My Father's Business

Luke 2:49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

Business is something you have to do

It’s not about what you like, it’s what has to be done.

You could ask any CEO in America or abroad, that to run a company is the most serious job there is, because if they fail- the whole company fails.

These people would tell you there is immense pressure involved in that position. They would tell you that hard decisions are to be made, decisions they will be responsible for.

Responsibility is a key to good business. Would you agree?

Marketing is just a means to an end. It’s to get people in the door. But with business there is a deal to make.

Simply put- with business the message is clear: you’ve got to do, what you’ve got to do to keep the business alive and ticking.

Jesus Christ said I must be about my Father's business.

How many of you know that if Jesus is about the Father's business, then we have to be about the Father's business. Amen?

And so, today I will be talking about the business of the Kingdom of God.

1. In business you’ve got to have a strategy

   
   

When operating any type of commercial venture, you have to be strategic. You have know the details, and the ins and outs.

The Bible says that we must be wise AS serpents. Not that we are to be like serpents, no, but rather to be as wise as serpents.

Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves

When i read that, I really can't think of another lesson like that to compare in any other place in terms of earthly quotes or famous advice. I love the teachings of Christ because it's so specific, and that's how you know it's the truth.

How many of you know e=mc2 is pretty simple, but pretty specific? You hear it and you say e=mc2... thanks Einstein! It's so simple! But let me tell you, to get to e=mc2, you've got to know some things about math and physics, amen? Well, let me tell you, when Jesus says be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves, you better recognize that those are words of life. He's telling you the truth! Amen!

So what does it mean to be as wise as a serpent?

If you've been living for God any amount of time, you'll know that the devil... the devil is crafty. He's always concocting ways to try to come against the kingdom of God. Amen.

And yet, in spite of this, Jesus is telling us be as wise as serpents. Be as wise as the ones who are coming against the business. Be a match for them. Outmatch them. Where do we get this wisdom from? We get it from the Holy Ghost, who renews our mind. He makes our mind new. He helps us see things past the mind we were given in the fleshly realm- our natural state... He wants us to have the wisdom that comes from above.

The mind of God, let me tell you is a mind that outperforms the devil!

The mind of God is a mind that surpasses petty arguments and the neverending ramblings of the worldly and sinners.

The mind of God knows people's intentions.

The mind of God knows what people are up to....

And so, the Bible tells us, let this mind be in you, that which was in Christ Jesus.

Does anybody believe Jesus is a devil defeater?

Be as wise as serpents.

Did you know that the Father's business is a winning business?

But Did you know that the Father's business is a gracious business?

That's why it said to be as gentle as doves.

If you win in life you don't have to be ungracious.

You don't have to shove it in everyone's face.

No, you want to be victorious and an inspiration to those around you.

Hallelujah.

Be gentle as doves. Amen.

Let's go to Luke 16, Which is the parable of the dishonest servant

1 And He said also unto His disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

2 And he called him and said unto him, ‘How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward.’

3 Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my lord taketh away from me the stewardship. I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

4 I am resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’

5 So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, ‘How much owest thou unto my lord?’

6 And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Take thy bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’

7 Then said he to another, ‘And how much owest thou?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said unto him, ‘Take thy bill and write fourscore.’

8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely; for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

9 And I say unto you, make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

10 He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much.

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Maybe you don't come across this parable too often, but the Lord gave me this not once, but twice over several weeks. I'll be honest with you, I never read it or at least I don't remember reading it before. How embarrassing. But.... I'm aware of it now.

It's got a powerful message contained inside of it.

The message is saying..... IT IS God's Will and great pleasure that you take care of yourself in this world.

He his telling you to be a person of business.

A person of responsibility.

Here's the spotlight... in verse 11 of LUKE 16

If therefore YOU have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to you true riches?

.............................................................Maybe the problem with your breakthrough is that you can't throw out the trash when your wife tells you to.

Maybe the problem with your healing is that you're shopping online at work.

Maybe the problem is you just stopped caring about everything............... and you're just waiting for everything to fall out of the sky. You're waiting for your magic carpet to arrive and whisk you away to a wonderland where everything's a permanent vacation tailor made just for you.

Let me tell you in the business of the Father, God has a great storehouse of treasure for his employees, but the Bible is clear! You must be trusted in simple things here on earth before you can be trusted with the big treasures from Heaven!

AMEN!

I want you to Stop and Realize that God wants you to wake up and smell the coffee. It's time to rolls up your sleeves.

