The Persevering Paul!
Colossians 1:24-29
I remember sitting in Cleves, Ohio in 1987 and listening to President Reagan exhort Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. That was a proclamation that will be forever remembered and praised by Americans. But did you ever stop to think about how that declaration was received by many in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Gorbachev had and was under tremendous pressure in the mid 1980’s for “glasnost”— openness and freedom—and “perestroika”—economic restructuring. These were two concepts that Gorbachev addressed in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe… and he met tremendous resistance from many in his own country as well as East German leader Erich Honecker. Between American Foreign Policy and these efforts to promote freedom and economic restructuring we eventually got to witness the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. There would be no more East Germany and West Germany… There would be “neither east or west” but simply Germany.
The Apostle Paul awoke every morning with a passion to change his world. Paul was extremely focused on fulfilling God’s call for His life. A calling that would cause Paul to offend the religious traditionalists of his day. Think about it…Paul at one time was entrenched in Jewish leadership himself but now finds that he is at odds with those who he once respected and who once respected him.
What was the issue that caused this schism, this fall out? Well let’s not mince words…this divide in fellowship was a result of God’s call in Paul’s life. God called Paul to be a missionary to the Gentiles, to lead out in a Spiritual Glasnost so to speak, to promote the idea that the Gospel wasn’t just for the Jewish people but that the Gospel was even for those who were considered dogs in society.
The Jews of Paul’s day had worked hard to build and maintain a Wall between themselves and the Gentiles. The story of the Good Samaritan reminds us of that truth. I know we often think that when God calls you to a task that you will experience sweetness and sunshine all the time. But that is not what happened for Paul. Think about this for a second… God called Paul to a task that put him at direct odds with people. At odds with people the very people that Paul previously shared conviction and fellowship but now they would like to see him dead.
Why? Because God placed a calling in Paul’s life that they didn’t like nor approved of. Paul’s calling was to take the Gospel to the Gentiles, to let them know that they were people who God created and valued and not the Dogs that the Jews considered them to be. Paul was called to tear down a spiritual wall.
And Paul was supremely focused on his calling and lived daily under threats, with resistance from others (even people who were respected) yet Paul remained committed and persevered in his calling.
How was Paul able to do that? Great Question! I think this passage of scripture will give us some great insight into that question by exposing some values of the Apostle Paul.
Paul Valued The Mission More Than His Comfort (24)
Paul understood that He was a follower of Christ, who had received His orders from His Master. And because His Master had given the orders he would carry them out no matter what the cost. Paul had been instructed to take the message of Redemption, Salvation to the Colossians & Laodiceans, and was willing to do it regardless of the consequences.
Now I realize that Americanized Christianity doesn’t really teach this but Paul understood that “suffering” was part of the job description of a Christ follower. Why else would Paul write “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” (Colossians 1:24 ESV)
Verse 24 is an amazing verse that points out the type of man that Paul is… Paul was focused, not just focused on the here and now, the task at hand. No, Paul was indeed able to do what so many of us don’t do. Paul was able to see the big picture, and the big picture determined Paul’s response to his context.
Notice in verse 24, Paul say’s “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake” okay that is cool. I get it. Paul is says it is a privilege to suffer for the mission. But let’s move on… Paul next writes “and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of the his body, that is, the church.” (1:24) Whoa, hold on a minute. Did Paul just really say that He was filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. How can anyone say that anything lacked in Christ’s afflictions? Surely he is not saying that Christ’s sacrifice and suffering wasn’t sufficient.
You are right… Paul is not saying that Christ’s suffering was not sufficient. Rather Paul is reminding us of the Big Picture. Paul was keenly aware that God had a plan before Paul’s existence and that plan will go on long after Paul is dead and gone. And Paul understands that any role he himself plays is simply a part of transitioning from the Old Age (thinking the Gospel is only for Jews) to a New Age (that the Gospel is all people).
In other words, Paul understood that suffering was part of a bigger plan and that His suffering was part of a greater mission, and his suffering would benefit the spread of the Gospel to those in Colossae and beyond.
