Paul's Ministry: Fulfilling the Word of God

What I learned out of this passage was so exciting to me because really you have here eight different aspects of the ministry of the servant of God in different aspects that should characterize and serve Jesus Christ at salvation. How right from the start. You have all you need for a life of joy and godliness.

It's titled complete in Christ John, when you think about the great biblical themes that are important for any redeemed center to understand this when the idea that we are complete in Christ is certainly on that list of important truths. It's really a foundational truth for our daily walk with the Lord and I know it's been a theme of your ministry for years and years, but it's probably not talked about or thought about by most Christians today as much as it should be.

I think I grew up thinking that even though I was a Christian.

There was something more out there that I needed to pursue a course that shows up in certain theologies is a second work of grace or third work of grace or deeper life a deeper life that there's a there's a level of spirituality that you ascend to now you can have Jesus as Savior and then if you get serious, you can make him Lord and that catapult you into another level.

I think all of that basically goes against what Scripture says that you are complete in Christ and now it's one thing to be complete in Christ did something else to reach the maturity where you access all that is available and that's what I think Paul was talking about when he said he wanted to present believers fully matured in Christ so you are complete in Christ and that you have all spiritual blessings in heavenly. You have all everything that pertains to life and godliness. But while those resources are available there.

Not necessarily manifest in their fullness until we begin to take access into the throne of God and draw down these resources because they're the most important things that heaven has to offer us on earth can compare with what heaven provides this marvelous truth of being complete in Christ is the subject of our new series launching today and it's a series of looks at Paul's great love for the church at Colossae and in his burden for them in his desire that men and women in that congregation would live and thrive in the knowledge of all the spiritual resources they have in the Lord Jesus Christ.

That church in Colossae had been hammered by false doctrine which brought anguish to the heart of Paul and while imprisoned in Rome and literally chained to a Roman soldier. He wrote this epistle to refute heresy and strengthen the Christians in Colossae and of course all the rest of us through the ages what the apostle Paul had to say to the first century church is vital for us today. In fact, I can't think of anything more important for a believer sanctification, then, to understand what it means to be complete in Christ knowing the riches available to you in this life that's right and friend as you stay with us over the next three weeks, you're going to see how your heavenly riches equip you for every decision strengthen you through every trial undergird every relationship and make you more useful for spiritual service. So stay here as John MacArthur shows you what it means to be complete in Christ. I like to have you turn in your Bible to the first chapter of Colossians. This little book. It is a very long, it's only four chapters was a letter written by the apostle Paul who wrote 13 of the New Testament books was written to a group of believers in a city called Colossae not a city of tremendous importance, but nevertheless, a city of some significance in that particular city that was found in the little church. The man responsible was a man named a pass for us and apparently he was the initial pastor of that small congregation in that city.

A city that was in a triad of cities, including Laodicea and hierarchal us as well as Colossae and the like is Valley. The apostle Paul is writing to them because they're undergoing some problems. The church is being confronted with some people are teaching false doctrine about the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and it's very important that the apostle Paul write this letter to straighten them out now. You notice in verse 23 ends with a word minister father said that regarding this truth about Christ that he is just spoken. He was made a minister, the term minister then triggers Paul's thoughts for the next section because in verses 24 to 29. He describes his ministry.

He says I am made a minister, and then he launches into a description of what that ministry involves and it is a ministry to proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ frequently in Paul's letters and I'm sure you've come across it time and time again as we have in our studies frequently in his letters he stops to discuss his ministry. Paul frequently says I am an apostle. I do this I do this this way. This is how I operate.

This is how I function in EE makes a very very strong point again and again and again and again of the style and type and approach of his ministry he does it for many reasons. He does it to for one reason, to defend his right to speak for God, he says, from time to time.

I am a sent one from God at the end of 23 he says I am made a minister. I didn't choose this, I was made a minister, and this should give him some credibility.

This should give him some some punch in speaking of.

He says it then to defend his right to speak for God will establish his authority. He says it also to express the wonder that he has in his mind that God called him. He continually reiterates the truth of his ministry because it is such a thrill to him it's more than just a defense. It's also something that is exciting to and he wants the people to hear him, not as a self-styled self-appointed noncredentialed false teacher like so many that existed in the world, but he wants them to hear him as the spokesman for God.

