An Apostle and Preacher

 Colossians 1:24-29

 Paul rejoiced that he was suffering for Christ and for the Colossians.  He was in prison when he wrote this letter.  He was in prison because he had preached the gospel, but it did not discourage him.  Jesus suffered for him, so why should he not suffer for Jesus and for the sake of the church?  He had been called by God to preach the word of God to the Gentiles.  In fact, he felt compelled to do so.  1 Cor.9:16  Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.  Many Christians in the world today are persecuted and killed for their faith, for preaching the word of God.  We must be willing to share the love of Jesus with anyone God places in our path no matter what happens to us. 

What did Paul preach?

a.  He preached what had been a mystery to the Gentiles for 1000’s of years.  Now it had been revealed that salvation through Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was for the Gentiles also, not just the Jews.  John 3:16  For God so loved the world…The Jews have a special place in God’s heart, but His salvation through Jesus is for all who will come to Him.  Ro. 10:13  For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Gal. 1:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek (or Gentile, non-Jews), there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  God’s salvation through Jesus is for all.  He will not turn any away who come to Him with a sincere heart.  We must be willing to share God’s love with whoever God places in our path, even if they don’t look like us, think like us, or behave like us, and we must let them become who God wants them to be, not who we think they should be.

b.  He preached Christ in you, the hope of glory.  There is no hope in any other.  John 14:6  I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except by Me.  Paul preached God’s word and His wisdom so that those to whom he preached could be presented perfect to Christ Jesus.  And he preached, not in his own power but by the power of the Holy Spirit.  1 Cor. 2:4  Paul said in that verse that he did not preach with persuasive words but by the power of the Holy Spirit.  That’s the only way his preaching and teaching could be effective.  I would not want to get up here and try to teach you God’s word under my own power, without God’s help, His Holy Spirit.  The purpose of preaching and teaching God’s word is to touch people’s hearts so they can know Jesus as Savior and live the abundant lives God has planned for them.  Is. 61:1-3  That was why Jesus came and that is why Paul did what he did and why the disciples did what they did and why Christians down through the last 2,000 or so years have gone out into the world and suffered for Christ.  We must be willing to share the love of God with others no matter what it costs us.  And rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s wisdom to do so.  Lord, how do you want me to minister to this person?  Give me Your wisdom and power.

If you are a Christian, maybe you don’t think you can preach the gospel, but you can live out the gospel by showing God’s love to the other people by your smiles, by your attitude, by kind words like “Thank you” and “God bless you” and “I love you,” or “God loves you.” You can be used to touch another person’s heart with God’s love.  Ask God to help you.