Transcript

Who Will Be Jesus

Colossians 1:24-29
Sunday, November 11, 2001
Pastor Randy Smith

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A mother was preparing pancakes for her two sons, Kevin (5) and Ryan (3). The boys began to argue as to who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a spiritual lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'" Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"

We laugh at these childish jokes, but too often as Christian adults we unintentionally emulate this process. "Sally, you watch my child in the nursery." "Jim, you lead me in worship." "Lucy, you plan the Christmas party." We too often expect others to be Jesus without ever playing any part in the lead role ourselves.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Mt. 16:24). Six times in the book of Matthew alone, Jesus commands his disciples to "follow Him." We are called to be like Christ. We are called to emulate Jesus. We are called to service, to follow the One who came not to be served , but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. And as members of His body we serve others as He would, during His physical absence.

The author of Colossians was definitely one person who understood this call. 2 Corinthians 12:15 says he was glad to spend and be expended for their souls. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 says he was well-pleased to impart not only the gospel but his own life. 2 Timothy 2:10 says he will endure all things for the sake of the elect.

There can be no doubt that Paul's love for the Lord overflowed in his love for other believers. There can be no doubt that this man was keenly aware of his ministry. There can be no doubt that this man would rather wait for his pancakes in order to play the part of Jesus.

And though the apostle Paul as a defense of his ministry wrote this morning's text, I challenge you to examine your heart as to the awareness and application of your own particular ministry to the body of Christ. All of you are ministers called by Christ to serve others with joy. Are you, like Paul, playing the part of Jesus?

1. THE RIGHT ATTITUDE (1:24)

First of all, the good minister carefully guards the condition of his or her heart. Attitude is essential! Beyond the proper motives, the minister is called to serve with joy, even if that joy comes through the minister's personal suffering. Paul said, "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up that which is lacking in Christ's afflictions" (Col. 1:24). I spent the entire message last week covering verse 24, so I do so this week briefly by way of review.

To say that Paul suffered for the gospel should not come as any surprise to the student of the Bible. It is impossible to read through any of his epistles and not hear of the great anguish this man went through in response to his ministry. Paul knew that whenever the kingdom of darkness is encroached, it is bound to counter with hostile resistance. And in Paul's case, hostility is a bold understatement.

That Paul suffered comes as no surprise, but that Paul rejoiced in his sufferings comes at a great surprise. How did Paul maintain this attitude in the midst of such agony? The answer is to be found not in the sufferings themselves (he was not a masochist!), but rather in the expected outcome of his sufferings. On the personal level , he knew his sufferings humbled him and enabled him to better depend on the strength of God. He knew his sufferings led him to deeper holiness and faith. He knew his sufferings would better exalt the sufficiency of Christ in his life. Yet on the corporate level , he knew his sufferings would make others bolder with the truth. He knew his sufferings helped aid the progress of the church. He knew that his sufferings were a personal gauge as to the success of the gospel impact. And in verse 24 He knew his sufferings gave a visible demonstration, a personal representation of Christ's sufferings. That brought him joy. This is the true heart of a minister! One whose attitude enhances, rather than un-do's, his ministry.

Jesus had to pass through the cross. If Paul were to emulate Jesus, he knew that he would have to experience the fellowship of Christ's sufferings (Phil. 3:10). Just as Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, Paul rejoiced in his personal sufferings because of the fruit that was being produced amongst the Colossian converts. His suffering was purposeful and therefore joyful.

Though I have not come close to experiencing the sufferings Paul described, I can remember a day that I suffered greatly. It was the first day of football practice in 1985 at Illinois State University. The temperature was nearly 100 degrees; on the Astroturf it was probably 120. Forty pounds of equipment, a whole lot of running and a whole lot of hitting. It was possibly the only time in my life that I really felt that my body would totally give out. You ask, why invite such treatment? For Saturday morning when you don that game jersey. At that moment the pain seems an eternity away. But the gain achieved and the joy of game day somehow makes the suffering worthwhile.

