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October 20, 2020 4:00 am
The most pastors recognize they have a God-given responsibility to teach and preach the Bible but why do they do it. What is the desired outcome today on Truth for Life. Alistair Begg says the answer is found in the apostle Paul's letter to the Colossians. He's titled today's message presenting everyone mature in Christ. Can I invite you to turn again to Colossians chapter 1 and two versus 28 and 29. I should probably acknowledge something and that is that there is a great danger in doing what I've done. That is just taking two versus I would of a letter like this and essentially using them in order to make sure that we drive home at least the point of these verses.
I would suggest to you that I wouldn't necessarily do it with such freedom in a different context.
I would feel that it would be important to set it far more within the wider framework of what's going on in the background of Colossae so that the things that we've focused on in a kind of microscopic way will then be understood better as a result of bringing the bring the camera back farther out with with a far wider lens. We spent the whole time on this question of what is it that we do and the answer that we discovered is very straightforward, along with the apostles. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone and we need all of the wisdom of God to do it.
So what is it we're doing here we go.
We've said that now, why are we doing this.
What is our goal here then is our AMR. Our goal him we proclaim that we may resent that we make that as a purpose clause, so Paul is making it perfectly clear that the teaching and the proclamation on the presentation of Christ are not ends in themselves, so that our goal in sending forward the Scriptures is the holiness and the unreserved obedience to God of every believer starting with the believer whose teaching the Bible. Paul's readers are already in Christ, they have erred, and they have understood the gospel and the work of sanctification has already begun in and what rediscovering here is that it is the privilege of the under shepherds of the Lord Jesus to be part of their progress to maturity.
Now this comes across most memorably, I think when Paul writes to the Ephesians and when he says here the gifts of the ascended Christ that he is poured out upon the church and he is given along with that shepherds and teachers, and then you remember how important that role is just quoted from verse 12 for part two. To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God are here to mature manhood to maturity him we proclaim presenting everyone mature to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves, carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness, and in deceitful schemes and so on. The fact that these letters were probably written within the timeframe explains to us why would be that many of the same thoughts would be in Paul's mind as he writes so this you will notice is the goal for all, not just for some we are warning everyone, we are teaching everyone. We are seeking to present everyone we should just overlook that you quickly the everyone is there. By way of emphasis says that Lucas it is evidently intended to rule out any idea of a church within a church. If you know the Colossian issue than you realize that that was one of the great temptation it rules out the kind of false exclusiveness which is represented in the kind of elitist mentality which can so quickly become prevalent within a church and it happens it in in all kinds of ways not going to deviate from course and illustrated of for my own history here, but in the way it creeps into the church. As you will find that somebody decides that the way in which prayer is happening is not really the proper way to pray so big and after another another kind of prayer is the real prayer because they read a book by Mr. Reynolds and and and he knows all about it or whether you were not really experiencing God as we should be experiencing God and the elders are clearly not experiencing God and Mr. Reynolds has also written a book on the true nature of the experiencing of God. And so we've taken it upon ourselves to have a class not for the run-of-the-mill church but further the crack troops of the church who really want to experience God all right and it is a subtle play and what Paul is saying here is this progress of discipleship, of knowing Lord of Christ of going on to maturity is not special knowledge for a favored few, it is that which is for everyone. It is in direct contrast to the idea of son kind of exclusivity and what is really saying to these people is something quite wonderful. He is going to reinforce for them.
All that is there is in Christ, I thought about this because years ago when I saw my first American football game. I was there it was in bushy and hard for sure between some group and and and the United States Air Force and I can remember who it was but just the one team was giving the other team.
An unbelievable pounding just just destroying them that goes up what seven points of time does not 714 21. After that I get start and when they had the cheerleaders and the cheerleaders with those pom-poms rose and he kept saying you can do it you can do it you can you can. The problem was they couldn't but in this case Paul is actually say you can do it you can do it you can you can, why because of all that is yours in Christ. And so what he establishes is a pattern here which post was in pastoral ministry is the privilege and responsibility of motivating believers to grow, to grow, all you say but wait a minute, doesn't first Corinthians 3 make it perfectly clear that while one plans and another waters that only God makes things grow. Yes, that's why we are reminding ourselves that our responsibility is not to make them grow, but is to motivate them to grow. So how does this take place well and I shall find the answer is in the previous phrase him we proclaim so that we could have started actually with the goal and asked ourselves the question if the goal is the maturity of every believer. How will we achieve that goal and then we would go back to the beginning of it and we were safe but clearly the answer is in making the word of God fully known, thereby presenting Jesus so as to make the people of God, fully mature know this matter.