This would be a great lesson for Christians and churches to learn today. Often our attention can’t get beyond the here and now. We are consumed with the here and now. Rather than understanding that the here and the now also exists for the Mission (taking the gospel to our community and the world), and not just doing that today, but also sacrificing our comfort so that we can continue to do it effectively for many years to come.
It is inspiring to remember that the Mission God has given us is so valuable, so important, so life changing that Paul would consider it all joy to lose his own freedom if it meant that someone else could experience the LIBERTY of comes with the life changing impact of the Gospel.
Paul Valued The Spiritual Health of Others 25-29
By Being Faithful Steward of His Calling
Paul understood his role and he made sure he was a good steward of his time, his resources, his abilities in order to carry out his calling.
You see, that is what a steward is. Paul knew that he wasn’t in charge, but rather he was servant to his Master. Therefore, it was Paul’s role to manage the Masters gifts, resources in a way that honored the wishes of the Master. And the wish of the Master/God was to make known a long time mystery.
By Faithfully Proclaiming a Hidden Truth (27)
Mystery refers to a truth that had been hidden. So what was the hidden truth, what was the mystery that was being revealed? The truth that had been hidden from so many was that God had intended to save the Gentiles as well.
Listen to Isaiah 42:6 “ “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:6-7 ESV)
Paul came to understand the truth that God had intended all along to reach the nations, and because of that it affected the way that he looked at them. Paul began to look at them through the lenses of God and therefore had a driving passion to bring hope, eternal hope to those who had no idea that hope existed.
So Paul boldly and unashamedly proclaimed in the midst of opposition and rejection that the Gentiles had access to Christ who is the Hope of Glory.
I love that phrase the Hope of Glory! It isn’t used like we would use the phrase today. You know, like “I sure hope so.” There is a confidence that God will deliver His own to the eternal glory that awaits them. I know you might think, “how can you say that with any sense of confidence. That sounds pretty arrogant to say that you know for sure.” Well let me explain how I can know for sure.
Jesus is coming again! And He will take those who are inhabited by His Spirit to an eternal Glory! It is a promise that has been marked by His Spirit… and it is a secure promise that He will not break!
By Teaching People to Understand Their Potential in Christ (28-29)
One of the things you have to admire about Paul was his Drive to reach those who had not heard the Good News about Jesus Christ. His passion is seen in his willingness to go anywhere, to go through anything, to share with anyone that God loves them.
2 Corinthians 11:25 “Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;”
Okay, I think that verse right there is sufficient evidence to convince everyone in this room that Paul was passionate about taking the Good News of Salvation to those who had not heard!
However, in this verse we learn about another passion that this Missionary had. Paul was NOT JUST CONTENT with seeing people won to Christ. Paul sought to move them from infancy to infantry.
Paul said “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Colossians 1:28-29 ESV)
Some of your Bible’s might say “perfect” but the word means complete or mature. Paul desired nothing more than to see these spiritual infants grow in their faith, and not remain spiritual infants.
Paul could see the potential in these spiritual babies, but they could become a serious drain on the church and a source of untold problems if they remained in the nursery forever.
So Paul put them through a discipleship course that involved two components. Instruction and confrontation! Paul makes it very clear that he warned them and taught them with the hopes of it changing their attitudes and actions.
Paul valued them so much that he was diligent, giving 100% effort in their spiritual growth. He described his efforts as toiling (laboring) and struggling (striving). Laboring refers to getting to a point of exhaustion and striving reminds us of a runner pushing himself toward the finish line.
Conclusion
It amazes me at how effective Paul was in being a faithful steward of His call, in the face of opposition, discouragement, and oppression. I believe the reason for his effective is two fold. First and foremost he felt the strength from on high. There is no doubt that Paul felt the sustaining power of God in His life. Second, I believe it was because He was a man that was guided by God given values.
These and other God given values guided his teachings, his actions, and his life. What guides yours?
Colossians 1:24-29
I remember sitting in Cleves, Ohio in 1987 and listening to President Reagan exhort Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. That was a proclamation that will be forever remembered and praised by Americans. But did you ever stop to think about how that declaration was received by many in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Gorbachev had and was under tremendous pressure in the mid 1980’s for “glasnost”— openness and freedom—and “perestroika”—economic restructuring. These were two concepts that Gorbachev addressed in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe… and he met tremendous resistance from many in his own country as well as East German leader Erich Honecker. Between American Foreign Policy and these efforts to promote freedom and economic restructuring we eventually got to witness the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. There would be no more East Germany and West Germany… There would be “neither east or west” but simply Germany.
