Paul’s Understanding of the Ministry of the Church
Colossians 1:23b-29
23bThis is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. 24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness — 26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
I The Provision of Ministry
Verse: 23bThis is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant… 25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me…
Idea: Paul was made a minister not of his own choosing, but according to God’s choosing. Saul of Tarsus never intended on becoming a minister or an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, just the opposite was true. He had dedicated himself to destroying the integrity and credibility of Christ and the church. But then came Paul’s Damascus Road experience. (see Acts 9 and Ph. 3:1-13)
Note: All of us must have a Damascus Road experience. This is a time when I am blinded to the things of this world and I am given sight to the things of God. It is when I am possessed by and empowered unto God.
Word: commission (oiknoomia) to manage a household - as a steward of someone else’s possessions. It is a position of great trust and responsibility as one handles the business and financial affairs of someone else.
Idea: All Christians have been commissioned by God for ministry. We are stewards of His blessings, gifts, talents, and ministry. We are God’s chosen means for reaching the world for His glory.
II The Passion of Ministry
Verse: I rejoice – to rejoice to the source of one’s joy.
Idea: For Christians, the source of their joy must be Christ in them and His call upon their lives. Not only has God given us life, but He has also given us purpose in life. But that purpose has never and will never be for one’s personal gain. Should I ignore my God given call, then I can be certain that I will set out on a journey that leads to sorrow. I may have some happy fleeting moments along the way, but sustaining joy can only be experienced in fulfilling one’s divine purpose.
A The Source of Joy Begins Within
Idea: The source of joy must be Christ in you. It must stem from an understanding of His divine call and purpose for your life. In ministry you will be challenged, threatened, and frustrated, and if you rely on others, or upon success in ministry for your joy, then you will soon find yourself in a world of pain.
B The Sustenance of Joy is Generated by Humility
Idea: Joy is lost when a person focuses upon themselves first. Joy is lost when a person places their personal agenda and wants above others. Joy is lost when I prefer to be served rather than to serve.
III The Pain of Ministry
Verse: 24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
Note: Paul was no stranger to struggle and persecution. When He surrendered to God in ministry, he moved from prosecutor to prosecuted. God promises believers that they will experience trials and suffering for His name sake (Jm. 1:3-4). He promises that the adversary will mount an all-out attack upon those who want to be about the Father’s business (1 Pt. 5:8). But He also promises to give us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Pt. 1:3-10). He promises to given us both the weapons we need and the power we need to win the battle (Eph. 6:10-20).
Verse: 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Cor. 4:7-12
Five Truths about Suffering
1 Suffering brings us closer to God
Verse: 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death… Ph. 3:10
2 Suffering matures us in our faith
Verse: 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Jm. 1:3-4
3 Suffering confirms that a believer belongs to God
Verse: 10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tm. 3:10-17
4 Suffering brings future rewards.
Verse: 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Rm. 8:17-18
5 Suffering can result in others coming to Christ.
Note: Church history is filled with accounts of peoples lives being radical changed for the gospel b/c of the persecution of the saints. In fact, the greatest growth times throughout history have been during times of persecution.
IV The Premise of Ministry
Verse: 25b …to present to you the word of God in its fullness
Note: Paul was consumed with fulfilling His call – not to please men, but to please God. Not only was he consumed, but he was certain of the truths that he was called to share. When you consider the ministry of Paul, few, if any, lives have had the impact upon this world for God as his did. Why?
Idea: Paul followed in the footsteps of Jesus and limited his life to doing what God wanted. He was completely convinced of God (Damascus Road), and of God’s call upon his life.
Five Keys to Jesus’ Ministry
1 Jesus limited his ministry to God’s will
Verse: 30By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. Jn. 5:30
2 Jesus limited his ministry to God’s timing
3 Jesus limited his ministry to God’s objectives
Verse: 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10
4 Jesus limited his ministry to God’s Kingdom
Verse: Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness… Mt. 6:33
5 Jesus limited his ministry to God’s people
Idea: While He came to seek and to save the lost, Jesus poured his life into reliable men who were able to pass it on to others. Paul did the same. (see 2 Tm. 2:2)
V The Promise of Ministry
Verse: 26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Idea: Christ in you – one of the greatest truths in Scripture. No longer does God dwell in tabernacles and temples or in a box known as the Ark of the Covenant – now Christ dwells in you.
