Church, Wake Up!

Colossians 1:24-2:5.

Introduction Story:

My family served as missionaries to China for a couple of years. While we were in China, we went through many trainings on how to best minister to unreached peoples in China. Several times we were warned about a group called, Eastern Lightning. Eastern Lightning was and is still today a large Christian cult that originated from China. The major teaching that they teach is that Jesus Christ has already returned in the form of a Chinese woman. They took one verse out of context, Matthew 24:27, 27 “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Some how they fit their narrative into that one verse. Sadly, this group has made a massive disturbance to the Christian church in China. You see, the way their group grows is by having their followers disguise themselves as Christians and they infiltrate small groups at house churches, where there are many new believers. At these small group meetings they find ways to add their false teachings to their group Bible study. People begin to side with these Eastern Lightning people. It has divided churches to the point of having to split. It is a major problem.

This sounds so foreign. That is a China thing. The problem must only be overseas.

Well Church, a couple weeks ago my wife and I were having dinner with friends in downtown Stuart. While we were waiting for a table, we stood down on the boardwalk. Two men approached us and asked if we would be interested in a Bible study. I was amused, so I asked who they were with. One of the men took the lead and told us they were with the World Mission Society Church of God. That was a group I had never heard of. He then asked us if we had ever heard of the Mother God. I have grown up in church, I completed 96 hours of seminary classes, I have worked for different mission organizations, and I have never heard of the “Mother God.” The man then took me to Genesis 1, where it says that male and female were created in the image of God. He said there must be a masculine and feminine form of God there (which is totally false). Then he took me to Revelation 22:17 which says, “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” He told me that the Bride in this verse is the “Mother God.” We must have salvation from the “Mother God” to truly be saved. I couldn’t help but laugh in awkwardness! That verse was taken out of context. This verse is actually about a future prophecy. And the “bride” is the body of Christ, those who have repented of sin, trusted in Christ, and been redeemed during the time from the cross to the Rapture.

Would it surprise you to know that this group that originates from South Korea has 7,500 churches in 175 countries, with 3 million followers?

Covenant Fellowship, false teachers are not just overseas in Asia, they are here in Stuart, Florida. The Body of Christ is under attack by these false teachers. This threat is very real and has been a threat for 2,000 years.

In fact, this is the whole reason why Paul is writing to the Colossians- to prepare them against false teachers and provide the tools to stand firm in their faith. We will read more about the details of these false teachers in the coming chapters of Colossians, but today we are going to look at a model Paul gives for the Church to stand firm in its faith in Christ.

So with that in mind, let’s read Colossians 1:24-2:5.

Colossians 1:24–2:5 ESV

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. 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.

Paul has a testimony like no other. Before he became a Christian his name was Saul. Saul was both a Jew and a Roman citizen. He came to Jerusalem as a young man to be educated by the most famous Rabbi of the time. Later on in his life he greatly opposed Christianity. He was the one who approved the stoning of Stephen and help lead a great persecution against the Church. On the way to Damascus to arrest believers, he was dramatically converted to Christianity. His name was changed from Saul to Paul. He would then go on three missionary journeys, winning many people to faith in Christ and establishing churches in cities all across the Roman Empire. Paul eventually faced brutal opposition and was imprisoned for his faith.

He has endured much throughout his ministry for the Church:

-In 2 Corinthians 11 we read that Paul received 5 different times the forty lashes less one. Three times he was beaten with rods. He was stoned, shipwrecked, he endured much for his ministry for the Church.

And here we read here in the first part of verse 24 that Paul rejoices in his sufferings. He REJOICES in his sufferings.

Church, when was the last time you rejoiced in your suffering? I feel like I’m about to die when I get a sore throat during pollen season. How on earth can Paul find joy in his sufferings?

Well in Romans 5 it says,-

Romans 5:3–5 (ESV)

3 ... we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

You see? Paul is mindful of the mission God has given him. In these first two verses we see Paul mention his sufferings for the sake of the church, and to make the word of God fully known.

Church, we need to 1.) Be mindful of our mission.

Here in Colossians 1:24-25, we see Paul look to his past and remembers his mission, what God has called him to do.

This is how Paul is able to rejoice in his sufferings. He knows that while he suffers he is making the word of God more and more known.

When we were on the mission field in Asia we would have really good days and really bad days. We didn’t suffer like Paul, but Satan really knew how to mess with you mentally and emotionally. We often found ourselves outside of our comfort zone. One of the best words of advice we heard during our training time was in the highs and lows of life on the mission field, to remember your calling. Remember why God has you there. When you are mindful of your mission, you can persevere and even find joy when you’re suffering, because you are giving up something for something you love more.

