ABOUT MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

Luke 2:43-49
43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and
Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among
their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors,
both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt
with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's
business?

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.

1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that ye should follow his steps:

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and
for thy pleasure they are and were created.

I. FIRST, ESTABLISH THE RIGHT PRIORITIES.

A. Give God the preeminence.

1. Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be
added unto you.

2. Matt 22:36-40
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all
thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

II. TURN TO GOD.

A. Be truly converted.
1. Luke 22:31-34
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted , strengthen thy brethren.
33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou
knowest me.
 B. Turn away from misconceptions about what God commands.
1. Acts 11:19-21
19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as
Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the
Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

C. Turn away from idols.

1. 1 Thess 1:6-10
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the
Holy Ghost:
7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place
your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God
from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the
wrath to come.

D. When we give ourselves to the Lord, it makes serving Him joyous.

1. 2 Cor 8:3-5
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the
ministering to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of
God.

III. SERVE GOD WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

A. Service to God makes us different.
1. Acts 4:10-13
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom
ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant
men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

2. Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven.

B. Our attitude and behavior will differ vastly from that of the world.
1. Matt 5:43-48
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray
for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and
on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
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47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

C. Realize that we are here to serve God, not men.

1. Col 3:23-24
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

2. Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I
should not be the servant of Christ.

D. Let our conduct be a credit to the gospel.

1. Phil 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and
see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind
striving together for the faith of the gospel;

E. We can become fruitful in His service if we make the effort.

1. 2 Peter 1:3-8
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.
5 And beside 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.

IV. THE QUESTION IS: WHO IS YOUR FATHER?

A. Christ accused some of the Jews of having the wrong father.
1. John 8:38-44
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's
children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not
Abraham.
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father,
even God.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God;
neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning,
and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for
he is a liar, and the father of it.

B. Paul writes of our Father.

1. Eph 4:1-6
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
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5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Invitation: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Christ as the Son of God, Be Immersed for the remission of
sins, and then grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, remaining faithful until death.

If one is a Christian and has done anything publicly to bring reproach upon the church, then
that person or those persons are invited to remove their separation from God by public repentance
so that prayers can be offered for them