Colossians 1:24-25...

Joel Gilbert

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24 "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church. 25 "I have become its servant, according to God’s commission 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 "God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 "We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 "I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.” ()

These verses form part of a larger section, which continues as far as .

This section has a distinctly personal tone.

In verses 24–29, the pronoun ‘I’ occurs three times and ‘me’ occurs twice.

Ordinarily, the apostle Paul was reluctant to write about himself and his ministry.

He made a deliberate attempt to avoid self-promotion and to focus instead upon Christ (see ).

It seems, however, that the nature of true Christian leadership had become an issue in Colosse.

The church there had given a hearing to a group of men who seemed very plausible.

Paul’s warning in 2:4, ‘lest anyone should deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable’,

suggests to us, that the church had been taken in and drawn away,

to some extent, from these false teachers.

With this in mind, Paul outlined something of the character of his own service to God and, in effect, invited a comparison.

But while this portion is highlighting a ministers role in the church, remember our texts?

7 "Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.” ()

17 "Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” ()

So if the ministry of 1:24-29 is imitated, this will bring great joy and not grief to your minister.

We’ll talk more about grieving your minister in a moment.

As I mentioned earlier the passage goes all the way to 2:7 that can be summed up as “The Needs of the Church”

In which our verses tonight will highlight for us that the church needs ministers who will labor tirelessly for the church (1:24-29)

The second division, that God-willing, we’ll see next week is the need for a mature church with believers growing consistently in the Lord (2:1-7).

So this week is about the work of the church leaders with much application to all as you imitate their walks with the Lord.

And next week the church maturing and growing in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Since the application is particularly to ministers but applicable to all, I’m going to rely the text to us all as a church.

So in thinking about meeting the NEEDS (not the wants) of the CHURCH.

1. You’ll need to willingly suffer for the church (v. 24).

24 "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church.” ()

Working and laboring for Christ on this earth are not easy.

MAIN THEME:

Serving the church in this world is not easy.

The reason is due to the ideas and behavior of men toward Christ and His church.

Men’s ideas and behavior are corrupt. They look at Christ and His church and feel …

• that the church is meaningless for modern man

• that the church is acceptable just so it stays in its place

• that the church is all right as a social service to the community

• that the church is needed to lift high the volumes of morality and justice

• that the church is good in that it meets the religious needs of man

The list could go on and on, for the feelings of people about Christ and the church are almost endless.

Some folks look at Christ and deny His relevance and curse His name.

They could care less about His church. When it comes to the church, they …

• ignore it

• neglect it

• abuse it

• ridicule it

• persecute it

• attempt to destroy it

Other persons profess Christ and join His church, but their commitment is almost meaningless. They are …

• inactive

• sleepy-eyed

• complacent

• unconcerned

• non-supportive

• lacking vision

On top of all this, there are always those within the church who are …

Christ is the mystery that was concealed by has now been revealed, this mystery is union with Christ and it’s revealed by preaching.

• worldly

• carnal

• fleshly

• divisive

• critical

• gossiping

• whispering

• murmuring

• criticizing

• making trouble

It is such ideas and behavior that puts so much pressure and weight upon the leaders of the church.

This is what causes so much suffering for the genuine servant of Christ.

The genuine servant longs for people to know Christ and the abundance of life which Christ brings.

He wants people to grow into the image of Christ and to keep their eyes fixed upon the hope of glory which is to be given to every true believer.

He knows that without Christ men are lost and doomed to judgment.

Therefore, he suffers whatever burden and pain is necessary to reach and grow people.

So Paul says “Now I rejoice in my sufferings”. When he says, “Now” he’s meaning his current prison sentence (read 4:10,18)

And instead of complaining, he rejoices because he sees his sufferings as being for the benefit of the body of Christ.

So he says, "my sufferings for you”

Not sure if you realize it or not, but many times your hardships strengthen the faith of the church.

So you need to willingly be ready to suffer for the good of the church.

Closeness to Christ causes Paul to write as he does.

He is even now reflecting on the afflictions which the Savior endured when he was on earth.

Paul knows that he himself in his passing earthly existence is, in a sense to be explained presently, filling in or supplying what was lacking in Christ’s sufferings.

The apostle is undergoing these hardships in the place of Jesus, since Jesus himself is no longer here to endure them.

Not as if Paul were doing this all by himself, but he is contributing his share.

Other believers contribute theirs. Paul is also convinced of the fact that

his afflictions are being borne for the benefit of Christ’s glorious body, the church.

He knows that by his calm endurance and clear testimony during trial the church will be established in the faith.

Yes, let us be willing to suffer for the sake of the church.

2. You have been chosen by God to proclaim the Word of God (v. 25).

"I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,” ()

Paul begins to move slightly towards the message he is called to proclaim (25-27) and the purpose of that proclamation (v28) before returning back to the theme of his apostolic “striving” (v29).

Paul was made a minister by God.

Paul was a minister because God had called him to be a minister.

He was not in the ministry …

• because he thought the ministry was a good profession to enter

• because some friends thought he would make a good minister

• because he had the natural talents for the ministry

• because he wanted to commit his life to teach the highest principles of morality and justice

Note a most significant fact. The word commission or dispensation (KJV) refers to the steward who oversees the household and property of the owner.

The minister is the steward of God, the person chosen to oversee the house or church of God.

This fact is almost unbelievable, but it is true:

God has actually chosen some persons to oversee His affairs for Him.

The minister has actually been chosen by God to be the steward of His world and church and people.

God has literally taken His church and people and placed them into the hands of His ministers, into …

• their stewardship

• their oversight

• their administration

• their ministry

• their responsibility

• their management

• their care

• their lives

• their love

What an enormous call and responsibility, yet it comes from God; therefore, it must be fulfilled.

23 "if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it. 24 "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church. 25 "I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,” ()

Following that closely, Paul is a servant of the gospel (v23) and the church (24b,25a).

Paul is a servant of the church according to “God’s commission”.

To serve the gospel and the church isn’t for himself.

As Paul did in v24, “sufferings for you”, Paul again gives this commission personal application to the Colossians

in v25, this commission is given “to me for you, to make the word of God fully known”.

“fully known” is a verb that Paul uses which means “fill”.

God’s word is not “filled” when it is preached only, but when its preaching accomplishes the purpose God has for it:

when it is heard and produces growth and fruit in the lives of those who respond (see vv. 5–6).

Look at and you see this same Greek word, and you find out, who does the filling? Who actually makes the word of God fully known?

10 "and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” ()

3. You share the great mystery of God—“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (vv. 26–27).

26 "the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 "God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” ()

4. You will preach Christ and will warn and teach every man (v. 28).

28 "We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” ()

5. You will work and strive laboriously, depending upon Christ for energy (v. 29).

29 "I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.” ()