Dr. Bradford Reaves
Crossway Christian Fellowship
Hagerstown, MD
www.mycrossway.org
Watch this message at: https://mycrossway.churchcenter.com/episodes/159060
This is it. We have reached the conclusion of Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus. We’ve spent 36 weeks covering a letter containing some of the grandest mysteries of the Almighty and His love for us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Truth be told, we could start again and discover even more truths. This is the joy of studying Scripture.
Before we read this conclusion, would you revisit some of the things we learned from Paul’s letter?
On February 13 we opened this letter and right at the start, Paul is delivering unprecedented truth to us. God our Father, through our Lord, Jesus Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Ephesians 1:3). I called this the thesis statement of Paul’s letter. These aren’t just the temporal blessings of the world. These are the eternal blessings of the Almighty given to you and every believer and the treasure trove of these blessings follows us the rest of the letter.
Then we unpacked a multitude of blessings found in Paul’s massive sentence found in Ephesians 1:3-11. I went through and identified 32. In other words, we don’t need to live in defeat or as spiritual paupers. Paul tells us we have all we need to live victoriously over the curse, stain, and penalty of sin. Paul uses Ephesians 2-3 to explain the nature of the gospel and our relationship to God through Jesus alone.
That victory is found in one source and one source only, our relationship with Jesus. In Jesus and only Jesus, we have our redemption, our inheritance as God’s adopted children, and our salvation. In Jesus, we find our power and strength to live in godliness. Because of that, our lives are no long futile, but with a divine purpose, and because of that we are no longer to live in the same manner in the world. Our Walk is different (Ephesians 4:1).
Our minds, our knowledge, our understanding, and our hearts are no longer darkened by the power of sin and the lord of sin (Ephesians 4:17-24). We are new, transformed, and bear the righteousness of Christ (Ephesians 4:23). And as a result of that transformation of the inner life, the outer life is also transformed (Ephesians 4:23-32). Our motivations are different and who we live to please is different (Ephesians 5:1-2). With that, Paul tells us that sin and especially sexual sin and idolatry should not even be named among us (Ephesians 5:3-15).
Not only that. but the transformation of Christ in our life affects the very core relationship of our life. Wives submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22), husbands love their wives (Ephesians 5:25), children obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1), and parents lead godly households (Ephesians 6:3). Even the relationship between bondservants and masters is utterly transformed (Ephesians 6:9).
By understanding all of this we can and will be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10). We realize that we are engaged in a powerful battle that requires our strength. But our battle is spiritual, not carnal (Ephesians 6:12). Our victory is guaranteed because our foe is already vanquished and we are given armor to win every battle (Ephesians 6:13). That armor is comprised of the Belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit (Ephesians 6:14-17).
Lastly, Paul tells us that everything is held together through prayer. (Ephesians 6:18) Prayer is to permeate our lives as a universal practice that is as natural to us as breathing. We need to be in constant communication with God because the enemy is at constant war with us. Last week we saw that our prayers are to be in concert with Christ and interceding for the saints. This week Paul closes with a personal appeal.
"praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." (Ephesians 6:18–20.
In 2005 Barna Reports said, "Prayer is one of three critical spiritual dimensions which most local churches essentially ignore. Prayer is said to be one of the top priorities in less than four percent of the churches surveyed." Indeed Paul knew this when he told the church in Ephesus to pray for him specifically. Prayer is the only force from the church that will emit change. “To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” - Karl Barth
"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." (1 John 5:14)
The Beltway sniper attacks were a series of coordinated shootings that took place over three weeks in October 2002 in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Ten people were killed and three other victims were critically injured. We all know that they were apprehended just a few miles from here at the rest area on I-70. Most don’t know that it was the power of prayer that led to the apprehension.
Just before the arrest of John Muhammad and Lee Malvo, 50 Christian truckers got together to pray to God the snipers would be caught. Ron Lantz would be retiring as a driver in a few days and didn’t even live in the area, but he felt sure that God would answer their prayers.
