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"Rooted in Sacrificial Ministry"
Colossians 1:24-2:5
February 13, 2021
Ryan Fregoso
We are back in our sermon series in Colossians called "Rooted."
Today, we will explore chapter 1, verse 24 through chapter 2, verse 5.
Back in 2010, I experienced my first Tucson Gem and Mineral Show as a Restaurant Manager at a major resort here in town.
We hosted a show and had hundreds of vendors from all over the world staying at the resort.
I must have worked well over 100 hours that week, just pushing through each busy day.
It was exhausting, but it had to be done.
Some of you may have similar stories on pushing through something, even when it didn't seem possible.
In our passage this morning, Paul will address how hard he worked in his ministry, even to the point of exhaustion.
Let's go ahead and review this passage to see what we can learn from it.
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.
Here is the main idea that I want to unpack this morning:
To be rooted in Christ, I must be willing to participate in sacrificial ministry.
In most of your bibles, the heading to this section likely says something like: "Paul's Ministry to the Church."
Frankly, that's not too bad, so let's run with it.
This morning, we're going to see what is ....
SACRIFICIAL MINISTRY ACCORDING TO PAUL
1. Paul ministered through suffering
a. Paul suffered for the sake of the body, both locally (Colossae) and for the whole body of Christ.
b.
He then says that he was FILLING UP WHAT IS LACKING IN CHRIST'S AFFLICTIONS.
i. Don't worry, if you heard that a moment ago and said, "wait, what?" ... you're not alone.
ii.
The phrasing that Paul uses here is difficult, but not unique.
Paul uses the similar language in 2 Corinthians 1:5 and Philippians 3:10.
What makes this passage difficult is the implication that Christ's afflictions were lacking.
So, what does this mean?
iii.
Sometimes it's best to see a verse from a different point of view, or in the case of the English translations, another translation.
The NLT reads verse 24 this way:
I AM GLAD WHEN I SUFFER FOR YOU IN MY BODY, FOR I AM PARTICIPATING IN THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST THAT CONTINUE FOR HIS BODY, THE CHURCH.
iv.
The word "afflictions" that is used in the ESV is often used in the New Testament as "tribulations" and literally refers to an intense pressure or distress.
You see, by no means is Paul stating that Christ's work was lacking or incomplete, rather that it continues through the proclamation of the Gospel.
Paul is laboring at ensuring that this work continues, and sometimes this labor will include suffering.
v.
To say it another way, Paul suffered in order for the world to know Christ.
Christ began the work, yet empowered us to continue the work.
c.
Not everyone is expected to suffer like Paul, but we all should be ready to.
Next ...
2. Paul ministered by appointment
a. Paul uses the term "steward" in verse 25.
b.
This term is often used to describe a manager of a household.
c.
So, Paul is using this to confirm the role of the Apostle in watching over the affairs of the household of God, the Church.
d.
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