Before we come to Colossians 1:24 and The Truth About Ministry - I’d like to begin by telling you a bit about this man Rev. Dr. John Gibson Paton.  For most Christians today that name is probably well below our radar screen.  Which is understandable.

John Paton was born in May 1824 in a little farm cottage in Scotland.  At the age of 12 he joined his father in the family business of making stockings.  Which could have become a very successful business for him.  While he was a teenager he heard God calling him into ministry.  So John moved to Glasgow - studied theology and medicine.  While he was studying for ministry John took on a tract ministry - distributing gospel tracts - taught school - served God in the rougher parts of Glasgow.

John was ordained by the Reformed Presbyterian Church.  For ten years John served as the pastor of a growing church in Scotland.  Being what many would call successful in ministry.  Then God began to burden his heart for the New Hebrides.  Islands in the South Pacific that were filled with cannibals with no knowledge of the gospel.

In April 1858 he married Mary Robson.  14 days later - at the age of 33 - John and his bride sailed to the Island of Tanna - New Hebrides.

Three months after arriving their son Peter was born.  19 days later Mary died.  17 days later Peter died.  John found himself alone - surrounded by cannibals - digging their graves with his bare hands.  Ultimately - through a 2nd marriage - John ended up burying 5 of his infant children.

Hard to process how we might feel at that point.  But, its not hard to imagine asking, “Is this really worth it?”

John went on to face threat after threat on his life from these cannibals.  Once he narrowly escaped death by being rescued by a ship.  What he had to go through in following Jesus in ministry was - at times - misery - deep ongoing struggle and misery.  Just crushing circumstances.

Ultimately - God used John to lead countless cannibals to Christ.  To challenge and raise up support and missionaries from Australia and Scotland to go and serve and reach these islanders with the gospel.

The question:  “Is it worth it?”  Putting all that in perspective - sitting on cushy teal colored chairs - it would be easy for us to say “Well sure.”  In part - easy for us to say - because we’re pretty far removed from all that and we’re looking at the end result.

Which could be our verdict for hundreds of missionaries that have served God over the last almost 2,000 years - that are serving God today.  Or our siblings in Jesus around the world living - following Jesus - in very difficult circumstances - often alone - often under threat of their lives - often going without the comforts we take for granted.  Easy for us to say, “Its worth it.  Look at the results.  God is at work.”

But what about here?  Is it worth it to hang in there when we need to make choices about following our culture or to follow Jesus?  When just finding time to read the Bible or pray or be here for worship or a Life Group or AWANA seems to be so difficult?  Or to share our faith with someone who needs Jesus?  Or to just hang in there trusting God in a marriage - or with kids - at a job - living counter culture at school - living for Jesus in country growing more antagonistic to followers of Jesus?  Hanging in there in a church with Christians that - let’s be honest - most of us are a very slow work in progress.  Is it worth it?

That’s what Paul is dealing with in the section of Colossians we’re coming to today.  Is it worth it to hang in there serving Jesus - following Jesus - when everything around us is telling us, “No, it isn’t.”

Please read with me the first part of what we’re looking at this morning.  Colossians 1 - starting at verse 24:  Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up 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 stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.  To them God chose to make known 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 everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.  For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

What makes ministry worth it?  First - what makes ministry worth it is knowing that Ministry Is About God.  Not us.  Not me.  But God.

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

In the Greek the word for “suffering” means... “suffering.”  Which was something that Paul knew a whole lot about.  Right?

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.  Chained to a Roman guard 1,200 miles away writing to people he’s never met face to face.

Is it possible that Paul may have asked the question:  Is it worth it?

Paul writes, “I’m suffering for your sake - physically suffering real pain - filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church

We need to be careful.  What was lacking in Christ’s afflictions?  Answer: On the cross, nothing.  The suffering of Jesus - dying on the cross - defeating sin and death - representing us - paying the penalty for our sin.  That was absolutely complete.

But the word Paul uses is “affliction.”  Which is different from “suffering.”  Which in the Greek is a word that is never used to describe Jesus’ death on the cross.  Its used to describe what Jesus went through on the way to the cross.  The opposition from Satan - the rejection of God’s people - the betrayal - the beating and scourging.  What Jesus endured as He lived out the life of a servant following God’s will to the cross.

When we trust in Jesus as our Savior - giving our lives to God.  When we commit ourselves to obedience to the will of God.  When we engage in following Jesus through life.  Just as Jesus had a target drawn on Him - we have a target drawn on us - we engage in the same battle - continue in the same afflictions - fulfilling the ministry that Jesus began and that led Him to the cross on our behalf.