The Apostle Paul awoke every morning with a passion to change his world. Paul was extremely focused on fulfilling God’s call for His life. A calling that would cause Paul to offend the religious traditionalists of his day. Think about it…Paul at one time was entrenched in Jewish leadership himself but now finds that he is at odds with those who he once respected and who once respected him.
What was the issue that caused this schism, this fall out? Well let’s not mince words…this divide in fellowship was a result of God’s call in Paul’s life. God called Paul to be a missionary to the Gentiles, to lead out in a Spiritual Glasnost so to speak, to promote the idea that the Gospel wasn’t just for the Jewish people but that the Gospel was even for those who were considered dogs in society.
The Jews of Paul’s day had worked hard to build and maintain a Wall between themselves and the Gentiles. The story of the Good Samaritan reminds us of that truth. I know we often think that when God calls you to a task that you will experience sweetness and sunshine all the time. But that is not what happened for Paul. Think about this for a second… God called Paul to a task that put him at direct odds with people. At odds with people the very people that Paul previously shared conviction and fellowship but now they would like to see him dead.
Why? Because God placed a calling in Paul’s life that they didn’t like nor approved of. Paul’s calling was to take the Gospel to the Gentiles, to let them know that they were people who God created and valued and not the Dogs that the Jews considered them to be. Paul was called to tear down a spiritual wall.
And Paul was supremely focused on his calling and lived daily under threats, with resistance from others (even people who were respected) yet Paul remained committed and persevered in his calling.
How was Paul able to do that? Great Question! I think this passage of scripture will give us some great insight into that question by exposing some values of the Apostle Paul.
Paul Valued The Mission More Than His Comfort (24)
Paul understood that He was a follower of Christ, who had received His orders from His Master. And because His Master had given the orders he would carry them out no matter what the cost. Paul had been instructed to take the message of Redemption, Salvation to the Colossians & Laodiceans, and was willing to do it regardless of the consequences.
Now I realize that Americanized Christianity doesn’t really teach this but Paul understood that “suffering” was part of the job description of a Christ follower. Why else would Paul write “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” (Colossians 1:24 ESV)
Verse 24 is an amazing verse that points out the type of man that Paul is… Paul was focused, not just focused on the here and now, the task at hand. No, Paul was indeed able to do what so many of us don’t do. Paul was able to see the big picture, and the big picture determined Paul’s response to his context.
Notice in verse 24, Paul say’s “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake” okay that is cool. I get it. Paul is says it is a privilege to suffer for the mission. But let’s move on… Paul next writes “and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of the his body, that is, the church.” (1:24) Whoa, hold on a minute. Did Paul just really say that He was filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. How can anyone say that anything lacked in Christ’s afflictions? Surely he is not saying that Christ’s sacrifice and suffering wasn’t sufficient.
You are right… Paul is not saying that Christ’s suffering was not sufficient. Rather Paul is reminding us of the Big Picture. Paul was keenly aware that God had a plan before Paul’s existence and that plan will go on long after Paul is dead and gone. And Paul understands that any role he himself plays is simply a part of transitioning from the Old Age (thinking the Gospel is only for Jews) to a New Age (that the Gospel is all people).
In other words, Paul understood that suffering was part of a bigger plan and that His suffering was part of a greater mission, and his suffering would benefit the spread of the Gospel to those in Colossae and beyond.
This would be a great lesson for Christians and churches to learn today. Often our attention can’t get beyond the here and now. We are consumed with the here and now. Rather than understanding that the here and the now also exists for the Mission (taking the gospel to our community and the world), and not just doing that today, but also sacrificing our comfort so that we can continue to do it effectively for many years to come.
It is inspiring to remember that the Mission God has given us is so valuable, so important, so life changing that Paul would consider it all joy to lose his own freedom if it meant that someone else could experience the LIBERTY of comes with the life changing impact of the Gospel.
