins; Old men and children.

 

13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted;

His glory is above earth and heaven.

 

14 And He has lifted up a horn for His people, Praise for all His godly ones; Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise the LORD!

You Need Not Say Goodbye

Saturday, April 20th, 2019

My Beloved Sister sent this video link for us to embrace the fullness of Jesus’ expression of Love toward us:

You Need Not Say Goodbye

Expect The Unexpected

Friday, April 19th, 2019

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is also known as Holy Friday but I would suggest that it might be called Agape Love Friday since the culmination of Jesus’ sacrifice occurred on this day which is the ultimate act of unconditional Love toward all of mankind.
On this day, the disciples’ expectations were not met for they expected Jesus to establish the Kingdom in a different manner. They relied heavily on His guidance for three and a half years and saw many miracles including the raising of the dead yet they did not expect Him to submit to death Himself.
Jesus warned the most intelligent and well educated men of their trust and reliance on the familiar. In Mark chapter 7, Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and some of the scribes:
9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.”
And:
13 “you are making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Tradition results from man applying his logic to develop a formula expecting to achieve a desired outcome equivalent to a past event. If we do steps 1, 2, and 3 then we should expect the event to occur again. However, this path relies on the lower physical laws rather than the higher, spiritual realm. A past revelation is converted to tradition by man’s logic and blindness.
As for us, we should expect the unexpected. Jesus healed many people using different means so that the disciples would not think there is any specific formula for healing. Whether dipping oneself in the river or applying mud to the eyes, the healing resulted from obedience to The Word of faith.
No one expected FATHER’S Love to culminate on Good Friday, also known as Passover. No one expected Jesus’ death to produce life but FATHER confounded the wise with HIS plan for our redemption. Jesus spoke in Luke 21:
25 “There will be signs (attesting miracles) in the sun and moon and stars; and on the earth [there will be] distress and anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea and the waves,
26 people fainting from fear and expectation of the [dreadful] things coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with [transcendent, overwhelming] power [subduing the nations] and with great glory.
28 Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.” AMPL
The world systems are teetering on collapse which will cause many to faint from fear as they expect dreadful things to happen. What are we to do? Jesus tells us not to fear but to look up for our redemption is drawing near. We should expect the unexpected with great joy!

Trees Of Life

Thursday, April 18th, 2019

My friend Alan wrote in response to a recent blog:

Yesterdays ‘word’ emphasized the reality that Yashua likened us “…to trees, especially fruit trees.” More like ‘nuts’? Just kidding. Some years back I noticed how the emphasis in Genesis 2 and 3 focused on ‘adam’ eating only from trees. To eat from a tree, one must be upright, standing up, reaching up (Philippians 3:14) and well aware of the surroundings. That is what prompted me to investigate the Hebrew word translated as ‘tree’, which is the Hebrew word ‘gaytz’, Strong’s # H6086. That same word is also translated as ‘wood’, and also as ‘counsel’. All the ways this word is translated have to do with substances or situations or counsels that empower ‘adam’ to stand upright, stand against the disrupting ‘winds of doctrine’, and to walk uprightly ( straight; righteously; in harmony with Our Father’s Words). Adam was instructed to eat from the trees of the garden, and not from the herbs of the field, or grass of the earth. All three of those ‘food sources’, trees and herbs and grass, are spiritual metaphors for ‘adam’ to understand, and then focus upon. Gen. 1:29 discusses these three levels, with the emphasis for ‘adam’ to choose ‘vegetation’ which has the ability within itself to bear its own ‘seed’, while providing “every green herb” as food for all other life forms. ‘adam’ is later told to eat “…of all the trees of the garden”, and specifically from “…the tree of life (lives)”. Gen. 2:9.

FATHER instructed us to eat from trees (men and women) which only produce good fruit and to stay away from the tree which produces death. This particular tree which produces “winds of doctrine” centers around the knowledge of good and evil. This tree causes man to question FATHER’S Word, HIS judgment, and HIS Divine Intent.

When we question FATHER’S Word, we are relying on our own logic and common sense developed through the sense realm which is completely inferior to the spiritual realm. We rely on lower laws and become subject to them rather than FATHER’S higher Laws promoting life and fruitfulness.

FATHER’S unconditional Love allows us to make the decision in which realm we will honor in our own walk just as HE did with Adam and Eve. In one realm we are covered by HIS Glory and the other realm we walk in nakedness, needing our own devices to protect us.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Deuteronomy chapter 28:

1 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.

2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God

Over the last forty-seven years, I have taken FATHER at HIS Word concerning HIS blessings. I opted not to dilute HIS Word by looking for some underlying intent other than HIS expressed promises to me and my family. Why challenge HIS Word as Eve did when the adversary posed an alternative meaning to HIS expressed and exact command? When we do, are we not trying to exalt our knowledge, skill, understanding, and wisdom above HIS?

When we listen to trees who promote their common sense and logic without the life of THE WORD, we subject ourselves to the lower laws tied to the physical realm. What is the result?

15 “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you” …

I can attest that experience is not the best teacher, listening to The Holy Spirit is!

Occupy

Wednesday, April 17th, 2019

In Luke chapter 19, Jesus spoke:

11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.

12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.

13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business (Occupy) till I come.’

14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’

15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’

17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’

18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’

19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’

20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.

21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’

22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.

23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’

25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’)

26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”

The word occupy in verse 13 means: to be occupied in anything; to carry on a business; to carry on the business of a banker or a trader. In the above passage, it is clear we are to be productive with the gifts FATHER has bestowed in us and produce tangible fruit on behalf of HIS Kingdom.

“Occupy” denotes productive action with a focus on producing results very specific to FATHER’S directives found in HIS Word. Some will fully embrace their gifts and callings thus they will produce a ten-fold return of what they were given. This pleases Our Lord Jesus Christ and He will declare “Well done, good servant! Because you proved yourself faithful and trustworthy in a very little thing, you shall now have authority over ten cities [in my kingdom]”.

One who is somewhat productive is still rewarded. There are those who will be less productive but still embraced their gifts and callings. They too will be rewarded because they at least responded to FATHER’S Word with some level of action.

The third servant is one who did not know Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Agape Love for us. This servant focused only on the Laws other than the most important commandments of Love thus he lived in fear. He was so focused on what not to do, he ended up doing nothing. This is one issue with those who focus solely on prophetic words concerning world events. There is a tendency to do nothing because the expected world event will change everything anyway so, what is the point!

We need to focus on Jesus’ command to occupy till He returns, no matter what day, month, or year. Let us not be afraid but know that FATHER’S Love for each of us placed us here at this time with specific gifts and callings to conduct business on behalf of the Kingdom. As we are led by HIS SPIRIT, we will accomplish what is expected of us and will be rewarded accordingly. Remember, faith without works is dead, so occupy!