And so we repeatedly accredits his ministry now as I began to look at this passage I kind of cheating and on the statement at the end of verse 27 Christ in you the hope of glory.

And I thought Lana build around that theme, and so I got that in my mind, I began to study in several hours of study went by my mind. I realize that that is really not the theme of what he saying that is a theme in what he says but it is not the theme the theme that he has in mind, through all of these verses is simply to present a detailed look at his ministry and what I learned out of this passage was so exciting to me because really you have the year eight different aspects of the ministry of the servant of God. Eight different aspects that should characterize the life of anybody who serves the Lord Jesus Christ. Anybody was called a teacher, preacher, minister within the framework of Christianity. There are eight of these and when it all comes together, you're going to get a beautiful pattern of the ministry. As Paul views it is a tremendous tremendous portion of Scripture because this is what he carefully does in these verses.

Now to begin with. Point 1. The source of the ministry. As Paul looks at his ministry he wants to talk about the source of it and that you see in verse 23 at closing out the last portion of verse 25 is well known as the end of verse 23 that statement, of which I Paul end of which in reference to the gospel back in the verse in the middle of the verse, the gospel which you heard which was preached to every creature under heaven which I Paul am made a minister, the word minister is not a highfalutin word. It's not an elevated term. It's it's a very very low term. It's the word diaconate asked which means servant. I am made a servant, not how was Paul made a minister, how is he made a servant go back to the 26th chapter of acts and I want to show you something. Notice acts 2613 at midday, okaying areas, telling Agrippa how it all happen is giving his personal testimony at midday old king I saw in the way a light from heaven. I'm walking to Damascus I saw a light from heaven. It was brighter than the sun shining around about me and demo journeyed with me and when we were all fallen to earth.

The whole entourage went down.

I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me it is hard for you to kick against the thorns or the goats when they used to have an ox working in a field in order to keep the ox going the right direction are not checked they put pointed goats right against the heels of the ox and if the ox kicked too bad so the ox learned okay and the Lord says it's hard for you to fight against the resist me to kick against me and I said who are you, Lord, recognize that it was the Lord wanted more specific title. He said I'm Jesus, whom you persecuting but rise and stand on your feet, for I've appeared on you for this purpose. Now what's this next word to what to make you a minister now. Paul did not choose to be a minister.

He was made a minister and a witness of the things which you seen those things in which I will appear on the you, delivering you from the people from the Gentiles, under whom now I send you Paula, I have chosen you to go to the Gentiles.

You are now hereby made a minister now tape people.

That's a pretty strong state and I can relate to that. As you know, that's exactly what the Lord did to me, threw me out of the car going on about 75 miles an hour skidded me all over the place woke me up when it was all down and spoke to my heart and said MacArthur you are now in the ministry and I said right, whatever you say in a fight like this. I quit and that's precisely what happened. I had three months in bed to let that decision, sink into my heart, the Lord makes ministers.

His ministers are those who are called he's done it throughout the Old Testament.

Read the story of the prophet. You have no self-styled self-appointed prophets there called of God that Paul makes this clear again and again in his ministry and in the 15th chapter of Romans. In the 15th verse. Nevertheless, brother. Romans 1515.

I have written the more boldly unto you to remind you, because of the grace that is given to me of God that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. The reason I'm so bold in writing to you Gentiles is because the Lord has made me a servant to you Gentiles I am only carrying out my ministry. I'm only doing that which God has called me to do in second Corinthians chapter 3 verse four we read again and such trust, have we through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, our sufficiency is of God. Not that I'm self-confident. He says, in other words, my confidence and my trust comes because my sufficiency comes from God. That's what he say God has called me into this and God has equipped me for this, I would say this, you will choose the ministry that God desires for you. God chooses that you are either obedient or disobedient.

In first Timothy we find in chapter 1 verse 12. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me listen in that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry pauses. I'm here because he put me here. First Timothy chapter 2 verse five. There is one God and one mediator between God and man to man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time. Listen for this I am ordained a preacher and an apostle, a teacher of the Gentile is been ordained of God. This isn't something that I whimsically chose in second Timothy 111 it says, under which I am appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles repeating the same three term now who made Paula minister God who is the source then of ministry God whatever gifts you have received to operate within the body of Christ who gave you those gift or in the first written in chapter 12. The Holy Spirit gives to to all man severally as he will is the spirit of God, who manifests himself in the gifts of the Spirit in order that we might minister it is God who calls us it is God who puts us in the ministry isn't something we choose. Notice again in Colossians chapter 1 verse 25 because you have it again in the same terms.

