Working In the Family Business

You know many of us from one time or another have likely worked with a family owned business. You know maybe you've gone to a store or gone into the doors of a business that is owned by and operated by a family. You know the family members are working in the business or maybe it's a multi-generational family business where the founders long ago started this and they're not around anymore but maybe their children's children's children are here and they're running that business as well and they're carrying forward with the vision and the values that were established by the original founders. You know we probably all run into those types of circumstances from time to time.

Darlan and I were talking yesterday about a family business that we've been involved with for quite a number of years or at least interacted with up in British Columbia. There's an Icelandic horse ranch up there that for nearly 30 years we've done business with these folks. The original founders of that started this business 60 years ago when they immigrated to Canada and now as the years have gone on and they're nearing retirement their adult children have been working in the business for quite a number of years and now even their grandchildren. In fact one of their grandchildren qualified to go to world championships on some of their stock. So this is this I mean it's just neat we've been up to a number of their evaluation clinics and probably purchased about a dozen horses from them over the course of 30 years. This has been a long-term friendship and to me it's neat to see all right here's the grandchildren out there now and the values the techniques the the education and the training of the grandparents being passed down in the generations and now you take this forward you know might have your individual personality but it has these foundational principles and values of those who started that business. There's a number of qualities that are generally recognized in family businesses ones that actually endure over time and I'm talking about going down through multiple generations. Long-term vision and stability is one of them. Long-term vision and stability they know where they are going they know their purpose and why it is they do what they do and that vision adds stability and generation to generation they each know the vision and where they're heading and it keeps them on a stable course. Additionally strong values and culture is another thing that's found in many multi-generation family businesses.

Strong values and culture you know a strong sense of identity that's again based on core values and core values that have come down from the founder of that business of that family. Personal touch and customer loyalty you know you've probably experienced this if you've gone to you know mom-and-pop shop or a family business that isn't maybe necessarily a big box brand there's a certain personal touch sometimes they know you by name when you walk in the door and and are willing in many cases to go above and beyond to help you find what it is that you might need.

That personal touch and and customer loyalty people value what they offer and how they value how they offer it and that builds trust. Now interestingly the oldest enduring business in the United States is a family business. Again down through the generations the Shirley Plantation in Charles County Virginia was established in 1613 and it was a plantation massive spread it's not quite as big as it used to be but it was a massive spread that grew tobacco originally back in the early 1600s and forward it grows other other produce and commodities now but it's a farm that is a part of the national historic landmark again the longest enduring business in the US and is a family business and it's come down generation by generation amazingly it's remained in the same family for over 400 years you know the current owners and operators of this plantation are the direct descendants of those who established it all that long time ago and it's an incredible testament to we say the enduring legacy and the longjectivity the potential at least length of time that you can have this ongoing really without a break in the link generation the generation this business so what does this have to do with us today as the Church of God what is family businesses and and being run through multiple generations have to do with the Church of God well in the Gospel of Luke we're given a rare glimpse into the childhood of Jesus Christ and the specific focus that directed his life and I want to begin there as we as we move into the answer of what this has to do with us Luke chapter 2 and verse 40 Luke chapter 2 and verse 40 not a lot written about the childhood of Jesus Christ but we get a little insight here and there Luke chapter 2 and verse 40 it says and the child grew being Jesus and he became strong in spirit and filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him his parents were went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover and when he was 12 years old they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast again like I described in last week's message this pilgrimage feast again up to Jerusalem verse 3 and when they had finished the day so they returned the boy Jesus though lingered behind in Jerusalem and Joseph and his mother did not know it but supposing him to have been in the company they went a day's journey and sought him among their relatives and acquaintances you know you could kind of imagine if this is this pilgrimage feast you're going with your family you're going with your neighbors often we would say today you carpool but there was security there was safety traveling on the roads making this journey together the verse 45 says so they didn't but they didn't find him when they did not they returned to Jerusalem seeking him now so it was after three days you know can you imagine we've lost the Son of God for three days I rather like our cell phone age better what can I say put a put an air tag on that boy after three days they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers both listening to them and asking them questions and all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers so when they saw him they were amazed and his mother said to him son why have you done this to us look your father and I have sought you anxiously don't you know we've been worried sick but Jesus said to them why did you seek me did you not know I must be about my father's business my father's business Jesus said it was