A Call to Suffering and Servitude
Notes
Transcript
Suffering
Suffering
Paul rejoices in his suffering — What is it that Paul suffered?
Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death.
Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews.
Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.
On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers;
toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing.
Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
Paul suffered many different types of hardship and all for a purpose. That purpose is stated in our passage today…Paul was making up for what was lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the Body of Christ, the church.
We know Christ’s afflictions, His cross, was sufficient for our salvation and lacked nothing. Jesus said, “It is finished.” His work was done and our salvation complete at the cross. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” He is our all sufficient savior!
So Paul could not be writing about our salvation in verse 24. So what on earth could he be talking about in this passage???
The Gospel has been advancing in the midst of violent opposition since John the Baptist came on the scene to herald the coming of the Messiah.
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force.
If you were taught becoming a Christian meant a life of ease, security and comfort the one who led you to Christ didn’t really understand what a life in Christ and on mission with Christ was all about.
The salvation of Christ has been accomplished…the propagation of that Gospel to the ends of the earth is being accomplished. Our calling is to share the gospel with the lost world…and if need be that we suffer for the opportunity to do so then so be it.
Illustration: At the Nicene Council, an important church meeting in the 4th century A.D., of the 318 delegates attending, fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or lost a hand or did not limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith.
Early believers as well as those in the persecuted church understand the joy and privilege of what it is to suffer for the sake of the Gospel…not suffer for the sake of suffering or for the sake of our sin but for the sake of the Gospel
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.
For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,
Paul said he rejoiced (enjoyed a state of happiness and well-being) in the midst of suffering for the the chance to evangelize the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He felt his suffering made him a part of the work of Jesus in the building and growing of the Body of Christ.
Jesus made no bones about it…He said if you are a follower of Him you would have trouble in this life
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
Jesus said
“You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.
Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The atonement for sin was made in Christ’s sacrifice alone but the building of the church is a privilege Christ allows His followers to be a part of with Him…and that work of building often involves suffering for the Gospel.
Paul said he rejoiced (enjoyed a state of happiness and well-being) in the midst of suffering for the the chance to evangelize the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He felt his suffering made him a part of the work of Jesus in the building and growing of the Body of Christ.
There are Christians today in China, Iran and Saudi Arabia that would weep at the idea of a public worship service in which they could openly invite the lost to hear the message of the Gospel.
Servant
Servant
“I am a servant” — Paul rejoices in suffering and proudly announces his servitude to Christ, HIs church and the Gospel.
Jesus had set the example of this kind of mindset about life. Jesus said
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Someone once said, “Most people wish to serve God -- but in an advisory capacity only.”
Paul understood the greatest calling of his life was to grow and serve the Kingdom of God.
God had commissioned him…and we likewise in the same way we are commissioned as well in …to make the word of God, the mystery of God fully known…so that Gentiles and Jews alike would be saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
The life of a believer in Christ is one of suffering and servitude if we are doing what we are called to do…and if we are not doing what we are called to do…if we are not serving and suffering for the Gospel of Christ...we have to ask the question…are we sincerely a follower of Christ?
Jesus made no bones about it…He said if you are a follower of Him you would have trouble in this life
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
Jesus said
“You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.
Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
We are called and commissioned to carry on the message and mission of Jesus. This is not to be taken lightly! After all, they said Jesus was crazy, demon possessed…they crucified Jesus for His message and mission!
In 1878, when William Booth's Salvation Army was beginning to make its mark, men and women from all over the world began to enlist. One man, who had once dreamed of becoming a bishop, crossed the Atlantic from America to England to enlist. Samuel Brengle left a fine pastorate to join Booth's Army. But at first General Booth accepted his services reluctantly and grudgingly. Booth said to Brengle, "You've been your own boss too long." And in order to instill humility in Brengle, he set him to work cleaning the boots of other trainees. Discouraged, Brengle said to himself, "Have I followed my own fancy across the Atlantic in order to black boots?" And then, as in a vision, he saw Jesus bending over the feet of rough, unlettered fishermen. "Lord," he whispered, "you washed their feet; I will black their shoes."
How can we possibly believe servitude beneath us or suffering beyond us if we are living out our life’s purpose in Christ?
The Why
The Why
We might stop at this point and ask ourselves the question “why would this be of such vital importance to Paul?”
Some would say so the lost could be saved from hell. But this was not what ultimately motivated him. He was concerned for and loved mankind but there was a stronger motivation that spurred him onward. The lost were a means to an end for Paul.
