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COLOSSIANS 1:24-2:3
 
Pastor Stephen Muncherian
February 28, 1999

I invite you to turn with me to Colossians 1:24 - 2:3 and to follow along as I read. Our focus this morning is on ministry - the cost and value of serving Jesus.

While you’re turning - let me ask you a question. Have you ever asked yourself, “Is it really worth it?” Is your job or marriage worth all the work you put into it?

About the time you answer that question, you come to church and the pastor tells you that you should be ministering to people - you need to be more involved at C.A.C.C.. You try. But, there are only 168 hours in a week. Its very easy to ask, “Is it really worth all the effort - the sacrifice - the struggle?”

As we read Colossians 1:24 - 2:3 - Paul is going to discuss ministry in general - and we want to look at Paul’s answer to our question, “Is it worth it?”

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to His saints.  To them God chose to make know how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ.  For this I toil, striving with all the energy which He mightily inspires within me.  For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you, and for those as Laodicea, and for all who have not seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in love, to have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

First, Paul says that:

1. MINISTRY INVOLVES SUFFERING (1:24-29)

In verse 24, Paul writes, “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake...”

Paul was beaten more times than even he could remember, 5 times he was lashed, three times beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, constantly in danger from robbers, in danger from the Gentiles, in danger from the Jews, enduring dangers from travel through the Roman Empire - on land and sea - often unable to sleep - hungry - thirsty - cold - exposed to the worst of nature. And as he’s writing this letter to the Colossians - its from a jail cell in Rome.

Paul says, I suffer for your sake - why? what’s the reason? In 1:25-29, Paul speaks of the Gospel - the relationship that we have together and with God through Jesus Christ - our salvation. And how important it is that everyone have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. Paul writes that he suffers - all these hardships - so that others would know what it means to have a personal - saving - relationship with Jesus Christ.

In some ways, we are product of Paul’s sufferings. We’re the product of those who heard the Gospel - almost 2,000 years ago - and shared it with others. Just think about how much of our faith - and the faith of those before us - how much of it is based on what Paul wrote.

This is a challenge for us. How many people have suffered so that we could be here today - knowing the Gospel - knowing Jesus as our Savior?

I just finished reading Pastor Abraham Hartunian’s book, “Neither To Laugh Nor To Weep”. Have any of you read this book? Its an autobiography, covering Pastor Hartunian’s life - in and around the towns of Severek, Marash, Zeytoon, Aintab - and other places in Eastern Turkey. He writes about his life and ministry during the massacres from 1895 to 1922.

Thinking about those that have suffered for us - I’d like to share from his description of a massacre in Severek on November 2, 1895.

The Turks had begun to go through the streets brutally killing Armenians. Abraham Hartunian - who was 23 at the time - had run for his life - and ended up at the Protestant church - in a second floor classroom - with the pastor of the church - Mardiros Bozyakalian - and 37 others - praying.

Outside they could see and hear the Turks plundering the Orthodox church - tearing the Bibles to pieces - breaking things - blaspheming the cross - murdering the people who were hiding there - chanting the Mohammedan prayer, “There is no other God but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet.”

Abraham Hartunian writes this: From the church they headed toward our building. They were coming up the stairs. A few of the stronger women in the room closed the door and stood against it, thinking in this way to prevent the entrance of the enemy. But before savage force they gave way, and now butchers and victims were face to face.

The leader of the mob cried, “Believe in Mohammed and deny your religion!”

No one answered.

I approached him and said, “Effendi, you see that they are all women and children. Have mercy on them and spare them. If you want booty you can have whatever we have. Have pity on us.”

Squinting horribly, he repeated his words in a terrifying voice, “Believe in Mohammed and deny your religion!”

Not one of us was willing to deny his beloved Savior and to betray Christianity to save his own life.

The leader repeated again, “Believe in Mohammed and deny your religion!” and gave the order to massacre.

The first attack was on our pastor. The blow of the an ax decapitated him. One of them drew a dagger and stabbed my left arm, and I convinced that they were about to torture me, instead of remaining standing, squatted on the floor with my head bent in front of me. Another second, and I lost consciousness.