a it was a declaration of his life's focus and purpose from the earliest months of his childhood he was profoundly aware of his divine calling and Jesus understood that his purpose on earth was not merely to grow up and you know live a normal life like every other child in the neighborhood he had a specific calling a specific purpose to go and fulfill with his life God's Spirit guided him in that and it was to fulfill the work of his heavenly Father and indeed from his birth to his life to his death and even to his subsequent resurrection his life would be shaped by this singular focus to be about his father's business that's why he came and is what he was doing with his days so the title for today brethren for us is working in the family business working in the family business because understand the father's business is a family business it's what Jesus Christ the Son of God was conducting during his life and it is what you and I as disciples of Jesus Christ today must be doing and must be having as a central focus to our days you know we live life in this world we have jobs we provide for our families we do those things but we have a focus from God that is specific and that is to be working in the family business so let's begin today by defining our father's business you know what is it what is it after all if we're going to labor in it if it's going to take so much of our time and focus and effort what is the business of God what does he indeed show us that it is first Corinthians chapter 15 first Corinthians 15 here we find the order of things in which God himself is working first Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 22 this is a broad overview but it gets us to the point first Corinthians 15 22 says whereas in Adam all die even so in Christ all shall be made alive okay so the work of God involves the future of every human being Paul said all all who have ever lived all who currently live all who will live in the future as it will be this has to do with eternal life being offered to all this has to do with the process that we could boil down frankly to one word to describe our father's business salvation salvation God is in the salvation business his intent is that all those created in his image be given the opportunity to become as he is in the same glorified form in the same likeness receiving the ultimate fulfillment of salvation in the family of God verse 23 carrying on with this overview it says but each one in his own order Christ the firstfruits afterward those who are Christ at his coming then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father when he puts an end to all rule all authority and all power this is part of the work Christ will do under his father verse 25 for he must reign till he's put all enemies under his feet the last enemy that will be destroyed is death says for he must put all things or excuse me he has put all things under his feet the Father under the feet of Jesus Christ but when he says all things are put under him it's evident that he who put all things under him is accepted you know the Father is not under the authority of Christ it's the other way around verse 28 now when all things are made subject to him to Christ then the Son himself will also be subject to him who put all things under him that God may be all in all so this is a partial overview of our Father's business is why he sent Jesus Christ in the flesh at his first coming is why he will send him back in glory at his second coming because there is a work that God is doing ultimately in the life of every human being and again and salvation is the word that we can boil this work down into now the salvation of man I would say is is the primary focus of God's work today but as we know the the eighth day that we've recently observed that is that is an open-ended day into eternity so God's work will include what he has in store for his family going forward into eternity but but the focus and the emphasis today is on this salvation of his children all in all here is an all-encompassing term signifying God's righteous reign over everything in that day okay day that will come where there will be no more opposition no more separation between God and humanity God and his creation all those who are God's children will exist in a state of harmony with him and all of creation indeed will reflect his presence and his glory again in the culmination of this work God will be all in all so again God's business today is about salvation is about the reconciliation of mankind to himself in order to fulfill the purpose for their existence it's what he sent Jesus Christ to play a critical role in at his coming and brethren it is the work he has given us today as the Church of God as the disciples of Jesus Christ it's the same work he has given us to carry forward in in his service notice Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 9 Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 9 again re-emphasizing the work that was the focus of Christ's life and then what will be the focus that we pick up and move forward with as well Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 9 it says but we see Jesus who is made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor that he may that he by the grace of God might taste death for everyone says for it was fitting for him for whom are all things and by whom are all things and bringing many sons to glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings so we understand this is the purpose of Jesus work it's the father's business he says I work in my father's business it is to bring many sons to glory in the family of God sons of God brethren of Jesus Christ verse 11 for both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brethren okay brethren this is a family term it's bringing us then into this family process verse 12 saying I will declare your name to my brethren in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to you and again I will put my trust in him and again here am I in the children whom God has given me and it's much then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood he himself likewise shared in the same Jesus came in the flesh that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death that is the devil and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage again salvation because the wages of sin is death that is that is the penalty and the prison that mankind finds themselves because of sin Christ life sacrifice and then resurrection if we embrace that covenant releases us