My point is this, if we can suffer for a dumb sport, for personal gain and temporary significance, why do we cringe at suffering for the gospel if it will benefit others for eternal significance? Don't grumble over the thorns; rejoice in the thorns because there's a beautiful, sweet smelling rose at the other end. Our attitude will determine our outcome and our outcome (ministry), if truly believed and valued, will endure anything with the right attitude. We see that example in Christ. We see that example in Paul. And we see that example in any minister who legitimately seeks to follow His master. Do we see that example in you?

How's your attitude during your service for Christ? Are you serving with joy? Nobody wants a lemon-faced, grump-pot to serve them. Think of the impression the unbeliever must receive. "If that's what it means to be a Christian, you can keep your religion, pal." Worse yet, think of how God must feel when you are "serving Him" out of sheer duty and regret, begrudgingly.

Anybody can rejoice and give thanks when things are going well. As Christians we should! But, what makes us any different from the world? How do we respond when we suffer for the sake of others? Do we do it with joy? That's the true test of our faith! That's the true test of our attitude!

2. THE RIGHT CALLING (1:25-27)

In addition to the right attitude , the minister must have the right calling. Though every Christian has a responsibility to practice the one-another's listed in the Bible, I believe they also have a specific calling from God. Why else would God equip each of you with personal gifts and talents and burdens and convictions? He has a special purpose just for you in the Christian community. It's not to sit on your hands and allow everybody else to do all the work; rather it's to recognize your personal calling, rejoice in it, and fulfill it through the aid of the Spirit. What can be more exciting and rewarding than to serve the living God! But so many people in the church are settling for less. They are burying their gifts and talents in the ground or hiding them under a bushel, and that's poor stewardship.Others on the other hand are running around dabbling with everything under the sun and accomplishing nothing for Christ, and that's poor discernment.We have a calling to minister, but before we minister we must recognize our God-given calling.

Could you spell out your calling as clearly and confidently as does the apostle Paul in the following verses? "Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col. 1:25-27).

Though Paul is about to unravel his apostolic ministry, he begins verse 25 by reminding the readers that he too, like them, is simply a minister. He is one amongst equals in the Body of Christ. Originally the word "minister" meant "one who waits on tables." Paul is humble about his calling and for the same reason sees great responsibility in his calling. Specifically in verse 25 he calls it a "stewardship from God".

Stewards were household managers who handled the affairs of their master's possessions. It was a position of great trust and responsibility in the ancient world. Paul commonly called himself a steward. The application is clear. He, like all of us, has been given a great responsibility to fulfill a role for His Master. He is only a slave, his calling, his purpose and any glory that might follow, belongs in the hands of the Master. The slave's role is simple, know what is expected and fulfill it with obedience. Paul said elsewhere, "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me" (1 Cor. 9:16-17).

But one might ask (and this is a good question), "How do you serve God, when human hands do not serve God, as though He needed anything" (Ac. 17:25)? To that Paul would reply, "I serve God by allowing Him to work through me as a secondary agent to minister to His people. In other words, I have a stewardship entrusted to me from God that benefits you (verse 25) as I serve my Master. In my service to God, I am to be a good steward of my gifts, and contrary to popular belief, my gifts are not intended to be used for my own edification, but rather the edification of His body." Even the apostle Peter concurs, "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Pet. 4:10).

Are you a good steward of the gifts God has given to you? Are you aware of your calling? Can you spell out your calling as clearly as Paul did his? If not, why not?

The end of verse 25 says, "That I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

In the abridged version, what was Paul's unique calling? It was to be an apostle to the Gentiles. His calling was to bring the Word of God to the Gentiles, not just to those who lived locally, but to those scattered to the ends of the earth. How did he do? In Romans 15 he said, "For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed , in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build upon another man's foundation; but as it is written, 'They who had no news of Him shall see, And they who have not heard shall understand'" (Rom. 15:18-19).

