February 26, 2006 am    Is this seat Occupied?   Luke 19

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

Maxine Hatcher’s life will be celebrated here today.  She has been the perfect example of someone who occupied here space in this life and in this church.  No one can preach another person’s funeral.  We all preach our own by the life we have lived.  Maxine preached hers.  We will miss her, but she taught us a valuable lesson. 

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

Take the opportunity from the Lord.  Take the Lord.  Receive some purpose for living. 

Occupy the pews.  The Lord gave to each of the servants an equal opportunity.  He gives us life and eternal life.  What have we done?  How have we spent what we have?

The occupy is to: 

1. To fill up (time or space): a lecture that occupied three hours.
2. To dwell or reside in.
3. To hold or fill (an office or position).
4. To seize possession of and maintain control over by or as if by conquest.
5. To engage or employ the attention or concentration of: occupied the children with coloring books.

Occupy means to live in and take advantage of the opportunity given.  Have we filled up our space of time and place that has been allotted to us by the Lord? 

1.      Occupy the Ministry.  We are called upon to take up the cross and follow the Lord.  We are called upon to do more than just take up a space.  We are given talents, gifts, and time from the Lord to be who we can be.  Have we occupied our place?

2.      Occupy the Mission.  Take the mission.  Make the commitment to serve the Lord because you believe in the Lord and you love the Lord.  The Lord’s mission is our mission.  His mission is to make a profit for the Kingdom.  Have you accepted it?   

3.      Occupy the Meal.  Join in the fellowship with other believers.  Share with them what you have been given.  Encourage them, teach them, give to them, love them, and love the Lord.  Give them your smile.  Give them your love.  Give them you. 

4.      Occupy the Moment.  Seize the day!   Carpe Deim.  Do what we can with what we have been given. Time is slipping away.  How much do you have left?  The Lord is coming again for us.  How will He find us?  O’ can we say we are ready brother?  Ready for the coming of the Lord. 

5.      The Occupation accounted for: The Lord will ask each of us what have done with what we were given.