Kaleo San Diego Church

INTRODUCTION

Two events this last week has caught the attention of our media. One is the bombing which occurred in London this week killing fifty as three 10 pound explosives were detonated in their subway system and one was detonated in a double decker bus tearing the roof off. The death toll is 50 so far but it will surely climb as rescue workers fight off rats to get body part to identify more victims. The other news story is happening as we speak as a category 4 hurricane Dennis sets its sights on U.S. Gulf Coast and should hit land right about now. It has already taken 32 lives and should wreak havoc along the Alabama and Florida Coast. Winds will reach about 155 miles per hour and the one which brought terror and horror last September, Ivan, was only a category 3.

The reason I tell you this as we begin our service this morning is because I believe strongly that one thing we lack in America is a true sense of suffering. I’m not saying that we don’t suffer at all, I’m simply saying that when terror comes by way of terrorists or by way of weather, we are not stunned unless it happens to us. Most of us did not wake up this morning in the throws of agony and pain as we considered the lives that will be destroyed by this storm and the homes lost. More than likely when we heard the news about the bombs exploding in London it may have only kept our attention for a day or two and then we went about our business coming and going to work, watching reruns on T.V., or doing an activity that gets our mind off of what’s happening in the rest of the world. Perhaps some of you didn’t even know about these two news items.

I’m not trying to kill your joy this morning by telling you all about the suffering that is occurring in this world as we speak. The roughly 165 lives which will be taken from Christians as they give up their life for the glory of Christ, the countless babies and children that will die this morning from the painful death of starvation, or the number of murders and torture that is occurring each day in countries all around the globe. My point is that if we are going to have any kind or form of legitimate joy, we must deal with suffering as part of the human condition. It is not reserved for only those in third-world countries, and it could happen to any one of us at times and moments we least expect. From cancer to heart failure, from disease to car crashes, this experience has a time and circumstance waiting for each of us.

The goal in our day is to do all we can to avoid suffering because we try to live a modern hedonistic life that assures us happiness through absence of pain an the increase of pleasure. This is what we are sold, told, and expected to buy into as a good consumer.

When we are faced with true suffering, and I distinguish true suffering from false suffering because much of what we consider suffering is due to our own foolish decisions- I didn’t pay my electric bill and now I’m suffering without my cable t.v., or I didn’t pay my gas bill and now I’m suffering cold showers. I’m not speaking about self-imposed suffering which is really no more than modern inconvenience but is the closest we have to true suffering so we pity in it.

I’m speaking of the kind of suffering which takes your breath away, the kind of suffering where your knees grow week and you have to sit down to take it in. I’m speaking of a suffering which comes to us in ways and times that we would have never expected and in a fashion we could have never imagined. Much suffering happens to us because we have done something wrong, we smoke for 30 years and get lung cancer, we sleep around and catch a sexually transmitted disease, we drink like a 40 year old frat guy on perpetual spring break and pickle our liver. Those things are horrific and we should find compassion for those people even if their actions caused their suffering. But what about those that are attempting to live well, care for themselves and still get a horrible disease, still find out their heart is failing, still have to face the terror of chemo-therapy? This kind of suffering while trying to live right is what should shock us this morning because it is this kind of suffering that Paul and every Christian is called to endure. Perhaps not with the same physical results I just mentioned or event the physical marks that we hear are marks on Paul’s body, but the kind of suffering which comes precisely because we are doing what we know we are called to and which we know is the right course of action.

Oddly, what we are going to see is that what causes you and I to be truly happy, truly joyful, truly satisfied, is born from suffering and is the very thing we try to avoid.

Paul didn’t attempt to avoid his suffering, which is why he can declare to the church in Colossae these next words with much confidence and authority.

