Our Father’s Business
In the past, sons very often followed in the steps of their fathers.
Farmer, tent-maker, carpenter, blacksmith, sword maker.
During his earthly ministry, Jesus talked a lot about doing the work of his father.
John 4:34
34Jesus said* to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.
Even as a pre-teen Jesus was zeroing in on doing his father’s work.
Luke 2:49
49And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
Jesus was singularly focused on accomplishing the will of His Father. As an adult he was so focused in on His father and his work that he did nothing unless he saw his father doing it.
John 5:17,19-21
But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
19Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 21“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.
That’s how we begin to think when Christ comes into our lives. We begin to want to do the will of our heavenly Father.
We can think about this in pretty broad terms.
Our Father’s Work Involves Loving People
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Ecology is great but God’s love involves people first and foremost.
That’s what these next two weeks is all about for us. We are going to be doing what we’ve seen our Father do. Love the people – Love the world.
We’re going to go throw some parties and invite everyone around to come have some fun, have some FREE food, maybe win a prize, maybe learn how to throw a football, or kick a soccer ball and the only reason is because we’ve been watching our Father and we’ve seen that He loves people.
In fact He loves people so much he sent his own son to die for their sins so that they could have everlasting life. Therefore we’re going to open up our hearts and our collective arms and give a small portion of the world a big hug. And say at least in our actions “I love you man”
Our Father’s love goes beyond loving people we know and like and that like us. In fact it is not even love that is based on the people we love. Its love that acts regardless of the object.
Matthew 5:43-48
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
If someone asks “Hey, why are you doing this?” You can say, we love people. We have a God who loves people. We’ve been watching Him and we see Him loving people and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to love people the way our heavenly Father loves people.
Yeah well what makes you think God loves people?
John 3:16…
Romans 5:8
8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Our Father’s Work Involves Serving Others
Philippians 2:1-8
1Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
When we look at what our Father is doing we see him serving. When he came to this earth he was without a doubt the only one worthy of being served but he came as one who served.
That’s what this week and next week is all about for this church. We have a venue for serving the people in our community. We’re going to serve them by providing some fun entertainment, athletic training, VBS.
Why are you doing this? We have a God who came to this world to serve rather than to be served. We’re trying to learn how to do that because that’s what we see in him.
How has God ever served me?
Philippians 2
6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
