1. Welcome to GraceThey overcame himby the blood of the Lamband by the word of their testimony;they did not love their lives so muchas to shrink from death. Revelation 12:11

2. Colossians 1:24 Introduction 3. Colossians 1:24-27Now, I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christs afflictions, for the sake of his body,which is the church.25 I have become its servantby the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness 27 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lords people. 4. Colossians 1:24 Introduction2.I rejoice3.I fill up 5. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing, v. 24Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you 6. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing Suffering - 7. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing Suffering 8. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing Suffering From the Start Damascus Road 9. Acts 9In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lordcalled to him in a vision, Ananias!Yes, Lord, he answered.11 The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on StraightStreet and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he ispraying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananiascome and place his hands on him to restore his sight.13 Lord, Ananias answered, I have heard many reportsabout this man and all the harm he has done to your holypeople in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authorityfrom the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.15 But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my choseninstrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and theirkings and to the people of Israel.16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. 10. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing Suffering From the Start Damascus Road From the start of Ministry 11. Acts 9Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 Atonce he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is theSon of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished andasked, Isnt he the man who caused havoc in Jerusalemamong those who call on this name? And hasnt he come hereto take them as prisoners to the chief priests? 22 Yet Saul grewmore and more powerful and baffled the Jews living inDamascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy amongthe Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day andnight they kept close watch on the city gates in order to killhim. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him ina basket through an opening in the wall. 12. Acts 926 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join thedisciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believingthat he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him andbrought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul onhis journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord hadspoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preachedfearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed withthem and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speakingboldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debatedwith the Hellenistic Jews,[a] but they tried to kill him.30 When the believers learned of this, they took him downto Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 13. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing Suffering From the Start Damascus Road From the start of Ministry NOT shied away from 14. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing Suffering From the Start Damascus Road From the start of Ministry NOT shied away from Right up to the present day 15. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing Suffering From the Start Damascus Road From the start of Ministry NOT shied away from Right up to the present day Pauls PURPOSE in suffering for you 16. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing Suffering From the Start Damascus Road From the start of Ministry NOT shied away from Right up to the present day Pauls PURPOSE in suffering for you Hes never met them! 17. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing Suffering From the Start Damascus Road From the start of Ministry NOT shied away from Right up to the present day Pauls PURPOSE in suffering for you Hes never met them! Hes nowhere near them! 18. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing The SIGNIFICANCE of Pauls suffering I fill upin my flesh what is still lacking in regard toChrists afflictions, for the sake of his body,which is the church 19. 2 Corinthians 1Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord JesusChrist, the Father of compassion and the God of allcomfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, sothat we can comfort those in any trouble with thecomfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For justas we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If weare distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, whichproduces in you patient endurance of the samesufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm,because we know that just as you share in oursufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 20. 2 Corinthians 1We do not want you to be uninformed, brothersand sisters, about the troubles we experienced inthe province of Asia. We were under greatpressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so thatwe despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we hadreceived the sentence of death. But this happenedthat we might not rely on ourselves but on God,who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us fromsuch a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. Onhim we have set our hope that he will continue todeliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Thenmany will give thanks on our behalf for the graciousfavour granted us in answer to the prayers of many. 21. 2 Corinthians 1:5 22. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing The SIGNIFICANCE of Pauls suffering I fill upin my flesh what is still lacking in regard toChrists afflictions, for the sake of his body,which is the church The sufferings of the Messiah in Judaism 23. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing The SIGNIFICANCE of Pauls suffering I fill upin my flesh what is still lacking in regard toChrists afflictions, for the sake of his body,which is the church The sufferings of the Messiah in Judaism The sufferings of the Messiah in Christianity 24. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing The SIGNIFICANCE of Pauls suffering I fill upin my flesh what is still lacking in regard toChrists afflictions, for the sake of his body,which is the church The sufferings of the Messiah in Judaism The sufferings of the Messiah in Christianity Filling up the deficiency in Christs sufferings 25. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing The SIGNIFICANCE of Pauls suffering I fill up inmy flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christsafflictions, for the sake of his body, which is thechurch The sufferings of the Messiah in Judaism The sufferings of the Messiah in Christianity Filling up the deficiency in Christs sufferings For your sake 26. Colossians 1:24 Introduction Pauls rejoicing The SIGNIFICANCE of Pauls suffering I fill upin my flesh what is still lacking in regard toChrists afflictions, for the sake of his body,which is the church Conclusion