Paul writes, of which - this ministry that I’m living out as I’m following Jesus - of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you,

Minister in Greek is the word we get “deacon” from - meaning a servant.  Stewardship has the idea of managing someone else’s stuff - meaning delegated responsibility.  Putting that together - Paul - called by Jesus into ministry - think Damascus Road conversion - Paul is called to serve -whatever the cost - as one responsible for the ongoing transmission of the gospel.

Going one step farther with that.  Paul writes - the purpose of being a target for affliction and being a responsible servant is “for you - purpose being - to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.    

Let’s pause and think all that through.  God is in the business of changing lives.  One of the amazing realities that we need to get our minds wrapped around is that number one, God is in the business of changing lives - like ours.  And number two, God desires to use us in that process of change.  We all have a role in that.

Do you ever think about who God used to bring the gospel to you?  For me that was when I was 4 - at the home of Joe and Grace Spinella - at a 5 Day Club in their home when I heard and responded to the gospel.  I don’t know who they heard the gospel from.  But, I am eternally grateful that they heard - responded by faith - and passed that gospel on to me. 

Take one moment and thank God for the person who was faithful to share the gospel with you - that God used to lead you to salvation in Jesus.  Thank God for the person that led them to Jesus.

Paul writes that he’s part of that process.  He’s a minister - servant - a steward - someone entrusted with Gospel.  Epaphras was in Ephesus - about 100 miles west of Colossae.  Paul led Epaphras to Jesus.  Epaphras went back to Colossae - led others to Jesus.  Was used by God to begin the church there.  Service and stewardship in real time.

Paul writes that with that role comes affliction.  As those who are saved by God’s grace we need to live differently in this world.  Because of God’s grace we can live differently  - righteously - living God’s way even in a world bound for Hell.  Our adversary doesn’t like that.  He will do anything and everything within his ability to get us to answer the question, “Is it worth it?”  with a resounding, “No, it isn’t.”

We will be persecuted.  We will suffer.  But when we stand firm in our faith - living life God’s way - God uses us to bring people to Him - to salvation in Jesus.

Thinking about Joe and Grace and who brought them the gospel and who brought that person the gospel - or who brought you the gospel - Have you ever asked yourself, how many prayers and tears, how much heartache and disappointment someone went through in order that you might come to Christ?

Most of us probably don’t think about this very often.  But, we ought to.  As we’re turning pages or swiping on a pad.  What it cost others for us to have that Bible in our hands - the blood of the martyrs - the fears and tears of persecuted people down through the centuries - the sweat and labor of translators - the efforts of those that have taught us.  Sunday School teachers and Children’s Church teachers - serving - teaching to make God’s word - God’s truth - the gospel - plain and clear to us.  People - many of which - we don’t know their names.

But we need to process this  reality:  That someone died for us to be here this morning.  Thinking about that:  “Was it worth it?”  Aren’t you grateful that they hung in there?  That their answer to the question was, “Yes, its worth it.”

Are we together?

Going on - verse 27:  To them - those who have had God’s word made known to them…  Who’s word?  God’s word.

to them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 

Who chose?  God. 

Verse 28:  Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Who do we proclaim?  Him - Jesus.

Are we together?  God chooses to make His word known - chooses Paul and Epaphras and those that proclaimed the gospel to us - to make His word known to us.

Paul writes in verse 29:  For this I toil - “Toil” literally means to work with effort - effort that brings weariness.  For this I toil struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Who’s energy?  God’s energy.

The very strength to keep going - to serve - to accomplish the stewardship - it comes from God who is at work supplying the energy.  God who is at work in me and through me.

Do you hear Paul.  Its not for me.  Not for my glory.  Not for my rep - as the apostle Paul - missionary to the world - the greatest theologian of all time - the writer of a huge part of the Bible.   That’s not why I’m toiling and suffering and struggling.  Ministry is about God.

When we come to Jesus we join the battle.  We become servants and stewards.  We have the opportunity to suffer for others.  To share in the afflictions of Jesus - living out that battle.  Which is about God - not us.  Which is about God working out His sovereign will.  His plan.  His purposes in history - through Jesus - through the cross - through us.  Those that God - before creation was creation - God chose us to be His servants and His stewards - for His glory.

Which is huge.  Isn’t it?  When we think about it?  As Paul writes, its cause for rejoicing.  “I rejoice in my suffering for your sake.”

