Sermon Cloud

Jesus > Our Circumstances

Colossians 1:24-29

Last week the word of God’s Word was probing our hearts and asking us where our foundation lies. We have two options: Christ or the World. This week the question is where are you? What are your circumstances? What is the situation of your life? And is the Jesus that you worship and follow greater than that situation? If he isn’t you aren’t following the True Jesus.

-          Have you been wrongly accused? Jesus Knows.

-          Have you been betrayed? Jesus knows.

-          Have you lost a loved one? Jesus knows.

• There is not a situation or a circumstance that the word of God doesn’t deal with.
  • David in the Psalms expresses very real emotions about his circumstances. He asks God “Why?”

-          In our text today we see the abandoned apostle in jail for the crime of carrying out God’s mission for his life. And yet he continues to rejoice and at one point identifies with Jesus’ own suffering in life as a source of comfort in his own life.

-          Ultimately though Paul looks to the grand story of God to wrestle with this issue of suffering and circumstances and comes to the point of rejoicing in that suffering and his present “miserable circumstance”

-          Today I hope that we can all draw encouragement from Paul’s Comforts in his “miserable circumstance”

Pray

Read: Colossians 1:24-29

-          Paul draws comfort from two things connected to the idea of mission to bring him to the point of rejoicing in his present “miserable circumstance”

-          Comfort #1 – Missio Dei – vs. 24-26

• The Missio Dei
  • God is at work in the world. He is reaching people in every avenue of life through every means necessary
    • Twitter
    • Job Relationships
    • Family
    • Accidents
    • Divine Appointments
      • All of these are things that we need to be aware of and look to leverage for the kingdom of God
        • We need to be consciously aware of God’s work in those around us and use every opportunity by any means necessary to reach out to them
          • Spirit Led not Purpose Driven
• Why is this comforting to Paul?
  • Paul in understanding that through carrying out God’s mission in the world he has ended up in jail can rejoice in knowing that he is there because of his service to God
    • Philippians 1:13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
  • vs. 24 – Paul sits in prison
    • What thoughts is he thinking?
      • Why God?
      • Where did I go wrong?
      • etc
        • This is what is lacking in his flesh
          • The questions
        • What conclusion does he come to?
          • He fills up what is lacking in his flesh by knowing that Jesus suffered
• Why is this comforting to us?
  • God didn’t stop working when the Word of God was finished
  • He is still active in our lives and in the lives of those around us
    • In the lives of our neighbors
      • and our families
  • We know that no matter what happens God is still at work
    •  In our lives
    • Our neighbors
    • Our families

-          Comfort #2 – Missio (Clay) – vs. 27-29

• Paul and us can take comfort in knowing that no matter what the circumstance no matter how deep the suffering and despair God is still working in us and those around us
• Additionally we can take comfort in knowing that God has a mission for our lives
  • Individually
    • How does this work?
      • God is working in the lives of those around us
      • We are around them
      • That’s not an accident
      • We fulfill our mission individually by Joining God’s work in those around us
• Paul’s mission was to take the Gospel to the Gentiles
• Knowing that He was in the center of God’s greater mission for the whole church and in the center of God’s specific mission for His life is what led Paul to rejoice in his present miserable circumstance.
• Knowing that everything we experience and go through is part of God’s sovereign plan is where we find comfort.
  • We are not alone.
    • Jesus suffered more than any man and more than any man he was undeserving yet
      • My favorite verses tell us that He did it with Joy in knowing that this was God’s will for His life
        • Hebrews 12:1-3  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  ³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

-          Reflect today and in the coming weeks what is God’s mission for your life. We know God’s mission for the church it is up to us to leverage our circumstances for God’s glory and find out how we can partner with God in spreading the Good News of Redemption, Reconciliation, and Christus Victor.

• Think of that Partnering with God!