Of course, is of such crucial importance that we didn't get it wrong motivating people to grow light.
I don't think is necessarily easy. And when we get frustrated by the apparent immaturity of of some who are under our care. The temptation is that we that we we default to what out whatever our personality is so iffy. If it is the sort of the personality of the of the of the constant exhaust or you know, and then next Sunday, the people I was asleep saying that it doesn't do anything at all, as some of you have green fingers and I don't but this past autumn I thought it would be nice to make a contribution since my wife is so painstaking in our commitment to beauty in all matters to kosher so I got a hold of 900 daffodil bulbs 900 and and one of those things that you stand on, which has you put the bulb in and then you do that would seem like a great idea for about the first 11, but there were 900 of an idea and I didn't I didn't and then it was November and that was December and then it was January. Hank ever get up in the morning I Lucas.
It I wonder if there anywhere. Maybe I should dig down see how they're doing is not a good idea and then eventually few weeks ago one, maybe two. But I planted 900. Even my wife was saying you sure you planted those nine so I decided "and I heard about the horse whisperer and so I said I could be the other was for processing. Nothing said you start shouting at them grow your miserable palms row, you're making me look like a full, then I said to myself I know where that song came from. That wasn't a war protest song that was the frustration of the weekend. Gardner where have all the flowers gone, as it where they gone there you get the point perfectly.
Don't you look out your congregation. You mean here for a year. You think they should be spiritual giant.
Now you been here for five for 10. If you look at yourself, you realize you're not doing that well either but nevertheless the Templars is grow so what it becomes is actually a chronicle of despair more apparent frustration and urges the more dispirited was under our care become note in our previous address we saw that in proclaiming Christ. It involves both negative as well as positive right so that it did involve admonishing and warning to give warning is an expression of Christian realism. It it it is to deal with things as they really are. We saw the and some of us have to be careful that our desire for the privilege of warning does not suddenly morph itself in two a bad tendency of forever rebuking our flaw about their failures and continually telling them what they ought to be, and ought to do and most of us I think would agree that we see our own sins most clearly in other people and we can successfully somehow another vicariously bypass the work of the spirit of God convicting our own hearts by simply projecting onto those under our care. The need for that which is needed in our own hearts, to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ Charles Warr, who was one time the ministering's in Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh tells how his ministry was quotes help beyond words when he was at another church in the west of Scotland in St. Paul's Green and a viewer in the American Navy will know where green oak is one day and I quote Mr. Arthur cared looked into seamy, this is Pastor Warr speaking he looked in to see me.
He was always perfectly groomed and as everyone said of him just as nice as he looked after some desultory conversation. He ran his hand over his silver hair turned on me his kindly eyes that always had a twinkle in and delivered himself of some encouraging and heartwarming words about my first year of ministry at St. Paul's. Then he paused and after a short sentence went on yes, everything in the garden's lovely or nearly lovely. I waited, now a little anxious. Arthur cared Rose and came over to me and later fatherly hand on my shoulder, my boy. He said the garden still waiting for the blossoming of one flower without which the garden of no minister can be perfect another pause. I know we're not everything we ought to be and no doubt we need a lot of scolding, but we'd all be a great deal better than we are. If only you would try sometimes instead of lecturing us to show us that you love us.
Charles Warr records these words where a turning point in my ministry I can trust you, brothers, that is very hard for me to give you that quote.
It's hard to read it without regret. Failures in this respect. Even now I know I need to be better. Even now I want to be better.
Yesterday was dead and gone tomorrow so the sightless is it. Actually I want to be like Claudia Ranieri hands of all those who know who Claudia Ranieri's one intelligent person to free penny on the side of four and a five wonderful all hands are going up everywhere like a full-blown Billy Graham Crusade hearing loss carry Ranieri was the man who led Lester city to the championship of the English Premier league two seasons ago. The odds of Lester city winning were 5002 one was truly remarkable thing, probably never to be repeated in that kind of way, and I watched him always and and I was intrigued by him. He he he. His demeanor, I wanted to meet him. So desperately wanted to say all I like you. I wish I could be like and then I read this article by one of the journalists and the journalist said here is Claudia Ranieri passion without volume enthusiasm without bluster, coziness without over barrens kindness without familiarity wonderful characteristics used to say when they lost should is a football is a football similar to Paul say well Claudia, I suppose, but Paul in first Corinthians 4 I don't write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children see the best way for us to motivate our flock to grow is simply by reminding them of all the things that are theirs in Christ.
