Supremacy in Ministry

Loyalty to Paul’s gospel cannot be separated from loyalty to himself and his apostolic office. This is the explanation for the magnificent section before us. In it, the Colossians are invited to examine the apostle’s calling, the shape of his ministry and the aims he felt compelled to pursue, as well as to recognize the genuine signs of God at work in the man himself.

Remember that our text from last week ended with a reminder to remain stable and steadfast in our faith, not shifting from the hope we have in Christ Jesus. The end result is to be presented holy, blameless, and above reproach before the throne of Christ. 

Today, we are reminded that God has entrusted each of us with the privilege and responsibility to serve the cause of Christ by sharing the gospel of Christ to build up the body of Christ.

The standard of our success in life and most certainly ministry is measured by one standard in God’s kingdom - faithfulness. 

Colossians 1:24–29 ESV

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Church How is Your Faithfulness?

If Jesus were to return today, how would he rate your faithfulness? Would you be somewhat faithful in certain areas and unfaithful in others? Would you be passive, lacking faith in most areas of Christian service and ministry? Or would you be found fully faithful in all that he has called you to do?

We live in a world and society today that fails to be faithful in even the most mundane tasks of life. Jesus continually illustrates the need for faithfulness to His Mission. 

For example, when Jesus was admonishing his disciples to be prepared for his return. He was looking for the faithful servant. He told the parable of the shrewd manager to show their responsibility to be faithful in every way. To show  their level of stewardship, he told them the parable of the talents, where they heard him say, “well done my good and faithful servants.” 

As servants of Christ and stewards of the gospel, we must be found faithful.

This passage breaks down into two sections that are connected by common terms and themes.

Paul’s ministry to the churches (1:24–29)

Paul’s ministry to the Colossians (2:1–5) they are wedded together with repeated concepts that mirror each other.

The bigger question is what do you want Jesus to find you doing when He returns?

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 ESV

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Note: This is not a standard for just a few of the upper-crust Christians.

Paul uses the term “faithful” to characterize any and all believers who are fulfilling their roles and responsibilities for the Lord (1:2, 7; 4:7, 9). And by way of his own example in this passage, Paul demonstrates what faithful service for Christ and his church looks like.

1. Supremacy in Ministry Embraces the Suffering of the Church

Paul begins the closing text of chapter 1 by declaring that he rejoices in his suffering for the sake of the church. Rejoicing in suffering seems counterintuitive to our human nature. 

However, if we look closer at the text, we find that his rejoicing in suffering is for the benefit of his readers, not necessarily for his own benefit. Notice that he makes this appeal not only for the Colossians but for the body of Christ as a whole. 

Sabina Wurmbrand had spent three years in prison and labor camps in Communist Romania for her Christian faith. And her husband, Richard, endured a total of 14 years of prison and torture. They knew what it meant to suffer for being Christ’s witnesses. While prison brought much pain and suffering, Sabina and Richard found that many “free” Christians experienced just as much fear outside of prison. In The Pastor’s Wife, Sabina wrote: At first I’d been distressed by the plight of churchgoers. They were persecuted by the police, harassed by informers. Through radio, schools, cinema, theater, and the press, the campaign to stamp out belief was relentlessly pursued. The old could worship, with difficulty, and under observation. But the young were not allowed to believe. I saw how many former friends, afraid of losing their jobs, were afraid to come near our house. Others wouldn’t even admit they had once worshiped beside us. Passing the university, I saw a teacher we’d known well and went to greet him. He was with a colleague. “You’re making a mistake, Madam. I don’t know you.” He turned away, unable to look me in the face. People were so frightened while they were “free.” In prison, even at the worst times, we’d seen God’s hand at work. We came to know that although we suffered, He would not leave us. We could trust Him. A vital part of our work in the Underground Church was to teach people this. And, with a prison background, it was easier to win their trust. In Psalm 23, we are reminded of God’s presence with us amidst evil and suffering: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4). Sabina and Richard experienced God’s hand at work in the darkest of places. Their testimony reminds us that the Lord does not leave us in times of trouble and that we can have confidence in God to be with us in our valleys.

*We Must Embrace Suffering for Christ.

To "suffer for Christ's sake" in a religious context, particularly in Christianity, means to endure hardship, persecution, or adversity for the sake of one's faith in Jesus Christ and his teachings. It implies that a person is willing to face challenges or even sacrifice things in this life because of their commitment to Christ. 

