Northlake Church | October 22, 2017 | Mike Garner
Colossians 1:24-29 | Week 6 | SUFFERING
Locations & Times
Northlake Church
3610 Lohman Ford Rd, Lago Vista, TX 78645, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
Welcome to Northlake Church!
Welcome! We're glad that you found us! As you get to know us, you'll see that we are just like you, people learning what it means to follow Jesus in their everyday life. In order to take away some of the mystery of what happens on Sunday mornings around here, we've jotted down a few tips on visiting Northlake Church for the first time, click the link below to visit our website to get to know us a little better! We pray that today, you are encouraged, that you feel welcomed and that you are reminded just how much Jesus loves you!
http://www.mynorthlake.com/im-newOnline Giving
We believe all that we have comes from the gracious hand of our God. It's not ours to keep; we've been entrusted by Him to be good managers of all that He has given us. So we view the giving of our time, talents and resources to the Lord as an act of worship. Regarding the stewardship of our financial resources, there are several ways we can participate in worship through giving...physically giving at one of our Sunday Gatherings, via check or cash and digitally giving through our church app, our website, or clicking on the link below to access mobile giving. Give as the Lord leads you, not under guilt or compulsion, with a thankful heart. Thank you for worshiping God in this way and being a part of helping Northlake Church accomplish its purpose of making disciples who make disciples!
https://secure.subsplash.com/ui/access/QVNS25
COLOSSIANS 1:24-29 | SUFFERING
LIVE LIKE YOU'RE ON...
In Lago there is a bumper sticker that is pretty common, it reads...
Lago Vista...Live Like You're On Vacation
Is that right? Should we live like we are on vacation? How does that stand up to how Jesus has called us to live. Consider His words...
Mark 8:34-35
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.”
That doesn't sound like vacation, that sounds like MISSION!
To align ourselves with Jesus' challenge, for the disciple of Christ, that bumper sticker should read...
Northlake Church...Live Like You're On Mission
In Lago there is a bumper sticker that is pretty common, it reads...
Lago Vista...Live Like You're On Vacation
Is that right? Should we live like we are on vacation? How does that stand up to how Jesus has called us to live. Consider His words...
Mark 8:34-35
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.”
That doesn't sound like vacation, that sounds like MISSION!
To align ourselves with Jesus' challenge, for the disciple of Christ, that bumper sticker should read...
Northlake Church...Live Like You're On Mission
KEY QUESTION...
Will You CHOOSE To SUFFER to LIVE on MISSION?
Will You CHOOSE To SUFFER to LIVE on MISSION?
COLOSSIANS 1:24-29 ESV
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, 25 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, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 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. 28 HIM WE PROCLAIM, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
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, 25 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, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 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. 28 HIM WE PROCLAIM, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
"TO LIVE ON MISSION..."
1. REJOICE in our SUFFERING for Jesus [COL 1:24a]
- You will experience SUFFERING in your life
[Romans 8:16-17, 2 Corinthians 1:3-11]
- You should REJOICE in your suffering
* Paul experienced incredible suffering for the sake of Jesus and His Church [2 Corinthians 11:21-29]
* We should follow Paul's example as we suffer [1 Peter 4:13]
1. REJOICE in our SUFFERING for Jesus [COL 1:24a]
- You will experience SUFFERING in your life
[Romans 8:16-17, 2 Corinthians 1:3-11]
- You should REJOICE in your suffering
* Paul experienced incredible suffering for the sake of Jesus and His Church [2 Corinthians 11:21-29]
* We should follow Paul's example as we suffer [1 Peter 4:13]
"TO LIVE ON MISSION..."
2. SHOW the LOVE of Jesus [COL 1:24b]
This verse sounds a little confusing...was Jesus affliction lacking, insufficient? Is this what Paul was saying? Simply, the answer is no...Jesus' sacrifice and suffering on the cross was absolutely sufficient, lacking nothing. What Paul is saying here is that while the work of Jesus is sufficient, the expression of that message, of his suffering for those he loved, is incomplete until WE, as ministers of the Gospel, proclaim it through our suffering, identifying with Jesus in his! As we suffer, as others see us suffer, we have the opportunity to reenact the suffering of Jesus so that others can see the love he has for them, proclaiming the good news, the gospel, to the ones he loves and died for.
2. SHOW the LOVE of Jesus [COL 1:24b]
This verse sounds a little confusing...was Jesus affliction lacking, insufficient? Is this what Paul was saying? Simply, the answer is no...Jesus' sacrifice and suffering on the cross was absolutely sufficient, lacking nothing. What Paul is saying here is that while the work of Jesus is sufficient, the expression of that message, of his suffering for those he loved, is incomplete until WE, as ministers of the Gospel, proclaim it through our suffering, identifying with Jesus in his! As we suffer, as others see us suffer, we have the opportunity to reenact the suffering of Jesus so that others can see the love he has for them, proclaiming the good news, the gospel, to the ones he loves and died for.
QUOTE: JOHN PIPER
“What’s missing is the in-person presentation of Christ’s sufferings to the people for whom he died. The afflictions are lacking in the sense that they are not seen and known among the nations. They must be carried by ministers of the gospel. And those ministers of the gospel fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ by extending them to others. Paul sees his own suffering as the visible reenactment of the sufferings of Christ so that they will see Christ’s love for them.”
