PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

After hearing me preach, several times people have asked, “So, where did you go to preacher’s school?” When I tell them, “I didn’t” they respond somewhat ambiguously, “Oh.” And I think, “Oh, I that explains it.” Or “Oh, “I’m not surprised.”

I doubt Paul’s description of his ministry would be accepted in a school of preaching. He speaks a lot of himself. Preachers often wonder how much of themselves to include in their public dialogue with the congregation. Some suggest that being open and sharing helps you make a connection impossible without baring your soul. Such gives the congregation hope that they too can be open and overcome their weaknesses. Others warn that such can come back to haunt you, as people remember and hold on to such confessions to be used against you when the time is right. Which side is correct? Both; which is one reason I say that a person’s opinion about a preacher often says more about that person, than about the preacher.

Sometimes we need lessons that directly relate to us, that touch our hearts and change our lives. This is not one of those times. This lesson is not about us, it is about Paul, his ministry and the message given him of a mystery revealed. And in the middle of this, we will learn more about Paul’s prayer life than maybe we ever have before.

And yet, hopefully we will learn lessons about ourselves as well. We will appreciate more the work of Paul that leads to others including ourselves being saved. We will appreciate deeply what he endured so that others, including ourselves, might experience. We will appreciate the difference between his sufferings for Christ and the far easier lives of others and even ourselves. And finally, we will appreciate the message of the mystery of Christ that Paul revealed that we and the world came to know including here in this small little dot on the earth.

• Suffering
• Preaching
• Caring
• Praying

Paul’s Ministry of Suffering

1:24) 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.

Amazingly, shockingly, maybe even incredulously for the uninitiated, Paul rejoices in his sufferings for others. The apostle’s attitude is not one of accepted contentment or begrudging acceptance, but rather exhilaration, happiness and joy.

To answer how this could be, we must answer why he suffers. Here is where we learn a valuable lesson in life. Suffering, to be accepted, must first be understood within the context of our spiritual life. Biblically speaking there are many reasons for suffering:

• Punishment for sin
• Consequences for sin
• Consequences of another’s sin
• Temptations of Satan
• Testing by God
• Consequences of natural law
• Prevention by natural law
• Prevention of sin

One example is James’ truth that suffering and testing produces endurance leading to personal maturity lacking nothing (Jms.1:2-4). In James, suffering is a means to an end. In Colossians, suffering is the result of preaching the gospel, and specifically I believe, being in the body of Christ. In James, suffering is a cause leading to a greater effect; while in Colossians it is the effect of a great cause.

This divinely appointed, apostolic minister of God finds joy and happiness in suffering for others’ spiritual benefits. He knows and believes that the greater the suffering he endures is directly related to the greater number of people saved.

Paul’s self-image is not a warped, belittling of himself, believing he deserves unhappiness while others deserve more. There is no co-dependent, self-destruction mentality in Paul. All of this is in Christ for others. Paul writes this Colossian letter from prison (4:18); imprisoned for teaching the gospel. Those he teaches often are free.

Throughout history, ministers have suffered for the cause of Christ. Joy comes from suffering for Christ and His cause. Suffering becomes burdensome when it is caused by other Christians (2 Corinthians). Yet it is a joy when suffered instead of brethren. It is the responsibility of each Christian, each recipient of a preacher’s efforts, to uplift, and not produce the pain.

The next phrase in v.24 is very enigmatic – “I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body.” What this verse does not mean will help us understand what it does mean.

• Does not mean Christ’s death is insufficient for my salvation (1:22; 2:14).
• Does it mean my suffering atones for my sins (1:13; 2:23). That second point is important because it means I do not need to punish myself for my sins, which too often people do, at least emotionally and spiritually.
• Does not mean the cross is weak (2:15).
• Does not mean Christ did not suffer enough while in the body. Fewer deaths are chronicled to be worse than a crucifixion.

When I use the word enigmatic to describe Paul’s phrase, that word is apropos. Enigmatic means mysterious, and Paul later speaks of the mystery of Christ, a mystery that is revealed. Read the following very closely. Paul is divinely inspired and is a master linguist, debater, and psychologist. I do not believe Paul’s strange statement in 1:24 would have the same meaning in other NT book. In fact, I do not believe it could have been written in any other NT writing. While Paul elsewhere speaks of the church being Christ’s body (Eph.4:4), and scriptures elsewhere speak of Christians and Christ being one and the same (Mt.25:40), only here do we find the concept of Paul filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ. The reason is because of the need to say such.

Its secrets are revealed within the context of the power word “filling up” or “completing.” Throughout Colossians, Paul uses various forms of pleroma.