This does not mean that you go out of your way to seek suffering; however, it does mean that you have the steadfast faith to embrace and endure it when it does come. 

Scripture is clear about the anticipated suffering associated with taking the name of Christ as a Christian. Look what Paul writes in Philippians 1:29-30

Philippians 1:29–30 ESV

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Part of the call of Christ does not only include the saving faith we have when we believe in the gospel of Christ, but also the willingness to suffer for His sake. Paul is a realist and realizes that the conflict that he is currently facing at the hands of the Romans in prison will not be an isolated blip in history for Christians. 

Look at Peter’s Journey of Suffering for Christ’s Sake

Suffering for the kingdom of God was certainly a process for Peter. There is a bit of irony in 1 Peter 4 where Peter writes about suffering for Christ, 1 Peter 4:12-14

1 Peter 4:12–14 ESV

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Peter initially did not have a stellar record when it came to the reality of persecution and suffering during Jesus' ministry. 

When Jesus first revealed to the disciples about his impending suffering, Peter was the first to respond, “no way,” only to be rebuked and called an instrument to be used by Satan. When Jesus is being arrested in the Garden, remember that it is Peter who draws the sword to defend Jesus and ends up cutting the ear of one of the guards. Once Jesus is arrested and accused of being one of His followers, it is Peter who denies he is even associated with or knows Jesus. 

Finally, after Jesus' resurrection, Peter is particularly pointed out by Jesus for public reconciliation. Peter, known for rash decision-making and 'foot-in-mouth' disease, reminds us that suffering for Jesus must be on account of Jesus and His saving work. 

As Peter was writing this Epistle, he would have had no idea the turn the Roman Empire would soon take. Under Emperor Nero, the most considerable persecution of Christians in Roman Imperial history was about to begin.

The historian Tacitus recounted one of the more shocking accounts of Neronian persecution:

Nero set up [i.e., falsely accused] as the culprits and punished with the utmost refinement of cruelty, a class hated for their abominations, who are commonly called Christians. Christus, from whom their name is derived, was executed at the hands of the procurator Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius.

Checked for a moment, this pernicious superstition again broke out, not only in Judea, the source of the evil, but even in Rome.

Accordingly, arrest was first made of those who confessed [to being Christians]; then, on their evidence, an immense multitude was convicted…Besides being put to death, they were made to serve as objects of amusement; they were clothed in the hides of beasts and torn to death by dogs; others were crucified, others set on fire to serve to illuminate the night when daylight failed.

What does Paul mean when he says he is "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions"?

I do not believe, based on the complete body of Paul’s writing, that he is indicating that somehow something is missing in the atonement of Christ on the cross. 

When Jesus says, "It is finished" on the cross, all that had to be done to pay for the sins of all God's people was done. And nothing could be added.

So when Paul says, "By my sufferings I fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ," what he means is that the one thing lacking in the sufferings of Christ is the offer of those sufferings in person to those for whom he died. 

So in essence he is saying, "Alright, I will take the message of the cross—where Christ suffered for lost people—and in my own missionary sacrifices I will take that message to them and say, 'In me behold the love of God, as I sacrifice to come to you and preach to you, and risk my life and imprisonment to preach the gospel.'" That's the thing he provides that's lacking.

*We Must Endure Suffering for Christ

Christ suffered and satisfied the divine wrath of the Father on the cross. 1 John 2:2 “2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”  But Jesus affirmed that there would still be earthly afflictions to come for the followers of Christ. 

“To Make the Word of God Fully Known”

The call to Suffer as Christ Suffered While Paul’s role was distinct, it mirrored Christ’s ultimate example of sacrifice and provided a model for us to follow. Too often, we are quick to avoid situations or alleviate struggles that may be part of God’s providential plan for our growth and His church.

Don’t forget that Jesus uses the suffering of His people to reach and impact places and people groups who have never been reached. 

Gene Edward Veith

One of the greatest paradoxes in Christian history is that the church is often at its purest during times of cultural hostility. When things are easy and good, that is when the church most often goes astray. When Christianity seems identical with the culture, and even when the church appears to be enjoying its greatest earthly success, it is then at its weakest. Conversely, when the church encounters hardship, persecution, and suffering… then it is closest to its crucified Lord, then there are fewer hypocrites and nominal believers among its members, and then the faith of Christians burns most intensely.

