Suffering with purpose

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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,

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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.

2 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.

1:24 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.

2 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,

2:1 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.

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.

What have I had to give up to do what I do?

How can I put my self into the words of Paul, so we can understand today that there is suffering today for us too?

There was a point on my life a pastor told me I was not aloud to preach the Gospel

Many of my friends and family rejected me because I had the desired of preaching the true.

The relaxation of coming to church just to worship is gone, now it takes more than just getting up to come to church...

pastors and church/ministry leaders are always being watched, both by their members as well as the community (does he drive fast? does he spank his kids? do they go to the parades? did he raise his voice at his wife? is he wearing shorts?)

Pastors and church/ministry leaders are always being watched, both by their members as well as the community (does he drive fast? does he spank his kids? do they go to the parades? did he raise his voice at his wife? is he wearing shorts?)

There will be hard times on ministry, I can guarantee that. But as Paul says in v.24 “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake” (Christ is the reason of Paul rejoice in the midst of suffering)

v. 2:4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments

But as Paul says in v.24 “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake”

My goal is the same as Paul, in the midst of suffering we want “to make the word of God fully known” v.25

This has been a “mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints” v.26

My goal is the same one that Paul has in v.2 in the midst of suffering we want “to make the word of God fully known” v.25

What Mystery? “Christ in you, the hope of glory” v.27

This has been a “mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints” v.26

I now suffer with joy because my eyes are not longer fixed on the trial but on Him who is worthy. And I also want my brothers and sister to be aware of this so they can rejoice in Christ.

But we suffer at the same time with joy because Jesus Christ is worthy

What Mystery? “Christ in you, the hope of glory” v.27

This Christ we proclaim is worth of us suffering so that his massage get deliver clear

What has he had to give up to do what he does?

· Comfort: the relaxation of coming to a church service just to worship… the days others come for fellowship and the hearing of the Word are our hardest work days – ministry by definition is full time service to people around us

· The luxury of anonymity: pastors and church/ministry leaders are always being watched, both by their members as well as the community (does he drive fast? does he spank his kids? do they go to the parades? did he raise his voice at his wife? is he wearing shorts?)

Why do I do it? – [Taken from ]

· Cuz I was Called… set apart for the Gospel of God – v. 1. We are called for the Gospel just like Paul was.

· Concerning his Son – v. 3 (this message is about His Son Jesus, and about his work on our favor)

· We have received grace… to bring about obedience of faith – v. 5 (the Gospel does not just saved us, but called us to live a life of obedience and to teach others to obey Him

· FOR THE SAKE OF HIS NAME AMONG ALL THE NATIONS – vs. 5 (For His glory)

· In summary: following a call of God to be set apart for the Gospel (ministry full time), which is all about Jesus who has shown us grace, we follow him in obedience and faith for the sake of exalting and glorifying his name among the nations

What kind of hardships have me and my family had to endure to “make the Word of God fully known?”

· Criticisms: in ministry there’s always something we “should be doing / shouldn’t be doing / should be doing better”

· Rejection for the cause of the Gospel: those who misunderstand salvation or don’t like the truth taught from the Word of God have rejected sound doctrine and turned their backs on our ministry in the 5 years since the Bible study started. Sometimes that has caused feelings of loneliness, betrayal, or Elijah’s sentiment in of being “the only one”

This is why is so important to be aware of the important of the body of believers and the fellowship.

Suffering with purpose

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1:24 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,

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,