To Fulfill The Word of God

Colossians 1:19-29

"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on the earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless, and above reproach in His sight - if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister."

"I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister ACCORDING TO THE STEWARDSHIP FROM GOD WHICH WAS GIVEN TO ME FOR YOU, TO FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD. The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations but not has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and reaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I ALSO LABOR, STRIVING ACCORDING TO HIS WORKING which works in me mightily."

The stewardship that was given to Paul for the church happens to be the stewardship God has given to all His saints (those who repent/turn to God at every revealing of Jesus Christ to them; those who understand what His calling was and are willing to persevere with Him in it!): to FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD which is attempting to work mightily in them. Paul tells the Colossian church that he still labors according to that which is working in him.

Paul teaches that we should "pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).  

"Teacher, We Want You To Do For Us WHATEVER We Ask"

Mark 10:35-45

"Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, 'Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask.' And He said to them, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' They said to Him. 'Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.' But Jesus said to them, 'You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?' " 

"They said to Him, 'We are able.' So Jesus said to them, 'You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.' "

"And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, 'You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many."

The disciples' request seemed reasonable, if not holy. Jesus said(through John in Revelation 3:21): "To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." 

They were, at that point, more interested in the end of their faith rather than the works to arrive there. Jesus corrects them/us. Then James writes (4:1-3): "Where do battles and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war, yet you do not have because you do not ask. YOU ASK and you do not receive because you ask amiss"............in this context to lord over instead of serve.

Jesus assures those who will speak to "this mountain", doubt not in the heart but believe by His grace that causes those to be strong in standing, so that the removal of "this mountain" shall become complete in them, then they will have WHATEVER THEY SAY, to the glory of God! (Mark 11:22-24)