It's time to stop letting your life become a mess.

It's time time for the Father's Business!!

2. Business only happens if there is demand

   
   

For there to be an exchange, and a deal... a transaction...

For there to be business DONE....... there has to be a demand. Someone's got to want what you're selling.

Let me just say that in business there has got to be a demand for your business.

There has to be a NEED.

This is God's business and let me tell you... You can’t do this without God

God has to demand your service

He wants your service

You can’t do this..... without your submission to God

I’m telling you never think you are so great that you don’t need God.

What makes a person great is directly equal to how much they need God.

Hallelujah... if you're going through a situation in your life and you can't make sense of it. Let me tell you brother, let me tell you sister, your need and your dependency on God is the key to your greatness in the kingdom.

This thing you've prayed for and can't shake makes you great. God is demanding you. He is demanding your prayer. He is demanding your dependency upon him.

God is demanding you!

If you're in demand, there is business at hand.

If you're demanding God, there is business at hand.

When you are about your Father's business.... you understand this concept of DEMAND!

You've got to demand God in your life, and you need to know God is demanding you to be of service!

Which brings us to the next point.....

3. When you’re in the Father's Business, you are a servant

Luke 17:7-10 (ESV)

7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

We talked about the dishonest servant, but now let's talk about the unworthy servant. Oh Lord, help us. Have mercy.

This servant said "I worked hard, now where's my reward."

"I'm tired, now give me food and drink and my slippers.- FEED ME and GIVE ME MY REWARD MASTER"

No, you did your work outside, and now you have work to do inside.

Because in the business of God, you're always a servant to God AT ALL TIMES. It never ends. It's almost like you're a slave.......

You're saying to yourself, I don't know I just need a little break maybe...

Don't go looking for your break, your break will come when Jesus gives you one.

Maybe that's why the apostle says we are slaves to Christ?

Slavery may be abolished in the US constitution, but it's still part of the kingdom of God. That might not be a popular word, but it means we are forever indebted to the Lord, and we owe him everything. We are here to be at his service every day. It's not a slavery based on race, it's a slavery based on debt. You are forever indebted to Him!

It doesn’t matter who you are, or if you become the right-hand man of Jesus. It doesn’t matter if you’re the last in the kingdom. You are the servant to the Lord. A servant cannot be greater than their master. If it weren’t for Jesus, you wouldn't be anywhere.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you are not through, you are not going to heaven until Jesus tells you you’re going to heaven. You’re not done until he says well done………. Thou good and faithful servant.

That ought to humble you

That ought to change you

That ought to transform you

As gen z says in a pick me generation

The only one you ought to be worried about picking you is none other than the Lord himself

Pick me Lord, pick me

Let me go on…

4. In business you’re going to have competition

There’s a serpent.

There's a serpent, a devil is is slithering around and looking to suffocate this business. He has made it his life's work.

He will sow deceit, and tempt man into sin, and seek to persuade us into the wrong direction. To make mistakes that ensnare us. Lord help us.

The devil is constantly seeking to divide us and to provoke one another into disharmony. He's trying to break up the business.

We put up a billboard, and he's bought the billboard right across the way, selling his merchandise. Promoting his new website, his new book, his new false prophet and disciple of the decade.

You know what i mean........

When it comes to the Father's business, you've got to know there is competition.

How do we beat the competition?

Well, to run a successful business there are several key factors, and I will give you some to think about.

• People have to trust your business. You have to develop a relationship with your customer, that's why you have to be different from the world and can't go running with them and talking like them and jumping on all the trends and being like everyone else. In a world of deception, you have to be the person that they remember when they are in need. When there is a demand in their heart, in their life, they are going to remember you, and they will buy from you once they realize the demand in their life.

  
  

• What you're selling has to be unique, and reliable, cost effective for them. What other religion says love your neighbor at yourself, and to forgive your enemies, and to take up your cross. That's not something you hear anywhere else. That's not a message of the world, that's not what everyone else is saying, and yet here you are committed to it. You are giving them something distinct, unusual, one of a kind... and the best part if it's 100% free! The cost has already been paid by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. All they have to do is receive it!

5. Our Business has got to be ethical

   
   

   I know this to be a fact. In life you have to be ethical. When you're talking about the Father's Business and carrying out the Father's business, you have to be ethical. What does ethical mean?

   Well, according to the dictionary it means morally good and correct, and avoiding activies that do harm to people or the environment.