2. Supremacy in Ministry Embraces the Mission of the Church

Paul’s end goal for which he toiled day and night was to present everyone as mature followers of Jesus Christ. 

Paul’s testimony would encourage even the most intrepid believer towards the collective goal of the mission.

The mission that God had for Paul is the very same mission that He has for us, with the same tireless devotion. Paul had a twofold purpose for which Paul toiled in the ministry. 

1). To know the Mystery of Christ.

Sometime during or after the conversion of Paul, he was given a mystery to proclaim to the world. I think that many times we take for granted that the words we are saying are hitting the mark.

You may be talking, but your words are hitting a brick wall. Paul understood that to make the message of Christ fully known, it included both the explanation and the gospel fulfillment.

We read in Philippians 1:6 that “He who began a good work in you WILL bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus our Lord.” So, for those who have genuinely had the gospel revealed to them, it will come to completion or maturity when Jesus Christ returns for His own. 

Sometime during or after the conversion of Paul, he was given a mystery to proclaim to the world. I think that many times we take for granted that the words we are saying are hitting the mark.

You may be talking, but your words are hitting a brick wall. Paul understood that to make the message of Christ fully known, it included both the explanation and the gospel fulfillment.

We read in Philippians 1:6 that “He who began a good work in you WILL bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus our Lord.” So, for those who have genuinely had the gospel revealed to them, it will come to completion or maturity when Jesus Christ returns for His own. 

For example, when you begin a gospel conversation with someone, it seems as though you are not on the same page. It may be that the gospel has still not been fully revealed to them. However, to the true saints or believers, it is unmistakably made known. You could call this the 'aha' experience, or the moment when the light bulb suddenly comes on. 

Mystery Hidden for Ages Paul describes the gospel of Christ as “the mystery hidden for ages and generations” (v. 26; cf. Rom 16:25). The “mystery” concerning the past “generations” certainly speaks of the fulfillment of God’s messianic promises to his covenant people. The “mystery” that was previously “hidden,” or not in plain sight, has been “revealed” in Christ, who is the substance of the shadows throughout the Old Testament (cf. Col 2:17).

It is not as if the gospel was utterly unknown to the Old Testament saints, for they are set right with the Father in the same way we are, through faith alone. However, the knowledge of the gospel that the Old Testament saints received was faint in comparison to the New Testament saints. 

2). To Grow to Maturity in Christ

Despite our current church life differentiation, Paul never differentiated between evangelism and discipleship in his mission. 

Paul saw his commission, as we read in the Great Commission, not to win converts but to make disciples. 

This divine mandate or command is given for all believers. 

The Call to Make Disciples

What does it mean to make disciples? 

Making disciples means helping others become devoted followers of Jesus, not just converts, by teaching them the ways of Christ and guiding them in obedience.

It's a process of nurturing and growing their faith through mentorship, sharing the gospel, and fostering a love for God. 

Disciple – someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and is committed to the mission of Jesus (Matt. 4:19).

Disciple making – entering into relationships to help people trust and follow Jesus (Matt. 28:18–20), which includes the whole process from conversion through maturation and multiplication.

Disciple maker – a disciple of Jesus who enters into relationships with people to help them trust and follow Jesus.

We enter into relationships with the end goal of helping people to trust and follow Jesus!

Do you enter into relationships today with the mindset that your end goal is to help people trust and follow Jesus? 

How many disciples have you made in your lifetime? If you are not making disciples, why not? 

If making disciples is the primary means that we are commanded to make mature followers of Christ, are we sinning by choosing not to make disciples? 

3 Fold Plan for Making Disciples vs 28

We Proclaim - Proclaim means that we are proclaiming Jesus as the sole means of our Salvation and our Sanctification. 

We Warn - Warning means that we are cautioning and counseling others in light of scripture. 

We Teach - Teaching involved informing and instructing them how to walk and live out their faith. In addition, Paul proclaims that we do this with all wisdom. The wisdom we are giving our disciples is not man’s wisdom, but the wisdom that comes from God. We give this wisdom with fear and trembling. Remember, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10) 

Our God does not discriminate when it comes to those who are being discipled and made into mature followers of Christ.