Colossians 125 says, of which I am made a minister, here it is again same statement. I am made a minister, according to the dispensation or the stewardship of God which is given to me for you to fulfill the word of God. Notice this, I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me stop the word dispensation like a nominee on non-mosses law or rule only cusses how's it means to rule house it means to be a steward of somebody else's possessions to be a one who rules for the house owner refers to somebody given great responsibility steward is known anything he manages something for somebody else. The house owner would have a steward in those days would manage his whole house and they were.

This was we had a large estate and so that the need. The house owner could go anywhere he wanted the steward would take care of everything, employment, wages, taking care of the supplies in the house making sure everything was carried out a very great responsibility. God owns this church, it's his house. It's his temple.

And God says I want to point you to rule in my behalf in my church. It suggest being given a great estate to manage the word. This, of which I made a servant according to the stewardship or if you want a good word for that, according to the God-given responsibility according to the God-given responsibility which I have received it's a divine office. Paul's it's God's plan.

It's God's church.

It's God's gospel.

It's God's Christ it's God's message. It's God's truth. It's God's word and he says luck, Paul will you manage it for me. I'm in the ministry because God is put me I'm steward.

Moreover, prescriptions for two is required in stewards that a man be found. What faithful just carry out the task pauses God has given me a task God has given me a divine responsibility and I'm obligated to fulfill it. God is the source of my ministry prescript is 916 four though I preach the gospel.

I have nothing to be proud of. I have nothing to boast about nothing to cause self glory for necessity is laid on me.

Yay was always under me. If I don't preach the gospel also select the mesial Paul is a wonderful year minister. Oh Paul, what a self-sacrificing wonderful you and you are ill. Sadie left, I was going on the Damascus Road minding my own business and I got grounded in this deal.

Don't tap me on the back.

I didn't ask for it and now it's a situation whereby don't fulfill it I'm in a lot of trouble. So don't tap me on the back about it.

I had nothing to do with it. Probably a lot more responsibility and I want anyway. He says in verse 17.

If I did it willingly, then I would have a reward but it's against my will. It's strictly a responsibility that's been committed to me that's all it something given to me. I didn't ask for it but I'm in a lot of trouble if I don't fulfill it.

So don't get me on the back. Pray for me.

In Galatians chapter 2 verse seven, Paul says, on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel of the circumcision or the gospel that goes to the Gentiles was committed to me will stop right there.

That's all we want is that phrase he says the gospel to the Gentiles was committed to me and every choice in Ephesians chapter 3 pieces for this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles.

If you have heard of the dispensation, or if you've heard of the responsibility that God has given me how that by revelation he made known to me the mystery and then he said in verse seven of which I was made a minister by his grace. In other words, you must know that God has called me and God has made me a prisoner of Christ. I'm chained to Christ. I can't get away. I got this madness responsibility to reveal the truth that God gives me to dispense the mysteries.

Those of the truth of God's word. I was made a minister God is called us to a tremendous responsibility and that's why no matter who you are as a Christian, the spirit of God is giving you certain gifts and if he's given you those gifts he's called you to minister those gifts and you you need to do that to serious responsibility. If you possess a gift of the Spirit, then you are a steward of something that belongs to God and you are a minister that you are dispense it to those in need of it.

First Peter 410 as every man that's all of us has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Every Christian is received spiritual gifts.

Every Christian has received gifts. If you have then minister them as a good steward of steward you hold that gift, but it is in your own you're going to use it, manage it, for God's glory. If you have a speaking gift, then speak as the oracles of God.

If you have a serving gift, then served with the ability that God gives that God may be glorified. The source of all ministry is God will choose that and so what am I saying I'm saying you had better examine your own heart to see what God is called you to do you a better search your own heart to see what your spiritual gifts are there are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit differences of administration, but the same Lord diversities of the operations but is the same God working in all, there are different gifts here every one of you are different, but you get been given a stewardship and it's from God and he's the source of that calling and the source of that gift and you better use that thing because your steward someday when you face Jesus Christ. The record of your stewardship is what is going we wanted to do with the gifts you will get you to be like the servant who buried in the ground and said I knew you were tough to handle.