That's why in verse 27, which was largely ignored. He is pointing out what a wonder it is that the Gentiles which is this great mystery hidden from before, to which he refers in Ephesians 2 that the Gentiles, that out of these two God is made one new man in the Gentiles have become beneficiaries of the riches of glory which he says is Christ in you Christ in you, I've said to you. I am helped always by songs and as I as I thought about that song from. I think the 60s came to mind wasn't.
It wasn't a great lyric but I was saying to myself as I reflected, I am a new creation no more in condemnation here in the grace of God I step our people need to know that because they come in.
We preach every week to men and women's life's who are largely marked by quiet desperation. No matter what the superficial smiles and cheers are, no matter all the ups that are present in the group.
The fact is if you if we have opportunity just to pare back the onion just a little bit we discover and so what does it mean then to motivate them in this way. Wallace ultimately met the work of the spirit of God through the word of God through the servant of God and is the word of God is proclaimed. Verse 25. Again, I became a minister according to the stewardship from God gave it to me to do what to present my own opinions know to let people know how funny I am bright amber know to make the word of God fully known and is the word of God is made fully known than the spirit of God is at work is at work like a sculptor on on on our life's chipping away at this so as to conform us to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that our calling is what what what in the world is God doing with us in a freeze.
He is making you like your elder brother.
He is making you like the Lord Jesus and he is using his work to achieve that end. And so when he comes to chip things away is not to harm but is in order to fashion us see predestined he also called to be conformed to the image of his son that his purpose from all of eternity. Since Paul in two Corinthians 3 we are being transformed into his image, says John in first John three and when we see him we will be like him so he not only sculpts us, but he also molds us applying the truth of God's word to the varied circumstances of our lives. And of course we know that no matter how will we know our congregation. We could never know the details of their lives. Okay, how can we ever make application people asked all the time. Are you and apply that what we seek to apply it as best we can, but is in the mystery when people come to us and say you know I hear this I hear that you find yourself saying I don't have her said that. How did you hear that the great mystery of the work of the spirit bring home the word of God. Your listing to Truth for Life. Today's message from Alistair Begggins called presenting everyone mature in Christ. And you could probably tell from today's presentation. Alastair was speaking to a gathering of pastors and church leaders. We deliberately chose to share this message along with the entire series called the pastor's study. Because whether you're engaged in church leadership are not local churches are strengthened when all of us take these verses from Colossians seriously, there's another reason we chose to share the pastor's study series. It's because October is pastor appreciation month and with that in mind we have highlighted a book that Alastair has cowritten with his mentor and friend like Derek prime the book is called on being a pastor it's a comprehensive book on leading a local church family. It's rich with practical wisdom from two seasoned shepherds if you'd like to buy a copy for your pastor. Go to Truth for Life.org/store. This series called the pastor study is in perfect alignment with our mission accrued for life, which is to teach the Bible with clarity and relevance in part so that local churches are strengthened and if you're able to make a donation to support the work of Truth for Life right now. We'd like to offer a wonderful documentary as a thank you gift to DVD called Puritan all of life, to the glory of God. You've often heard Alastair quoting people like Thomas Watson or John Owen John Bunyan in his sermons. Maybe you wondered who are these people will this new documentary provides the perfect introduction to the Puritans and it demonstrates their unshakable devotion to the truth of God's word to give a donation and request a copy of the DVD.
Call 888588788 or give a donation to our mobile app by going to our website Truth for Life.org. This is actually a set of two DVDs. One contains the main documentary and there are special features on the other disk as well. There's also a link provided with the DVD set, if you'd prefer to stream the documentary on Bob Lapine tomorrow. Alastair concludes our series. The pastor study with additional instruction on what it means to present everyone mature in Christ. The Bible teaching of Alastair Begg is furnished by Truth for Life learning is prolific