Colossians 1:24-29: The Mystery

Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Introduction
Did you ever see one of those movies or read one of those books where everything appears normal, but below the surface, there is actually another story playing out, a story at once more sinister and marvelous? That the events we read about in the news or watch on TV are really the backdrop for another more “real” story. In fact, when I was younger I used to try and re-imagine what was going on around me and see if I could take the same events but fit them into an alternate plot; usually a spy novel. Is that guy following me? Why?

In the previous verses, Paul introduced two key ideas that he is going to spend a little more time on here at the end of chapter 1. First, Jesus was died to so that we would have a path back to God and, second, this good news had seriously impacted Paul’s life.

This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature
under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. – Colossians
1:23b

Now I took a look at the headlines this morning, but I didn’t see the word ‘gospel’ anywhere. The news this morning was full of politics and elections, sports results and stock market projections, a few comics, and a whole lot of ads. But the gospel ? Zippo. Nothing. Nada. So, where is this thing that was ‘proclaimed to every creature under heaven’? It sure is keeping a low profile. Is it sort of a stealth effort? A grassroots effort with a lot of roots and not a lot of grass? The topic of conversations held in secret by gospel agents?

A few weeks ago, I read an interview with two of the companies in the Sacramento area that produce campaign material, like banners, fliers, yard signs and campaign posters. They usually know who is thinking about running because they start getting requests for pricing and designs. They also said they always request cash up front, because, after the vote, sometimes its hard to find someone left to bill.

For someone without a campaign manager, Jesus sure does seem to get around. You seen his name popping up in all sorts of strange places. Never the front page. But there is a plot; a gospel conspiracy to turn the world back to God; a mystery that shows that history moves forward not on the backs of politicians and power-brokers and big-time CEOs, but on the service of his saints, agents of this Jesus and his good news.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a
testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. – Matthew 24:14

History has an end. The timetable is not set by man or by Satan, but by God.

Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after
he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. – 1 Corinthians 15:24

History moves forward with lives transformed by Jesus. What part will you play?

Paul tells us what his part is: servant. Servants don’t set the agenda. Apostles don’t make the message. They do anything short of sin to see people come to Christ. They look to see where their Lord looks, go where he goes, give to what he gives to, live for what he restores and die for what he died for. Paul said:

Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what
is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body,
which is the church – Colossians 1:24

Christ has no body now on earth but us, his people. Now that he is gone, we take the hits for the advance of the gospel. We’re not talking about what it took to rescue us from sin. We are talking about what it takes for the next step. Jesus did:

…just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her … - Ephesians
5:25b

Paul looks back at his own life and beckons to us to join him in following God. Here’s what he found out:

God Has A Mission For You (vs. 25)

I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the
word of God in its fullness— Colossians 1:25

This word commission here is actually a word for management (see Luke 16:3). God was delegating! God put out a job application: “Wanted! Smart, high-energy, God-fearing Pharisee looking for a new boss. World-wide church franchising opportunities. Tough hours, poor pay but excellent benefits.” Saul responded, starting up new churches wherever he went, training new pastors, delivering all the goods in God’s word. Paul was a manager and the thing he managed was the gospel. God was his boss.

We have all been commissioned. God custom tailors each role to the unique way we are put together. Not all of us are Paul. Some of us work a different territory. Some are on the front lines and some are in supporting roles. But we all have a commission.

Jesus told a management parable once, in Luke 12. He compares two types of managers: the “faithful and wise” manager who consistently does what his master asks him and the foolish manager who abuses his position and gets drunk. Here’s what he says about the wise manager:

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. – Luke 12:48b

The job requisition that God has opened can only be filled by you because God designed it for you. My company has two openings in Folsom. It’s the first time in 7 years that they have tried to replace the position I had when I left working inside of Intel for my company. We have been searching for almost a year now for a candidate who is willing to come here. We have talked to plenty of talented engineers, but they aren’t from Folsom and don’t want to move here.

There are a lot of churches like that. God has open job reqs, but no one will take up the position God designed them for. So the church runs short-staffed and the person lives unfulfilled.

God Has a Message For You (vs. 26-27)

…the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
– Colossians 1:26-27

It was Paul’s job to give the word of God in all of its fullness (vs. 25). In the same way that Jesus was presented as the fullness of God, Paul was commissioned to give them the fullness of God’s word. Everything that God wanted to say was available to the Colossians (the “saints”), without restriction or hierarchy. Remember our discussion about “special knowledge” for the chosen few? Paul is dismantling the system of have and have-nots in the kingdom of God.

