The Purpose and Work of Ministry

Colossians- The Preeminence of Jesus Christ

Lesson Six: The Purpose and Work of Ministry

Last lesson we looked at Colossians 1:24-27 and learned that ministry involves suffering. Paul began to explain how the mystery that now has been revealed, namely, the person of Christ and Him living in all believers, gives us the certain hope of a holy and glorious presentation at the judgment seat of Christ (cf. vs. 22-23). The key is to have a steadfast faith which is produced by maintaining a focus on the hope of the gospel of grace (vs. 1:5).

We were also reminded that in our service to others, our life of ministry, we are identifying with Christ, serving for the benefit of others, and living out our calling from God. This is the only way we can experience joy through the times of suffering in ministry. 

In this lesson we will see Paul’s purpose and strategy in ministry and realize the hard work it requires.

Ministry aims at maturity (1:28)

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 

Paul taught people about Christ. This seems elementary or that it should go without saying, but think about it. How many times have you been to a ministry gathering where the person of Christ or His word was not the focus of the teaching? Paul was concerned with what people believed because it significantly impacts our spiritual lives. This is what chapter two will be all about, correcting heresy about spiritual growth, then chapter three Paul will teach the true way we grow up in Christ. 

Why did Paul focus on Christ and His truth when teaching? Because his goal was to present every man complete or mature in Christ (cf. John 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).  Wisdom refers to truth with application. The ministry God gave Paul was a ministry of sanctification, an inner change because of Christ and His dwelling in believers (vs. 1:27, 2:2) that is manifested in our lives through the things we do. 

So we see Paul’s purpose- to equip believers toward spiritual maturity

We also see Paul’s strategy- to proclaim Christ with the truth of application 

Ministry aims at maturity.

Serving others is hard work (1:29-2:3)

To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Ministry is not easy. Notice Paul considers it “labor” and “struggling” (cf. vs. 1:24). Working toward people living in victory over sin with a knowledge and wisdom of the scripture is no easy task. But now that Christ lives in us, the only way to be certain of success is to rely on the power He provides. If you serve in your own power you will be disappointed and in failure. The only way to experience the ministry of serving others the way God intends is to rely on the power He provides. We will see how to do this in chapter three. Here, we see Paul’s heart for serving others toward spiritual growth.

Vs. 2:1-3

I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

 

Paul was concerned for the Colossians, the people in Laodicea, which was a city about 11 miles away, and all the people he had not even met face to face. Notice Paul is “struggling for them.” His concern, purpose, and goal for those he ministered to consists of three primary things:

1. Their hearts would be encouraged
2. They would be knit together in love
3. They would attain the wealth of the full assurance of understanding about the knowledge of the mystery of God

Here again we see the importance of believers being a community of encouragement and love (cf. vs. 1:4). The absence of love is the presence of criticism and conflict. The first thing we must have in order to experience the encouragement that Paul is suffering and working for is to be a community of believers that is bound together in love.

Paul also desired that believers experience the blessing and riches of God that come from proper understanding of the mystery. Many false teachers were teaching heresy regarding spiritual growth. Paul is setting the record strait and saying that in order to grow spiritually you must experience the mystery of God, which is the person of Christ and Him living in you. 

It is in Christ that we find all the treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge. If we want to benefit from Christ being in us we must maintain our focus on Him. Not just in word, but in action.

Notice that Paul already had this understanding. His ministry wasn’t about him; it was about others receiving the knowledge he had, the understanding of proper spiritual growth. 

Ministry is about serving and suffering for others. It’s about putting other people before you and working toward people being encouraged, knit together in love, and having the proper knowledge of God and His Son Jesus Christ. Our lives should reflect this in the way we serve others and realize the joy of suffering, the goal of maturity, and the hard work of encouraging and loving others to understand the beauty of Christ. Although it requires suffering and hard work, helping someone to live their life more focused on Christ and to experience the glory of Christ living in them is the greatest impact you could ever have on anyone!

Israel Day Seven- Living Set Apart to God

Megiddo

Our first stop was Megiddo. This was another tough place to visit due to the pagan Ba’al worship that was practiced here. Throughout the scripture Megiddo is mentioned several times. 

