Introduction:
A. Let me start today with a story you may have heard before.
1. One day an old man was walking along the beach in the early morning and noticed the tide had washed thousands of starfish up onto the shore.
2. Ahead, he spotted a boy gathering up the starfish, and then one by one he was tossing them back into the ocean.
3. He approached the boy and asked why he spent so much energy doing what seemed to be a waste of time.
4. The boy replied, “The starfish cannot live if they are left out in the sun.”
5. Then the old man gazed out as far as he could see and responded, “But there must be miles of beaches and countless starfish. You can’t possibly rescue all of them. What difference is throwing back a few going to make anyway?”
6. The boy bent down picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled, and said, “It made a difference to that one!”
7. The old man leaned over, picked up a starfish and joined the boy throwing starfish into the water.
B. That story highlights the difference that one person can make – every person can make some kind of positive difference.
1. God has always used people to make a difference in the world, both in secular ways and in spiritual ways.
2. Some people make a huge difference while others make a small difference in comparison, but everyone can make a difference.
3. Let me mention a few names and I want you to think of the difference they have made… Abraham Lincoln…Florence Nightingale…Martin Luther King, Jr…Harriet Tubman.
4. Let’s mention a few names from the biblical record: Abraham and Sarah, Moses, David, Esther, Ruth, and Nehemiah.
5. What would our world be like today without the difference people like them made?
C. Today, we are going to look at what God was accomplishing through the apostle Paul, but before we do, I want us to consider what kind of difference that God could make through you and me.
1. If we really walked with God and made ourselves available to Him, then what might He accomplish through us?
2. The possibilities are truly unlimited.
3. There are individual people that God might want to save or bless through us – it might be someone in our family or church family, our neighborhood, workplace or school.
4. But rather than having us make a difference for an individual, God might want to make a difference through us on a larger scale.
5. God might want to use us to plant a church, or start a ministry to alleviate a pressing need, or develop leaders for the future.
D. The apostle Paul was a man who gave himself to the Lord to be used as God wished and therefore, God was able to make a tremendous difference through Paul.
1. In the section of the book of Colossians that we will explore today, Paul spends some time talking to the Colossians about his ministry.
2. Keep in mind that the Colossians were receiving a letter from someone they had never met, who was in prison and who had the reputation of being a troublemaker.
3. Perhaps the false teachers had been trying to discredit Paul and cast doubts about him.
4. And so, as Paul introduced himself to the Colossians, he shared some of the ways God was using him in ministry.
5. Today, as we move through these verses about Paul’s ministry, I want us to imagine how God might use us to make a difference in the world and in people’s lives.
I. Paul the Preacher, Sharing the Gospel (1:21-23)
A. Let’s read Colossians 1:21-23: 21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him— 23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.
1. So, in these verses, we notice that Paul discussed the gospel - its effects and his role as a preacher of the gospel.
2. Paul reminds the Colossians of their lost state prior to knowing Jesus and obeying the gospel.
3. In just a few verses, Paul encapsulates the warning and wonder of the gospel.
a. Because all people sin and fall short of God’s glory, then all people find themselves alienated from God because of their sin.
b. But because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, there is now reconciliation and sanctification that takes place through Him.
c. The gospel in simple terms states that sin alienates, but Jesus reconciles.
d. But all of that is contingent upon remaining steadfast in faith and remaining connected to the hope of the gospel.
4. That’s the gospel that Paul was a preacher and servant of; the gospel that he and others, including Epaphras had been proclaiming in all creation under heaven, in other words, had been proclaiming everywhere.
B. Brothers and sisters, this is the good news that we are privileged to share everywhere we go.
1. We, ourselves, were once alienated from God but have been reconciled to God through Jesus.
2. Because of God’s love expressed through Jesus, we now have abundant life and the hope of eternal life.
3. It’s great news that everyone desperately needs and is our privilege and responsibility to share.
4. How often do you feel compelled to share with others about the great restaurant you have found, or the best buy on gas in town, or the interesting movie or TV show that you have watched?
5. I pray that all of us will be even more excited and intent on sharing about the great treasure that we have found in Jesus.
a. In chapter 2, verse 3, Paul mentioned that in Jesus are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge!
b. In Jesus, we have discovered the greatest treasure of all, so let’s share it!