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and
in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he
appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. – Hebrews
1:1-2

There used to be secrets. There once were mysteries. Once upon a time, the special words of God were known only to a few. But now Jesus has come. If you are connected with him, you have full access to the wisdom of God:

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all
without finding fault, and it will be given to him. – James 1:5

Paul uses the word “mystery” These mysteries were not unknowns, but in the minds of these mini-religions, they were Restricted Confidential, Top Secret, Need-To-Know Basis only. I remember once that Mike Stapleton, ex-FBI, told me that sometimes, at the crime scene, the people they had to keep out were other FBI bosses who thought they had a right to be there and just got in the way. So he developed the habit of not using the standard “Police” or “Caution” tape. Instead, he used “Biohazard”.

But when it comes to Jesus, the caution tape has come down, the mysteries are declassified, no top-secret clearance required. Why grovel at the feet of these gurus, when the good news is already in the open. And here it is: “this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
The ultimate road block between man and God has crumbled, because God has set up residence with us.

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives
in you? – 1 Corinthians 3:16

This is the mystery: We have not become God. God has set his Holy of Holies within us, sending his Spirit to dwell in power in us, the same way he dwelt in the temple. We are special, unique, set apart, continually in the presence of God.

Not only is God with us always, it is just the start:

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,
set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit,
guaranteeing what is to come. – 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

God Has a Method for You (vs. 28)
We aren’t all church-planters. God hasn’t made us seminary professors. But we can still learn from Paul:

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we
may present everyone perfect in Christ. – Colossians 1:28

First, we announce Jesus.
Second, we admonish or warn. This is the type of warning you give to someone you care about. Paul said:

I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. – 1
Corinthians 4:14

Third, we teach. The mysteries are not meant to be held back, but distributed freely.
We present. Remember when I said God delegates? Look at it here. We present everyone perfect in Christ, before God. In verse 22, it said:

But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present
you holy in his sight without blemish and free from accusation- Colossians
1:22

Our goal needs to be the same as Gods. Last Friday I was really upset because my boss had first authorized me to start a new project, then cancelled it after I had really invested myself in it. I was stewing on it and stewing on it, even thinking about quitting or switching divisions. But then something Dave Babb told me over lunch came back to my mind. It seems that a church plant from his home church had its offices in downtown Mountain View. When the coffee house downstairs was going out of business, the church decided to buy the coffee shop. Red Rock Coffee. Now when I’m in town, I often go to lunch with my boss and he really likes to try new restaurants. But invariably afterwards, he wanted to take us to get quote-the best coffee in the Bay Area, bar none-end-quote. Red Rock Coffee. My goal is not to win my fight with my boss or get my project approved. My goal is to present everyone perfect in Christ.

That word “perfect” refers to someone who has completed a process, kind of like when you buy clothes for your kids a couple of sizes two big and you want your kids to grow into them. Then there are those few months when your kids actually fit what you bought them and you think: perfect. Well God’s shoes are big ones to step into, but he guarantees we will grow into them.

God Has the Means For You (vs. 29)
Sometimes we look at what God has for us and we look back. Maybe God has asked more than we are willing to give. Maybe God has asked more than we have. Here’s what Paul said:

To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works
in me. – Colossians 1:29

That word ‘labor’ has the idea of working until you are weary to the bone. Jesus used it when he talked about “come to me, all who are weary and burdened” (Matthew 11:28) Paul puts everything he has into fulfilling his commission. The next word ‘struggling’ is really agonodzimenos, where we get the word to agonize. It is used to talk about the effort put forth in sports competition to win the prize.

So, on one side, we have the weariness, the draining nature of doing what God has asked us to do. It is no wonder that many seek the short-cut the process, searching for the quick fix and the cheap alternative to maturity and mentoring, because it is so costly.

But on the other side, we see the energy put forth by God. Changing lives is God’s motivation and he is willing to expend all of his resources to make it happen.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us – Ephesians 3:20

As his hands and feet here on Earth, God will funnel into us what is needed to do his job.

Conclusion
In spy novels they always talk about sleeper cells. These are spies sent to live in a foreign country and live normal lives until the day when they are called upon to assist in some secret plot. They look like you and me, they have kids and jobs and shop for groceries. But really they have a mission.

God has placed his saints as sleeper cells into the kingdom of darkness. We have lives and kids and jobs and soccer practice and groceries, but that is just a front for God’s invasion plan.

This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and
Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then, how you live—not as
unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are
evil. – Ephesians 3:14b-16

It is time for the sleeper cells to wake and take up the mission God has called us to and change the world.