Paul declares that the gospel has been fully proclaimed in the Spirit to a vast section of the Mediterranean world. Elsewhere in the letter, he announces to the Roman church that since his work is completed in these regions, he is compelled to move westward. Paul doesn't plan to quit in Rome. He only hopes to see them in passing on his way to Spain, believed at that time to be the end of the world. Paul's calling was sure; he would not lie down until he completed His stewardship. Only in Paul's last letter do we read, "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:6-7). Those are the words of a soldier who knew his calling and kept his calling as a priority his entire life, despite any setbacks.

I loved the article submitted for last quarter's newsletter by Marianne Meccia. I think it would summarize Paul's heart. May it likewise summarize ours. "My calling is sure. My challenge is big. My vision is clear. My desire is strong. My influence is eternal. My impact is critical. My values are solid. My faith is tough. My mission is urgent. My purpose is unmistakable. My direction is forward. My heart is genuine. My strength is supernatural. My reward is promised. And my God is real. I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged, or distracted. Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back or sit back. I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature or veneration. I have no time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes or low vision. I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit or surrender. I am a minister. That is what I do."

Oh, that the Lord would bless this church with more of these calling-assured, servant-minded saints.

3. THE RIGHT PURPOSE (1:28)

A faithful minister for the Lord must have the right attitude , understand his or her calling and now, have the right purpose.

Purpose is crucial! It reminds me of the rich man who was determined to give his mother a birthday present that would outshine all others. He read of a bird that had a vocabulary of 4000 words, could speak numerous languages and sing three arias of opera. He immediately bought the large bird for $50,000 and had it carefully delivered it to his mother. The next day he phoned to see if she had received the bird. "What did you think of the bird?" he asked. She replied, "It was delicious."

Without the right purpose, results can be disastrous. Thomas Carlyle said, "A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder -- a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life, and, having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you." Evangelist Billy Sunday rightly said, "More men fail through lack of purpose than lack of talent." Aim at nothing, beloved, and you will hit it every time.

I have sadly witnessed many sincere and well-meaning saints in the church who understand their calling, but unfortunately accomplish very little for the kingdom because they lack direction and purpose. Apart from a Christ-centered purpose, we can do a whole lot of work and make little impact for eternity. Other purpose-less souls have checked out due to frustration and burnout. Across their heart is written, "Out of business," but across their back we read, "Never knew what my business was!" One's God-given purpose for Christ's sake can never take a back seat to circumstances. Listen to how succinct Paul's purpose was in verse 28. "And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ." (Col. 1:28). Let's examine this statement in greater detail.

According to verse 28, the purpose of Paul's calling was basically three-fold (1 verb and 2 participles): to proclaim Christ, admonishing every man and teaching every man. Proclaiming Christ (kataggello) speaks of making Christ known. The term is normally used for the presentation of the gospel itself, a responsibility all of us carry. This is so relevant in a day and age today when many are proclaiming themselves through attitudes, attire, and material items. Paul made it his purpose to proclaim Christ. Paul, as an apostle and evangelist knew his chief purpose was to preach the truth about Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. In 2 Corinthians 4:5 Paul said,"For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake."

As elements of this proclamation, verse 28 says Paul additionally admonished and taught "every man." Admonishment (noutheteo) carries the idea of "setting the mind of someone in proper order" or "correcting ones erroneous beliefs." It also carries with it elements of encouraging and prompting. Acts 20:31 describes Paul's commitment to this ministry of admonishment, "Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears." And the church today, even in the midst of a politically correct society, is in desperate need of admonishment. A recent study of mainline denominational churches revealed that one-third of all adults believe that mediation and self-discipline will enable one to discover inner spiritual truth and wisdom. 9% believe in reincarnation and astrology and 7% believe it is possible to communicate with the dead.