• Col.1:9 – pleroo
• Col.1.19 – plērōma
• Col.1:24 – antanapleroo
• Col.1:25 – pleroo
• Col.2:2 – plerophoria
• Col.2.9 – plērōma
• Col.4:12 – plerophoreo
• Col.4:17 – pleroo

So what does it mean? It must find its meaning within context of the Colossian Heresy. The Gnostics were full of “philosophy and empty deceit based upon human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ” (2:8). Christians are full of Christ. Gnostics also denied and denigrated the incarnation, which is Christ in the flesh. We today are Christ’s body, His flesh. Just as Christ’s suffering in the body were real, Christians suffering as the body is real. Paul’s sufferings were real. Four inescapable applications are:

• We are the body of Christ
• Christ’s physical body as real as our physical bodies.
• Suffering for the right reason is righteous suffering.
• The church is reliving the life of Christ.

If we wanted to do both a contextual and topical study of suffering for Christ, here are some pertinent points:

• Suffering for Christ is Suffering because of Christ. All Christians, Paul said, will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).
• Suffering for Christ is Suffering for Others in Christ (Colossians 1:24).
• Suffering for Christ is Suffering as Christ (Colossians 1:24)

Take a few moments and answer the following questions:

• What are my expectations of God?
• What are my expectations of God based on?
• What are my expectations of God for me?
• What should my expectations of God be?
• What should my expectations of God be based on?
• What should my expectations of God for me be?

Now answer the following question: should we expect God to bless us better than He blessed His own Son? His Son was born in a stable, had no place to lay His head, was hunted, and finally betrayed, beaten, scourged, and crucified. Do we deserve to be treated better than that? Do the sinful deserve better than the Sinless?

When Paul says “I am completing (filling up) in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body” I believe is making a statement both simple and sublime. Christ’s spiritual body, the church, is real only because Christ’s physical body was real. Christ continues to live “bodily” and in that all His suffering continues as people persecute His church.

Paul’s Ministry of Preaching

1:25) I have become its servant, according to God’s administration that was given to me for you, to make God’s message fully known, 26) the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints.

Paul by the grace of God becomes a servant of the gospel (1:23; 1 Cor.15:10; 1 Tim.1:12-16) and the church (1:24). In being a servant of the gospel and church, he serves the needs of the church through preaching the gospel, a message of hope for sinners. This means obviously that sin must be preached, but also love, mercy, grace and hope. Unbalanced preaching is always a danger. Today is no different. Some only bring a hammer to the pulpit while others just bring pillows. Today’s religious world is so worldly compared to Paul’s approach. The gospel is not food, fun and frolic. To Paul a fellowship hall wouldn’t be a kitchen or gymnasium, but a place to preach the gospel of fellowship between God and man, and between one another. The message of hope is not about fouls in a basketball game, but about offending the Almighty God.

Paul’s ministry or servitude is not as an employee of the church, nor is he an employee of any elders. That is so demeaning to his work and the work of any gospel minister. Search the word of God, and speak as the Bible speaks. The relationship is called a fellowship (Phil.4:15-18). A preacher serves the needs of the people, not the wants and whims. A preacher serves spiritually, not at the convenience of the congregation. That work is to make God’s message “fully known” which is again one of the key thoughts throughout Colossians. That work is help, whether by teaching the truth or sharing our own struggles. Too often a preacher will confide in others to help them, only to be mocked and ridiculed for his weaknesses. A true preacher does not stand before the church as a master of the gospel, but as its servant. A true preacher does not stand before all as their master either, but as a servant of all.

27) God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Verse 27 reveals the mystery. When people see “mystery” they conjure up things God never said. For premillennialists, the mystery is the church, unspoken of in the Old Testament, so they say. Others think it is that Gentiles would be saved. Neither is true.

The church is not a substitute for the Kingdom because Jesus failed His first time around. Neither is the church a substitute for Israel. The church is Israel, spiritualized, as both Jews and Gentiles are now one. The mystery is not that the Gentiles would be saved (i.e., Lk.2:29-32). The mystery is how, by faith not law (Acts 15:7-11). Paul expresses it this way in Colossians – “the mystery, which is Christ in you.” The Colossians are fighting Gnosticism which teaches and emphasizes being filled with a spiritual illumination only allowable to the spiritual elite. There is something greater than spiritual illumination. There is Christ. There is no spiritual elite, we are all one. In Ephesians Paul says it more broadly:

Ephesians 3:3-6 (HCSB) 3) The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. 4) By reading this you are able to understand my insight about the mystery of the Messiah. 5) This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6) The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The mystery is not the church replacing the kingdom, but Christ saving through faith by grace as found in the gospel not law, the Law or any law. The saved are the kingdom (Col.1:13) which is the church, His body. How can we be saved by law if the mystery revealed is “Christ in you?” (1:27). Grace is our hope (1:27). Grace is the hope of the gospel (1:23). And if Christ is in us, what does that make us? His body.