Paul wanted to make the fullness of God’s mystery known so that he might present everyone mature in Christ…so he might make disciples and present them to Christ.
The answer might surprise you. Paul did this for the lost but ultimately they were not the reason for his sacrifice and servitude. The lost were a means to an end for Paul.
Some would say so the lost could be saved from hell. But this was not what ultimately motivated him. He was concerned for and loved mankind but there was a stronger motivation that spurred him onward. The lost were a means to an end for Paul.
Everything Paul did was for love of Christ and a desire to glorify Him. Paul wanted to make the fullness of God’s mystery known so that he might present everyone mature in Christ…so he might make disciples and present them to Christ.
The work wasn’t his it was God’s…He was striving to do the work with a strength that was powerfully working in and through him…this was the Holy Spirit and grace of God power. He was simply cooperating with God and His power at work in Him.
The work of salvation wasn’t his, it was God’s…He was striving to do the work with a strength that was powerfully working in and through him…this was the Holy Spirit and grace of God power. He was simply cooperating with God and His power at work in Him.
The cooperative effort of God working in and through Paul would result in the making of disciples which Paul would present to Christ someday. Then Paul and these believers he led to Christ would experience together the glory of Christ. Together they would enjoy the presence, power and person of Christ and their life in Christ would glorify (make much of) the power, grace, love and character of God.
The cooperative effort of God working in and through Paul would result in the making of disciples which Paul would present to Christ someday. Then Paul and these believers he led to Christ would experience together the glory of Christ. Together they would enjoy the presence, power and person of Christ and their life in Christ would glorify (make much of) the power, grace, love and character of God.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,
made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
God saves us for His glory. He commissions and calls us to suffering service in His process of saving others…so that…someday we might appear before Christ with those whom we led to salvation and together experience and be unto the glory of God. Be a trophy of His grace…a demonstration of the riches of His grace, love and kindness.
God saves us for His glory. He commissions and calls us to suffering in His process of saving others…so that…someday we might appear before Christ with those whom we led to salvation and together experience and be unto the glory of God.
Our lives and the lives of those we lead to Christ become a walking, spiritual, eternal billboard for the perfect character and power of God.
We will experience His power and character and also because of our complete salvation in Him be a part of His power and ch
All that we suffer will be seen as a sacrifice unto God for His glory…it will be celebrated…honored and applauded…it will be our glory and something we might offer back to God as an offering to Him…recognizing all we are and all we did was by the strength and power of Him.
See…Every changed life and every process by which a life is changed will be celebrated in heaven someday. This is why Paul could write
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
Illustration
Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.
This is why the apostles could rejoice that they had been called to suffer for the name of Christ. They knew their suffering was unto the glory of God…it was something wonderful and precious for it was an opportunity by which they would make much of God now and it would be a treasure stored up in heaven to be brought forth and celebrated in a day yet to come. This is our “why” as well.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Paul says he wanted the church to know how he was struggling for them…so that they might know and have a complete understanding of the knowledge of the mystery and treasures of wisdom found in Jesus Christ.
He labored, served, suffered and struggled in the power of the strength of Christ at work in him…all for the glory of Christ. That men, women and children might be saved and give to God the glory due His name…so that he, Paul, might be a part of enjoying the glory God receives in their life…as well as in the service of Paul’s life which led them to faith as well.
Can you see the opportunity and privilege of our life’s purpose in Christ? Can you see the pleasure and joy in suffering for Jesus? People will call us crazy and ridicule us. They are going to lie about us. They are going to physically harm and sometimes even kill us…praise God…rejoice…we have been found worthy to suffer for the name of Christ.
No one wants to suffer but we are all called to suffer.
Can you see the pleasure and joy in servitude for Jesus? The working of our fingers to the bone, wearing out shoe leather, wearing ourselves out in service to the Gospel of Christ? The giving up of what we want to do, our ambitions and our wants so that we might be a part of His ambitions, plans, dreams and wants.
For us as Americans this most often simply means owning a smaller house or car so we might give to the cause of Christ. Giving up a ballgame in order to serve. Being ridiculed for our faith verbally as we share the gospel…pushing through the anxiety to share the gospel. Being bullied for our love of Jesus.
For us it means putting Jesus first…living for His cause…and losing our life for His.
“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.
“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
If we are not doing this are we genuinely followers of Christ? Perhaps the answer is yes but at best we are disobedient followers of Christ…robbing God of the glory due Him in our life and the lives of those we might lead to faith in Him.