6. I pray that the gospel will go out from us to Liverpool and all of CNY and that many souls will be saved.
7. And I pray that all who are saved will remain grounded and steadfast in their faith in Jesus.
II. Paul the Prisoner, Suffering for the Lost (1:24-27)
A. Paul continued to discuss his ministry in Col. 1:24-27: 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church. 25 I have become its servant, according to God’s commission 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 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
1. When Jesus appeared in a vision to Paul on that Damacus road at the time of Paul’s conversion, Jesus told Paul that he would suffer as His witness (Acts 9:16).
2. And Paul had suffered from that time forward.
3. There in Damascus, Paul immediately began proclaiming the gospel that he had earlier opposed and the Jews conspired to kill him, and Paul had to escape the city during the night by being lowered in a basket over the wall (Acts 9:25).
4. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul listed some of the sufferings he had experienced during his ministry and the list includes: danger, hunger, thirst, sleeplessness, flogging, stoning, shipwrecks and imprisonment.
5. Paul had indeed suffered to get God’s message out to both Jews and Gentiles, but Paul’s mission was especially to the Gentiles.
6. The mystery that had been hidden for ages was God’s plan to save both Jews and Gentiles through Jesus – Who is the hope of glory not just for Jews, but for Gentiles as well.
B. In verse 24, when Paul said that he was completing in his flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions, Paul did not mean that Jesus’ death was an inadequate sacrifice that needed further suffering to make it complete.
1. Jesus’ death and resurrection are sufficient for the salvation of everyone.
2. But what is lacking is the effort to get the gospel out to people everywhere and that effort will require suffering.
3. But Paul rejoiced in his suffering for the gospel, just as a mother is able to rejoice in her sufferings in childbirth, because she knows that that suffering will result in the birth of her baby.
C. I hope that we will be willing to suffer for the gospel by having the same perspective that Paul had knowing that souls could be saved through our suffering.
1. Because Jesus suffered for us, we must be willing to suffer for Him.
2. The kinds of suffering that we may experience for Christ and the gospel may take on different forms.
a. It might come in the form of our sacrifice of time and money, possessions or fun, for the sake of ministry.
b. It might come in the form of carrying the burden of responsibility for people or ministry commitments which may result in pain, disappointment, exhaustion or sleeplessness.
1. Ministry has a lot of joy and many victories, but it also brings a lot of pain, failure, and disappointment.
c. It might come in the form of rejection or even abuse as we share the gospel or stand up for Jesus.
d. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, Paul reminded him that “everyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12).
3. But whatever forms of suffering that may come our way, I pray that we will be willing to fill up in our flesh and our lives the suffering that is necessary for the sake of the gospel and the church.
4. And I pray that we will find joy in our suffering knowing that it will result in the advancement of the church and reward for us.
III. Paul the Worker, Striving for the Saints (1:28-2:3)
A. In this final section of verses, Paul described other aspects of his ministry: 28 We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me. 1 For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person. 2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ. 3 In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col. 1:28-2:3)
1. In these verses, Paul describes his instruction, his intercession, and his intention.
2. Let’s briefly consider each of these aspects of Paul’s ministry.
B. First of all, let’s notice Paul’s instruction.
1. Paul spent a lot of his time teaching people and Paul’s primary subject was Jesus.
a. Paul said we “proclaim Him.”
b. Paul’s teaching pointed to Jesus and declared who Jesus was, what Jesus accomplished, and what Jesus can do in everyone.
c. Ultimately, Jesus is and answer and He is all that we need.
d. Let’s make sure that Jesus is the main subject of our lives, teaching, and conversations.
2. We notice that Paul’s teaching wasn’t always positive and warm and fuzzy, but also included warning and correction.
3. Every parent knows the importance of being positive and encouraging with their children – praise and other positive expressions are essential.
a. When a good job is being done, we need to let the person know that they have done well.
b. Or when we sense they are not sure they can do something, we can build them up and give them the courage to give it a try.
c. But every parent also knows that there is a need for warnings and correction.
d. When something isn’t good or right, it doesn’t help to ignore it or pretend that it is otherwise.
e. When there is danger, there needs to be warning and when something is wrong, then there needs to be correction.