So I just bared and held onto it, or even to be the kind of multiplied stewardship.

So in any ministry. Whatever it is, God calls us.eclipses God assigns us, maybe not as dramatically as the Damascus Road experience. Paul had but just as truly the source of the ministry is God. He says I am made a minister verse 23 verse 25 I am made a minister, according to a God-given responsibility. Second, and this is really neat. He not only talks about the source of the ministry, but the spirit of the ministry. The spirit of the as we serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Recognizing God is called us what should be our attitude should be the spirit in which we serve.

Verse 24 watches mystery three words, who now what's 1/3 word rejoice. What's the spirit of the ministry word with three letter joy. The spirit of the ministry is joy. Whatever our ministry is we are to enjoy it.

It's a sad reality. I think that many ministering Christians don't have the right attitude, not just on enough joyous Christian notice on another happy Christian like a little girl so the mule and over the long face like that must be wonderful. Chris know that a lot of people been given a tremendous responsibility by God but but they gradually carried out reporting on suburban award just agonize. Where's the joy sad reality that many pastors lost the joy of the ministry. They don't have the right attitude.

They get like Jonah know even when it goes good there angry there, hesitant, reluctant bitter or resentful say yeah but I got it tough in my ministry. It's hard to have joy.

Oh. Think of this one.

If you ever think you got it tough in your ministry and you can't find joy listen to these words.

Looking on the Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him. What endured the cross, despising the shame, why did he do it for the joy that was set before Jesus never lost the joy of what he is doing never ever why should you, you haven't suffered on the blood yet he says are you having died in your service.

Oftentimes you talk to somebody and even another pastor, Sarah lost the joy, the ministry what that mean that doesn't mean to me that they got bad circumstances. That means to me. They got bad connections.

See because you don't lose the joy it was to lose the Lord if you lose the Lord. I got a redo my theology. See there's joy in the ministry what's easy to get discouraged with circumstance.

All was.

He said I have continual sorrow and heaviness of heart concerning my people Israel, but he never lost the internal joy calls joy was generated because of what Christ done for him and I'll take some else. Keep this in mind. Humility generates joy.

You know something. Humility generates joy in the sense always thought of himself as so unworthy that even having the privilege of dying for Jesus Christ was cause for joy get that he always thought of himself as so unworthy that even the privilege of dying for Jesus Christ was a cause for joy as he knew that he was worthy of that when you lose the joy, is when you get to think in your too good to be suffering what your suffered or to be having it like you're having, that's the wrong perspective joyful. Christians are absolutely dramatically effective on the world spirit of the ministries, joy Colossians right there. Chapter 2 verse five Paul's in jail in Rome here, chained to a Roman soldier as he writes, he says, for though I am absent in the flesh, yet I my with you in the spirit joy, eating, and beholding your order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

Absolutely undaunted was the sky because his joy was always based on the perpendicular in first Thessalonians, he writes think it's chapter 2, there verse 19 he says what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing are not you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ that is coming for you are our glory and joy. Listen, he rejoiced about God and he rejoiced about everybody else and consummately what happened in the matter you say. I don't know I don't care what I go through when I see that you know the Lord Jesus Christ and that your to be there the second coming. I'm so happy I could care less about me that's really say when you see somebody without joy to ministries because they're selfish and they think they deserve better than they got they were lifted their hearts they don't even deserve what they got right. That's why Paul kept his joy, because anything that came to him, even suffering was something more that he felt were the receive rotation once the joy is gone. Your trouble and locked is everything you try to do is going to be works. Legalism have little effect when the thieves that rob us of joy for the thieves that rob you circumstances, people, people are thieves. They still joy things, worry, that's the worst one of the guards to protect your joy, humility, devotion to Christ trusting God's this is grace to you with John MacArthur. Thanks for being with us. John has titled his current study from Colossians 1 and to complete in Christ and a friend.

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Even during the hardest suffering. John is continuing his study complete in Christ with another 30 minutes of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on grace to you