Sermon Tone Analysis

What is hope, what is your hope in?

When we think of hope, we think of good things, no one hopes for bad do they?

Maybe in our flesh we may hope for someone to get what we think they deserve, don’t we?

Paul had hope

Hope laid up in heaven (Col1:5)

Hope of the gospel (Col1:23)

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

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

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)

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)

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

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)

Paul was not the only one who suffered for the gospel

There was Peter and the other apostles here in Act5

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

Jesus even spoke of it too

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

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)

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)

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

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.

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.

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)

All wisdom is available when we ask for it

All wisdom that is good, comes from above

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)

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

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

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

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!

(lead to invitation)

(Insert invitation slide)

remember the hope of glory that dwells in you

The hope of glory, get it, know it, live it, share it!