4. What is true for our physical and earthly relationships is also true in our spiritual relationships.
a. Spiritual leaders are like spiritual parents, and spiritual brothers and sisters also have a responsibility to hold each other accountable even though they may not be in a position of authority.
C. Second, we notice Paul’s intercession.
1. Paul told the Colossians how greatly he was struggling for them and for those at Laodicea.
a. In what way was Paul struggling so greatly for them?
b. Most likely, Paul was struggling for them in prayer.
2. Paul had already mentioned that he “always thanks God, when we pray” (vs. 3) and that he has “not stopped praying for” them (vs. 9).
3. Later, in chapter 4, Paul wrote that “Epaphras is wrestling in prayer” for them (vs. 12) and that Epaphras is working hard for” them (vs. 13).
4. Since neither Paul nor Epaphras were with them and yet were working hard for them, then he must have been talking about the prayer work they were putting forth for them.
5. How often do you think of prayer as being strenuous or hard work?
6. Prayer is very important work and wrestling in prayer for others can take great effort.
7. Sometimes we might be tempted to say something like, “well, at least I can pray for you,” but prayer is not the least we can do, it is one of the most important things we can do for others.
a. Our prayers for others can help them grow spiritually and win spiritual victories.
b. Our prayers for others can help to reach the lost and grow the church.
c. Our prayers for others can supply what is lacking for them.
8. Let’s be like Paul and greatly struggle for others in prayer.
D. Third, we notice Paul’s intention.
1. What goal and outcome did Paul want from his instruction and his intercession?
2. His intention was to present everyone mature in Christ.
3. We should not be satisfied with just bringing people into a relationship with Christ.
4. We should not be satisfied if a new Christian is faithful in their participation in worship.
5. The goal for every disciple is that they grow to maturity and completeness in Christ.
6. Paul expressed that goal of maturity when he prayed that the Colossians would be filled with God’s wisdom, that they would walk worthy of the Lord, and that they would bear fruit in every good work.
7. Like Paul, our target and goal for every person is that they become a child of God, then move from spiritual infancy through the spiritual stages of growth to mature adulthood in Christ.
8. But let’s keep in mind that none of this is possible without the power of Christ through His Spirit in us.
9. Paul was quick to point out that he labors, striving with God’s strength that works in him.
10. Our instruction and intercession and everything else we do spiritually will fall short if we do it with our own strength.
11. Like Paul said in Phil. 4:13, we can do all things only through Christ who gives us strength.
Conclusion:
A. Paul was someone who made a real difference through his ministry.
1. And just like Paul, God can make a difference through us and our individual lives and ministries.
2. We can’t do it by our strength alone, we will need to strive with God’s strength working in us.
3. And we can’t do it without being willing to step out and being willing to suffer.
4. Yet, we know that whatever price we pay will produce a harvest of good and reward.
B. Paul’s ministry is a good example for us to follow.
1. Like Paul, let’s proclaim Christ and share the good news of the gospel.
2. Like Paul, let’s struggle in prayer for others and be willing take responsibility and put forth effort to complete the mission of Jesus even though it can be hard and costly.
3. And like Paul, let’s aim to present everyone mature in Christ and that includes ourselves.
a. It is hard to lead others where we have not gone.
b. We need to grow to maturity so we can provide an example for others.
c. We need to grow towards completeness in the knowledge and wisdom of God.
d. We need to grow towards completeness in walking a worthy life.
e. We need to grow towards completeness in bearing fruit in every good work.
f. And as we grow in these ways, we can help others do the same.
C. Let’s determine to allow God to make a difference through us, like Paul let God make a difference through him.
D. So, what do each of us need to do today in response to God’s Word?
1. Are there any here today who are still alienated from God and need to be reconciled?
2. Are there any here today who have been reconciled but have been backslidden or stagnated who need to renew a commitment to move toward maturity?
3. Are there any here today who are heading toward maturity but need to be more engaged in helping others be saved and move toward maturity?
4. I hope all of us leave here today more energized and committed to allowing God to work in and through us to make a difference.
Resources:
Colossians, by Warren Wiersbe, in The Bible Exposition Commentary, Victory Books, 1989
Colossians, by David E. Garland, in the NIV Application Commentary, Zondervan, 1998
Colossians, by Owen D. Olbricht, in the Truth for Today Commentary, Resource Publications, 2005