   
   

   You see, God's work, and the expansion of His kingdom is not invasive. Real Christians are not an invasive species, so to speak. When we enter a new environment we don't wreck the place. We don't make the place darker. We don't tear it to pieces. No.....

   
   

   This truth, and this message has restorative power. It can mend the broken pieces- it has a heart, and a soul, in a heartless and soulless world. A world that is wicked and deceitful and damaging and destructive. The business of God is a business that is philanthropic and wants to see order and goodness. All of creation cries out for the sons of God to be revealed. If you want to talk environmental social governance, or ESG as the buzzword is, and sustainability and environmentalism, then what you need is the glory of God entering into the situation. We need the glory of God in our lives, and we receive that when we are doing the Father's business.

   
   

   This message of the gospel is a message that doesn't bring death like the many messages of the world and of satan. No- This is a message the brings not just life, but eternal life. It puts the pieces back together. It gives you a sound mind. It makes you sane, and then you really see how out of whack people's minds are, under the influence of the altars of this world. God, have mercy!

   
   

   This message is the voice of reason. The Father's Business is a good message, and we are the workers, and an extension of that goodness. The fruits that we produce don't have thorns, so that when we give them something, we cause harm or a reduction in return. No, it is everlasting expansion into the spiritual. It takes us further away from the darkness. The darkness may try to chase us on our tail and be in our rearview mirror, but Praise God, Jesus is pushing your foot on the accelerator. The Gates of Hell SHALL NOT PREVAIL THE BIBLE SAYS! We are heading towards glory! We are paving the way for others to receive the glory! FOR, WE ARE ABOUT OUR FATHER'S BUSINESS!

   
   

6. To have a business, you have to have a mission statement

A mission statement defines what the purpose and pursuit is of the business

Let me tell you what Gods mission is.

It’s to seek and save that which was lost

And past that, you have a personal business with God. There’s a part that you do in the kingdom.

Are you a healer?

Are you a money guy?

Are you a server of tables?

Are you a worship leader?

Are you a prayer warrior?

Are you an outreach person?

Have you defined your personal mission statement… what is the mission statement written in your heart. What has God lead you to do for His business?

Don’t forget your mission statement!

You can’t have a business without your mission statement.

In closing…

One more thing to know about running a business. The thing you need to know is…..

There is sacrifice involved.

7. To operate a successful business, it involves sacrifice.

God made the greatest sacrifice, for John 3:16 says He made the greatest sacrifice by giving up His only begotten son. The man Christ Jesus.

Jesus took up the cross and bore the crown of thorns, and I can just see his face. I can see the crown of thorns. He bore that humiliation, but when you see it in your mind's eye, you see such a surpassing glory. You see a true King. You see a glory that mankind is not worthy of. You see sacrifice- You see the ultimate sacrifice.

For you see, in business, in God's business, when you sacrifice- you do His will. You do His work. You receive glory. You receive a reward.

When I think about the crown of thorns, that Jesus bore upon his head, I see the true crown. Now…..

The theologians can fact check me on that, because maybe he’s wearing a new crown on the throne in Heaven, that displays much more glory. But, bear with me, when I see the King, I see that crown of thorns, and I see sacrifice. I see worthiness. I see a sacrifice that was made for you and I. When that little boy Jesus said to his mother… “I must be about my Father’s business”…. I must be about my father’s business. Those words echo into the furthest depths of the universe even today. Because Jesus came to save the Father’s business.

Do you know what the Father’s business is? It’s to save humanity. It’s to save the creation he made in His image.

Oh, let me tell you, when Jesus was upon that cross and the thorns pierced into his skin, deep underneath and the blood dripped and poured down his face, his head sunk forward and that blood fell to the earth for the first time. The earth trembled. Death trembled. That earth that had taken the remains of so many upon the command of death, in that moment death came face to face with everlasting life...... and consumed it for those who believed upon the name of this man. When that blood hit the floor, death was swallowed up in victory.

Jesus was about his father’s business.

Jesus succeeded in his father’s business.

The business we are in, is in the business of Jesus. The firstborn of many brethren, Romans 8:29 says.

We’re going to give ourselves as living sacrifices.

We’re going to stay on the altar.

We’re going to glorify this One, the only One who is worthy.

We’re going to let our light shine and open our mouths.

We’re going to tell the world about Jesus.

We’re going to tell the world about what it takes to be Born Again, and that they must be born again.

The business of God, is to be the children of God.

We must be about our Father's business.

Amen.