Superior Satisfaction: Superior Suffering

Introduction: Before we begin tonight, let’s do a quick recap of the first few sermons from our series in Colossians. The first week we delved into Colossians we came to the understanding of the book’s theme and thesis: Superior Satisfaction-Because Christ is first above all, He alone fully satisfies those who trust in Him. The second week we considered the background of the book itself and understood its pertinence to our day and age: we observed the passionate pastor who shepherded the Colossians believers, Epaphroditus and his willingness to sacrifice to see Paul and encourage him of the faith of the Colossians and his desire to see that they trust in Christ alone; as well as the only way to combat falsehood is with the Truth. The third week we considered how Paul lays out for believers that they should live before their God: The message of the Gospel’s multiplying consequence is effective in transforming a life to the Glory of God. The next week we considered God’s mandates in His Word concerning following after Him in obedience to His Word, His revealed Will: The believer’s right thinking about God leads to right living. The final week before we stopped our series for a while we considered Christ’s Superior ability to Reconcile us to God the Father: Believers who trust in Christ receive full reconciliation to God the Father from their alienating sins for He alone can save from sin.

Have you ever wondered, “How’d they do that?” I remember recently going to the circus and seeing several of the acrobats performing twists and feats with their bodies that I couldn’t imagine ever being able to do. 2 of the acrobats performed a physical feat requiring one of the to hold the other up with his hands, fully supporting the other’s weight, and the other was to hold himself completely straight up. They locked hands and up they went. That endeavor required years of intense physical training as well as grueling hours of practice. As believers in Christ, we’ve been promised that persecution may come as a result of the faith that we have in Christ. I was listening recently to a sermon preached at school in which the preacher talked about Jim Elliot, the famous missionary to the Auca Indians in Peru. He became famous because he suffered persecution which took his life. As a result, many of the Aucas came to trust in Christ. If you could read over the different notes that Jim Elliot wrote in his journal concerning his relationship with Christ one would be able to discern very quickly that he loved the Lord more than his life. Tonight, we’re going to discuss Paul’s relationship to suffering and how he was able to labor on joyfully in spite of the difficulties.

Thesis: In spite of diverse sufferings, believers labor on joyfully because of and in promotion of the mystery of Christ.

Colossians 1:24-29

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Joyful Toil (v.24-25)

Though tribulations may be numerous, believers rejoice knowing that their afflictions are to promote the gospel.

Believers in Christ cheerfully identify with Christ’s purposeful sufferings understanding the object of their suffering.

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

Believers cheerfully endure to promote the Gospel. (for you)

Believers cheerfully endure understanding their identification with Christ’s sufferings.

Believers in Christ undertake God’s orders to faithfully proclaim God’s Word.

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Believers are responsible to fulfill God’s mandate to proclaim His Word.

Believers understand that in fulfilling their responsibility they perform God’s Will.

Gentile Hope (v.26-27)

Gentile believers now know and have trusted in the mystery of God’s eternal salvation, which brings them everlasting hope in Christ.

Believers or set apart ones, have revealed to them the true mystery of Christ kept secret to previous generations.

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Believers, once blind to the grace of God, have now revealed to them His abundant grace.

Believers received in that grace abundant pardon and transformation, once sinners now saints.

Believers are the recipients of God’s manifested abundance in Christ, their eternal hope.

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Believers have received God’s willed bounty to the Gentiles.

Believers received God’s bounty, Christ, our Hope.

Job of Perfecting (v.28-29)

Believers work toward proclaiming the Word of God that others might grow up in God.

Believers seek to counsel and instruct other believers towards the goal of Christlikeness.

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Believers preach Christ in admonition and instruction, for He alone perfects.

Believers preach Christ in admonition and instruction so that the hearers would receive Christ and grow in Him.

Believers labor through Christ’s grace.

Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Believers labor to encourage others to Christlikeness.

Believers labors are through Christ, for His strength is sufficient.

Conclusion: I do not mean to frighten you all into thinking that we are definitely headed towards some sort of major physical persecution. However, the testimony of Paul is one that we can take comfort in that if he can face it through trusting in Christ’s strength and able to joyfully endure because of the promise of salvation that he has and knowing that the object of his labor is to promote the gospel, then surely we can to. Let us labor joyfully and dependent upon Christ’s strength vigilant to the possibility of persecution knowing that in that persecution we can bear up through it to the Glory of God.