Not because I’m suffering.  Not even Paul got up in the morning and looked forward to suffering.  Paul isn’t a masochist.  But rejoicing comes as we realize that God is with us.  That we are there with God in the trenches - suffering as our Savior suffered - toiling at God’s eternal purposes - as His servants - as His stewards - for His glory.

Is it worth it?  Way yes!

Let’s go on to chapter 2.  Let’s read Paul’s second point about ministry together:  For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.  For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

What makes ministry worth it?  Second - what makes ministry worth it is knowing that Ministry Is About People. 

Paul writes, For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea

“Struggle” translates the Greek word “agonia.”  Which is where we get our English word… “agony.”  It has the idea of anguish - fear - wrestling at the heart level over something.  Paul wrestling at the heart level over the believers in Colossae and Laodicea.

Bruce Marchiano is an actor.  In one of his roles he was preparing to play Jesus in a presentation of Matthew’s Gospel  and he wanted to see the world through the eyes of Jesus.  So 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 said his reaction was like 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.

Like Jesus walking 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)

There’s that kind of heart level compassion in what Paul is agonizing over.  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 deeply concerned about the Colossians - that they would live life - and continue to live life - as God had created and called them to live life in Jesus.

Paul’s first concern is that they would live life together in Jesus.

Paul writes, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

What is God’s mystery?  A mystery - in Scripture - is something that God needs to reveal.  That’s why its... “God’s mystery.”  Meaning that the word mystery in Scripture isn’t describing something we can figure out on our own by finding clues and guessing at answers.  Jacob in the goat pen with a dreidel.

Back up in 1:26 Paul tells us that generations for ages past didn’t get it.  This mystery of God.  Meaning that Abraham and Isaac and Jacob oh my - and all the Old Testament saints believed in this.  But they didn’t get it.  They trusted God that God would do what God said God would do.  But they didn’t know exactly how God would meet the needs of his people.

Paul writes that God has now revealed the answer to His saints.  Saints being a word describing us ordinary followers of Jesus.  Each of us is a saint - set apart for God by God through Jesus - a saint when we belong to Christ - even being brand-new to the faith and knowing nothing at all.

1:26 - God has revealed His mystery to His saints - us.

In 1:27 Paul tells us the mystery is - answer is - Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Thinking back to last Sunday when we looked at the truth about Jesus - Paul starting in 1:15 - Paul wrote that Jesus is the Lord of creation - the beginning of creation - the source of creation - the creator of creation.  Paul wrote that Jesus is the One who sustains creation.  He is the One for which all of this exists.  Jesus is the Lord and master of it all.  All of it. 

Imagine.  Creation originated within Jesus and converges again towards Him.  He is the reason why all things have been made.  Eventually all of the cosmos and all the events of history will find their place in the great purpose of the Father to honor and glorify Jesus.

Paul writes that Jesus is fully God and fully man - the only One through Whom we might be reconciled to God.  He is the One and only means of our salvation.

This is the Christ that is you. 

Many Christians understand that Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins.  They believed and came to Jesus because of that.  Which is 100% true.  If we’re trusting God for what He has done for us in Jesus -  then we are reconciled to God.  We have peace with God.  Hold on to the truth of what God has done for you. 

But, the sad reality is that a ton of Christians stop there.

Its like going to Disneyland - going through the turnstiles - so we’re standing there just inside the entrance looking up at the train station.  And then not going on through the tunnels into the park.  Thinking that what’s outside there is all there is.

Paul is agonizing over these Christians.  The mystery of God is that God has so much more for us.

A ton of Christians are not understanding that Jesus died for them that He might live in them.  His life in us is the source of power that Paul writes about in verse 29 “His energy powerfully working in me.”  God at work in us changing us - delivering us - supply the ability to resist temptation - His guidance and wisdom - His very presence with us - companionship.

That’s astounding.  We may feel lonely.  But we’re never alone.  It is 100% true that Jesus died on the cross for our salvation.  It is 100% true that He died that He might live in us.  God supplying at the heart level everything we need for life and then walking with us through that life. 

Hope of glory tells us that there is deeper truth here that we need to grab onto.  Christ in you is about the present.  It is also about the future…    our certainty that this world is not all there is and that on the day that Jesus returns and is revealed for who He is we will share in His glory because we are untied in Him.  Eternal life forever with God.

That’s a tremendous future and an anchor for our lives today - a hope to live by - that God gives us today - right now - as we go through the day to day stuff of life.

