The Presentation of Members: Doing Ministry

There are teachers that have come to Colossi and they are saying that Jesus is not God, and they are saying that Jesus Christ cannot save a man, that Jesus Christ is unable to bring a man to God. He is neither God, nor the Saviour.

And they are teaching legalism, ritual.

They are teaching mysticism. Religious practices or teaching that are oriented toward gaining an experience of direct union with God or any ultimate reality. The goal of mysticism is spiritual access to the divine.

Barry, John D., et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

They are teaching asceticism. Strict abstinence from comfort or pleasure—self-denial as a spiritual discipline.

Barry, John D., et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

They are teaching all kinds of strange things including the worship of angels and all of this heresy Epaphrus tells Paul is attacking the church, the young church in Colossi.

And so Paul sits down and responds to Epaphrus, writes this letter and puts it back in the hand of Epaphrus and says, take it to your people, It is the Word of God to them.

And so in the book of Colossians Paul is clearing out heresy. Heresy regarding the person of Jesus Christ and His total power to save. And that becomes the great heart of this letter, and that becomes the major theme in the first two chapters and in the last two chapters the behavior of the believers that should come in response to an understanding of who Christ is and what He has accomplished in salvation.

Paul is dealing with our identity in Christ.

Because we have been reconciled, we have a ministry.

The Source of Ministry = God

Colossians 1:23 (KJV 1900)

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Remember, last week the result of the work of Christ is our continuance of faith and our hope in the gospel.

If we believe in the power of the gospel, we will adhere to the gospel and we will preach the gospel.

JESUS CHRIST IS SUFFICIENT.

BELIEF AND OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST IS SUFFICIENT.

Therefore, Paul declares,

“I am made a minister”

God made me a minister.

The source of any ministry, beloved, is God.

It is God who calls us, it is God who grants us His Spirit, it is God who directs us into the ministry He wants for us, it is God who by His Spirit gives us the gifts of the Spirit in order that we might minister them.

The Source of Ministry is God.

The Spirit of Ministry = Joy

Colossians 1:24 (KJV 1900)

24 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:

The spirit of the ministry is joy.

This was always Paul’s attitude.

Paul always had the attitude of joy, and I told you why.

We just finished our study of the Book of Philippians were Paul expressed the Joy of Ministry.

Joy is a product of humility. Now remember that. Joy is a product of humility.

If I really believe that I don’t deserve anything, anything I get makes me happy.

Remember what Paul said,

1 Timothy 1:12–16 (KJV 1900)

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Everything I’ve got is undeserved.

What else can I be but happy?

What else could I be but joyous?

What else could I be but thankful? And you know something? I think in studying the Scripture you will find that whenever God calls His greatest servants, whenever God picked out His choice people, He always made them face their total unworthiness so that anything they had they would realize as a cause for joy, because it was a gift of God’s Grace’.

For example,

Moses, at the burning bush, could only see his imperfections. Remember that? He says, what am I going to do (stuttering) … he couldn’t talk.

And God says to him,

Exodus 4:11–12 (KJV 1900)

11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?

12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Whenever God called His choice servants He always made them face the reality of their unworthiness, their uselessness apart from Him.

Take, for example,

Gideon, in Judges 6. Gideon at the threshing floor he says, “Oh, my Lord.” He says, “where with all or how will I save Israel?

Judges 6:15 (KJV 1900)

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.

In other words, I can’t even finance an army. How am I gonna pull it off? “And I am the least in my Father’s house.” I’m the lowest guy in the house, and we’re always poor as a church mouse. How am I going to finance the deal and how am I gonna get enough credibility to lead it?

And God said,

Judges 6:16 (KJV 1900)

16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

He says, “Go, in this thy might.” You’re might is in you’re humility. You remember what? God got him an army of 300 people. You say, how could an army of 300 people knock off anybody? They didn’t even have to fight. They just got in a big circle, blew horns, broke pitchers, and they killed each other in the other army.