from this bondage again for the purpose of salvation it is why he came for 16 for indeed he does not give aid to angels but he does give aid to the seed of Abraham therefore in all things he had to be made like his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest and the things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people for in that he himself has suffered being tempted he is able to aid those who are tempted and so when Jesus Christ walked the earth in the flesh this was his purpose okay was the work he was given by his father to do to minister to the things pertaining to salvation to the kingdom of God but not only in his life but also in his death to die for the advancement of that work we've seen again by his example this is what he was consumed with even from a very young age and as we've just read of his position today as the high priest at the right hand of God this work continues this work continues and Jesus Christ continues on even in his father's business in the temple Jesus wasn't simply lost he wasn't simply being disobedient to his physical parents he was exactly where he needed to be engaged in his father's work doing the business God had given him to do and even as a child he knew his mission was greater than all the other responsibilities that could be put on a human being all throughout his physical life his purpose was to fulfill the will of God and that's what we're going to keep coming back to today in the message as well it's the will of God that's what Jesus submitted himself to it was the work and the purpose and brethren is what we're called to submit ourselves to as well the will of God John chapter 4 the context of this passage is the Samaritan woman at the well I'm not going to go through that story necessarily and focus on it other than just say you know here was a sinner who Christ brought so we say a message of salvation right if you asked living waters could be the result right in your life if you engaged in this relationship but notice the continual focus he had here in the focus he had here on the will of God John chapter 4 and verse 31 John 4 verse 31 it says in the meantime his disciples urged him saying rabbi eat because they had gone away to the city to buy food and as Jesus rested by the well he has this interaction now they've returned but he said to them I have food to eat which you do not know there's actually something else that sustains me Christ says therefore his disciples said to one another has anyone brought him anything to eat Jesus said to them my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work again showing Jesus is focused on the father's business on fulfilling his will on doing what it is that God had given him to do verse 35 it says do you not say there are still four months then comes the harvest behold I say to you lift up your eyes and look at the fields for they are already white for harvest and he who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together he says for in this saying is true one sows and another reaps he says I sent you to reap for that which you have not labored others have labored and you have entered into their labors so here we begin to see the connection with how the disciples then of Jesus Christ would actually have a connection to this work that he did and would move forward as well in the work of God but again it's about fulfilling the father's will this is what Jesus was all about when he walked the earth fulfilling the will of God he didn't come to bring his own message he didn't come to display his own power he said actually I of myself can do nothing and he didn't come to actually bring a will of his own he was doing the will of the father of course there was agreement of course there are one in these things let's just understand this is the example he set he was about his father's business John chapter 12 verse 44 John chapter 12 in verse 44 carrying forward Jesus cried out and he said he who believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me and he sees me sees him who sent me says there's an intimate relationship between God and I and I'm not doing something just sort of rogue on my own verse 46 I have come as a light into the world that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness again we're talking about salvation called out of the darkness into the light dropping down to verse 49 he says for I have not spoken on my own authority but the father who sent me he gave me a command of what I should say and what I should speak and I know that his command is notice everlasting life that's the command of the father to the son about the things he should speak about the things he should do everlasting life therefore whatever I speak just as the father has told me so I speak you know in another place Jesus told them the words I speak to you they are spirit and they are life and so understand salvation salvation has always been the message that God sent Christ to preach it was the message right out of the gate of his ministry the time is fulfilled he said the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe the gospel salvation the kingdom of God is coming and you can be a part of it this was the message from the start and he didn't deviate from that he didn't preach some other thing his own thing he was committed to fulfilling his father's will all along and that will was reflected in Jesus teachings it was reflected in the miracles that he performed and frankly it was ultimately reflected in his sacrifice the will of God John chapter 5 back just a few pages on chapter 5 verse 14 John 5 here we find the Jewish rulers are quite upset with Jesus because he dared to heal someone on the Sabbath day okay so they're confronting him but I think like so many of the other confrontations Jesus had with the establishment this is a teachable moment it is a reason he did what he did and there's a reason he gives the answer that he gives John chapter 5 and let's pick it up in verse 14 afterwards Jesus found him this man who he had healed in the temple and he said to him see you've been made well sin no more let's say worst thing come upon you says the man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well and for this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill him because they had done these things on the Sabbath but Jesus answered them verse 17 says my father has been working until now and I have been working before the Jews sought all the more to kill him because he not only broke the Sabbath in their estimation but also said that