Suffering for YOU!

23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Jesus Christ is to be our hope (1Tim1:1)

1 Timothy 1:1 NASB95

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,

Today we will see the hope of glory (Col1:27)

Colossians 1:27 NASB95

27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

But what about if hope comes with suffering?

Paul’s enemies made much of Paul being in prison in Rome and tried to take advantage of it and caused problems, divisions within the church (body of believers). False teachers were coming to bring false truths, but Paul used his suffering, his imprisonment as weapon to defeat the enemies and to build a stronger, closer church.

Paul was willing to suffer for the greater good, the common good. Today we will look at:

Suffering for the hope of glory

Suffering for the mystery

Suffering for the proclaiming

I. Suffering for the hope of glory

Did you know that the phrase “in you” is used 172 in Paul’s epistles alone? He gives us the definition himself (Gal2:20)

Galatians 2:20 NASB95

20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Paul’s hope was for the church, for the Christ who gave himself up for Paul, gave himself up or all who would believe (Eph3:17)

Ephesians 3:17 NASB95

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Paul was rejoicing in his suffering on their behalf, for the church (v.24)

Colossians 1:24 NASB95

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.

Paul was not ashamed of his suffering for he knew the reason for it and he rejoiced in it. He invited the Philippians join in the fellowship of His suffering. (Php3:10; also see Act5:41; 1Pt4:15-16; Mt5:10-12)

Philippians 3:10 NASB95

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

Paul was not the only one who suffered for the gospel

Acts 5:41 NASB95

41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

There was Peter and the other apostles here in Act5

1 Peter 4:15–16 NASB95

15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

Then Peter notes the suffering Christian in 1Pt4, 1Pt5:9-10; suffering for the gospel was common

Jesus even spoke of it too

Matthew 5:10–11 NASB95

10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Matthew 5:12 NASB95

12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Rejoice in persecution, rejoice in being insulted, rejoice in things being falsely said, we need to remember our reward is in heaven and it is great! So yes, we can, Like Paul, Peter the apostles and the other Christians can rejoice in suffering.

Not only did Paul suffer for the gospel, he was able to rejoice in his suffering for the Gentiles. (ref. Eph3:1-13) Act22:21-22

Acts 22:21–22 NASB95

21 “And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” 22 They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!”

The fact that Paul was in prison and that he was suffering did not stop him from ministering. May we have that same heart that Paul did, willing to suffer, willing to rejoice in the suffering, willing to minister in the suffering even.

Why the suffering, we have not really even got there yet (Col1:25-27)

Colossians 1:25–26 NASB95

25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,

Colossians 1:27 NASB95

27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Paul had a responsibility, a stewardship that was given to him, given by God(v.25) given with a reason to carry out the preaching of the Word (v.25)

This preaching was the preaching of the mystery (v.26)

Paul was faithful to his calling (1Cor4:2)

1 Corinthians 4:2 NASB95

2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

We are told what the mystery is (v.26-27) - - - they mystery which had been hidden has been revealed and that mystery is Christ in YOU (yep, you the church) look at that those verses again, let them sink in

Colossians 1:26–27 NASB95

26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

That Christ in you is the hope of glory by which we are recipients of the mystery. Christ in whom

He is firstborn of all creation, image of invisible god (v.15)

All things were created (v.16)

Is before all things, and holds all things together (v.17)

He is the head of the body, the church, and has primacy (v.18)

This Christ in which the fulness of God dwells (v.19)

What a great mystery revealed and now dwells in YOU through the Holy Spirit. now if that is not hope, then there is something wrong.

The mystery that Paul was made responsible, given a stewardship over, is what he preached and that we are to now proclaim.

III. Suffering for the proclaiming

Think about this, many grew up in church and maybe some of this does not really impact much, but think about the ones who did not grow up in Christian surroundings who now have the mystery, have the truth, there were aliens from the covenants of God now are recipients of it. They were spiritually dead separated from God due to ignorance, but now are alive and live in the riches of God’s grace, mercy and wisdom in Christ Jesus. They were without hope, but now have the hope of glory that dwells in them. May we know, may we remember what we felt when we were ones who were new. May we remember our first love!

Paul gives instructions, gives results, and purpose in our last part of the passage today.

Colossians 1:28–29 NASB95

28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

We, meaning those who were proclaiming Jesus, more than likely just as in 2Cor4:5 is speaking of the apostles, the prophets of that day that were preaching, teaching.

2 Corinthians 4:5 NASB95

5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.

The instructions is to proclaim, but for us to proclaim we need to know what we are to proclaim, for you can only proclaim what you know.

Know the mystery, Jesus and the Church

Know the hope, hope of Glory, Jesus and the Church

Admonish and teach every man will all wisdom (Jam1:5, 3:17; Pro2:6-8)

James 1:5 NASB95

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

All wisdom is available when we ask for it

James 3:17 NASB95

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

All wisdom that is good, comes from above

Proverbs 2:6–7 NASB95

6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

Proverbs 2:8 NASB95

8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.

Wisdom from the Lord brings knowledge and understanding and it will be a guard before us and will preserve us!

We hold that wisdom when we hold the Bible, we apply that wisdom when we read it and do what it says. We may be made complete in Christ as it says in (v.28)

Colossians 1:28 NASB95

28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

Maybe you feel lacking, maybe you feel unworthy, maybe you feel unqualified, here is a story for you.

(insert story of African blind woman; 70 years old. . . .) jn3:16, 24 youngmen are preachers now

We are recipients, now to be proclaimers may have to suffer for it

Colossians 1:24 NASB95

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.

Remember earlier we read Mt5:12, heck, let me read it again.

Matthew 5:12 NASB95

12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

We need to continue, to be steadfast, not easily moved away from the hope of the gospel (v.23)

Colossians 1:23 NASB95

We do not, nor did Paul suffer as a repetition of Calvary, but an extension of it; and expression of our Christ like life and love. Have we rejoiced lately in suffering? Have we been afflicted and said thank you regardless of the suffering we may endure?

Lord help us to remember that it is Your power at work in us and will work through us!