Paul Valued The Spiritual Health of Others 25-29
By Being Faithful Steward of His Calling
Paul understood his role and he made sure he was a good steward of his time, his resources, his abilities in order to carry out his calling.
You see, that is what a steward is. Paul knew that he wasn’t in charge, but rather he was servant to his Master. Therefore, it was Paul’s role to manage the Masters gifts, resources in a way that honored the wishes of the Master. And the wish of the Master/God was to make known a long time mystery.
By Faithfully Proclaiming a Hidden Truth (27)
Mystery refers to a truth that had been hidden. So what was the hidden truth, what was the mystery that was being revealed? The truth that had been hidden from so many was that God had intended to save the Gentiles as well.
Listen to Isaiah 42:6 “ “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:6-7 ESV)
Paul came to understand the truth that God had intended all along to reach the nations, and because of that it affected the way that he looked at them. Paul began to look at them through the lenses of God and therefore had a driving passion to bring hope, eternal hope to those who had no idea that hope existed.
So Paul boldly and unashamedly proclaimed in the midst of opposition and rejection that the Gentiles had access to Christ who is the Hope of Glory.
I love that phrase the Hope of Glory! It isn’t used like we would use the phrase today. You know, like “I sure hope so.” There is a confidence that God will deliver His own to the eternal glory that awaits them. I know you might think, “how can you say that with any sense of confidence. That sounds pretty arrogant to say that you know for sure.” Well let me explain how I can know for sure.
- Salvation is all about God’s work… not our work.
- Salvation is based on the concept of Grace… not our goodness.
- God guaranteed the transaction by leaving a deposit. This is how Paul can use the language “Christ in you.” Christ indwells His children through the Holy Spirit who secures the transaction and guarantees true followers of Christ of a future glory!
Jesus is coming again! And He will take those who are inhabited by His Spirit to an eternal Glory! It is a promise that has been marked by His Spirit… and it is a secure promise that He will not break!
By Teaching People to Understand Their Potential in Christ (28-29)
One of the things you have to admire about Paul was his Drive to reach those who had not heard the Good News about Jesus Christ. His passion is seen in his willingness to go anywhere, to go through anything, to share with anyone that God loves them.
2 Corinthians 11:25 “Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;”
Okay, I think that verse right there is sufficient evidence to convince everyone in this room that Paul was passionate about taking the Good News of Salvation to those who had not heard!
However, in this verse we learn about another passion that this Missionary had. Paul was NOT JUST CONTENT with seeing people won to Christ. Paul sought to move them from infancy to infantry.
Paul said “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Colossians 1:28-29 ESV)
Some of your Bible’s might say “perfect” but the word means complete or mature. Paul desired nothing more than to see these spiritual infants grow in their faith, and not remain spiritual infants.
Paul could see the potential in these spiritual babies, but they could become a serious drain on the church and a source of untold problems if they remained in the nursery forever.
So Paul put them through a discipleship course that involved two components. Instruction and confrontation! Paul makes it very clear that he warned them and taught them with the hopes of it changing their attitudes and actions.
Paul valued them so much that he was diligent, giving 100% effort in their spiritual growth. He described his efforts as toiling (laboring) and struggling (striving). Laboring refers to getting to a point of exhaustion and striving reminds us of a runner pushing himself toward the finish line.
Conclusion
It amazes me at how effective Paul was in being a faithful steward of His call, in the face of opposition, discouragement, and oppression. I believe the reason for his effective is two fold. First and foremost he felt the strength from on high. There is no doubt that Paul felt the sustaining power of God in His life. Second, I believe it was because He was a man that was guided by God given values.
- Valued His Calling (that God had a plan for His life and he was going to be a faithful steward of that calling.)
- Valued Proclaiming Truth (even when truth was hidden, he still faithfully sought to open the eyes and hearts of others.)
- Valued the Potential That Christ Could Make in a Persons life. I have a feeling that when Paul looked at someone he didn’t think… “wow that person is a huge disappointment or that person will never amount to anything, or with what that Guy has done in the past there is no way He will be useful in the future.”
These and other God given values guided his teachings, his actions, and his life. What guides yours?