STUDY

Verse 24-Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake…

I want us to think about what Paul is saying here and the context in which he makes this claim. Paul was a Jew who from a human standard was top of his class. He was advanced in learning beyond many of his contemporaries, he was trained under Gamaliel who was one of the greatest teachers of his day, we was schooled in Greco-Roman culture, was considered zealous as a Pharisee which was the most legalistic and pious religious sect of Judaism. He was so committed to his religion he even passionately pursued Christians to have them arrested, totured, and even gave the nod to murder. This was a man that hated the name of Jesus, hated the followers of Jesus and carried with him human authority which allowed his hatred to be exercised upon those he hated.

This same Paul was introduced to Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus as he was traveling to get letters from the synagogues at Damascus so that he could arrest men and women who belonged to “the Way” (which were Christians) and bring them bound to Jerusalem to have them tried.

As he was on the road, he met Jesus the true King with all authority and he fell to the ground blinded by the glory of Jesus as He asked him a simple question “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Later in chapter Acts 9, you see Ananias basically asking Jesus if he was sure that Saul was the right guy for the job. He says in verse 13 and 14 - "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."

This is Jesus response to Ananias- 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake."

One thing we know, is that Jesus is faithful to keep His word. Paul did suffer, and suffer while living for His King.

Listen to what happened to Paul:

1 Corinthians 4:9-13 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. 11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; 12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 13 when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

Paul’s view of suffering was a mark of his authority which came from Christ. If you ever want to look at what authority is, according the Apostle Paul, read 2^nd Corinthians 11. This letter is perhaps the most painful letter in the New Testament because in tears it tear Paul apart that this church which was founded by him is now asking him for a letter of reference. It’s heartbreaking. The Corinthians assumed they no longer needed Paul. He teases them, weeps with them, plays with them and uses every rhetorical trick to persuade them towards Christ.

Turn with me to 2^nd Corinthians 11 to see how this authority was shown in suffering.

2 Corinthians 11:1-33 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. 5 For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles. 6 But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things. 7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge? 8 I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you; 9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. 16 Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. 17 What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also. 19 For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. 20 For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face. 21 To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold--I speak in foolishness--I am just as bold myself. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ?--I speak as if insane--I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? 30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, 33 and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.

Why in verse 31 does he make an oath of truth to the Corinthians? This is important because he tells them of all his suffering for Christ and ultimately for them, and then at the end he essentially tells them “you want an Apostle figure that is like the Greco-Roman heroes. You want me to look strong, put on an attitude of invisibility, you want me to boast about myself by giving you my resume to show my great accomplishments. If I’m to boast I’ll boast in all the wrong things in your eyes.”

Here’s my resume, Paul says. You want me to compare to the hero figures of our time, the “who’s who?” of our day?” Ok, here we go.

I labor more, have been in prison more, been beaten more, in danger of losing my life often. Beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, dogpaddling in the open water, in danger from rivers, robbers, my own countrymen, dangers from everyone everywhere. Sleepless nights, hardships without end, hungry, thirsty, etc. This is reputation suicide for Paul. He’s boasting in all the wrong things. This doesn’t show him as a great warrior, it shows him as someone who has taken beatings without giving them back, and someone who lets his persecutors escape. This is like saying “I’m unable to defend myself.” This is how he compares to the great figures of his day. By twisting what it looks like to lead and have authority.

Then in the climax of the entire train of thought, Paul makes that strange oath in verse 31 “The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.” Why does he say that?

In this time of history, in the Roman world, if you wanted to be viewed as a hero by society you would make an oath of what you did in battle. When Rome went to war and they were about to siege a city, they would set their ladders against the wall and the bravest would be the first over the wall. If he survived, he would come back before all the people and declare upon an oath to Caesar that he was first over in battle, he would then be given the Corona Morales, which is like the Medal of Honor and he would be hailed a hero by all the people. This is Paul’s big dismount in verse 33. Paul says, when the battle got going, and I was in danger of losing my life, I was let down in a basket and ran away! He subverted the pagan authority they wanted.

This is a strange authority that Paul brings to them. It is shameful in the eyes of the world to boast is such things and yet Paul does it with a desire to subvert their ridiculous notions of boasting in all the wrong things. He calls attention to his suffering and not his victories. Why? Because his victories are already won in Christ.

