Outline
I. Introduction
II. Transition
III. CIT/CIS:
IV. Exposition
a. Paul understood his identity as completely in Christ.
b. Paul employed all of his labor and resource for the cause of Christ.
V. Application Questions
a. Who are you laboring for? Self or Christ?
b. What are you laboring for? Wealth, world, or the body of Christ?
c. When are you laboring? Are you making an investment of time for the church?
d. Where are you laboring? In the world or in the Church?
e. Why are you laboring? For present prosperity or eternal inheritance?
VI. Conclusion
“Paul’s Labor for the Church,” Colossians 1:24-29
Colossians: Our Identity in Christ, Part-3
Introduction
Martin Luther said, “If anyone knocks at the door of my breast and says, ‘Who lives there?’ my answer is, ‘Jesus Christ lives here, not Martin Luther.’” Of all the biblical doctrines, scriptural principles, and practical applications of the life of Christ in our finding our identity in Christ, none is of more value than laboring, suffering for the sake of the Church.
Transition
This morning we’ll talk about Paul’s labor for the church but we’ll focus on Paul’s suffering for the sake of the Church and what we can apply in our lives not only through Paul’s example, for that would be moralistic preaching alone, but through the Scriptural mandate Paul places as the foundation of his labor – love for Christ and the subsequent necessity of love for the body of Christ – the Church.
CIT / CIS: We are called to labor for Christ in the Church.
For our labor not to be in vain, for it to be lasting, it must be dedicated to the glory of Christ and the building of His body, the Church.
Exposition
The Apostle Paul endured great hardship for the sake of the Gospel. More specifically, he did so for the cause of Christ and the sake of the Church. The Gospel, while it is magnificent and glorious all on its own it goes forward to gather believers into worship and place them into a position to fulfill their highest aim – to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. God builds the Church through the Gospel.
Paul understood his purpose as one in whom Christ dwelt and as one who would share in the glory of Christ. Paul’s identity was in Christ. Who he was now was based on his being saved in Christ. Who he would become had everything to do with the final revealing of Christ in glory. Who he was had everything to do with Christ having saved him and slain the old man of sin.
Consequently, Paul abandoned the world, using his resources for Christ glory!
Paul employed every ounce of his energy for the sake of the glory of God in Christ and the welfare and growth of the body of Christ through whom the glory of Christ shines in this darkened world.
We must learn to rest in Christ. This is true. Ours is not a works based faith, where we labor to gain approval from God. No. However, the call to rest in Christ is not a call to slothfulness but to trust in the who provides the harvest for what we plant, who brings the rain on the seeds we sow, and who gives the increase.
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow. So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work. We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-10 NET)
As we move forward I want to invite each of us to consider, to undertake an investigation of our carefully we are building. As co-laborers in the kingdom my brothers and sisters in Christ, how intentional are our efforts. How much of our labor is devoted to the eternal task of bringing glory to God through the Church?
Application Questions. When it comes to getting at the heart of an investigation there are basically only five questions to ask: who, what, when, where, and why. Let’s investigate our own hearts, attitudes, and lives to see how we are doing in light of what we’ve just looked at in the life of the Apostle Paul.
Who are you laboring for? Self or Christ? The Apostle labored for Christ. He didn’t waste his life. His labor was for the church for the sake of Christ and Christ for the sake of the Church. In Galatians 2:20 the Apostle wrote: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (NIV84) For whom do you labor? For whom are you willing to suffer?
For whom are you willing to endure? For whom are you willing to sacrifice your life? Where is your heart?
I find it compelling as a man whose labor is given almost entirely over to the church that men would on certain occasion question my intentions with my labor. Every pastor knows the sting of unfair criticism.
The Apostle Paul surely knew it. Along with Paul I count it joy to be counted worthy when on occasion I may suffer insult and to be counted worthy to endure these present and light afflictions for the cause of Christ!
What about the persecuted church around the world? Surely they know the pain of rejection from societies for the cause of Christ. Surely they labor for the Lord and find great comfort in Christ or they would reject Him for whom they suffer!
I occasionally joke that I would have made a great farmer or a poet. A few of you have heard me suggest it a wise course of action for me to retire prior to 40. Yet, I remain laboring in the cause of Christ for the sake of the Church in order to fulfill the call of God in my life and to nurture you to do the same.