A perfect example of this, is actually in John 16, Jesus gives the example of child birth. Now I have never birthed a child. But if I go up to every mom in this room, I am confident they would say that the pain they endured during child birth was worth the result of having their child. Okay, maybe not all of you would admit that this morning, but I’m sure this is true. It still amazes me how women want to have multiple pregnancies. If men were given the role of child bearing, our population would be much less.

You see, Paul knew that his sufferings were only temporary, and that he had the hope of glory. He had full assurance in the hope of Christ.

It’s like a homeless man living in a cardboard box and all the sudden a limousine drives up and a lawyer comes out to tell this man that his long-lost uncle just passed away and he has left you his 10 million dollar fortune, but you can’t have it until next week. All the sudden this man has hope. The next week won’t feel as bad because he knows a treasure awaits him.

In the same way, Paul is able to rejoice in his sufferings, because he knows the end result, he knows he has a treasure awaiting him.

But what does Paul mean in the second part of verse 24?

“I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 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 full known.”

The wording in this verse is interesting. Paul is NOT saying in some way Christ’s afflictions on the cross is insufficient. On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished.” His work was sufficient and complete.

The work of salvation was complete, by Jesus, but Paul understands that the saving act is not complete until people hear about it and respond to it.

Carl F. Henry said, “The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.”

Jesus suffered for salvation, and we suffer to spread salvation.

And suffering is going to come. It is expected, once you follow Jesus, we will suffer.

You may feel rejection from others, you may lose relationships with family and friends. Suffering looks different for every Christian.

We may not suffer like Paul suffered, but there are brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world who are suffering physically for the spread of the gospel.

When we were in China, our Chinese Christian friends saw suffering for the gospel as a part of discipleship. To them, spending three years in prison for the sake of the gospel is equivalent to a seminary degree, because they learn to fully trust and depend on Him.

Paul is saying here that suffering for Christ is difficult. We see Paul toil, struggle, for Christ’s sake, but he is saying it’s worth it.

Church, when our body is under attack, when we are persecuted, when we face false teachers, lets first cling to and remember our mission-to make the word of God fully known.

As we continue doing the Lord’s work, let’s remember the mission God has for us.

But when we go, we need to make sure we are clear in our message.

What shall our message be?

2.) Our message is Christ.

Read verses 26 & 27

Colossians 1:26–27 ESV

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.

Here in this passage we see Paul’s message is centered around the mystery revealed in Christ.

It is likely the false teachers that came to Colossae taught about “mysteries” of God. We see Paul in our passage today mention ‘mystery’ three separate times. What does Paul mean here by mystery?

When I think of mysteries I think of TV shows like Dateline and 48 Hours Mystery. Who in here likes those shows? My wife can’t get enough of them! These shows tell a story and in every story there is a mystery, something happens and we don’t know who “done it”. It isn’t until the very end, Keith Morrison, reveals the mystery of who done it. The reveal is usually pretty shocking, unless you’re my wife and figure it out half way through the show.

But in all these shows, the mystery is hidden, until Keith Morrison reveals it. What is this mystery that has been hidden for generations? The mystery is Christ.

Paul is saying that there is no longer any mystery. God has already revealed his big mystery, the mystery of how we can be reconciled with God-and that’s through Christ.

You see, if you go back to Genesis chapter 1 you will read how God created the world and it was good. Then in Genesis 2 you will see how God created man and woman and they were good, but they disobeyed God and sinned. That sin created division between man and God. Man became more and more broken. We try to fix our brokeness with more brokeness. Some of us try to do good things for God, but because of our sin, we are not able to reconcile back to God on our own. Even our best attempts are worthless and lead to death. A relationship with God is NOT based on anything that you or I can do. That is why God sent his Son, Jesus. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, would not perish, but have ever lasting life.” You see, Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus came and lived a perfect life and he died an unjustly death on the cross and rose again to make a way for us to be reconciled to God.

That is the gospel, Jesus. Jesus alone. Jesus’ death on the cross was enough.

Church, our message should be all about Jesus, nothing else. These other false teachers are spreading lies and add to the gospel message. They say Jesus was a good person, but not the solution to salvation.

In fact, when we were talking to the two men in downtown Stuart, my friend then asked the man, “What do you believe about Jesus?” The man said, we believe that Jesus is part of the Trinity, but we can only find salvation through the Mother God. My friend and I told them men that what they believed was a lie. We asked if we could tell them what we believed about Jesus. The men said, “No.” And they walked away. They said they weren’t there to debate, they were only there to share these teachings with others.