All that is a mystery that for generations in ages past saints trusted God for but had no clue about how God was going to accomplish that.  What that would be like in the day to day reality of life.  That mystery has been revealed to us - Christ in you.  The hope of glory.

Paul - in Rome - is agonizing that the Colossian believers would understand that mystery - that life in the day to day of how they’re living life together - that they might encouraged - that they might be knit - bound deeply - together in love - living out together the richness of life that comes as we have a full assurance - a full understanding - a full knowledge of what it means to live each day with Jesus.

Second Paul is concerned that - verse 4 - that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

There was a couple that owned a poodle.  They loved this dog.  It was the object of their affection.  On one occasion the wife had to take a trip.  On the first day of this trip she made it to New York.  She called home and asked her husband, “How are things?”  And the husband - who never was one for tact - said, “The dog is dead.”  The wife - of course - was devastated.

After collecting her thoughts, she asked, “Why do you do that?  Why can’t you be more tactful?”

He said, “Well, what do you want me to say?  The dog died.”

She said, “Well, you can give it to me in stages.  For example, you could say when I call you from New York, ‘The dog is on the roof.’  And then when I travel to London the next day and call, you could tell me, ‘Honey, the dog fell off the roof.’  And when I call you from Paris, you could add, ‘Honey the dog had to be taken to the vet.  In fact, he’s in the hospital, not doing well.’  And finally, when I call from Rome, “Honey, brace yourself.  Our dog died.’  I could handle that.”

The husband paused and said, “Oh, I see.”  Then she asked, “By the way, how’s mother?”  And he said, “She’s on the roof.” (1)

Its all in how you say it.  The best lie is the one that’s… closest to the truth.

Deluded - in Greek - has the idea of a lie that sounds really really good.  But at its core - the very basis for what’s being said is messed up.  Persuasive speech - in Greek - is an iron clad - well reasoned - great sounding - totally believable argument.  But the basis of it is messed up - delusional.

What was going on Colossae was that people were teaching about Jesus - who He is and what it means to live life in Him - people who had no right to be teaching all that because what they understood - the truth they were basing that teaching on - and what they were teaching was really messed up and they were confusing a whole lot of people including some of the Colossian and Laodicean believers.

Which happens today.  We’re constantly bombarded with so called truths - competing and confusing - sometimes subtly - religions and philosophies - they’ll even come our door.  People who are well meaning - sincere - wonderful people - who are excited to share what they believe with us.  Who will even tell us that they want to encourage us to study the Bible.  Today there are number of Christians who have really been messed up by all that.

Let’s be clear.  Any other basis for a worldview - or a religion - or way of doing life - or a belief system - any other basis than God’s truth is going to take us in a totally opposite direction through life than towards God and what God has for us in life.  All that can easily get us off track and really really… really mess us up.

Paul writes - verse 5 - that - even from 1,200 miles away his desire is to continue rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Paul loved these people more in absence that the deceivers who were right there with them.  He hurt for them.  Was deeply concerned that they would get divided and deceived and messed up moving from God’s truth to a lie with its roots in the pit of hell.

What Paul was agonizing over - writing to the Colossians - is that they would so understand God’s truth - who Jesus is and what it means to personally know and understand God’s revealed mystery - Christ in you the hope of glory - that any delusional, though plausible sounding argument, would stick out like someone serving pork at a bar mitzvah. 

That they would recognize it and run from it.  That they would continue living united in love - living out God’s truth - living stable - firm - immovable in their faith.

Way too often I get messed up when I get focused on myself.  How unfair all this is to me.  How people are dweebs.  How impossible the circumstances are.  How great the expectations.  Focusing on myself and not God and not what He desires to do in others.  Whether that’s church stuff or what’s going on at home or out there someplace.  Have you been there?

What would that be like here and at home and out there.  What would that be like for us to struggle - to agonize - over each other - to desire to be knit together in love - living out our relationship with Jesus together - standing firm in our faith and commitment to Jesus.  Rejoicing as God blesses others - and maybe even uses us in His ministry for His glory?

Ministry - serving God as stewards of His gospel - which is about what all of us are created and called to - ministry is about God - His purposes - His glory.  Ministry is about people.  People that need to know Jesus and to live following Him.

In 1:24, Paul writes, “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake...”  In 2:5, Paul writes,  “I’m rejoicing with you…” 

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.

Paul’s answer:  “Yes, its worth it.” 

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1. Michael LeBoeuf, How To Win Customers And Keep Them For Life

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.