Colossians 2:1–5 ESV

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

3. Supremacy in Ministry Embraces the Members of the Church

One of the significant parts of ministry is to encourage and build up the body of Christ.

The longer a believer stays removed from gathering with the body of Christ, the more discouraged and less effective we will be for the kingdom of God. 

*We must affirm God’s people with our Love in the Ministry

vs. 2:1 - 2:2a

Notice how Paul changes to a more personal tone in the preceding text, the pronoun “you” was used in a broader context, now he is using the pronoun “you” in a more personal context, pointed specifically to the Colossians. 

There is no other place on this earth where you can experience the love that happens every time the body gathers together. 

This Wednesday, our community came together, and you could feel the love in this room. All of the tables were filled with the love of the body of Christ.

It is no wonder that Jesus said that the church will be known for their love. Apart from this kind of love, it is impossible to call yourself a church. Why would we not make it a priority to gather with the body as often as possible? There is a real problem with our spiritual maturity if we think meeting with the body is optional or not necessary for our spiritual growth. 

*We must anchor God’s people in the truth for the Ministry

Paul’s desired outcome from the beginning, encouraging love, was that it would propel and motivate people towards a deeper faith and stronger conviction towards the truth of the gospel. 

More than just Head Knowledge

Paul wanted to ensure that our depth of knowledge was not merely an intellectual pursuit. It is developed through personal encounters and relationships. These are the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

All true wisdom and knowledge come through Christ. Christ is the final and ultimate meaning of all reality. And Paul says that not only God’s knowledge but also God’s wisdom is unfathomably deep. God is infinitely wise.

That is, he has always been able to conceive and carry out plans that have good goals and utilize all his knowledge to bring about what he proposes. He knows how to use all the facts of the universe and guide all the events of the universe to achieve the best end, namely, the display of the fullness of his glory magnified in the white-hot worship of a blood-bought people.

Finally, there is nothing in reality that can be fully or rightly known apart from the knowledge of Christ.

Romans 11:33 ESV

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

*We must alert God’s people to the risk of the Ministry

Strengthening and growing a healthy church means that we are constantly alert to warning signs against dangerous influences and deceptions. 

You will notice in the Journey that we do not shy away from pointing out heresy and false doctrines and teachers that are rampant in our culture today. I recently heard someone say that they dislike churches that criticize other churches or so-called pastors.

My response is that you would not want to hear Paul preach. Paul constantly called out the false teachers and doctrines of his day. 

Jesus also called out the religious leaders of his day, using such harsh language as calling them hypocrites, blind guides, and whitewashed tombs. Jesus’ words are harsh because there was so much at stake.

Those who followed the Pharisees and scribes were being kept from following God. So much of the teaching in Jesus’ day was in direct contradiction of God’s Word (see Matthew 15:6). 

The religious leaders made a mockery of following God. They did not truly understand God’s ways, and as a result, they led others astray from God. Jesus’ desired that people would come to know God and be reconciled with Him. 

CLOSING

Many Christians today take the opposite approach to finding joy in the church's ministry. They view the church from a consumer mindset, seeking the highest return with the least investment. 

They want to benefit from the ministries of the Church but escape the misery of the world without realizing that the Church is founded on the foundation of a servant's heart, not a selfish one, centered on Christ and His glory, not our own felt needs. 

Ultimately, the greatest joy in the Christian life is not necessarily found in the safe comforts of the walls of our church; it is found in offering ourselves as a selfless sacrifice to our Savior and Lord. We are all called to suffer as faithful servants for the good of the church and its members. 

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Your true worship begins the moment you step outside these walls on Sunday morning. It is an all in life of Sacrifice before a Holy God who deserves all your Honor, Glory, and Praise.

How are you Embracing the Suffering of the Church today?

Are you playing it safe or are you being faithful to the call of Christ no matter what it costs you for the sake of the kingdom and the Church?

How are you Embracing the Mission of the Church?

Are you actively involved in discipleship whether as a disciple maker, or disciple of Christ?

How are you Embracing the Members of the Church?

Is gathering with the People of God a priority in your life? Do you embrace God’s people with love, truth, and warning? or is it more of another social club or event on your Calendar?

Church How is your faithfulness? If Jesus were to return today how would He rate your faithfulness?