Listen to these passages from Paul-

Romans 5:3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

2 Corinthians 1:5-7 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

2 Corinthians 7:4-5 Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction. 5 For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

For Paul, to suffer mean to share with Christ’s sufferings.

Romans 8:17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

2 Corinthians 4:10-11 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Philippians 3:10-11 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul even has the audacity to declare that suffering is equal in measure as a gift as is believing in Jesus.

Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

…and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church…

Galatians 6:17 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.

...in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.

Paul is putting into practice the principle of the cross on Calvary. The vocation of the church, in essence and outworking of Calvary, is to suffer as Christ did. Christ is no longer suffering as a marginalized Galilean peasant. He is no longer hanging upon a cross of shame in the eyes of the world, but Paul understands that his pattern of glory is granted to us. Since the world hated Jesus, it will also hate us and we will be persecuted in various ways and with various intensity. Paul is bearing in his body what is no longer happening to Christ, he is continuing and filling up in himself what is no longer present in Jesus current state as exalted King. Jesus death was once for all of His, fully sufficient, and yet His followers will experience what He did. Shame, ridicule, persecution by emotion, financial, spiritual, and even physical. It is only in our American type of Christianity that we don’t realize the true essence of this. Those Christians in Sudan however do.

Verse 25-Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

Paul was called to this ministry according to the will of God. God called and filled Paul for the task of preaching the word of God. This was Paul’s life-work. He was consumed by it and eventually died as a result of it. Before his death, Paul exclaimed in a letter to his dear friend Timothy “I have fought the goof fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7).

This was single minded devotion, clear, direct focus on the task God had given him and enabled him to carry out fully. He set himself to do, not only know, God’s will, nothing more or less, and stayed within what narrow call. Without shrinking, without dereliction of duty of this divine message.

Paul’s authority came by God and was shown in suffering for the benefit of the Church, even to this day.

Verses 26-27- that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

God chose to make known to the gentiles the mystery which was hidden from them for ages. He chose to make them aware of Christ, the only hope of glory. This was not discovered by man, but revealed by God. God’s will was to declare Himself as Lord and Savior of people from all nations, race, tribes, and tongues. He has always King of all creation, and now He declares and reveals in this mystery that if we trust His eternal plan to rescue those which are cut off from by faith in the work of His Son, we can have Him as Savior. We can be his people and He will be our God.

Christ is then our hope of glory. It is a promise that we will not only see Christ and His glory with the eyes of our heart, we will one day see Him as He truly is in His unveiled glory. This gives us our future hope and this promise of blessing and glory for us in the future is an anchor to our soul today.

Verse 28-We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

WE PROCLAIM HIM!! To publicly declare a completed truth and event. That God has broken into history to reclaim what was lost in the Garden, to buy back slaves from Egypt, to pardon the guilty by placing the penalty upon His Son, to adopt children who were orphaned, to forgive those that are condemned, and to make His enemies His friends.

We admonish means to encourage counsel in view of sin and coming judgment. It is the responsibility of every church leader to do this, but it is also the responsibility of every Christian. If there is sin in the life of the believer, brothers and sisters are to come and take responsibility by lovingly, gently admonishing them to turn from their sin.

If we see a world given over to sin, we are to come and proclaim the truth of God, the mystery now revealed to every man so that they may lay down their arms and trust in their new King.

Teaching refers to imparting truth. It is the responsibility of the leaders and every Christian as well. It is part of the great commission. This must be done with all wisdom, which is practical discernment. What is the goal?

Next verse…

Verse 29-For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

The goal of the ministry is the maturity of the saints of God. Our aim is not to merely win people to Christ, but to bring them to spiritual maturity in Him. They will then be able to reproduce their faith in others.

We want them to be complete, or mature, to be like Christ. How does Paul say we do this?

We labor, we work to the point of exhausting, enduring suffering and working through it all. We are to strive, which means to complete an athletic event. We are to serve Christ in this way in some capacity as Christ works within you.

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