Later Abraham learned that he had been hit repeatedly on the head and left for dead - among the bodies. The men were massacred - and the prettier women were desecrated.

And this was the beginning of Pastor Hartunian’s ministry - never denying his faith in Jesus - without a pastor in Severek - he began to pastor - to preach the Gospel - through all the massacres - through the Genocide.

Its hard to begin to think aabout what Pastor Hartunian - and others - have gone through - and how we benefit from their suffering. We think we suffer because we are inconvenienced. But how many of us have given everything for the sake of reaching others with the Gospel?

Paul writes that Ministry consists of suffering that others would come to know Jesus as their Savior.

Second, Paul writes that:

2. MINISTRY INVOLVES STRUGGLE (2:1-3)

In 2:1 he writes, “I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf....”

The Greek word for “struggle” is "agon" - the same word we get “agony” from. Paul is agonizing over the Colossian Christians.

Which is interesting because he’d never met them. Paul had never been to Colossae or the city of Laodicea - about 12 miles away. He didn’t know these people. But, he was in agony for them. From his jail cell in Rome he prayed for them. He wrote to them. He sent Epaphras to minister to them.

Paul’s agony comes because he’s concerned about the Colossians - he has compassion for them. In verses 2 and 3 - Paul writes that he desires to see the growth of the Colossian Christians to Christian maturity - to grow up in their relationship with Jesus Christ - in a culture and a city that was hostile to Christians and the Gospel. And Paul agonizes that the relationship the Colossians had with each other, in Jesus, would deepen - that they would be “knit together in love.”

There’s compassion in what Paul is writing.

Actor Bruce Marchiano wanted to see the world through the eyes of the character he was playing. So as he prepared for the role of Jesus in a presentation of Matthew's Gospel, he prayed, "Lord, show me what it all looks like through Your eyes."

That prayer was answered one day while Marchiano was filming the Lord's heartbroken denunciation of the unrepentant cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida. (Matthew 11:20-22) The actor began to weep uncontrollably as he looked at the people around him. He said that he "saw people living their lives in ways that God didn't plan." He likened his reaction to what parents might feel if they saw their toddler walking into the street as a truck was coming. Marchiano realized that compassion is not just feeling sorry for people; it's a heartache so intense that it moves us to action.

The Greek New Testament uses the word "splagchnizomai" - which describes the “compassion” Jesus had on those who were suffering. "Splagchnizomai" comes from the word "splagchnon" - which describes our inner organs - heart - liver - intestines. In modern English - our “guts.” The point is graphic. Compassion comes from deep within us - as we feel pain with others. Jesus’ compassion is rooted in His deep love for each one of us.

As Jesus walked among people, He saw them as shepherdless sheep - spiritually ignorant - without hope - eternally lost. Moved with compassion - He taught them and used His supernatural power to meet their needs. (Matthew 9:35)

That’s the type of deep compassion that we should feel within us - which should motivate us - that we should struggle - agonize - to see our brothers and sisters deepen in their relationship with Jesus Christ - to see our relationship together deepen - to be concerned with each others needs - pain - concerns. Do we see people through the eyes of Jesus - compassionately? Or, are we focused on ourselves - and our own feelings?

Paul says that ministry involves suffering and sacrifice - to serve Jesus costs us everything. “Is it worth it?”

In 1:24, Paul writes, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake...” Paul says, “Yes, its worth it.” Even if this life doesn’t pay off for me, and if my lot as a servant of the Gospel and of the church is to give away what I have and to lay down my life for others - I rejoice because other people in other places are going to grow in their faith by the letters I write - the words I teach - the encouragement I give - and my example of faith. Other people are going to have life - and that’s enough for me.

I rejoice because in suffering and sacrifice - others benefit.

I rejoice because I am identified with Jesus.

I rejoice because as I give everything to God - I am emptied of myself - and He fills me - transforms me - empowers me - uses me.

I rejoice because I am blessed by God because there is no greater purpose in life than serving God - and no greater joy than watching Him work through me to transform the lives of others.

It's worth it