Audio
Video
Outline
OUR FATHER'S BUSINESS
by Pastor Mike Fortune
March 1, 2014
- Jesus goes (Luke 2:41-42; John 20:17; Nehemiah 8:2; Hebrews 10:25; Job 23:2,8-10)
- Jesus tarries (Luke 2:43-50; Acts 1:3; Psalm 119:99-100; Isaiah 49:2; Acts 7:24-25; COL69,67; MH470; 9T189; AA600) Chy Johnson
- Jesus returns (Luke 2:51-52; Acts 1:11; John 2:22)
Luke 2:41-52
41 Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 43 After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn't miss him at first, 44 because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn't show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they couldn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 His parents didn't know what to think. "Son," his mother said to him, "why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere." 49 "But why did you need to search?" he asked. "Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 But they didn't understand what he meant. 51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.
John 20:17
17 Don't cling to me, Jesus said, for I haven't yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.
Nehemiah 8:2
2 So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. 3 He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.
Hebrews 10:25
25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Job 23:2, 8-10
2 My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. 8 I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. 9 I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. 10 But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
Acts 1:3
3 During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.
Psalm 119:99-100
99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. 100 I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.
Isaiah 49:2
2 He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.
Acts 7:24-25
24 He saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite. So Moses came to the man's defense and avenged him, killing the Egyptian. 25 Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, but they didn't.
Ellen White, 1900
Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. Christ's Object Lessons p.69
Ellen White, 1900
The graces of the Spirit will ripen in your character. Your faith will increase, your convictions deepen, your love be made perfect. Christ's Object Lessons p.67
Ellen White, 1905
By the power of his grace manifested in the transformation of character the world is to be convinced that God has sent His Son as its redeemer. No other influence that can surround the human soul has such power as the influence of an unselfish life. The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian. (The Ministry of Healing p.470)
Ellen White, 1909
If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one. (Testimonies for the Church Vol 9 p.189)
Ellen White, 1911
Christ has given to the church a sacred charge. Every member should be a channel through which God can communicate to the world the treasures of His grace, the unsearchable riches of Christ. There is nothing that the Saviour desires so much as agents who will represent to the world His Spirit and His character. There is nothing that the world needs so much as the manifestation through humanity of the Saviour’s love. (Acts of the Apostles p.600
Alden Thompson
I still believe that when Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, his first concern was not for the enemies.
Acts 1:11
11 Men of Galilee, they said, why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!
John 2:22
22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.