Paul's Epistles – Colossians - Part 3:
Paul’s Labor for the Church
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
SERMON INTRODUCTION
Paul’s letter (Epistle) to the Colossians
was a letter to correct Heresy.
Heresy is having an opinion which is in
opposition to true doctrine. In other words, the Colossian church had, as many
other early churches, fallen prey to false doctrine.
THE COLOSSIAN CHURCH
We see a mixture of Judaism, Gnosticism,
Asceticism, Angel worship, etc.
Judaism would
be the adherence to Old Testament teachings while ignoring the completed works
of the cross.
Gnosticism is the
belief that “secret” knowledge existed, specifically that the world was created
by a lesser divinity, and ruled by an emissary of the remote Supreme Being.
This belief system, which was carried over to Christianity, placed God the
Father as the Supreme and Jesus as the lesser ruling divinity.
Asceticism is the
severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for
religious reasons. The
doctrine that a person can attain a high spiritual and moral state by
practicing self-denial, self-mortification (embarrassment
and shame – “mortified”) and the like. Rigorous self-denial; extreme
abstinence; in a severe nature.
It is obvious why this is false doctrine,
and has no place in a Christ following church.
The heresy, destroyed the Supreme lordship
and sovereignty of Jesus Christ, it dethroned Him, destroying the mediator-ship
of Christ, making Him only 1 of a multitude of mediators, (such as the Hindu belief in avatars, a manifestation of a
deity or released soul in bodily form on earth; an incarnate divine teacher.)
However, we know
Jesus is so much more than that, He was, is and always will be God.
TODAY’S SERMON
We read about Paul’s labor for the church
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Colossians 1:24-29
Now I rejoice in what
I am suffering 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. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present
to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but
is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To 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.
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with
all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in
Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ
so powerfully works in me.
The overall
message of this epistle to the church is;
“The Supreme Glory, Deity and Dignity of
Christ Jesus”.
I. I
REJOICE IN WHAT I AM SUFFERING FOR YOU
a. Paul was in
prison in Rome at the time he wrote Colossians
b. Suffering for
righteousness sake
i. Christ suffered for the redemption of the church
ii. We suffer on other accounts, for righteousness sake
iii. Such as Paul being in prison for preaching the
Gospel
iv. This suffering for righteousness sake is real,
while Asceticism is self-created for ones own
sake
c. For his body,
which is the church
i. Again Paul addressing the issue and placing Christ at the Head of the
Body
ii. Making clear we suffer for His body
II.
I HAVE BECOME ITS SERVANT BY THE COMMISSION GOD GAVE
ME
a. Servant (LIT. Diakonos)
i. Meaning run errands, waiter, pastor or minister
ii. Seeing to ones needs
iii. In this case, Paul was commissioned by God to see
to the needs of the Body
b. I have become ITS
minister = “IT” being the church
c. By the
commission God gave me
i. (LIT dispensation)
ii. Meaning administration or stewardship
d. To present the
Word of God in its fullness
i. Fullness = the mystery
ii. The mystery is Christ dwelling IN believers
iii. And the fact that this was available to ALL people
who believed, no matter the race or nationality.
III.
HE IS THE ONE WE PROCLAIM
a. admonishing and
teaching everyone (in the Church)
i. With all wisdom
ii. Meaning when we proclaim Christ, we are rebuking
(or warning) and teaching about Christ to everyone in the church
b. So that we may
present everyone (in the church) fully mature in Christ
i. Presenting a Church mature is Christ is the goal of Paul, and every
church minister who has been commissioned by God for the Body
c. Spiritual
Maturity
i. Paul addressed Spiritual Maturity in many of his epistles, and this one
is no different.
ii. All the issues we have addressed so far in the
epistles we have looked at all came about from Spiritually Immature people.
1. Division, arguing and back biting
2. False doctrines
3. Sin taking place and accepted within the church
4. Etc…
iii. Members of the Body of Christ who are Spiritually
Mature, know the Word and Will of God, and will be protected from falling prey
to the wiles and fiery darts of Satan’s attacks on the Body of Christ.
CONCLUSION – to this end i STRENUOUSLY contend with all the
energy christ so powerfully works in me
To this end (Proclaiming Christ and the fullness of the Gospel
to the Body of Christ) I strenuously
·
Tirelessly
·
Persistently
·
Actively
Contend
·
Compete
·
Challenge
·
Run
With ALL the energy Christ so powerfully works in me!
Paul pushes forward, through pain, through
suffering, through it all suffering for the Church’s sake, the Body of Christ, fighting
with every ounce of strength given to him by Christ, which works mightily
within every believer.
God does not call or commission us without
equipping us!
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