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Ephesians 6:21-24
A British newspaper once offered a prize for the best definition of a friend.
Among the thousands of answers received were the following:
one who multiplies joys, divides grief, and whose honesty is inviolable
one who understands our silence
a volume of sympathy bound in cloth
a watch that beats true for all time and never runs down
The winning definition for a friend came in and—its pretty good:
“A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.”
That really speaks of a companion, comrade—intimate friend, fellow soldier.
True friendship is invaluable.
The Bible has much to say about the value of friends:
Solomon cuts to the heart of true friendship:
Have you ever thought about who would want to befriend the apostle Paul?
I mean—here is a man, frequently thrown in prison.
Often beaten, usually scorned and ridiculed.
His life hanging in the balance.
Who would want to be a friend to someone like that?
Certainly your own life would be in jeopardy just for knowing him.
Before we get to The last 4 vs of Eph 6 I want you to turn to
Col 4:7-14
We often overlook the end of Paul’s letters.
We read them and think, “well that’s nice, he hasn’t forgotten his friends.”
But there is really much more to it than that.
This isn’t just a list of Paul’s acquaintances.
If we truly believe that “all Scripture is inspire by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”—then
this list of Paul’s is much more than meets the eye.
It is an inspired list of the many people who shared his ministry.
It is a list of those who have persevered in the furtherance of the gospel.
And it’s quite a list:
Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark (cousin of Barnabas), Justus (Jesus), Epaphras, Luke, Demas.
Now Eph 6:21-24
Let me introduce you to Tychicus (mentioned in 5 NT passages [maybe 2 Cor 8:18]).
Now Tychicus is probably not a name you would give to one of your children.
His Gk name would be translated “fortuitous” or “fortunate.”
I would agree--how fortunate to minister with the great apostle Paul for so many years.
Tychicus is not a prominent figure in the Bible.
His name—mentioned only 5 times in the NT gives us a brief but extremely rich profile of the man who served as Paul’s faithful friend & companion.
We first meet Tychicus in Acts 20:4.
Paul had been some time on his 3rd missionary journey near the end and was in Ephesus and spent 3 years there discipling a few believers and preaching the word of God throughout Asia to Jews and Greeks.
It is said of Paul
And the result?
Acts 19:21-23—what followed was a mob.
Notice that Paul was anticipating a return to Jerusalem via Macedonia.
He intended to collect an offering from the Corinthian church along with one from Galatia and Achaia and present it to the needy believers at Jerusalem. 1 Cor 16:1-9 talks about Paul’s intent.
In doing so he had hoped that the union between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians would be strengthened.
20:1-4—he was accompanied by Tychicus.
Willingness to travel with Paul showed his friendship but not only that but truly a servant heart.
This journey with Paul would not be undertaken lightly.
Travel in antiquity proved to be much more arduous than the luxurious travel we have today.
This trip would:
Take Tychicus from friends, family, and a church for an extend period of time
Hold great danger in traveling with Paul:
many enemies
often warned of those who would cause him trouble in Jerusalem
Tychicus would have heard and known about the problems associated with knowing Paul and traveling with him
As Paul wrote the book of Ephesians—it had been 2 years since arrest in Jerusalem.
Since then, he had survived a plot by Jewish leaders to murder him, trials before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa, a traumatic voyage to Rome.
Tychicus may have been with Paul this entire time—but definitely with him through his Roman imprisonment.
As Paul was released from prison, Tychicus remained with him and we are told in Titus 3:12 that Tychicus was considered as a replacement for Titus as pastor in Crete.
Paul now considered Tychicus—who began as a messenger, now as a candidate to fill in for Titus.
Tychicus endured the first Roman imprisonment with Paul and as Paul was again arrested in Rome, Tychicus remained with him.
From 2 Timothy 4:12—as Paul was facing imminent execution, he wanted to see Timothy one more time.
Timothy could not leave his congregation at Ephesus without a replacement, Paul sent Tychicus—so Timothy could go to Paul.
Paul must have had great confidence in the abilities of Tychicus to rely on him so heavily.
Paul is writing Ephesians from prison during his 1st Roman imprisonment.
Tychicus is with Paul—by this time nearly 4 years have passed since he first caught up with Paul in Ephesus.
Paul had great confidence in this man.
He trusted him and entrusted him with an important mission.
But Paul would not have done so with just anyone.
There are several credentials we see of Tychicus in Scripture—credentials that make for a faithful companion in ministry.
I’d like to walk thru them with you this morning.
1. Tychicus Was a Beloved Brother
Col 4:7; Eph 6:21
This is a splendid portrayal of who he was.
We see the most basic and essential component of Paul’s commendation of Ty.
Brother—referring to his faith in Jesus Christ and including him in the family of Christian believers.
Undoubtedly, it was not only his faith in Jesus that caused Paul to love him but his usefulness proved to be very special as well.
Paul loved him.
Paul loved to be with him.
Undoubtedly he would miss Tychicus as he sent him to Ephesus & other churches in Asia Minor.
2. Tychicus Was a Faithful Minister
Col 4:7; Eph 6:21
Gr.
Diakonos—“deacon” “to wait at a table” and in a wider sense to serve someone in any capacity.
Tychicus is a faithful deacon in the truest sense of the word.
It is quite revealing of his heart and his attitude as on doing ministry/work of the Lord from the heart—freely not under compulsion.
Certainly he was a servant/minister of the church as well as to Paul himself.
Wherever a need was present, a diakonos is quick to meet that need.
Paul also calls him “faithful”—not only to Paul but ultimately to Christ.
Tychicus was entrusted & trusted to carryout God’s work.
He was a servant of the gospel, special servant of Christ loyal to his Master in every possible way.
3. Tychicus Was a Fellow Bond-Servant
Col 4:7
The word Paul uses for servant is different than the word he used previously for “minister.”
Previously the connotation carried with it the activity of the one serving—the actual work (i.e. the ministry—one willing to do what is necessary in order to fulfill the work of the Lord).
Here, Paul means to say that both he and Tychicus counted it an honor to be “slaves of Christ.”
They were totally at the disposal of their Master.
A slave had no rights of his own, he was totally submissive to his master, no right/freedoms to act independently of his master’s will or desire.
Christ says (Mk 10:43-45) the one who wants to be the greatest of all must become a slave—complete humility—“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
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