If our message is to be Jesus, how do we communicate that message to others?

Well in the first part of verse 28 we see that...

3.) Our method is to warn and teach everyone with wisdom. (28a)

You know, we live in a world now where everybody has their own truth. And everybody is supposed to play along and act like everybody’s truth is true. But what’s crazy is that these truths can’t all be true. Fake News is a real issue. Just because you believe something is true, doesn’t mean it is truth.

In fact, here Paul is telling us the opposite. We are to warn. That word ‘warn’ means to admonish or to correct firmly. We are to correct and teach truth, with all wisdom.

I think many of us could fall into two different camps. There are those who are very confrontational. Do any of you have those friends on Facebook? These people like to confront issues and things they disagree with head on.

Then there are those who are non-confrontational, the peace keepers.

They may hear something they disagree with and just allow others to think whatever they want to think. They don’t want to stir the pot. They don’t want to take up any energy having to confront other people.

Theres a place for both types of people, but in a situation where biblical truth is needed to be addressed, we need to be confrontational.

Here, Paul is telling us that we need to be confrontational, “warn everyone and teach everyone”. But we need to be careful here. We can’t just go and say people are wrong because we disagree with them. We must admonish and teach with all wisdom. Where does this wisdom come from? The word of God, the Bible.

We are a Church that firmly believes the Bible is God’s inspired Word. Not just God’s words, but His unifying Word. It is inerrant, without error, and it is true. We also understand it is important to read the Bible in its context. Different parts of the Bible are written in historic contexts, literature contexts, poetic contexts, and prophetic contexts. Biblical hermeneutics is important.

We need to be willing to be open to hearing correction and teaching from others. As is the case with the men I spoke with in downtown Stuart. The group they were with boasts on their website that they are the only church in the world that believes in the Mother God. Well, if you’re the only person that believes something, then you are probably wrong. We need to be open to hearing what we sometimes don’t want to hear. We need to be diligent in seeking truth through God’s word.

This is why going to church and joining a discipleship group is so important. Can you be a Christian and not go to Church? Yes. But is driving a car without ever getting an oil change wise? No, it’s unhealthy. If you aren’t regularly being taught and corrected, then growth can’t happen. Christian maturity can’t happen.

God designed the church to be a place where people come to do what verse 28 says, “to proclaim Christ, and to be warned and taught with wisdom.”

I know many people who have been hurt by the church. This is why we don’t worship the Church, we worship Christ. People in church are still people. They are broken and full of sin. Pastors, they are sinful. Small group leaders, they are sinful. But that’s what makes the church unique. Though we are all sinful, we have the opportunity to come together as one body and worship God together. Worshipping God together, Studying God’s Word together, Serving God together brings unity.

And unity should be our church’s goal. To be unified together with Christ.

And we see Paul urge this in the rest of this passage-

Colossians 1:28–2:5 (ESV)

28 …that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

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.

What should be our church’s motive with all of this?

4.)Our motive is to present every person mature in Christ, in order for us to stand firm in our faith.

-Our motive shouldn’t be to be the biggest church on the Treasure Coast. Our motive shouldn’t be to be the most giving and most effective non-profit organization in our city.

-Those things are both good, but that shouldn’t be our motive.

Our motive should be to present every person mature in Christ. This is why Paul struggles. His hope is to see the Church be encouraged, be united in love, and to be assured with knowledge of the gospel of Christ. And why does he struggle for these things? So no one may delude us with false teachings and so we can stand firm in our faith in Christ.

As a result of this Christian maturity, then things like church unity, church growth and the desire to serve our city should happen organically.

Church, to stand firm in our faith, we need to be mindful of our mission, make sure our message is focused on Christ, by admonishing and teaching everyone with wisdom, with the motivation to present every person mature in Christ. This is the recipe that Paul is giving us to stand firm in our faith. Church, wake up! We have been given this mission by God to make the word of God fully known.

I am so thankful to serve at a church where we are already doing much of this-where our members, elders, deacons, staff, and volunteers have the desire to see everyone mature in Christ. Each of us has a role to play as we continue to make the Word of God fully known.

I‘m not sure if you read the signs on the way into church each week, but our mission is written on those signs. I’d like for us to read together our church’s mission statement and vision together.

Covenant Fellowship’s mission and vision is:

We exist to Connect with Christ and to Care for our Community. Our Vision is to be a family of believers, whose connection with Christ transforms our priorities, our relationships, and our communities.

Will you join us in continuing this mission?

—Close in Prayer—

Reminder, if you need prayer or would like to learn more about our church, Deacons are standing at the Connect Table in the cafe and they would love to speak with you. Go be the church!