Isaiah. Isaiah went to the temple in Isaiah 6 and he saw the glory of God, and he said,

Isaiah 6:5 (KJV 1900)

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

And an angel came off the fire and took a coal and touched his tongue, the symbol of purification, and all of a sudden he heard the voice of God and he said, (what?)

Isaiah 6:8 (KJV 1900)

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

You see, God wanted to show him that he was nothing. And God wants everybody that He ever calls into any ministry to make that initial recognition that he is useless apart from what God wants to do.

Peter, on the shore of Galilee. God had a lot of plans for Peter. And he on the shore of Galilee saw the glory of the Lord and the miracle of the fish, and when he saw Jesus display this divine creative power he said,

Luke 5:8 (KJV 1900)

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Oh Lord. Go away, Lord, I don’t even deserve to be in your presence. And Jesus looked at him and said,

Luke 5:10 (KJV 1900)

10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

“That’s good, Peter. From now on you will catch men. You’re just the kind of person I can use.”

You see, in all of God’s choice servants God has to bring them to a sense of unworthiness, a sense of sinfulness, a sense of inadequacy, and a sense of undeservedness, because that’s at the very heart of joy. And then everything that happens is a cause for rejoicing. And Paul, like the rest, didn’t deserve anything but everything he got from God gave him cause for joy.

Listen, in the ministry, as long as you maintain a humility you can maintain a joy, but as soon as you get to thinking you’ve not getting what you deserve, you’re a better guy than what you’re gettin, you’re in a lot of trouble. Then you get bitter, then you get to complaining, and you’ve lost the joy of the ministry, I meet people who have lost the joy of the ministry, I do. Christians who are tired of serving the Lord. You know why? Because they think they should have better than they’ve got. And the truth of the matter is that we all deserve nothing.

The Source of Ministry

The Spirit of Ministry

and now

The Suffering of Ministry = On behalf of Christ in the Church

Colossians 1:24 (KJV 1900)

24 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:

Paul was such a minister.

He paid any price and went to any length of suffering in order to reach and grow people for Christ.

Paul literally poured out his life: he suffered much, and the suffering he bore, he bore willingly for the cause of Christ and His church.

This is the message of this verse. It teaches a most wonderful thing: the minister of God actually completes the sufferings of Christ.

When Christ was upon the earth, He loved the church and gave Himself for it; therefore, He poured out His heart and life for the church, that is, for believers.

Christ ministered, served, worked, labored—and He did it all laboriously. Every day of His life He suffered to the point of exhaustion and fatigue, striving to reach and minister to people.

Christ bore whatever was necessary in order to build up the church. And in so doing He left the pattern for all those who would follow after Him. When He left the earth, He expected all believers to follow in His steps, to give their lives to suffer whatever is necessary to reach and minister to people.

Jesus expected Paul to suffer

Acts 9:16 (KJV 1900)

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Christ expects me, his minister, and you, the believer, to suffer for the church: to complete the church, to bring it to its full measure; to fill it up to the fullness of His will.

Philippians 1:29 (KJV 1900)

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

He expects us to pay whatever price is necessary to build the church.

He expects us …

• to fill up whatever sufferings of pain, sacrifice, fatigue, and exhaustion are lacking

Listen, Suffering for Christ does 5 things in our life.

Brings Us Closer to Christ

Philippians 3:10 (KJV 1900)

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

Brings Us Assurance of Salvation

1 Peter 4:14 (KJV 1900)

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Brings Future Reward

Romans 8:17–18 (KJV 1900)

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Brings Salvation to Others

Philippians 2:17 (KJV 1900)

17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

In other words, if I offer my life and you get saved that’s joy. There’s a price to pay, he says, but that’s all right. The results are worth it.

