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Colossians 1:24-29
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations,
but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor,
striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
Three Points…
I. Rejoicing in Suffering
Paul’s attitude was that his suffering was intended by God to benefit the Body of Christ, so he rejoiced in it!
Christ’s suffering continues in His Body, FOR His Body!..
Oh, make no mistake, there’s nothing lacking redemptively in the suffering of Christ… Jesus Himself said; “It is finished!” He alone died to save you!
So what is this talking about!?
We’ll come back to that thought in a minute, but notice that suffering is given as a blessing to the sufferer, as well!
James 1:2-4 says:
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Suffering produces good fruit in our lives, if we cooperate with the Spirit of God through the process!
“But what about people who die in their suffering!?” It still produces good fruit if they have been walking through it with the Lord! Don’t forget that death is the beginning,
not the end! You’ll be THERE longer than you’ll be here, folks!
II. Revealing a Mystery
This mystery that people were in the dark about for centuries, is: Christ in you!
In John 17:20 Jesus prayed: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as
We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
We talked about our suffering being a continuation of Christ’s suffering… Some of you viewed that as a figurative statement, but it’s more than that! I believe He may literally feel every emotion, every fear, every ounce of pain that you and I experience in this life! And I believe that one day you and I who are His, you and I who have His Spirit living inside us and giving us life, may very well experience His joy! Not vicariously, but intimately, as our own!
The great mystery of the ages that the Bible reveals here is that Christianity isn’t about following a philosophy; the teachings of Christ! It’s about Christ being IN YOU! His Spirit, living within you and joining you to Him at the deepest level of your being! Every trial you endure, He endures, every grief you experience HE experiences! He is right there inside you every step of the way! And He tells us here that this joining to Him brings with it our…
III. Hope of Glory
It began the day you responded to His invitation, and Phil 1:6 says that He will complete what He started! I believe it will happen one day soon!
Eph 5:25-27 says: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” When you face Jesus on the day of your promotion you will be complete, glorious!
In Eph 3:3 we’re told… “how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.”
And then in Acts 1:8 Jesus promised: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
That was Paul’s reality! Is it yours? Have you been empowered to follow & represent Him!? Paul said there at the end of Colossians 1, verse 28… “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. “Jesus isn’t asking you to endure the hardships and suffering alone and in your own strength!
In Luke 11:9-13 Jesus taught… “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
So ask Him today!
Pray
Discussion Questions
What is your attitude, when go through sufferings?
What are “faith workouts”? (James 1:2 joy in trials)
Tell how the last hardship you went through strengthened your faith.
How does one cooperate with God to be all that He has intended you to be?
Why is “Christ in you” so important?
How come following Christ’s teaching is not enough to be part of God’s family? What else needs to happen?.
How do your sufferings and trials play a part in Christ’s work to glorify His bride, the church?
Who’s strength do you rely on in times of struggles? Acts 1:8, Luke 11:9
