Sermon on 26 April 2020 by Pastor Justin
John 21:20-22 - “Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.””
We will be rounding up our series in April, the Road to The Cross. Mind your own business (MYOB), according to Wikipedia is a typical English saying that asks for respect for someone’s privacy. The hardest thing in business is to MYOB. However, at the same time, always remember to love your own neighbour. People who are busy running other people's affairs do not run their own affairs well.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 - “Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.”
Paul exalted the Thessalonians believer to lead a quiet life and mind their own affairs so as to walk properly. Not referring to the lack of activity, but the inner quietness and peace befitting the Christian faith.
Jesus appears to the disciples after His resurrection at the beach of Galilee. He prepared breakfast for His disciplines with barbecued bread and fish. After breakfast, Peter affirmed his love for the Lord three times.
Matthew 26:33 - “Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.””
Luke 22:61 - “At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.””
This is the mark of the grace of God towards His arrogant and erring children. After Peter denied Jesus thrice, Jesus singled Peter out for restoration.
John 21:17 - “A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.”
Jesus let Peter know what death He would die to glorify God.
John 21:18 - ““I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.””
John 21:20-22 - “Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.””
The disciple whom Jesus loved is commonly known as John, who is the author of this gospel. Peter wanted to know if John too would suffer a violent death. The Lord told Peter that he should mind his own business and only be concerned in following God's will, not worrying about God's will for others.
Pointers for the sermon:
1. Don’t be a busybody and MYOB
John 21:21 - “Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?””
Let us love a life focusing on what God wants us to do, not in idleness and being a busybody but being busy in His work. Let us be busy in obeying His will and pleasing Him, and glorifying His name. Let us not serve God being a consultant and watching and telling people what to do, but never lift a finger to serve the Lord. Let us MYOB, mind your own eternal business. Let us not get busy checking other believers, whether they are disciples of Christ if we are not followers of Christ as well. Let us not only worry and concern over others' prayer life when sometimes we aren’t even praying. Let us not criticise Christians, the dos and don’t, but mind your own business and your walk with God. Let us all mind our own business in serving Him and doing His will.
1 Timothy 5:13 - “And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t.”
Luke 13:23-24 - “Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.”
Jesus said MYOB and all you need to do is to strive to enter the narrow gate and walk the narrow way.
2. Don’t be distracted by others and MYOB
Peter was already distracted even after his wonderful restoration. He asked Jesus what about this man. Let us not be distracted by the circumstances around us, like COVID-19. All the news, infected numbers and reports from the media, especially global news. Don’t be distracted by the things you read. Don’t be distracted by the negative news you read from your friends you read online. Let us stay focused in growing our Spirit Man, keep reading the Word and praying for one another. This is the best time to have a fixed family devotion time with the Lord. Let us all strive to learn to be like the woman of Canaan, who was not distracted when her faith was tested.
Matthew 15:26 - “Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.””
She turned all his discouragement into motivation in drawing near to the Lord to heal her demon possessed daughter.
Strive and learn to be like Jacob wrestling with God, who will not let God go or be distracted until God blesses him. The Lord rewards those who diligently seek Him.
Genesis 32:26 - “Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.””
Hebrews 11:6 - “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”
Your business is to make sure that you walk in His way rather than concerning yourself in others ways. This is not to suggest that we refuse to help others or whoever is struggling in their faith walk. A true spiritual Christian is to bear one another’s burden, fulfilling Christ’s Law of Love.
Galatians 6:2 - “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
3. Don’t follow the world and MYOB
Since the day Adam and Eve fell, it opened the door for evil to enter the world. The natural tendencies of the world order is towards Satan and away from God. Let us mind our business and let the light in us shine on this dying world. Let us be salty among our pre-believing friends and family. Let us mind our own business in our conduct in this wicked world.
John 21:22 - “Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.””
You follow me, the Lord told Peter that he should mind his own business and follow God's will.
John 10:27 - “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
We are His sheep. We hear only His voice and not the voice of the world. We are filled with the Spirit and live and walk by the power of the Holy Spirit. We will only follow Him and His will for us. If we serve Him, we must follow Him and not the world. It is our daily walk and day to day responsibilities towards Him as we follow Him by carrying our own cross, not distributing crosses for others to carry.
Matthew 16:24 - “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”
Friends, don’t follow the world. Follow Jesus and MYOB. Let us mind our own business and give ourselves to God and live for Him. Why must we live for God wholly and utterly? The answer is in this scripture.
1 John 2:17 - “And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”
Romans 12:2 - “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
A Christian who minds their own business will always be in His will and will always be thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 - “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Closing
Let us all focus on doing His will and MYOB. I want us to truly resonate that in our Spirit and let us MYOB by establishing a right relationship with God and sharing the gospel with the lost. To MYOB is to carry out our Christians responsibilities.
Phillipians 2:12 - “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.”
Let us love one another.
John 13:34 - “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”
Let us pray for one another and confess our faults with one another so that we may be healed.
James 5:16 - “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
Let our life be a witness to the unbelievers and let our light shine before man so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 - “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Micah 6:8 - “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Amen.
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