Methods of Building UpColossians 1:27-29

(2011.5.22)

"What does Easter[ 부활절 ] mean to you?“ ☞Easter means the restoration of hope. “We can live only a few seconds without hope.”

1. Hopeless situation succumbs us.[ 희망을 버리면 삶을 포기하게 된다 ]The 12 disciples of Jesus - eyewitnesses of His resurrection- knew about the need for hope for the work of Jesus. - watched Jesus carry all their hopes-their dreams were shattered. -listened to Jesus: "Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit."

When they saw the rock seal the tomb, their hope was dead. They felt hopeless.

Likewise, sometimes in your lives, because of your marriage, children, or family life, you are tempted to give up hope.

I hope we will experience the restoration of hope that those Christians experienced when they heard, "Jesus is not here; He is risen just as He said." They found that there is hope beyond the cross when Jesus rose again. You can hope again.

2. Hope sustains our Lives.[ 희망이 우리를 살게 한다 ]

- Christ is our Hope in Life. Hope☞ is mentioned over 50

times in the New Testament. We will cover just a few verses.

* Paul:“Our HOPE is in Jesus Christ!” Paul had a purpose too. His purpose was given to him by God. He went through a lot of pain in order to fulfill that purpose. But he never lost hope. He had a purpose, and that purpose kept him going.

* Viktor Frankl( 빅터 프랭클 )

Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist "Man's Search for Meaning“ [ 삶의 의미를 찾아서 ]

A study was done of concentration camp survivors to discover the common characteristics of the survivors. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, was a living answer to that question.

After his release, Viktor Frankl told people how others gave up hope and gave an example of one prisoner who lost all hope and died.

He said, “But I refused to give up. I had dreamed that someday I would be here, telling you how I had survived the Nazi concentration camp. I‘ve never been here before, I've never seen any of you before, I've never given this speech before. But in my dreams, I have stood before you and said these words a thousand times."

Frankl had established a purpose which kept his hopes alive through all the severe hardships. He became the founder of logotherapy[ 의미요법 ]. Now here is the reverse case of this.

* Ernest Hemingway(1899-1961)"Life is just a dirty trick, a short journey from nothingness to nothingness. There is no remedy for anything in life. Man's destiny in the universe is like a colony of ants on a burning log."

Hemingway finally committed suicide.

I'm the greatest hitter in the world!

Strike One!

I'm the greatest hitter in the world!

Strike Two!

I‘M THE GRESTEST

HITTER IN THE WHOLE WORLD!

Strike Three!

Wow, I'm the greatest Pitcher in the world.

Like him, every one of us has value, hope and potential. You are made in the image of God. When I remember that about others and about myself, it gives me hope.

But people are looking for it in the wrong places. Satan’s two methods:1. He will make you think life is utterly hopeless2. He will try to get you to think that hope is found in things of this world.

God has revealed that there is no real hope found in the things of this world. There is a place where you can find a real, secure hope. It is found in Jesus.

Hopeless End & Endless Hope: [ 희망이 없는 종말 , 끝없는 희망 ]As Gilbert Beenken has well stated, "Other men see only a hopeless end, but the Christian rejoices in an endless hope."

The methods of Paul’s ministry expressed in three action verbs: 1) proclaim 2) admonish or warn3) teach.

We are called to help Others to Grow in Christ. For this purpose we should Proclaim the Gospel and help Everyone to Grow in Christ.

We also have the ministry of helping people to grow in Christ. This takes a bit more knowledge, wisdom, and effort on our part.- The Methods: Verse 28

#1. Proclaiming Jesus. (v.28a)-Object: It must be Christ we are proclaiming. -Definition: Proclaim simply means to announce the truth. - Bringing good news- Not a popular exercise - Not everyone is going to be happy with you. - Some will reject

There are times when we need to warn people of the results of rejecting Jesus or the danger of condemnation because of their sin. Other times we need to encourage people to hold fast.

People don't like listening to warnings. They think that they are okay and that everything will turn out all right. Some will close their ears and refuse to listen.

But there will be others that listen and desire to change in their lives. To those, you give teaching.

<My Experience>

#3. Teaching with all wisdom (v.28c)Colossians 1:28 speaks of, "Teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ." [ 모든 지혜로 각 사람을 가르침은 각 사람을 그리스도 안에서 완전한 자로 세우려 함이니 ]

☞ Paul says "every man" 3 times. Every one of us should be taught with the word of wisdom. We should present every person complete or mature in the knowledge of Christ Jesus.

#4. Rely on the Power of Jesus. (v.29)- The Means[ 수단 / 방법 ]- HOW?

We are not to carry out this calling on our own; we are called to rely on the power of Jesus!- Paul was laboring and according to Jesus’ power which was working mightily within him!

Two sides to this formula. :The human side and the divine. Paul speaks of struggling. The Greek term here refers to the one to describe the struggles of a wrestler grappling with his opponent.

Ministry requires toil, involves struggles and sometimes disappointments.

It is not always easy.

When Paul refers to the divine side of the work, he speaks of working in God's power. Only God's Spirit can change us. That is why ministry must involve prayer, the Spirit's direction, and power from on high.

God is working within you. Are you aware of the power that is available to you?

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."<Philippians 4:13>

[ 예화 ]A first grader stood up to give his speech, "What I Want To Be When I Grow Up?"

I'm going to be a lion tamer[사자 조련사 ] and have lots of fierce lions. I'll walk into the cage and they will roar.

"But of course I'll have my Mommy with me."

God has promised, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." He will be with us until the very end of the earth.

As children of God, we're stronger than we realize because of the one who works through us and in us! That's what keeps us going in ministry whether in the pulpit, the pew, or on the workshop.

We don’t know what's ahead for us. Good times and bad. Laughter and tears. Successes and failures. Dreams and disappointments. They will all be there. God will be there too.

God has called you to COME to Him and to GO to the world!

People in the world are hurting, lost, lonely and broken. But we have the answer! You can help their souls when you're in the workplace, having a coffee break, or when a co-worker starts sharing his/her problems with you.

In the Old Testament, God was the God out there. But NOW Christ is IN YOU! God is with us. He is our Emmanuel.

When you've given up hope, remember: "Our mighty God is still in control." Is there any hope in the world? Yes, there is an empty grave and a risen Savior. God called you for a special purpose.