Letter of Encouragement
March 2021
FROM THE DESK OF: Elder Richard Best
TOPIC: Occupy Till I Come
Greeting Saints and friends in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ our savior and Lord; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Unto the Prophets, Prophetesses, Bishops, Pastors, Mothers, Elders, Evangelists, Teachers, Ministers, Deacons, and all the Saints grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. There is a saying that is popular among us taken from Luke 19:13, “Occupy till I come.” Of course this saying is surrounded by the parable that Jesus spoke beginning from verse 11-28. The word occupy is not merely to fill up a space, but rather to take possession of, or lay hold, and commit oneself in accomplishing a task. To each of the ten servants were given a pound upon the return of the nobleman. Some of the servants had gained more by trading, but one had set the pound aside in napkin, see verse 20, and began to make excuses for his actions. Of course, in reading the rest of the parable, we see the judgement of that servant. In the second epistle of Peter chapter one, beginning from verse one, it reads, “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”. The church has been given such wonderful things. In Acts 2:38 we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Ghost. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus Christ promised that he will be with us always, even unto the end of the world. In John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of he will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”. These are just some of what is written in the word of God that we be not distracted from the race that is set before us, for we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ that loved us, Romans 8:35-39. Remember, in the world we shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for Jesus said “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We have been given the measure of faith, but through exercise will we build up ourselves on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost so that we are not distracted from the course. John 15:4-5, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing”. My Beloved, after the new birth, growth is a necessity. If we stay in Christ and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, we shall certainly grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. “And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. 8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Peter 1:5-8). May the good Lord bless you to hear, receive, understand, and keep the word of God, that you may bring forth fruit, thirty, sixty or a hundred fold. Occupy till the Lord Jesus comes.
TOPIC: Occupy Till I Come
Greeting Saints and friends in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ our savior and Lord; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Unto the Prophets, Prophetesses, Bishops, Pastors, Mothers, Elders, Evangelists, Teachers, Ministers, Deacons, and all the Saints grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. There is a saying that is popular among us taken from Luke 19:13, “Occupy till I come.” Of course this saying is surrounded by the parable that Jesus spoke beginning from verse 11-28. The word occupy is not merely to fill up a space, but rather to take possession of, or lay hold, and commit oneself in accomplishing a task. To each of the ten servants were given a pound upon the return of the nobleman. Some of the servants had gained more by trading, but one had set the pound aside in napkin, see verse 20, and began to make excuses for his actions. Of course, in reading the rest of the parable, we see the judgement of that servant. In the second epistle of Peter chapter one, beginning from verse one, it reads, “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”. The church has been given such wonderful things. In Acts 2:38 we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Ghost. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus Christ promised that he will be with us always, even unto the end of the world. In John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of he will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”. These are just some of what is written in the word of God that we be not distracted from the race that is set before us, for we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ that loved us, Romans 8:35-39. Remember, in the world we shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for Jesus said “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We have been given the measure of faith, but through exercise will we build up ourselves on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost so that we are not distracted from the course. John 15:4-5, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing”. My Beloved, after the new birth, growth is a necessity. If we stay in Christ and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, we shall certainly grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. “And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. 8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Peter 1:5-8). May the good Lord bless you to hear, receive, understand, and keep the word of God, that you may bring forth fruit, thirty, sixty or a hundred fold. Occupy till the Lord Jesus comes.