Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

We recently had a man leave our church with this explanation. “You have no room for my ministry.” He was absolutely right. He would not heed our warnings, would not receive instruction, and lacked Godly wisdom. He sought promotion based on self-interest. This passage above says “that we may present”. The meaning may not be perfectly clear but the idea is promotion.

It is our duty to the ministry to raise up Godly men to take over the work of the ministry because we grow older and need to make preparations for our end of service. The ministry will go on, but in the best interests of the congregation, men need to be prepared and presented that are mature and Godly.

Colossians 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

His workings, meaning God at work. The work of the ministry is done by God not by self-seeking men who refuse to grow in the Lord.

Did that man belong to the Lord? That is not for me to say, but if we cannot see God at work in him, then promotion had to be withheld.

Here is a hint about desire: Old Testament men used mightily of God didn’t want to do it. Moses, Gideon, and Jonah all had to be convinced one way or another to serve God.

Your service to God will often begin with a reluctant thought. I can’t. I don’t want to. I am not ready. All these thoughts and more have come to mind in men and women who I have seen serve with joy and effectiveness as they grow in Christ and are readied for promotion.

Romans 14:23c for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

I get in more trouble with my Christian friends over my standing on God’s Word over the definition of sin. Most Christians want to define sin as missing the mark. You have a target of love and if you miss the target, that’s sin. They have a difficult time accepting my definition of sin, everything which is not of faith. They find that harsh and demanding.

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

If you are living by faith, what does it matter how sin is defined? If God says that I should not, then I should not. No one has the right to substitute their own judgment above what God has instructed me to refrain from.

Is it a sin to have a sense of humor? No, but if your brand of humor hurts others, then God just might say “Stop that!” If the goal is to love, then anything that hinders love might be called upon to be sacrificed. I once had a wicked sense of humor, emphasis on wicked. He didn’t stop my sense of humor but changed how I use it. His warning came like this, “Not everyone appreciates your humor.”

Chastening doesn’t have to be harsh, if you will pay attention to that “still small voice”. It gets louder and harsher when you do not heed His warnings.