Rooted In Christ - Sermon 4

Even as he wrote this letter, he was chained to a jailer, having been falsely accused of assorted charges, some of them lethal. He could no longer travel and preach, and he could no longer evangelize great cities and plant new churches. His body was a mosaic of whip marks printed on his flesh by many a Hebrew lash and Roman scourge. Moreover he was chronically ill and in need of the constant care of a physician.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: One Man’s Ministry (Colossians 1:21–2:3)

Paul’s enemies made much of the fact that the great apostle was a prisoner of Rome. The false teachers in Colossae probably ridiculed Paul and used this as a weapon to fight the truth of the Gospel. But Paul turned this weapon around and used it to defeat his enemies and to build a closer relationship with the church in Colossae.

1) To Rejoice In Sufferings

VERSES 24-25

A. The place of rejoicing

Paul is shifting gears from explaining the work of Christ’s fulness to the operation of Christ’s fulness through laboring sacrificially.

Paul tells us that there is a place were rejoicing is found!

Question: How many would be willing to embrace a place where rejoicing is certain to be attained through Christ?

This place is when we endure suffering and pain. On a much lighter note, it could be extreme inconveniences.

First — understand Paul’s context of suffering.

He is in prison, his health has declined, and he is waiting judgement upon himself from Nero.

Second — As Paul was speaking from his context of suffering, you should rejoice from your position of suffering, inconvenience, pain, struggle, outside pressures, etc.

Sufferings = that which is suffered or endured, misfortune.

You may not be put in prison for sharing the gospel, but you must share the gospel as you endure hardships.

Two categories: 1) Premeditated & 2) Responsive

Premeditated — Taking the initiative to enter into something knowing living out your faith opening will make life harder on you.

Responsive — When hardships come, you respond through the power of Christ’s fulness.

To reach rejoicing, you must request it from God!!!

In one sense, Paul is saying that your body is exclusively an instrument for God’s will; suffering, joy, rest, work, etc....

“fill up in my flesh what is lacking”

“of the afflictions of Christ”

“in my flesh”

Notice, instead of being ashamed, Paul rejoiced in suffering along side his Savior

This is NOT speaking of fulfilling the REMAINING sufferings of Christ.

Jesus suffered the full extent of what the Father’s justice required.

1 Peter 4:15-16 “15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

This kind of paradigm only comes from someone who truly understands the stewardship God has called them too!

A major motivation that carries Paul into rejoicing for Jesus, is what he learned when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Christ not only “suffered for” the saints, but He also “suffers with” His saints.

There is “redemptive” and “responsive” sufferings of Christ.

Exploring Colossians & Philemon: An Expository Commentary a. Identified with His Cross (1:24)

Let that sink in to your life as the Father’s child!!!

B. The purpose and nature of stewardship

Dispensation (aka, Stewardship, steering) = administration n. — a method of tending to or managing the affairs of a some group of people.

Purpose — reaching the Gentiles and advancing the church.

Nature — continual; “to fulfill”

Who is it for — for others

Parameters — according to God

this phrase in scripture would do us well in a lot of other areas of life if applied consistently!

Our thoughts, actions, marriage, parenting, giving, spending, time, health, friendships, etc....

Illustration: When there is pain in a localized area of your body, does you whole body feel it? Especially the HEAD.

Christ is the head of the body (us).

Philippians 3:10 “10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

ONE DAY, all sufferings will CEASE!!! Christ will come back and put it all to an end!!!

2) To Fulfill God’s Word

VERSES 26-27

A. You live in the most exciting time of stewardship

You live in the day of POST RESURRECTION!

“but now is made manifest”

“Christ in you” (the mystery)

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: One Man’s Ministry (Colossians 1:21–2:3)

Imagine what this message meant to the Gentiles. They were no longer excluded from the glory and riches of God’s grace! During the Old Testament dispensation, a Gentile had to become a Jewish proselyte in order to share in the blessings of Israel.

Christ chose to be incarnate in the flesh so He could later take up residence IN YOU!

Quote: “Christianity is not a religion, it is not a code of laws or a set of creeds. It is Christ! A real living Person. One who came to this planet in space, who chose to live among us, who was willing to die for us, who is now ascended on high, and who yet lives in us. He who once gave His life for us now abides in us to give His life to us. He who once died as me now lives in me. What an astounding truth!” John Phillips, Exploring Colossians & Philemon: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), Col 1:27.

“hope of glory”

God has willed to present to you the greatest privilege that can be bestowed; sharing the truth about the hope who lives in you with others.

Paul believed that God’s grace has been provided for all and desires all to come and receive it by faith; “every man.”

Do you believe this???

LISTEN — you have wealth the world desperately needs!

There are those who don’t even know they need it.

There are those who know, but refuse it.

You must tell them all!!!

3) To Help Everyone Reach Maturity

VERSES 28-29

“Whom we preach” — We share this ourselves

Paul was not a hypocrite!

While the false teachers preached about a SYSTEM, Paul preached about a PERSON.

In doing so, he preached the truth about Jesus, warned them about the lies of the enemy, and taught them truths from God’s Word

Illustrations: We have road signs telling us where the roads are and not going.

Anything you share about Jesus is considered wisdom.

Notice the purpose of sharing Jesus:

To take the initiative in helping the body of Christ mature in living for Jesus

If you are teaching others in any sense of what to do and how to do it for Jesus, make sure they find you there right beside them!!!

(v29) Paul’s commitment hinges on the power of Christ.

In other words, the effort you see from me is a genuine representation of the power of Christ in me

“Striving” = to strain ⇔ fight v. — to exert much effort or energy (in something); conceived of as engaging in a fight or contest.

“working” = to implement v. — to cause to function; to carry into effect.

“mightily” = power n. — possession of controlling influence; often understood as manifesting influence over reality in a supernatural manner.

Let’s be honest, there are simply times when you probably don’t feel like praying. However, those are the times we must pray!

Let me phrase what Paul is saying another way:

“Even though I am bound in these chains, physically ill (needing medical attention), and possibly not going to live much longer. I am exerting much energy to be engaged in the battle of prayer. Let it be known, it is not my strength of which I can rise above this circumstance and pray with such energy. I lay the credit to God who has powerfully carried my mind and body to such a praying posture.”

Paul has also said, “it is not me, but Christ in me.”

Conclusion

As you can see, the every day ministry of a Christian can look different with each passing day. However, there is person who’s name is Jesus we can draw all necessary strength from to faithfully continue forward.

Jesus Himself was perfectly rooted into His ministry of the cross to bear your sin and provide you will forgiveness, a new life in Him, and a righteous standing before God when judgement comes.

Jesus’ gospel work continues providing every one of God’s children with all they need to let their light shine before men.

Are you rooting into your purpose? The deeper you are rooted into Christ, the deeper you will find yourself fulfilling God’s Word.

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