Moments in the life of a Pastor

Colossians 1:21- 2:3

^“21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. ²² Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. ²³ But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it. ²⁴ I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. ²⁵ God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. ²⁶ This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. ²⁷ For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. ²⁸ So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfec^] in their relationship to Christ. ²⁹ That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. 2 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. ² I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. ³ In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Not only are we called to stand but also to:

• SUFFER – Vs 24 – The ATTITUDE of your life

“I am glad when I suffer for you in my body” Is Paul a nut job, most of us are SAD not GLAD when we suffer! We might not expect suffering to be included in the list, but verse 24 makes it clear that Paul saw suffering as part of the job description of a Christ follower. Our response to suffering depends on the focus of my sufferings, Self or the Savior. A question we need to ask in the church today is “Do my emotions accurately reflect reality?” Our feelings focused on self are rarely based on fact. Paul willingly and joyfully suffered on behalf of others for the sake of the gospel, he was willing to serve sacrificially. Paul wasn’t just talking about the possibility of suffering but the present reality of his suffering. Paul is rejoicing precisely because of what he is going through in the present, while in prison. Most of us try to get rid of suffering when it comes our way, we view pain as a drain instead of gain. We respond by demanding relief and removal instead of rejoicing.  Paul was different, and he suffered far more than most of us ever will 2 Corinthians 11:24-29. Before Paul’s conversion, he inflicted suffering on believers, now he’s suffering for them. Christ continues to suffer when Christians suffer for Him. He asked Saul (later called Paul) on the Damascus Road in Acts 9:4, “Why do you persecute Me?” Since the church is Christ’s body, He is affected when it is afflicted. Christ suffered in death to save the church, and now Paul suffered in life to serve it, Christ suffered to accomplish salvation. We suffer to spread salvation.” 

Why does God allow suffering?

• Suffering is part of following the Savior, but its also part of getting to know Him, we know Jesus best when we suffer with Him. The problem today is that instead of allowing suffering to let us know Him better we get bitter. 
• Because it gives us the opportunity to show a skeptical world the reality of faith. When the child is taken to heaven unexpectedly; when the doctor says, “It’s malignant,” when the boss says, “You’re through”—people expect us to fall down dead. But we have the chance to embrace the suffering and show the world our faith is not based on suffering but the Savior. And if you make that choice, cynics change their minds about Christians because they see the reality of your faith.
• because suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” Romans 5:3-4. 
• Because suffering silences Satan – Job suffered and it silenced Satan.

Suffering is a privilege not a pain. How far are you willing to go in suffering for the gospel? Most of us are making the purpose of our life pleasure and we spend exorbitant amounts of time trying to convince God to make us happy. We seek success and flee suffering, but what if suffering for the Savior is success? Most of us frankly would be better off if we faced some persecution. 

Colossians 1:21- 2:3

^“21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. ²² Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. ²³ But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it. ²⁴ I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. ²⁵ God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. ²⁶ This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. ²⁷ For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. ²⁸ So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfec^] in their relationship to Christ. ²⁹ That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. 2 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. ² I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. ³ In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Have you ever asked the question what is God’s plan for my life? Paul moves from Praise, Prayer, and Preeminence and now to God’s Plan. He starts with our Past, we were alienated, arrogant and antagonistic. Then he moves to our Present reconciled through Death and redeemed through deliverance. Now he talks about our purpose.

Colossians 1:24-2:5 answers the question, “Now that Jesus is supreme in my life, what is my purpose as a believer?”

1. STAND vs 22-23 – The AUTHOR of your life

The plan here is for you to Stand firm in the faith, what are you standing on, the finished work of the Savior “you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault” Paul is saying that we start with salvation, the finished work of the Savior, but we continue to stand in the finished work of the Savior. Paul is telling the Colossians (and us) this is reality Now –Accept it… Believe it… Live like it. Don’t let anybody rob you of your faith and your hope by getting you to accept the lie that your salvation has to somehow be earned. If Jesus’ death on the cross for you isn’t enough for you then nothing will be. Paul is not talking about losing your Salvation here as some believe. The problem with that is they are saying we are saved by the Savior and then sustained by self.  Paul is saying that the Purpose of life starts and is sustained by the Author of your life. The town of Colosse was located in a region known for earthquakes, that would dislodge and move homes. No matter how well they were built what they rested on had to be solid. Paul reminds us that in order to stand firm we need a solid foundation, the Good News Gods Word. We have to stand on the truth and when we drift away we drown. When Adam and Eve started to question God’s spoken Word they drifted away. Its not name it and claim it but God said it so I believe it.