“What’s missing is the in-person presentation of Christ’s sufferings to the people for whom he died. The afflictions are lacking in the sense that they are not seen and known among the nations. They must be carried by ministers of the gospel. And those ministers of the gospel fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ by extending them to others. Paul sees his own suffering as the visible reenactment of the sufferings of Christ so that they will see Christ’s love for them.”
"TO LIVE ON MISSION..."
3. SHARE the WORD of Jesus [COL 1:25]
Part of the purpose of suffering is that we would make the Word of God fully known...when we do that, it gives context for our lives; purpose, meaning, hope, correction, wisdom, particularly in the area of suffering
- God's Word must be FULLY KNOWN IN ME
- God's Word must be FULLY KNOWN IN OTHERS
3. SHARE the WORD of Jesus [COL 1:25]
Part of the purpose of suffering is that we would make the Word of God fully known...when we do that, it gives context for our lives; purpose, meaning, hope, correction, wisdom, particularly in the area of suffering
- God's Word must be FULLY KNOWN IN ME
- God's Word must be FULLY KNOWN IN OTHERS
"TO LIVE ON MISSION..."
4. REMEMBER our HOPE ALONE is in JESUS [COL 1:27]
JESUS + nothing
Q: What do you run to? What is the object of your "hope"? In the midst of difficulty, suffering, where do you find your security, comfort?
4. REMEMBER our HOPE ALONE is in JESUS [COL 1:27]
JESUS + nothing
Q: What do you run to? What is the object of your "hope"? In the midst of difficulty, suffering, where do you find your security, comfort?
"TO LIVE ON MISSION..."
5. We must PROCLAIM Jesus [COL 1:28]
- We will struggle and toil in life
- We are strengthened by a powerful, divine energy, and by that...
- God is at work in and through us
- So that...we can PROCLAIM JESUS, in everything, even using our suffering as a means to 'fill up what is lacking in his suffering'...allowing us to have the opportunity to give and in-person presentation of JESUS' suffering to the people for whom he died
5. We must PROCLAIM Jesus [COL 1:28]
- We will struggle and toil in life
- We are strengthened by a powerful, divine energy, and by that...
- God is at work in and through us
- So that...we can PROCLAIM JESUS, in everything, even using our suffering as a means to 'fill up what is lacking in his suffering'...allowing us to have the opportunity to give and in-person presentation of JESUS' suffering to the people for whom he died
Q: WHAT DOES SUFFERING LOOK LIKE FOR US?
--- Maybe suffering for you looks like HARDSHIP or DIFFICULTYor STRUGGLE in your life
--- Maybe suffering needs to look like SACRIFICE, SURRENDER, SUBMISSION, Taking up our cross daily, dying to self, following Jesus, at all cost!
--- Maybe suffering for you looks like HARDSHIP or DIFFICULTYor STRUGGLE in your life
--- Maybe suffering needs to look like SACRIFICE, SURRENDER, SUBMISSION, Taking up our cross daily, dying to self, following Jesus, at all cost!
Q: WILL YOU CHOOSE TO SUFFER?
Are we willing to CHOOSE TO SUFFER?
Are we willing to put our wants, our desires, our comfort...TO DEATH?
Are we willing to offer our lives as LIVING SACRIFICES to Jesus, daily obeying him, abiding in him, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, proving that we are disciples of Jesus?
Are we willing to HURT, to intentionally CHOOSE SUFFERING through SURRENDER...
--- for the sake of Jesus
--- for the sake of the Gospel
--- for the sake of the ones for whom he died and loves…
Are we willing to SUFFER for HIS cause?
Are we willing to CHOOSE TO SUFFER?
Are we willing to put our wants, our desires, our comfort...TO DEATH?
Are we willing to offer our lives as LIVING SACRIFICES to Jesus, daily obeying him, abiding in him, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, proving that we are disciples of Jesus?
Are we willing to HURT, to intentionally CHOOSE SUFFERING through SURRENDER...
--- for the sake of Jesus
--- for the sake of the Gospel
--- for the sake of the ones for whom he died and loves…
Are we willing to SUFFER for HIS cause?
CHALLENGE TO CHOOSE SUFFERING...
I’m convinced that Jesus wants to use each of us individually and us corporately as Northlake Church to do these things…but it requires a choice, a willingness to choose to put to death our own wants, preferences, comfort, and to surrender our lives completely to Jesus. To choose Suffering for the sake of Jesus, for the sake of the Gospel, for the sake of those who he died to save…will you do it? I am committed…I will surrender…I choose to suffer...I will live on mission...
REJOICING in my SUFFERING
SHOWING the LOVE of Jesus
SHARING the WORD of Jesus
REMEMBERING my HOPE alone is in Jesus
PROCLAIMING Jesus with my LIFE
I’m convinced that Jesus wants to use each of us individually and us corporately as Northlake Church to do these things…but it requires a choice, a willingness to choose to put to death our own wants, preferences, comfort, and to surrender our lives completely to Jesus. To choose Suffering for the sake of Jesus, for the sake of the Gospel, for the sake of those who he died to save…will you do it? I am committed…I will surrender…I choose to suffer...I will live on mission...
REJOICING in my SUFFERING
SHOWING the LOVE of Jesus
SHARING the WORD of Jesus
REMEMBERING my HOPE alone is in Jesus
PROCLAIMING Jesus with my LIFE