Paul is far more than just a preacher of platitudes, more than just a wise writer of words. Paul is a man who cares deeply.

Paul’s Ministry of Caring

1:28) We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Warning or admonishing, teaching, wisdom, Christ – does that remind you of another verse?

NET 3:16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.

A true friend is one who will tell you the truth even if it means the end of the friendship (Gal.4:16). Paul sets the tone for the work of a preacher. To protect, by warning and teaching, means that a preacher is willing to lose more than just a job. A preacher is willing to lose a friend.

Paul’s method has a purpose and a goal, to present everyone mature in Christ. That means not everyone is mature. We all have room to grow. Paul would never ridicule the weak, only those who thought they were strong. A friendship is only as deep as how deeply you can confide in them. True friends can reveal themselves without fear of ridicule. To ridicule a friend who reveals their true self is to reveal yourself as not a true friend. In searching for someone you can trust, you often first find those you can’t.

Growing, becoming mature is far more than knowledge. They say Christianity is not about what you know but about who you know. The Bible says it is about how what we know and who we know changes what we are, who we are and how we behave. Don’t be satisfied in calling yourself a Christian. Reach higher and answer the call to be like Christ.

1:29) I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.

Paul’s work as a minister is not an easy work. Trust me when I say that a good preacher often preaches in pain. Many joke about a preacher only working 1 or two days a week. That might unfortunately be true for some. They become preachers because they can’t or won’t do anything else. That is not true of Paul.

• Labor – kopiaō – 1) to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief); 2) to labour with wearisome effort, to toil; 2a) of bodily labour (Thayer)
• Strive – agonizomai [Lk.13:24; Col.1:29; 4:12; 1 Tim.6:12; 2 Tim.4:7]. 1) to enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games; 2) to contend with adversaries, fight; 3) metaphorically to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers; 4) to endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something (Thayer)
• Strength – dunamis – 1) strength power, ability; 1a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth; 1b) power for performing miracles; 1c) moral power and excellence of soul; 1d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth; 1e) power and resources arising from numbers; 1f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts (Thayer)
• Powerfully – dunamis again
• Works – energeō – 1) to be operative, be at work, put forth power; 1a) to work for one, aid one; 2) to effect; 3) to display one’s activity, show one’s self operative

It cannot be over emphasized that Paul’s hard work came because of Christ’s strength working within him. Just as Paul shared in the suffering of Christ, he shares in the power of Christ. Often I tell people that when I preach, I have a great PA system – Prayer and adrenalin. I have no doubt that my adrenalin is derived from God.

Paul’s Ministry of Praying

2:1) For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person.

How does Paul struggle for those whom he never met? Most likely the contextual answer is through prayer. Let’s review some of his prayer for these first century Christians.

Colossians 1:3-29 (HCSB) 3) We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 9) For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10) so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. 11) May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy 12) giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.

That is what Paul prayed for, but how did he pray? He struggled in prayer. This does not mean that he struggled to pray, but struggled in prayer. The Greek is agōn from which we get “agony.” But what I find even more intriguing is that this word in the Greek is not a verb or adverb in the Greek, but a noun. It refers to the assembly or gathering where sporting events take place such as fights. Paul is in a fight, a battle against the Devil, against false doctrine and false teachers, in his prayer for people he never even met. Paul is a true prayer-warrior.

We have already seen what had previously prayed about; let’s look at more of his prayer.

Colossians 2:2-3 (HCSB) 2) I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery — Christ. 3) All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.

• Paul’s prayer: #1 Encouragement – “hearts to be encouraged”
• Paul’s prayer: #2 Endearment – “joined together in love”
• Paul’s prayer: #3 Enrichment – “have all the riches”
• Paul’s prayer: #4 Enlightenment  – “of assured understanding and knowledge”

3) All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.

This is why Paul struggled, preached, cared and prayed. Is there anything else needed?

In the beginning I said, this is not about us, but about Paul. In conclusion, we can all ask ourselves, are we willing to suffer for Christ? Are we ready to teach and preach even if it means ending a friendship even with a brother or sister in Christ? Do we care enough not to ridicule when a brother or sister shares their struggles? Are we ready to pray like we never have before?

Tags: Commentary

This entry was posted by PHall on Sunday, September 11th, 2011 at 4:07 am and is filed under Colossians. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.