You are His temple (1 Cr. 6:19). He has indwelt and sealed you (Eph. 1:13)
Idea: With the indwelling presence of Christ in you, you have the assurance of salvation, you have the power of God within you to overcome, you have the mind of Christ, you have one within you who is greater than he who is in the world. You have no excuse.
VI The Practice of Ministry
Verse: 28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
Word: proclaim (katangello) to publicly declare a completed truth or happening.
admonishing (noutheteo) to warn by encouragement – to give counsel of impending judgement.
teaching – to impart the positive truth (of God’s Word)
wisdom – practical discernment – understanding practical discernment for holy living.
Idea: Paul explains that while it is his primary focus to strengthen, commission, and mobilize the local church to accomplish God’s Great Commission, it is also the responsibility of all believers to admonish and teach one another so as to spur one another along towards love and good deeds.
VII The Purpose of Ministry
Verse: so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
Word: present – to bring into God’s presence at the return of Christ.
complete – mature; not lacking in any way. To be mature in faith and in character so as to reflect the person and the ministry of Christ. This can only be accomplished by feeding on God’s Word.
Idea: There is but one single goal within the ministry of the church – MAKE DISCIPLES. This is accomplished by winning people to faith, challenging people to grow up in their faith by learning and applying the Word to the lives, and by releasing people to be about the Father’s business of winning, maturing, and sending others out in Jesus’ name.
VIII The Power of Ministry
Verse: 29To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
Word: labor (kopiao) to work to the point of exhaustion.
Note: Paul gives everything he has to help people come to know Christ, grow in Christ, and show Christ. The key is that he does not rely on his own human ingenuity or strength, but on Christ in him.
Verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, and in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your steps. Pr. 3:5-6
Word: striving (agonizomai) to agony to win a prize (athletic term). To give everything you have (maximum effort) to the point of agony in order to reach the finish line and win the prize.
Verse: 24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Cr. 9:24-27
Exegesis
This is the Good News that Jesus died for you, that you have heard and understood it, and that it has been publicly declared to every living creature under heaven and of which I, Paul, have become a servant slave. Now I continually return to the source of my joy in what I have suffered personally for you for the glory of God, and I am continually being filled up in my humanity, to every nook and cranny of my being, in regard to Christ’s suffering, for the sake of His body which is the universal and local church. I have become a slave to Christ and His church by a specific and God appointed commission given to me by God of which I am privileged to be a steward of His grace as I present to you the true and authentic Word of God in all of its fullness – the secret mystery that has been kept hidden behind spiritual closed doors for ages and generations but has now been revealed (and will continue to be revealed) to those who have put their faith in Christ.
To those who have put their faith in Christ and have received this revelation, God has determined to make this truth known among them, not just the Jews, but also to the Gentiles (for God so loved the world). And He is making known to them the glorious riches and blessing of this secret mystery, which is Christ living in you, indwelling you with His presence, and sealing you with the Holy Spirit of promise which gives to you the living hope of glory at His return.
We now publicly declare Him to you giving you a strong warning of what is in store for you should you reject His grace. We also want to provide sound Biblical instruction to each and everyone of you regarding the truth of who He is according to His word, so that you might understand and practically discern His truth for holy living that we might present you to God by bringing you into His presence at His return as one who has been perfected in Christ. At Christ’s return we want you to be mature in your faith and in your character and we want you to reflect the person and the ministry of Christ Jesus. To this end, I work to the point of exhaustion, but not trusting in my own human ingenuity or ability, but rather in Christ in me. But I want you to know that I struggle with all His energy and power, just as one who agonizes to reach the finish line in the great race of life. And it is His power, and His power alone, that is at work in me that enables me to continue.