God was his father making himself equal with God okay so Jesus says my father has been working until now and I have been working and that was a very provocative statement in the eyes of the Jews and there's actually a few takeaways I think that are important for us to understand regarding the work of God first of all Jesus statement tells us that God's work is ongoing right it's not like God kind of just wound up this clock at creation and just let it run do its own thing no God's work is ongoing by saying that his father is working until now Jesus is indicating that God's work of salvation never ceases and he's emphasizing the fact that God's work is continuous salvation work okay even on the Sabbath day we have the creation example God created the earth in six days he rested on the seventh he gave us that example okay but the work of salvation is ongoing even on the Sabbath day that's a point Jesus is making here because what is the Sabbath what does it point to it's a shadow of things to come it points to an ultimate rest and and ultimately salvation so we're here today I got in the car and drove two and a half hours down here the Nelson family got in the car and drove two and a half hours down here why because the work of God of salvation continues on the Sabbath you all made the effort to be here there is work that is taking place in this room today and it isn't happening just by what I say to you it happens through your fellowship the way that we sharpen one another and encourage one another this is all a form of salvation or work it's the healing we can offer to one another through our words and our encouragement and you know the shoulder to cry on and the pat of consolation on the back it is it is likened to what Jesus was doing in the healing of this man saving him from his condition allowing him to see the light of the truth of God so even on the Sabbath day God's work of salvation continues another point to consider Jesus is declaring his divine authority to do this now by saying I have been working he is asserting that he shares in this divine work with the Father they do this together he says we are working in this together he has been working and I have been working and this this is a work we do together the claim such a thing was to identify himself with God and then unique in a significant way that actually angered the Jews and they did not receive that well but again the point is my father's working and I'm working and the example will be my disciples after me will continue in this work as well additionally Jesus statement occurs in the context of again a healing that he performed on the Sabbath day which led to the accusations that he broke the Sabbath but by stating both he and his father are working he's making the point that the Sabbath is a time that God is still actively involved in salvation or work the healing of the heart in the mind of our human condition the father is involved in the work of restoration on the Sabbath and Jesus was permitted to work in that as well that's what he's declaring frankly is what the establishment really didn't care to hear finally Jesus words also point to his mission on earth he came to do the will of his father right and involved working to bring about the restoration of humanity through healing through teaching ultimately through his sacrifice and so the work of God in Christ is not limited to let's keep the creation in balance the Bible does tell us that you know all things are essentially held in balance by their will if God ceased to will it we would cease to exist but the work of God goes beyond just keeping the creation in balance it goes into the realm of salvation and redemption and reconciliation this is the work that Jesus was rightly doing on the Sabbath day and he gave an answer and it pointed back again to the work of the Father verse 19 and Jesus answered and said to them most assuredly I say to you the son can do nothing of himself but what he sees the father do for whatever he does the son also does in like manner again reiterating them reiterating the point he is working in his father's business he's doing what his father does what I see him do I do and what you see me do Christ says is actually what he is doing down to verse 30 I of myself can do nothing for all of us is an important thing to remember you and I of ourselves can do nothing either not apart from the blessing of God as I hear I judge and my judgment is righteous because I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father who sent me so again Jesus was all about doing his father's will fulfilling his father's purpose during the work he gave him to do and it wasn't Jesus own power performing these things remember he was fully human fully in the flesh the ability to perform a miracle was not in his flesh it was what God provided by his spirit but he provided it because he did his father's will and he was able to function in these things ultimately bringing fruit to his ministry which glorified God and that's where he always pointed everyone the glory goes to God in all of these things as Jesus earthly ministry advanced he showed his willingness to submit to the father's plan no matter the cost of course they're in it together and they're in it in agreement and he said my father and I are one but you know what as the one who walked in the flesh Jesus Christ had some things he had to come to terms with in his own life that that cost would be and one of them was laying his life down in sacrifice you know he had to be willing to die for this even up to the point of crucifixion what was his mindset not my will but your will be done even unto death Luke 22 42 is that reference in the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed with such intensity that a sweat became like great drops of blood so even as he faced the horrific reality of the suffering he would go through he remained totally committed to his father's will the salvation business of the father was his ultimate priority even above his own life in fact his own life was that process the son was working in his father's business it was carrying forward with the principles his father had brought forward in the work of the family now in facing what lie ahead and understanding that he would no longer at a certain point be there Jesus then instructs his disciples and how they too may go out and carry forward in this work and like manner of what he conducted on the earth himself Luke chapter 9 and verse 1 chapter 9 and verse 1 says then he called his 12 disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases and he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick Jesus sent them out okay and they had the Spirit of God working with them and Jesus gave them by his authority you know the green light go out and do these things and God backed that up by providing the power through the 12 in his work and in his will dropping down to verse 6 Luke chapter 9 verse 6 so they departed went through the towns preaching the gospel and healing everywhere they were doing the work of God through the authority of Christ and God was blessing their efforts now a short time later what we find Jesus does this process again but instead of just the 12 he sends out the 70 and the Bible doesn't tell us exactly who the 70 were specifically but it does show they come back with joy over what's been accomplished in this work Luke chapter 10 and verse 17 Luke chapter 10 verse 17 it says in the 70 returned with joy saying Lord even the demons are subject to us in your name and he said to them I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven he says okay that's nice but you know what that is not the most important part it's not the most important part verse 19 behold I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you nevertheless do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven salvation Jesus says salvation that's great I'm glad you had the power I'm glad you had the authority from God to go trample on the works of the devil but understand trampling on those things wasn't the important emphasis they were accomplishing salvation was that was the true work of God the names written in the book of life and the message that they brought to others to bring them out of darkness to the light salvation was the point verse 21 in that hour Jesus rejoiced in the spirit and said I thank you father Lord of heaven and earth that you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent and revealed them to babes even so father for so it seemed good in your sight all things have been delivered to me by my father and no one knows who the son is except the father and who the father is except the son and the one to whom the son wills to reveal him verse 23 then he turned to his disciples and he said privately blessed are the eyes which see the things you see for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see and have not seen it and to hear what you hear and have not heard it understand the disciples were being exposed to and they were being involved in the business of God and Christ going out and bringing the message of redemption reconciliation and salvation and they were learning the part they would have to play in the work of God moving forward because there were come a time Jesus would not be there with them any longer but the work of God on earth would still carry forward God does his work but he utilizes human hands in the process as well so we begin to see again this connection of how the disciples of Jesus down through the ages we could say generation by generation right in this family with labor in their father's business because indeed it is a family business and all those called into the family of God I'm not going to go down that path today do a study on the family of God right of the father of whom the family in heaven and earth is named okay we are brought in as brethren of Christ and children of God in that family having their names written in the book of life sharing in the responsibility together in this work it is what is given to the disciples to the family to carry forward generation by generation by generation you know some might be commissioned to go out and preach the gospel to the nations and there are as the Bible would give us you know there's evangelists and there's there's those that go out and spread the word bring the good news there's pastors there's teachers others would also be tasked with the intimate work of preparing those people God calls to the interactive setting of the congregation you know right here as we work together with what each joint supplies for the growth and the benefit of all the work of God contains takes place here as well with each of us it's not just the minister's job it's not just the home office job it is it is all of us as we work in this process and this relationship of salvation it is our father's business indeed it is ours as his family as well and it's all the same work right different functions perhaps but it's all the same work all together now following Jesus death and his resurrection we find that he personally commissioned the disciples to carry forward with the work of God on the earth the role Jesus played through his sacrifice was specific right nobody else could fulfill that but the teaching the message the gospel could still go forward by those whom he taught to take it forward Matthew chapter 28 verse 16 Matthew 28 verse 16 this is following Jesus resurrection says then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them and when they saw him they worshipped him with some doubted and Jesus came and spoke to them saying all authority okay all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth remember where that authority comes from right it's it's authority over all things that the father gives to the son all things put under his feet first Corinthians 15 27 we read that earlier all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth go therefore make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the age so the one who received all authority from the father to do his will now commissions his disciples by that same authority to go forward and to carry on with the same work that he had taught them for three and a half years to teach others to observe the same things he had commanded them well what did he command them again what were the words of Jesus Christ that he gave to the disciples and to those that would they would hear this is important brother and that we understand where this comes from let's go back to John chapter 12 and read it again John chapter 12 and verse 49 what is Jesus saying to teach all that I commanded you what what where did that come from John chapter 12 and verse 49 again Jesus said for I have not spoken on my own authority but the father who sent me gave me a command what I should say and what I should speak Christ says you go and preach what I've commanded you and I know that his commandment is everlasting life therefore whatever I speak just as the father has told me so I speak and so Jesus tells his disciples point blank you could