Coupled with admonishment was Paul's purpose in teaching the converts. Teaching (didasko) simply means to impart practical or theoretical knowledge to the pupil. It was a cornerstone on Paul's ministry, instruction solely based on the Word of God. Paul said, "And for this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle…as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth" (1 Tim. 2:7). Admonishing and teaching go hand-in-hand. Admonishment without instruction is dictatorial and shallow. Instruction without admonishment is unaccountable and impersonal.

So Paul, your purpose is to proclaim, admonish and teach, but what is the ultimate goal of your ministry? Paul would say… My goal, my labor, my love is to (end of verse 28) "present every man complete in Christ".

Paul would say, "My aim is not merely to win converts to Christ. Rather I see great potential for every soul that Christ has touched. It is my goal to see these individuals progress to full spiritual maturity." Paul uses the word "complete," possibly your translation has "perfect" or "mature" (all three words convey the same meaning).

God redeems individuals for the purpose of bringing greater glory to Himself. In doing so, that purpose is achieved by His children growing in greater degrees of Christlikeness. Spiritual maturity and conformity to the image of His Son is God's goal. In keeping in step with the Spirit, Paul, a secondary agent used by God, has the same purpose. He sees his ministry as a conduit (a catalyst) whereas God can mature the souls of His people through his proclamation of the Word. Paul's goal is not only for his own spiritual growth, but also the growth of the converts so they may stand before God complete in Christ.

There is no doubt that this was Paul's purpose as an apostle, but it should also be our purpose as Christians. You are not called as an Apostle. You might not even be called as a teacher, but we are all called to be disciples. It's good to seek personal spiritual growth, but remember, as much as you reach for someone to help you mature, you have a responsibility to grasp the hand reaching for your help. As a healthy Christian seeking to contribute to a healthy church, you should have believers on both sides: those assisting you and those you assist to grow in greater degrees of Christlikeness.

4. THE RIGHT STRENGTH (1:29)

The minister of Christ must have the right attitude , the right calling , the right purpose and finally, the right strength. So often we forget that divine work requires a divine power. So often we forget that our power is not our own, but rather that which the Lord provides. So often we forget that the power that raised Christ from the dead is available for our ministry. How futile, worthless and weak is our human strength. How blasphemous and prideful to think it is sufficient. Oh how we need this reminder in verse 29! "And for this purpose (mentioned in verse 28-presenting every man complete in Christ) also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me" (Col. 1:29).

Though it's God's power which strengthens us and empowers us to and for service for God's glory, the words "labor" and "striving" bring tremendous balance to this verse. Though Paul is advocating his dependency on God's Spirit, He is not advocating a "let-go, let-God" mentality. It's not, "since God is doing all the work, I can sit back and coast." There is a beautiful balance between human effort and divine enablement.

The word labor (kopiao) was used in secular Greek to refer to "a beating, weariness or exhaustion." It commonly referred to physical tiredness from work, exertion or heat. Basically, Paul is saying that I work to the point of exhaustion to present every man complete in Christ.

Striving (agonizomai) is the source of our English word "agonize." Originally it referred to completing in an athletic event requiring maximum effort. It breathes forth the image of striving after a specific goal or purpose.

Lazy servants will never fulfill the ministry God has called them to. True ministers work hard, but remember that their toil is useless apart from God's power in their life. The strength for all labor comes from above in a yielded dependence on the Spirit. As Paul strives, God's power continues to work mightily within him. Elsewhere, Paul told the Corinthians, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me" (1 Cor. 15:10).

Possibly the greatest moment in American sports history took place at Lake Placid in the 1980 Olympics. The young collegians shocked the world by upsetting the powerful Soviet ice hockey team. But before his team's victory the coach of the U.S. hockey team told his players, "You are born to be a player. You are meant to be here at this time. This is your moment."

Likewise, for all of you in Jesus Christ this morning, you have been equipped for extraordinary and supernatural purposes; you have an opportunity to upset the world for eternity. God has called you for that purpose. That is your personal significance in this diverse, yet unified body. Though unworthy, you are called to minister for the King. You were born for that purpose. Don't settle for anything less!