Ephesians 6:21-24
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-We live in a culture that loves independence
-Independence can be a good thing, In 1776 our forefathers signed a document entitled the Declaration of Independence, declaring freedom from the tyranny of England
-We all want to be independent in our mobility and being able to care for ourselves
-But independence can be a harmful thing when we apply it to the Christian life. The church is a community of believers and we need one another. I need you as God has gifted you to minister to me and fellow brothers and sisters. Paul dealt with this within the letter to the Ephesians.
-Paul wrote at the end of the letter that he was not working alone either. That he had brothers who care for him and worked alongside him, one bing Tychicus.
Lets stand as we read God’s Word
-Tychicus (Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; Col 4:7; 2 Tim 4:12; Titus 3:12)
-helped to bring collection to Jerusalem
-reveals a lot about Tychicus - to travel to Jerusalem with Paul, which had already been announced that it would be a dangerous journey, and we see that he was near Paul in Rome while Paul was imprisoned
-also brought the letter to the church in Colosse
-The journey for Tychicus to Ephesus and Colosse was a difficult one - having to walk across Italy, sail the Adriatic Sea, walking through Greece and then sailing the Aegean Sea to Asia Minor, once to Ephesus then he would have to walk 100 miles on foot to Colosse
-Paul also considered sending him to Crete to minister there (Titus 3:12)
-Paul sent him a second time to Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:12)
-Three reasons Paul sent Tychicus
1 That they may know Paul’s circumstances
2 That they would know Tychicus is a faithful brother
3 They Tychicus could encourage the Ephesians
-Three different times Paul mentioned how Tychicus would inform the Ephesians about his circumstances: what I am doing, will tell you everything, that you may know how we are
-It is clear that Tychicus gave testimony of what all that Paul had experienced
-Why would it be important for the Ephesians to know how Paul was doing?
13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
-Perhaps it would also aid in their prayers for Paul
-Paul also lets the Ephesians know that Tychicus is a trustworthy brother
-beloved = agape - affection, abiding love, used to describe Christ - beloved Son
Greek writer named Lucian said this about the church - “It is incredible to see the fervor with which the people of that religion help each other in their wants. They spare nothing.”
-beloved brother - Onesimus
16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
-timothy - beloved and faithful child
17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
-faithful minister
-diakonos = servent, agent, assistant
-greek word for faithful - dependable, trustworthy
-Why was it important for the Ephesians to know this?
-It is important to know the contents are safe
-not a culture with a speedy postal service, in fact was difficult at times
-Cicero wrote to Atticus in the first century BC - I have been slow about sending a letter for lack of a safe messenger
-faithfulness is crucial in caring for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we must be dependable, and we must be trustworthy
-The point being we are all to be faithful and trustworthy members of Providence, we are all to show care for one another, we need to pray that God would give us the guidance in doing so. You have heard me say and I will continue to say - we are not about a program, a building, we are the church and we are to care for one another
-Surely there are some who walk into a building today who think - here I am church, meet my needs. It is my prayer that when we meet we say here I am, who has some needs that I can meet today, but not just today - what are you needs on Monday.
-How might Tychicus encourage the Ephesians?
-Maybe an example is what we find in Philippians 1:12-18
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
-a very similar context in that Paul is asking for prayers and particularly that the Gospel would be proclaimed
-Paul’s encouragement to the Ephesians, don’t worry about me, don’t worry about my chains, don’t worry about what others are saying, don’t worry about my reputation, pray that the gospel is known
-Is that a concern for us as we pray? That the gospel is known?
-Paul sent Tychicus to the Ephesians because caring, godly relationships are central to the church, news flash: it is not about a program, certain ministries, fellowships - it is about the gospel and godly caring relationships
-Now Paul prayed for the Ephesians, he asked them for prayer and then turns to pray for them
-the prayer parallels to what has been written throughout the letter (Eph 1:2)
Pray for Peace
Pray for Peace
-peace - to make someone whole
-Paul often prayed that God’s people would have the peace of God
33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-as Paul prayed that they would have the peace of God, he did so to recall what he had previously written to them, essentially that Christ has taken the hostility away and given us peace through his death
Look at Ephesians 2:14-18
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
-Christ is our peace, it is through Christ that we have peace with God, and it is through Christ that we have peace with one another
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
-Christ is our peace, He is what unites us as a church
-and as we have just studied in the armor of God - the gospel of peace - ready for battle against demonic forces by equipping ourselves with the gospel that is defined by peace
-Paul prayed that the Ephesians would experience this peace, and the only way is through Christ
Pray for Love
Pray for Love
-Paul also addressed love throughout the letter
-The love of God for believers
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
-The love believers are to have for one another
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
-Notice how Paul wrote about his prayer for love, it is with faith
-as the believer comes to know the love of God for them in Christ, they respond in faith (Eph 2)
-because of our faith we love one another
-Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know the love of God and would love one another
-And as a common theme Paul made sure they knew that this is from God and the Lord Jesus Christ
-The reason we have, the reason we have the love of God, the reason we can love one another, the reason we can have faith - because God has granted it - which leads us to the third way in which we are to pray
Pray for Grace
Pray for Grace
-grace be with all who love the Lord Jesus
-notice how Paul described the way in which believers love the Lord - incorruptible, what did he mean by this?
-sincere, truthful
-12 times in the letter Paul mentioned grace, begins the letter with grace and ends it with grace
-Paul has been clear on the gospel in the letter
Eph 2 - one is saved only by grace, and those who love the Lord Jesus are the ones who have been saved by grace
Eph 3 - the only way we can serve Christ and one another in through His grace
2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.
-All of the born again life is brought by God’s grace - we are saved by grace, we serve by grace, we are sanctified by grace, we are motivated to obedience by grace, the whole Christian life is by God’s grace
Spurgeon - pray God to bless his Church for your dear children's sake. And, then, for God's sake, for Christ's sake, for the Holy Spirit's sake, for a lifeless church is a dishonour to God; and the better a church has been, the more of a nuisance does it become when the presence of God is gone from it.
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