say you go and preach that you go and preach what came from my father to me that which I spoke that which I did that which you heard for me with your own ears now you go out you take that you preach that teaching them to observe all things I've commanded you and of course they weren't left to their own devices in this were they on the day of Pentecost God sent his Holy Spirit which then empowered them in this work we have ourselves can do nothing but by the power of God in us as it was in Jesus Christ the same work can carry forward this is the commission of the Church of God today right to preach the gospel the good news of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the soon coming kingdom of God and to prepare a people for that kingdom to work with those who God calls into the body just as Jesus worked with those the father gave him on his last night he said I've lost none of them except the son of perdition that the prophecies would be fulfilled but he says I've worked with them now I'm sending them forth this is the father's business it's what you and I have been called into today as well and it is indeed a family business the family business of salvation and just like any good enduring family business it has traits and qualities that actually you can even look at the world around you and say what makes a successful family business through the generations you can overlay that this is a godly principle the world is kind of picked up on it as something actually that works long-term vision and stability right this this is a quality of the family business of God continuing how and why can it continue through the generations long-term vision and stability we know we are where we are going and we know what it takes to get there because that vision is laid out for us in God's word and Jesus Christ said I am the way the truth and the life and he showed us the way so that vision carries generation to generation and it provides a stability because we know we were going and we are going there together additionally strong values and culture that was another quality of these businesses that carry on throughout the generations well we certainly I would say have a strong sense of identity based upon the core values of the founder right the father of this family business our father's business we have strong values and a culture of this personal touch and customer loyalty well that's an interesting one you know people who God is calling and he's drawing them by his spirit value what the true church of God have to offer because a hunger and a thirst is being filled through the church because it is based on the love of God and Christ in us with redemption reconciliation and salvation being the ultimate goals again of the family business in which we labor so to the degree that we follow Christ example which was perfect will be the degree then that we are able to do these things in our own midst as his disciples today but with those who become a part of this family relationship for themselves understand these aren't merely customers right quote-unquote these are now those who become the family of God as well this relationship that sticks and should grow in that atmosphere of loyalty and trust and of course we have access to the greatest advantage in this ongoing business because like so many family businesses let's just say all of them that were founded I'll say more than 120 years ago I'll be generous all right that have come down through the generations every single one of them are carrying on with some foundational principles but their founder is gone right their founder is no longer working in the business but you and I have the greatest advantage that you and I work and live under the guidance of the Living God and the resurrected Christ who guide and direct and work in this church to their glory again the work carries on of them through us second Corinthians 5 verse 17 second Corinthians 5 verse 17 we may be another generation actually many generations removed from what we're reading in the Bible but it's the same family and it's the same work second Corinthians 5 and verse 17 the Apostle Paul writing therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation old things have passed away behold all things have become new again salvation right taking place in the life of a Christian not ultimately fulfilled but we have been saved we are being saved and we will be saved ultimately when our change comes but we are a new creation verse 18 now all things are of God who has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses to them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation Paul says the church is called into this service as well and in light of what we've received from God we're called to carry it forward to carry it on as part of the ministry of the service of the people of God today it is the ministry of reconciliation verse 20 now then we are ambassadors for Christ representatives as though God were pleading through us we implore you on Christ behalf be reconciled to God for he may knew no sin to be sinned for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him chapter 6 verse 1 there is no chapter break we then Paul says notice as workers together as workers together with him as workers in the family business with Jesus Christ and with God and what they are doing we then as workers together with him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain for he says in an acceptable time I have heard you and in the day of salvation I have helped you behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation the church is called to carry on with this work the work of salvation today this work of God is work of a son who came to do the work of his father and carries on today as our high priest and it is the work as ambassadors of Christ we have been called to carry forward in today as well the work of the family business the father's business but you might say fine that's Paul and I'm not a minister right that's the minister's job that's the pastor's job okay there are specific responsibilities God gives for caring forward in various ways but you are still fellow servants with Christ and as such we each have responsibilities to fulfill in this calling Romans chapter 12 verse 4 and this 12 verse 4 this is this is an occupation that the entire family is engaged in Romans chapter 12 and verse 4 for as we have many members in one body but all the members do not have the same function and there are certain things that I do that are my function by appointment and