Sermon Nuggets- Mon, Nov 2
Theme - CHRIST IN YOU
Verses- 24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered 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--
Our Mandate for Ministry
As we have reviewed before there have been Paul had a dramatic change in the Apostle Paul’s life. There was a vast difference between a religion to which he was committed, and a relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. The first was in his head, the second was in his heart.
Although we will look more closely at vs. 24 a bit later, Paul was thinking about his ministry while he was imprisoned. He wrote this letter to the church at Colossae while under arrest. He had suffered for the cause of sharing Jesus Christ in a hostile world. He was not sorry he did so. He was willing to suffer and be in prison if the good news of Jesus Christ could be spread. Being a Christian in a non-Christian world meant that he had to accept suffering. He did so because of the mandate that He received from God.
But he wants them to know more about this ministry to which he was called. "I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness."
We are reminded how Paul hated Christians at first. He was so zealous to the Jewish traditions that he did all in his power to arrest, persecute and martyr followers of Jesus.
When I was in Russia awhile ago, I became aware how strong the traditions of the Orthodox church were. They had the power to influence the political government to stop and limit missionaries from coming into the country. They enforced the policy that no new religions or denominations would be allowed, only allowing those churches and denominations which had already established and registered during the communist control. They saw anything else as being a sect.
Truth was not allowed to confront traditions. Paul had traditions, but it wasn’t until his trip on the Damascus road that he met Jesus Christ in a personal way. After meeting with Ananias Paul had the commission, the mandate of God, to go and preach Jesus. Paul was especially chosen in a special manner for a special purpose to present the word of God in its fullness. Paul knew that he must never compromise on the word. He sought to be faithful to his charge that came not out of intellectual interest, or curious debate, or reading of many books, but it came from a face to face encounter and call from God that was life changing. Because of this Paul was ready to change roles from persecutor to being persecuted, from inflecting arrest to being arrested, from a profaner of the gospel to a proclaimer of the gospel.
God intends for all the world to hear about Christ and message will not spread unless people are dedicate to spreading it. You and I have a mandate also from God and it is similar. We are to be about making disciples. Go into all the world and preaching the gospel, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus says as recorded in the first chapter of the book of Acts. "Ye shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Samaria, Judea, and other parts of the world.
The disciples were weak in faith too, until they saw the living Lord. Saul was opposed to Christianity until he encountered the living Lord. They can philosophize, intellectualize debate, theorize, and have discussion sessions all night in their seminaries and college dorms but when one meets the living Christ it puts things in a far different perspective.
Yesterday, Sunday morning, Dr. Lou Petrie told us how he was invited to preach in the prison at Souix Falls, S.D. The chairman of this unusual church in prison was a man who has lots of zeal for the Lord. When Lou saw the effectiveness of this man he mentioned to the chaplain that he hoped he could stay for awhile to help fellow prisoners. The chaplain laughed and said “It’s more than you think. This man has four life sentences he has to serve without any possibility of parole.
The serious crimes committed by this individual in the past required justice to be paid in prison. But while there he met the Lord and changed his life from darkness into day, from the old self into the new self, seeking to carry on the mandate to see other men come to know the freedom that lasts eternity by making Jesus Christ Lord of their lives. He understood the mandate. It is a joy for him to carry it out.
And for Paul even his prison did not stop him from sharing the good news that we can read thousands of years later.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues Nov 3
Verses- Col 1: 26 ..the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.
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.
Our Message for Ministry
Paul had a mandate, a calling, to go and spread the good word. We also have a message. Paul came to realize there was a message that was hidden and kept secret from the people in the Jewish faith for 4,000 years and now it is revealed. He had the privilege of telling God's mystery to the world. The interesting thing with people is that they listen to what is whispered more than what is shouted.
I was in a room and almost laughed one time when someone wanted to speak to me in confidence. He began to speak in a very low voice. Do you know what happened? Everyone in the room stopped talking. It was so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop. They all wanted to know what was being whispered.
One person was dying to find out something said to his friend by another. He kept pumping his friend to tell him. Finally the friend said, "Can you keep a secret?" "Why, Of course."
"Well, So can I" he responded.
This message of Christ isn't so much a secret as it is a mystery. God had given people clues in the Old Testament but the time was not right to reveal the whole picture. He wanted folks to trust him by faith not by sight. Look at some of the clues. A lamb that was sacrificed; a serpent on a pole keeping people from dying; Manna from heaven; A messiah who would both suffer and reign forever; Then Jesus Christ came to earth. He was rejected by His people and was crucified. He rose again and returned to heaven. Did this mean God's promised kingdom for Israel was now abandoned? No, God had initiated a further understanding of his plan- His mystery which was not fully explained in the Old Testament prophets.