Joseph defeated the king of Megiddo during his conquest (Joshua 12:7, 21). During the time of the Judges God allotted this city to the tribe of Manasseh, who failed to drive out all the Canaanites (No.33:52; Judges 1:27).  Solomon fortified this city as a place of defense (1 Kings 9:15, 10:26). Probably the most popular thing Megiddo is known for is the battle of Armageddon. This is when last great gathering of armies (good vs evil) will take place at the end of the tribulation, just before Christ returns to establish His kingdom (Rev. 16:13-16). In Hebrew, Har Megiddo, often translated Armageddon, means the “Hill of Megiddo.”

When we visited we focused on the Canaanite practice of Ba’al worship which revolved around the cycles of nature necessary for survival and prosperity, namely, growing crops, raising livestock, and the growth of human populations. There are so many gross practices of this pagan worship that I can’t recount them all there. Some of the worst parts are the practice were unnatural orgies and infant sacrifice, both led by the priests and priestesses. 

Ba’al had a mistress named Ashora, in Greek she is called Ischtar, and in English she is called Easter. She was considered the goddess of fertility and her ancient symbol was a rabbit and an egg.  Makes you think twice about the Easter egg hunt, especially if you have been there and realize its origins. It is perhaps one more way we as Christians could be set apart (sanctified) from one of the seemingly innocent practices of the world. We should celebrate the true reason for the season, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We learned that Easter day would be better referred to as Resurrection Day! Amen?

Mount Carmel

Interestingly, our next step of Mount Carmel, which was considered Ba’al country and the place associated with its practice in Israel. We climbed to the top and saton the cliff and studied how when Ahab was king over Israel he had no problem dishonoring God and even strived to provoke Him to anger (1 Kings 16:29-33). He even went as far as to marry a foreign woman named Jezebel and allow her to worship her pagan god Ba’al (this is the exact reason God forbid Jews marrying foreign women). Ahab even set up an alter and a Temple to Ba’al and Easter (aka. Ashora or Ischtar) in Samaria.

The greatest thing about our visit here is when God proved Himself as true and Baal as false. This is where the prophet Elijah called down fire from heaven when the prophects of Ba’al could not. I would encourage you to read the biblical account in 1 Kings 18:16-45, esp. vs. 39 where the people fall prostrate and cried out the Lord of Elijah, “the Lord-he is God’” referring to the God of Israel as the true God! Read and celebrate God’s victory over pagan worship and pagan practice. Then think about how we can bring the light of Christ to a dark world. Not by imitating them in ignorance but showing how the One we worship is the only true being worthy of worship and how we celebrate Him alone. How has God called me to reflect the truth of Christ in a dark world of paganism?

 

Olive Grove

At the bottom of Mt. Carmel is one of the oldest working olive groves in Israel. In Romans 11 Paul used the olive tree as an illustrative picture of the union between the two people’s of God, Israel and the Church (Romans 11:17-24). Basically, the nation of Israel is the root of our faith and the Church is an olive shoot that has been grafted in due to Israel’s unfaithfulness. However, we must never forget God’s original chosen people and the promises He has made to them. He has not forgotten the nation of Israel! We honor the nation of Israel as we participate in some of the blessings promised to her as a result of being grafted in as the new chosen people of God, the Church. The Bible Knowledge Commentary and the Nelson’s Commentary have great explanations of this passage.

Caesarea by the Sea

We traveled to the Mediterranean Sea and visited the ancient city of Caesarea. This city was founded by Harod the Great in 22_BC and was the place of Roman government for over five hundred years. Caesarea was the home of Roman procurators, included Pontius Pilate. It  was really cool to visit because half the book of Acts takes place here. Philip took the gospel here (Acts 8:40), Peter took the gospel to Cornelius and the Gentiles (Acts 10), Paul sailed to Tarsus from here after his conversion (Acts 9:30) and all of Paul’s missionary journeys either began or ended here. Paul stopped here while traveling from Ephesus to Jerusalem (Acts 18:22), he was taken here by soldiers when the Jews sought to kill him (Acts 23:23-33), he was imprisoned in the palace here for about two years (Acts 23:35), and Paul’s three defenses were made here, before Felix (Acts 24), before Festus (Acts 25:1-12), and before King Agrippa (Acts 26).

This was a great place to visit and soak in the place where so much New Testament history happened as the church was being established.