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Introduction:
No one likes to struggle.
I don’t think there are many statements more true than this one - especially in our society.
Today, the word struggle is almost a curse word.
We do everything in our power in modern America to make sure that we keep struggle as a minimum.
The old Staples commercials were the epitome of this ideal of easy in America.
The thought of something being difficult in our culture seems to be one of the greatest fears we have!
Yet, despite our attempts to keep from struggle, they seem to hit us in the face day after day.
Financial struggles, relational struggles, health struggles, mental struggles, spiritual struggles, and many others seem to fly in our face.
COVID has proven to be a gigantic obstacle for many in this area of discussion.
As we have discussed before, the amount of suicides, drug overdoses, and mental health disorders have skyrocketed throughout the pandemic.
The question we come to in a world that continues to struggle despite the vain attempts to avoid them is:
Knowing that struggles are going to come no matter what we do…How can we rejoice despite our struggles?
Today, Paul is going to encourage us regarding rejoicing in the struggle.
He understood struggle far more than we ever could.
Lets jump in and see what he has to say about this relevant issue for us today.
Join me as we read God’s Word:
Let us pray.
Prayer
Today we are going to discuss the first three ways Paul teaches us in regards to rejoicing in our struggles.
The first is...
I.
You Can Rejoice in the Struggle By... Focusing on the Ministry (24-25)
Paul has just given an exhortation to the believers at Colossae to stand firm on the truth of the Gospel.
He then goes on to discuss how he has had to stand firm and suffer on their behalf.
Remember - he is currently in prison for spreading the Gospel!
Paul states that he rejoices in his sufferings.
He had similar language in the book of Philippians as he spoke of joy time and time again throughout the epistle.
This seems to be a bit off base doesn’t it?
Who rejoices in their sufferings?
As we discussed in the introduction to this message - instead of rejoicing, most people do their best to flee from suffering.
Paul shows us here that those who have a high view of God rejoice in their sufferings.
Our view of God should be so high that any persecution we receive on His behalf should actually serve to encourage us.
We see this shown in an incredible way in the early church as they suffered for Christ (Acts 5:40-41).
How amazing is that statement my friends?
They rejoice because they were flogged for Christ!
Before getting into suffering for godliness, I think we must address suffering for ungodliness as well for a few moments.
Obviously some of our suffering is self-inflicted.
Bad decisions regarding relationships, job choices, financial decisions, purchasing decisions, and life decisions can lead to negative consequences because of a sin issue in our own lives.
These need to be repented of and the consequences may still come despite your turning from your sin.
These types of sufferings are extremely difficult to handle as they are not externally caused but instead caused by own failings.
But remember, our God is a merciful God and will take what is evil and turn it into good (Genesis 50:20).
Chuck Colson was one such man who understood the mercy of God in a mighty way despite suffering some earthy consequences from his bad decisions.
I am currently finishing a biography of his by Owen Strachan called The Colson Way.
This man was notoriously known as the axe man for President Nixon.
He ended up serving some time in jail due to his connection with this administration and the Watergate scandal.
The consequences of his bad decisions led to a bad outcome - prison.
Yet, God took this and saved his soul.
Even prior to his trial he ended up becoming a born again believer.
Later, after being released from prison, he eventually started a ministry called Prison Fellowship that reaches throughout the world to minister to prisoners with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Although he did suffer the consequence of prison and the social stigmas that would follow him even after it was over, God used it to restore and mature this broken man.
And God used it to bring glory to His name.
Getting back to our scripture today, we see that suffering is to be embraced when it is for Christ.
What kind of suffering is Paul referring to here?
Paul had suffered countless sufferings.
He had been flogged, shipwrecked, stoned, among others.
Currently he is in prison for sharing the Gospel!
As he writes this letter he is suffering for their sake.
He did all of this so that Christ may be glorified and so that unbelievers could hear about Jesus and experience a saving faith.
The next phrase has been a difficult phrase for many commentators.
He states that in his flesh, he is filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of the church.
This is where we see Paul rejoicing in his suffering because he is focused on his ministry.
He is focused on the church and the salvation of others and the glorification of Christ rather than his imprisonment.
But how does Paul add to the afflictions of Christ?
First off, we see that this does not mean that Christ’s death on the cross was insufficient.
Jesus let us know that the work was completed right before He died on the cross as He said…John 19:30
Hebrews 1:3 as well as many other Scriptures also add to this understanding:
Christ made complete purification for sins and now is at the right hand of the Father.
Nothing further is needed to forgive sins.
The work of Christ is completely sufficient for the forgiveness of sins.
No works done by us add to the salvific work of Christ.
Second, we see that the Greek word for affliction, thlipsis (thleep-sees), is never actually used in the New Testament in regards to the suffering of Christ.
So what does Paul mean when when he says that he is filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of the church?
Paul wants the church in Colossae to know that he suffers persecution that is intended for Christ.
He does not add to the salvific work of Christ.
But he does bear on his body the marks and blows intended for Christ.
He suffered for Christ and he suffered for the body of Christ - namely the church.
Commentator Sam Storms teaches that Paul played no role in the propitiation (meaning appeasement of the wrath of God) but instead played a role in the presentation of the Gospel.
Paul, through his sufferings, presented the Gospel in real form to the Colossians through his sacrificial suffering for the sake of the church.
Moving forward to verse 25, Paul recalls his personal calling to be a minister.
This Greek word for minister here means servant.
Those who minister to God’s church should be servant leaders.
It is not my job as a pastor to rule in dictatorial fashion.
Pastors are to lead as Christ led.
Sacrificial yet bold.
Loving yet full of truth.
Paul did just this.
Pastor Travis of Good Shepherd Baptist - the church that helped start our church here at CrossPointe - tells a story about him going to Adrian Rodgers church a couple of decades ago.
The late Pastor Rodgers was a huge personality and force in the SBC at the time and his church was large and his influence was broad.
He said that Pastor Rodgers was walking in front of him and there was a candy wrapper in the parking lot in front of Rodgers.
Rodgers stooped down, picked it up, and threw it in the trash on the way in the building.
That is how pastors should be.
Never too good or important to serve the church body.
The next word we see here is stewardship.
He is given stewardship from God for the church in Colossae.
This word means household management or administration.
He was to help manage and administrate over the church along with Epaphras.
As we will see in a couple of weeks, he took this very seriously as he addressed false teachings.
As we come to the end of verse 25, I love the last phrase here.
To make the word of God fully known.
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