The mystery is that today God is uniting Jews and Gentiles into one body. The Gentiles were no longer excluded from the glory and riches of God's grace. The mystery is the Message for all mankind. Jesus fulfills the requirements set down by His Father in Heaven. God's plan is that Christ dwells in us. That is our hope of glory. In Jesus are hidden all the knowledge and wisdom to guide you into all truth. That is the power of the gospel message. God does not dwell in tabernacles, or temples any longer. Nor is he far from the sinful man, but makes us sinless through the blood of Jesus and dwell among us within our own hearts and souls.
The Colossians and Gnostics were concerned about knowledge and philosophy and theology and teaching and learning various new ideas that were going around. We don't need a teacher, nor do we need someone to give me more knowledge went it comes to my soul. It is not enough that Jesus be a great teacher of morals, what I need is a savior to free me from my bondage to sin. I need someone to tear down the barrier that is between me and God. I need love. I need forgiveness, and need to feel worthwhile. That is the mystery message: Christ in me, my hope of glory. Christ can be in you and be your hope of glory. He is a personal Lord and Savior for Jews, Gentiles, and for all people. God is in Jesus Christ reconciling us to Himself.
Every character attribute of Jesus Christ is now in you in the new birth. Our humanity is in conflict with our new nature. We have a new potential to love to demonstrate gentleness, to exhibit patience, and display peace. The reason so many people do not have that result is they are not claiming the promises by faith. The Message is the gospel of Jesus Christ who will live in every life who will repent and receive him.
Is He your hope for all eternity?
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds Nov 4
Verses- Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered 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.
Col 1:28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
2:1 I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
Our Method for Ministry
The Method of sharing this message as Paul reveals it is unusual. First Christ in us must be seen, by responding to situations in powerful ways so that people will know that something is different and special about Christians.
Look again at vs. 24. Paul is suffering and rejoicing for "filling up in his body that is lacking in regard to Christ afflictions for the sake of the body."
When I was a chaplain at General Hospital I was part of a group of four who met daily for study and evaluation. There was the supervisor, who I would describe as a liberal. A catholic priest who was home from a missionary assignment from the Fuji Islands and the third member was sister Brigitta, a catholic Nun, from a down town parish. I was the fourth member, an evangelical Baptist. What an interesting class!
We obviously discussed the topic of physical suffering often. The catholic theology was different than I imagined. They believe this verse means that when we suffer physically we have a divine purpose as Christians. In our suffering we are identifying with Christ on the cross. The cross was the beginning of redemption. But we humans are completing redemption of the world by taking some of Jesus sufferings upon ourselves which completes what is needed for salvation. They rejoice in suffering because it means redemption for both themselves and others.
The Bible teaches there is nothing we can add to Christ's suffering. It is complete in and of itself. He paid the price. As a sinful man I cannot suffer for the redemption of the world. But I can suffer in order than the world might know the Gospel and come to believe it.
Sometimes I would hear people say who are suffering with a disease that it would be worth it if some people could get saved as a result of the witness. I pray this prayer will be answered. I pray that people will see the faith that is real in us in our suffering situations to bring people to himself, whether in miraculous healing or faithfulness in suffering. But out suffering cannot complete what Jesus did on the cross.
Christ suffered for two reasons. He suffered for our salvation on the cross to complete the righteous requirements payment for our sin. Christ did that alone. Secondly Christ suffered because righteous godly people will be persecuted in a sinful world. That is also the experience for Christians often in this world.
Stephen suffered so others could hear. Right now we are praying for the persecuted church. There are many giving their lives so others can hear the gospel. Every time I pick up this Bible remember there are people who gave their lives to have it translated and produced.
Religious freedom is an item of discussion while Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits many of the Middle Eastern countries. Christians seem to be most often the target of violence because Satan hates Christ. Truth cannot be stopped even with suffering. All the disciples of Jesus suffered persecution that the church might be established.
Acts 5:4`1 said "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for His name." Mark 13:9 Jesus said "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils flogged in the synagogues, On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witness to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations."
Paul said this is being completed because the whole world must know, and the command to go and preach is being completed. This will not be completed until Christ returns.