ordination okay but there are things that are given for all of us to function in ultimately ministry means service verse 5 so we being many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us let us use them if prophecy let us prophesy in proportion to our faith or ministry let us use it in our ministering he who teaches in teaching he who exhorts and exhortation he who gives with liberality he who leads with diligence he who shows mercy with cheerfulness see there's so many ways you contribute to the work of God we each have our part to play verse 9 let love be without hypocrisy of whore what is evil cling to what is good be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love in honor given preference to one another not lacking in diligence fervent in spirit serving the Lord serving the Lord when we do these things within the world or within the body of Jesus Christ we are serving the Lord Jesus Christ in the work he did we are serving our father in his business we are working in their labors and we are doing the work of God when Jesus walked the earth his work of salvation did not involve simply preaching sermons of repentance that was a big part of it but he did so much more it involved compassion for others that's how vational work it involved mercy and involve healing it involves encouragement involved prayers for others a kind word involved the moment of his time don't forbid the children to come to me for such is the kingdom of God salvation was always the message no matter where he went no matter what he did and he directed others to see their full potential so so many ways that Jesus Christ worked in this besides preaching but we understand the ultimate expression of God's love was through the laying down of his life in sacrifice so when we do these things we're living sacrifices we encourage each other we strengthen each other we supply what others lack by the gifts God supplies to us when we do them whatever our capacity is we're serving right alongside Jesus Christ and doing our father's work of redemption reconciliation and ultimately salvation it's not that you and I can give salvation to anybody we can't only God can do that but we can be instruments in his hands to be the support system for the work that he is doing let's conclude with the parable which Jesus illustrates for us the importance of continuing in this work till he comes it's not like we say well it's fine it's done it's tucked away and now we wait the calling actually is to be continuing in our father's business till he comes Luke chapter 9 and verse 12 here's the parable Jesus says a certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return of course he's the nobleman who's being expressed in parable here so we call ten of his servants to them interesting there's 10 virgins there's 10 servants okay we're talking about actually who's going to be here when he comes and what are they going to be doing he called 10 of his servants and delivered to them 10 minas and he said to them do business till I come you know be about what it is I've given you to do here's 10 minas here's three months wages okay that'll keep you busy go out and produce something he says verse 14 he says but his citizens hated him sent a delegation after him saying we will not have this man to reign over us that was response when Jesus came to his own and his own did not receive him and so it was that when he returned having received the kingdom he then commanded these servants to whom he had given the money and he called and and to be called to him that he might know how much every man had gained by trading by doing business then came the first saying master your mina has earned 10 minas and he said to him well done good servant because you were faithful and very little have authority over 10 cities you've taken what I've given you and you've you've used it well you've worked you've produced now go have greater responsibility verse 20 he says well let me go back verse 18 the second came right as five minas have earned five more and he said to him you know you go be over five cities verse 20 then another came saying master here is your mina which I've kept put away in a handkerchief he says you know I took it I wrapped it up in the napkin and I put it away I didn't do business while you were gone but I didn't lose it either here here's here's back what it is you gave to me but I didn't conduct business while you were gone verse 21 for I feared you because you are an austere man you collect what you did not deposit reap what you did not sow and the master said to him out of your own mouth I will judge you you wicked servant you knew that I was an austere man collecting where I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow why then did you not put my money in the bank that at my coming I might have collected with it interest at least at least something could have been gained by what I gave to you verse 24 and he said to those who stood by take the mina from him give it to him who has 10 minas but he said you know to him master he has 10 minas for I say to you that to everyone who has will be given and from him who does not have even what he has will be taken away from him brethren God is serious about us not growing lacks in this calling but rather to be about doing business till Christ comes and again this is the snapshot of the business we know during the millennium as we walk through the feast we will be working in this work of salvation alongside Christ for the whole world indeed the work of God will be ongoing for eternity there's never time to grow lax or to sit back on our heels and say let somebody else do it the example is when Christ comes he expects to find the church so doing from a very young age Jesus life was focused on the will of his father even as a child he knew that his purpose was to be about his father's business it was a family business that is geared towards bringing healing restoration reconciliation and salvation to a broken world as brothers and sisters in Christ and as the children of God we are called today to take part in this very same mission right to submit our lives to the will of God and continue in the same work in which Jesus Christ labored because indeed brethren salvation is the work of this family both individually and collectively it is the work of the father it is the work of the son it is your work and my work today as well because indeed the fields are white for harvest and there is no better harvest to go out in labor in so brethren let's be about our father's business