Paul's firm commitment should characterise the Lord's people, particularly those in leadership.

Colossians 1:23 "... of which I, Paul, became a minister. "

The word for minister is 'diakonos' - translated a minister, servant, deacon. The emphasis is on the kind of service rendered. Some examples of usage point to whom is being served, as Romans 13:4 says of a magistrate that he is God's deacon. He acts in the employ of God (1 Timothy 4:9 ). It describes being a good deacon of Jesus Christ (John 12:26; 2 Corinthians 6:4; 11:23; Colossians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 3:2 ). It is used side by side with 'episkopos' - bishop or overseer (1 Timothy 3:8,12; Philippians 1:1 ). Paul declared that he was made a minister (deacon) of the gospel, implying his total commitment to its message as the servant of it, and of the Lord Jesus, whose good news it truly is. He always referred to his being a minister, with humility, in recognition of the great privilege granted him.

Are your gifts, talents, energies, devoted to the furtherance and aims of the gospel? Or like some, using the gospel to serve your own ambitions and advancement? May the gospel be such a compelling force in your life, that your whole lifestyle is shaped to serve it.

Colossians 1:24 "I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,"

Paul saw his sufferings as "the prisoner of Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:1 KJV); to be suffering on behalf of these Gentile Christians, and for the benefit of His body the Church, as his persecution arose out of his insistence on justification by faith and not works. He further sees himself as participating in the corporate sufferings of Christ in the Church. Jesus Christ though glorified, reckons as His own the persecutions that His people bear for His name's sake (Acts 9:4-5 ). Tribulations are the lot of the body of Christ on earth (Acts 14:22; 1 Thessalonians 3:3 )

We should willingly bear the reproach of Christ (Hebrews 13:13 ), as did Paul (Acts 9:16 ). The cost in suffering for the gospel will increase up to the time of the Lord's return (Mark 13:5-27 ). For the defence and growth of His body we need to be willing to pay the price, whatever that cost may be.

Colossians 1:25 "... according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,"

Paul ministered in faithful accord with the commission or stewardship given him by God. He had a special responsibility to the Colossians as God's messenger to the nations. His commission in clearest terms was to fulfil the Word of God. This included full commitment in bringing God's message to the world.

Stewardship required that he do only what the Lord expected of him, and give only the message he had divinely received. There could be no changing the message to something he fancied. Being the Lord's messenger Paul was determined to be a faithful servant, and give a good accounting of his stewardship.

Paul knew his commission and his dependability on the Lord. This raises some pertinent questions:

	Do you know the commission or stewardship the Lord has given you?
	Are you faithful to the Lord's calling on your life?
	How important is the Word of God to your manner of working?
	It is your pleasure to do the Lord's will and fulfil His purpose?
	Do you dependently look to your Lord to work with you and through you?

Colossians 1:26 "... mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: "

Committed to a message designated a mystery now revealed.

"Mystery. The purpose of God, unknown to man except by revelation. This word was a popular, pagan religious term, used in the mystery religions to refer to secret information available only to an exclusive group of people. Paul changes that meaning radically by always combining it with words such as "disclosed" (here); "made known" (Ephesians 1:9 ); "make plain" (Ephesians 3:9 ), and "revelation" (Romans 16:25 ). The Christian mystery is not secret knowledge for a few. It is a revelation of divine truths - once hidden but now openly proclaimed." NIV Study Notes

Committed to proclaiming the message of the Word to all nations.

Colossians 1:27 "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; ..."

It was the will of God that it be proclaimed, that all the nations are included within the range of God's mercy, that the Gentiles were indeed fellow heirs of the grace of God. Whoever may come through Christ to God by reliant faith in Him and not perish (John 3:16 ). As the line of the hymn puts it: "We've a message to bring to the nations."

Committed to the truth of Christ indwelling all believers of all nations.

Colossians 1:27 "... which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: "

In Ephesians the aspect of the mystery revealed concerns the admission of the Gentiles as fellow-heirs with Jewish believers. Here in Colossians the wonderful privilege of knowing the power of the indwelling Christ is emphasised. That is life through union with Him (1 John 5:12 ). A union produced by the Holy Spirit we become "one spirit" with Him.

Christ in us is the pledge and the foretaste of our certain hope of the glory we shall wear in our perfected heavenly state (Colossians 3:4; 1 Corinthians 15:43; Romans 8:18 ). Possessing Christ now in our hearts, we are able to anticipate all that will be ours at the consummation of our redemption - the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23 ). Be faithfully committed to oneness in Christ through Christ being in each of us. The multitude before the throne of God and the Lamb is of peoples of all nations (Revelation 7:9 ).

Colossians 1:28 "Whom we preach, ..."

In total contrast to false teachers.

"they only preach Christ aright and as they ought to do, who teach that all hope of salvation for mankind is laid up in Him alone, and who acknowledge that we receive the riches of divine grace through Him alone ... he who makes Christ a sort of half way Saviour and mediator, does not in fact preach Him, but the chimera of his own brain." John Davenant - Exposition of Colossians. Hamilton Adams 1831/2

Colossians 1:28 "... warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; ..."

Sound preaching will contain both warning and teaching - like Paul, our warning needs to be faithfully and fervently done, but with tenderness as expressed in Paul's tears (Acts 20:31 ). And like him we need to consistently teach and produce those who can teach the truth and lifestyle of the good news of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Timothy 2:2 ).

Colossians 1:28 "... that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: "

The aim of sound teaching is the growth and maturity of every believer (Ephesians 4:13 ). The Greek word 'teleios' emphasises completion and wholeness in the spiritual sense. It means to be complete having achieved full potential - sound teaching will do that for every man. The idea of exceptions should not occur.

Colossians 1:29 "To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. "

Those who would be involved in the Master's service need to know that it calls for real work even striving all out, physical and spiritual effort, as Paul did, labouring to the point of weariness, yet struggling on with even greater exertion. Such was his constant spiritual conflict for Christ and the Church.

The secret of his effectiveness was not his own strength, but was owned to be the power of Christ which worked in him mightily. The Lord would not launch His apostles upon their appointed mission without a ministry enduement of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8 ). We are to experience that power in our working and know the Lord working with us.

The implication for leaders is that there is to be a labouring according to the mighty enduement and working of the Holy Spirit. Our human part is the labouring and striving. Then His part is the working in us mightily. To the striving worker the supernatural working comes.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. In which way do you show total commitment to the message of the gospel? (Colossians 1:23 ).
2. What is the meaning of "minister"? Has the Lord given you special responsibility, making you a minister? (Colossians 1:23 ).
3. Do you believe that reproach and suffering for the gospel will decrease as the time of the Lord's return draws near? (Colossians 1:24 ).
4. How would you argue the need of commitment to salvation being for all nations? (Colossians 1:26-27 ).
5. What subject matter distinguishes sound preaching? (Colossians 1:28 ).
6. Do you think there is a place for tenderness in warning and teaching? (Colossians 1:28 ).
7. What is the aim of sound teaching? (Colossians 1:28 ).
8. What is the secret of effective work for Christ? (Colossians 1:29 ).