Every church leader knows the sting of unfair criticism. Recently one of our volunteers had to wade through an uncomfortable situation in his very first time volunteering in a certain area of ministry at Cypress Chapel. When I learned about it my response was “God bless him for volunteering then coming back!”
The way of the world is what’s in it for me. The way of the Cross – the Kingdom way – is what’s in it for the body of Christ; the Church. How is God glorified in this through my labor, even my suffering, endurance, trial, or hardship?
We press on. We endure. We labor for Christ for the sake of His Church and for the Church for the sake of Christ; that His glory may shine from our assembly!
What are you laboring for? Wealth, this world, or the glory of Christ – the honor of God and the aims of God? Consider the labor of Noah.
Early 18th Century New England pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards wrote, “Not only was Noah himself continually employed, but it required a great number of workmen to be constantly employed, during all that time, in procuring, and collecting, and fitting the materials, and in putting them together in due form. How great a thing was it for Noah to undertake such a work! For beside the continual care and labor, it was a work of vast expense.
It is not probable that any of that wicked generation would put to a finger to help forward such a work, which doubtless they believed was merely the fruit of Noah's folly, without full wages. Noah must needs have been very rich, to be able to bear the expense of such a work, and to pay so many workmen for so long a time. It would have been a very great expense for a prince; and doubtless Noah was very rich, as Abraham and Job were afterwards. But it is probable that Noah spent all his worldly substance in this work, thus manifesting his faith in the word of God, by selling all he had, as believing there would surely come a flood, which would destroy all; so that if he should keep what he had, it would be of no service to him. Herein he has set us an example, showing us how we ought to sell all for our salvation.”
Noah used his wealth and his labor to honor God. He must have had vast resources. He was a millionaire. However, knowing that God was going to judge the world he didn’t hoard it and work for more. He gave all that he possessed and all of his earthly resources in the cause of God’s will and glory.
What are you laboring for? We are no different. We know that this world is passing away. The Apostle writes concerning our identity, how we should live that “those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:31 NIV84)
Only a fool clings to a sinking ship instead of the hand that reaches out to save him. Christ offers freedom and eternity if we let go of this fleeting passing world.
When are you laboring? Are you making an investment of time for the church? Some folks say they don’t have time to do anything for God because they are so busy with their lives. Some of us are very busy and have our hands full.
This is true to be sure. However, one less trip to the golf course, one less bowling adventure, one less walk in the woods, one less of any lesser thing could surely be sacrificed for the sake of making an offering of your labor to the local church for the sake of Christ for the sake of the body of Christ.
Where are you laboring? In the world or in the Church? When the people who see you in casual passing by see you do they see one who labors for the sake of the church and the glory of Christ or as one who labors for self-gain and pleasure?
Where are the fruit of your labors stored? Are they counted in the storehouses of banks and investment firms or in the vaults of the jewels for the saints to cast at the feet of Christ in heaven?! Are you treasures in this earth or in heaven? Where do you store your greatest treasure? Where is the fruit of your labor kept?
Why are you laboring? For present prosperity or eternal inheritance? What are your motives in your labor? Man is simple in his appraisals of other men. In fact, how vast are the multitudes who get by purely on reputation? It has been well said that if you give a man a reputation as an early riser he can sleep till noon.
Of course, it is not so with God who perceives well beyond reputation and appearances. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV84)
Why are you laboring? Why are you willing to endure hardship in one situation with a certain goal and not another? Every good and decent parent will endure hardship and labor for their children in love. It is equally proper for those who love Christ to endure hardship for the sake of His body the Church.
Conclusion
“When we mix with dwarfs we think ourselves giants, but in the presence of giants we become dwarfs. When we think of the saints departed, and remember their patience in suffering, their diligence in labor, their ardor, their self-denial, their humility, their tears, their prayers, their midnight cries, their intercession for the souls of others, their pouring out their hearts before God for the glory of Christ, why we shrink into less than nothing, and find no word of boasting on our tongue. If we survey the life of the only Perfect One, our dear Lord and Master, the sight of His beauty covers our whole countenance with a blush.”
When we labor for Christ we labor for eternal riches. When we invest into the kingdom through the Church we invest into the glory of God, the salvation of others, and the lifting high of the worth of our savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
