EVIDENCE OF OUR CONFIDENCE - Colossians 1:24-29
Paul is writing from a Roman prison; and yet despite his circumstances we find joy, hope, and truth; as evidence of his confidence in the “supremacy” of Christ! Paul understood that “divine”joy, hope,and truth are not situational, optical, or perceptual, but is based upon our “confidence” in Christ!Such confidence will alter our present and future perspectiveon life!
JOY(v.24, 25)Notice: where his “rejoicing” takes place, “in my suffering!” Paul doesn’t hold on to his praise but “releases” his praise, not according to his situation but Christ sovereignty, over his situation! “I now rejoice!” He understands in every trial, as we are being emptied out, God is “filling up” that which is “lacking!”Hurricane Harvey has produced great “suffering” recently in the lives of many people. In the aftermath, there will be a lot of speculation about the reason and cause related to this disaster. But what I find interesting is the midst of social and political unrest, it took a hurricane to bring about, although temporarily, a sense of “national humility.”One woman I saw being interviewed said it best, “this has humbled all of us.”
In fact, the president signed a “declaration” marking this Sunday as a national day of prayer for the Hurricane Harvey victims. In “no way” am I saying we should “rejoice” over the loss of life, or the fact that lives have been disrupted. But it took “Harvey” to bring “harmony” between blacks, whites, Hispanics, people of all economic and social backgrounds! To “fill up” that which was “lacking” in our nation! God allows “suffering” in our lives because “suffering” is the means by which He produces what is lacking, within His church!(ttt) 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.
The “affliction” Paul endured was not wasted, but became a “blessing” to others, and those who would in the future! Friend sharing 1960’s- “I didn’t tip her for us, but for those who will come after us.”As a believer, we never“suffer” in a vacuum, it not all about you,but others, and the “fulfillment” of God’s word (will), (v.25b).(James 1:2-4) 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.The “heat” of our affliction molds us into the instrument God has “ordained” for his glory, and the “edification” of His church!
Paul’s “rejoicing” comes from his reliance upon the“stewardship”(v.25) -the administration or economy,of God; that God will make a way when there seems to be “no way!” (Psalm 34:19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.His “joy!” is based upon his “confidence” in God’s “stewardship” in choosing him, not in his own ability or understanding, (v.25b).Often times our “lack of joy” has a direct correlation to our “lack of faith,” in God’s “stewardship!” But with Christ as our confidence we can “release”our praise now! Even “in suffering,” knowing God is sovereign over all!
The second evidence of Paul’s confidence; HOPE(v.26, 27) The “mystery” has been revealed, in the face, manifestation of Christ!(Galatians 4:4-5) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. This “mystery,”the gospel,has now been “revealed” to gentiles, (v.27). For the Jews, in Jesus day and even among many orthodox Jews today, the thought of gentiles being equal to Jews was “blasphemous!” They were the “chosen people,” to the exclusion of all gentiles.
Therefore, Christ is the “hope of glory,” for both Jew and gentile! (ttt) Ephesians 3:1-7. God’s grace is incomprehensible; in that He would “dwell” not only in Jewish believers, but also “pagan gentiles!”Paul a former murderer and persecutor of the church “glories” in this “everlasting hope”; believing he was the “chief” of sinners!(1 Tim. 1:15).“Christ in us, the hope of glory!”He willingly saved us, and placed His Spirit within us, to demonstrate the riches of His glory!(Ephesians 2:7) “…that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Whereby others who desire to come to Christ, might look at us and see just how truly “rich” God is in “mercy” and “grace,” that He would place His “glory” in us! This “everlasting hope” was further evidence of Paul’s confidence!
The last evidence of assurance, TRUTH“Him we preach!”Paul’s “confidence” is based upon the person of Christ! He alone is our “standard,” our only“proclamation!”Notice:where Christ is “proclaimed,” growth is sustained! And growth comes by way of “warning” and “teaching,” the two “tenants” of discipleship!Warning– literally: caution or reprove; a mild rebuke. “Positive” messages are great, but all “positivity,” and no “warning” is a half-truth! The “good news” (gospel), is ineffective apart from the “bad news!”“We can't afford to let down our Christian standards just to hold the interest of people who want to go to hell and still belong to a church.” Tozer
And Teaching – meaning to “learn.”God wants His people to “mature,” which means there must be a willingness to “learn,” on our part!(Proverbs 6:23) For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.“Pride” is the path to “ignorance,” and the preamble to a “fall!” (Proverbs 15:33) The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility. Paul’s desire was to “present every man perfect” (v.28b). This is not“fleshly perfection,”but rather, a longing to see every believer no longer a “novice,” but “mature” in Christ!(Ephesians 4:14) “…that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”
The “proclamation” (the warnings and teachings) of Christ is the means by which the church, (believers), are guarded and protected from the wiles and schemes of the devil! Therefore, Paul declared:(1 Corinthians 2:2-5) For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.Unfortunately for many in the church today, Christ is not enough! This is not the easy path, but it’s the only path of reconciliation to God, and “everlasting life!” (v.29) Striving – agonizomai – to struggle.Jesus didn’t “sugar coat” the path of “true” discipleship.(Matthew 7:13-14) “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.Yet He never intended for us to go it alone! But rather, to “labor”according to the working of HisHoly Spirit (v.29).Mightily: Greek – endunamis: en – denoting: place, time, or state.Dunamis– force, miraculous power.“Wherever,” or “whatever” you are “in” His “miraculous power” is there to aidand deliverus! This is our “confidence,” therefore, “Him we preach!”
CONCLUSION: Hold fast to your joy, hope, and truth, in Christ; despite the world’s condition.The flooding in Texas, and other parts of our country this year, have been experienced in other places around the world, as well. A CNN report entitled: “Floods around the world are washing through cities”MADISON PARK – CNN Posted:Sep 01, 2017 01:51 AM MDT - Revealed that parts of South Asia were pounded by historic rainfall during the height of monsoon season last month. More than 1,200 people have been killed in India and Bangladesh and some 41 million have been affected by flooding since June, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Is God trying to tell us something? Monday is “Labor Day,” a traditional dayfor the American worker to cease from his/her “labor.” However, few will give any thought to why we are experiencing so much “upheaval” worldwide, socially, politically, and even in nature. I submit to you that it is the result of mankind rejection of God’s “rest,” apart from labor!(ttt) Hebrews 4:9-16. COMMUNION REMINDS US OUR REST, our confidence, HAS COME!