The methods of spreading the message also include proclamation and admonishing, and teaching everyone with all wisdom.
To this end Paul writes, "I labor, struggling with all energy. He gives his all in perching and teaching and warning and writing.
How can we get the message out in our community? Are we willing to accept the methods the Bible says are necessary?
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs Nov 5
Verses- Col 1: 28 29 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
Our Means for Ministry
We looked at the methods Paul used to spread the message. His suffering and proclamations, his admonishing and teaching was in wisdom that came from God with the main purpose to bring people to wholeness in Christ, to be perfect by His grace. It was to elicit change into Christ likeness.
This spiritual activity is not possible without the power of Christ working in him. Paul had supernatural filling. He knew how to teach. He knew how to admonish; he know how to proclaim the torah and teachings of the Rabbis when he was a respected Pharisee, but he did not know how to change hearts, only enforce legal restrictions. Now he saw the power of God changing hearts and bringing insight into truths and mysteries not understood before Christ’s fulfillment of the prophecies.
The means of his ministry is the Holy Spirit's power. He is the vessel of the work of Christ in him. Christ is doing the work through Him. How can 25,000 people a day profess Christ in an Asian country where it is outlawed to preach the Gospel? It doesn’t happen with the best laid plans for evangelism. It happens when people are obedient to the word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. Certainly there is teaching; Of course there is discipleship and training. People need to know truth, but it isn’t until the Spirit of God moves that anything of importance happens beyond human efforts. Paul saw God at work.
The director of the Bible school in Russia where I taught for two weeks told his story that was raised in a Christian home. His father was told that he would be taken away if he taught his children about Jesus Christ. Why would he risk losing his whole family for such a stupid thing? This official asked him. He continued to teach Michael and his sister about Jesus Christ because the power of the Holy Spirit is more powerful than the hand of Russian government.
How is it that John Wesley in the age 80 and 90 was able to speak three sermons a day, and write volumes of Christian helps? Because of the power with him, that is Christ in you. It is possible to work in all human activity, but that is our work not Christ. Spiritual revival is only possible when we are clean and holy, usable for His service.
But whenever there is blessing there is also a battle. Where there is growth spiritually, there is also Satan with the temptations and situations that want to hinder us. That is why we need the protection and peace that comes from above. Discouragement is so easily an arrow of the evil one. He makes active ministry and witness almost impossible. But we do not minister for Christ, rather we let Christ minister through us. That was Paul's means of ministry. He was obedient letting God use him.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri Nov 6
Verses Col 2:1-5 I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
Our Motive for Ministry
Chapter 2 also talks about what I will call the purpose or motive for Paul which is to encourage the church and unite them in love and relay the complete understanding to know Christ, who has all wisdom and knowledge. He wants them grounded in truth so they not be deceived by false teachers. His motive for ministry is love for God and all people. He experienced love from Christ who dwells in him by the Holy Spirit.
The aim of seeing people mature in their devotion to the Lord excited him. It was not just to get them as members to get their name on the dotted line, but to bring them to a point of being discipled. He prays for them. He prays for their encouragement of heart. We all need encouragement.
While I was in India we had a travel guide who was very poor in riches, but very rich in faith. He would get up early and pray. He would fast before some speaking engagements. He traveled long distances on foot to villages to share the good news of Jesus. For lengths of time he was away from his wife and daughter. I asked him about rest. His response was "I am pleased I can do this for my Lord, for He has done so much for me."
Another believer I had the privilege to meet here in the U.S. was a man named Marcus from Sudan. As a business man he came to find salvation by faith in Jesus. He got a hold of the Jesus film by Campus Crusade and felt the Lord was calling him to go to villages and show the film. Indeed, many came forward to repent of sin and trust Christ. He began discipleship groups. While doing so he would take some from that first group of believers and go to another village and repeat the process. The principles of multiplication took place. In time thousands responded to Christ by faith. I asked him about danger. He looked at me somewhat surprised and said, “God told me to go, He never said anything to me about safety. If He says go, I go. What else He chooses to do is in His hands.”
Paul said, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Marcus, although very shy and quiet, is living Paul. He has the Mandate, the call to share. He has the Message to share Christ in you. His Method of spreading the Word was proclaiming even if by film. The Means is with the power of the Holy Spirit. His Motive is that people might know and be saved and become mature in Jesus Christ.
I have been with people who are willing to give their lives if need be for this great commission. They are examples of commitment to me. How about here? Are you are willing to go wherever He leads you?
Pastor Dale