Brings Frustration to Satan

because he’s trying all he can to wack us around and all that comes out is good results. It puts a dent in the Kingdom of Darkness, In Acts 9:16 he says: “How many things you will suffer for His namesake.” It’ll come to His glory; it will bounce back to the glory of Christ.

Colossians 1:24 (KJV 1900)

24 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:

The enemies of Christ were never satisfied with what they did to Jesus, do you know that? They hated Jesus with an insatiable hate. They wanted to add to their, suffering. And as soon as Jesus ascended back into Heaven and He wasn’t around any more, and the world hated Him so much, who did the world attack? The Church, didn’t they?

They began to persecute the Church and persecute the Church and persecute the Church, and why were they whipping the Church and burning the Church at the stake and throwing the Church to the lions—why? Was it because they hated those individual personalities, no. It was because they stood in the place of Christ and since Christ wasn’t around to get they got the people who stood in His place. That’s what it means.

If Jesus Christ could hang on the cross and take my sin and the punishment I deserve I think I can take a few punches for His sake.

So, we have seen the Source of Ministry = God

The Spirit of Ministry = Joy

The Suffering of Ministry = On behalf of Christ in the Church

and now,

The Scope of Ministry = Do

Colossians 1:25 (KJV 1900)

25 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;

What is the scope at the end of verse 25? “… to fulfill (what? what?) the Word of God.”

What is the scope of the ministry? It’s just to do what God has called you to do. To maximize your effort. To fulfill the Word of God.

God has spoken to me, Paul says, and God has told me what to do, and it is my responsibility to do it. To fulfill the Word of God.

What does that mean? It means to fulfill the Word of God to me in my call, it means to preach the Word of the Gospel, it means to teach the whole counsel of God, it means to fulfill it all. To do what God wants me to do by proclaiming His truth. That’s to fulfill the Word of God.

Paul says the scope of my ministry is simple; I’m just going to do what God tells me to do. I’m just going to obey Him. I’m going to proclaim His word to the unsaved; I’m going to teach His Word to the believers only in the way that He wants me, and only in the place that He wants me to do it.

The great desire of the man of God, the great desire of the servant of God, the great desire of anybody in any ministry is to fulfill God’s will by proclaiming God’s Word in the place of God’s call. And Paul wouldn’t let anything stop him. Absolutely nothing would stop the apostle Paul from doing what he knew God wanted him to do.

That’s the scope of the ministry. Fulfill it. Don’t do a half-baked job, don’t to a 3/4 job, don’t slough it off, do the whole job in the place that God has called you to do-it. And that, my people, takes tremendous commitment. To do it.

Are you willing to commit to these four aspects of ministry?

Seeking God with joy willing to suffer for the church in order to fulfill the whole Word of God.

We’re seen the source of the ministry, God.

The spirit of the ministry is joy.

The suffering of the ministry is on the behalf of Christ for the sake of the Church.

The scope of the ministry is to fulfill the whole Word of God,

What were some of the false teachings that were influencing the Colossian church?

How does Paul emphasize the divinity of Jesus Christ in relation to salvation?

In what ways can we recognize the sufficiency of Christ in our own lives?

What steps can we take to ensure that our ministry is focused on God's calling and not on our own desires?

What role does joy play in Paul’s understanding of ministry?

What does Paul mean when he talks about suffering for the sake of the church?

Why is understanding our identity in Christ important for our faith?

How can we find joy in serving others, even during difficult times?

What can you do this week to actively live out your faith in a way that reflects the teachings of Paul?

How does Paul demonstrate the relationship between our actions and our understanding of salvation?

The Subject of Ministry

Colossians 1:26 KJV 1900

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

Colossians 1:27 (KJV 1900)

27 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:

The Style of Ministry

Colossians 1:28 (KJV 1900)

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

Negative = Warning

Positive = Teaching

The Sum of Ministry

Colossians 1:28 (KJV 1900)

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

The Strength of Ministry

Colossians 1:29 (KJV 1900)

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