A few days later he felt compelled to pull off the highway at the rest stop here in Myersville. As he pulled in, he saw a car similar to what was being described on the radio. A chill went up his back as the license plate numbers matched. He quickly called 911 and remained there for what he said were the longest 15 minutes of his life until the police arrived. He even pulled his truck across the exit to prevent their escape. The rest is now history-the snipers were taken into custody without incident.
Ron attributed the power of prayer to their arrest. When asked what he would do with the award money, he said the half million dollars would simply be given to the victims’ families.
Paul knew the power of prayer and knew that he could do nothing without the churches praying for him. “Pray also for me,” he said, “that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:19–20).
What a message right here we should pay attention to. Paul could’ve asked for prayer for all kinds of things. Money, freedom, provision, health, anything. What did he ask them to pray for? Boldness to speak the truth and present the gospel without fear. He asks that they pray that he might be given words. Paul seems to have been more eloquent with words than perhaps any other writer in the Bible. Think of 1 Corinthians 13, the great hymn to love, for example. Paul was a master of words. Yet he knew he needed God’s help and blessing that he might choose words that would be effective in reaching others. (Boice).
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians was Ephesians 1:18 “18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,” The Ephesians prayer for their Pastor was to be bold in his chains.
Paul said, “I am an ambassador in chains”: Chains could mean a prisoner’s shackles, but they could also be used for the gold adornment worn around the neck and wrists of the wealthy and powerful. On special occasions, ambassadors wore such chains to show the riches, power, and dignity of the government they represented. Paul considers his prisoner’s chains to actually be the glorious adornment of an ambassador of Jesus Christ. (Guzik)
Too often our prayers are self-centered or temporal. Os Guinness wrote: "To be always relevant, you have to say things which are eternal." We are watching our world change and move into darkness at a rate none of us thought would be possible. What is truly remarkable is that this is not something unique to our community, our state, or even our nation. This sentiment is being expressed throughout the world. But let's bring it closer to home because we see what is happening right in our own community. Do you want to do something about it? Pray. Pray for me as your pastor, that I would have the boldness to fearlessly preach the gospel. Pray for our community and pray that we would see an awakening to God.
“Oh! men and brethren, what would this heart feel if I could but believe that there were some among you who would go home and pray for a revival: men whose faith is large enough, and their love fiery enough to lead them from this moment to exercise unceasing intercessions that God would appear among us and do wondrous things here, as in the times of former generations.” (Charles Spurgeon)
I want to challenge this church to become serious about being a church of prayer and joining together in prayer. I think that was part of Paul’s message as he closed his letter.
So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. (Ephesians 6:21–22)
Do you know who Tychicus is? He’s mentioned in the Bible 5 times. (Acts 20:4, Colossians 4:7, 2 Timothy 4:12, Titus 3:12). Tychicus seems to have been often used by Paul as a messenger and to bring the church news on Paul. He often carried Paul’s letters to the churches. Why? First, so the church could pray.
Tychicus was not a who’s who in the Bible, but he nonetheless was someone of significance for the Gospel. Paul called him a dear brother and faithful servant. Without Tychicus, the Bible would not be complete, circulated, and the saints of Ephesus encouraged (Ephesians 6:21).
We all need a Tychicus in our lives and we need to be a Tychicus to others. I read about a Pastor who decided to experiment with changing those sad statistics in his church. He made a list of 12 people who had recently been baptized in their church, and then he and his wife invited them over. Naturally, these new Christians were thrilled to be invited to their Pastor’s house. They were excited about their new connection with the Lord and with His Church.
After supper, the Pastor sat down with this group of enthusiastic new Christians --- and he asked them an unexpected question. He asked if they would like for him to predict their futures for the next 2 or 3 years.
They were a little surprised at that offer, but they all said “yes”
--- so, the Pastor made this prediction: “As I look at the 12 of you, I must predict, that … statistically speaking --- in the next 2 or 3 years ---
· 2 of your marriages will break up --- and your feelings of shame will cause you to leave the church
· 3 of you will have a conflict with someone in the church and you, also, will leave the church
· 1 of you will experience tragedy and lose faith. You too will leave the church.
· 2 of you will have some sort of moral failing and will leave the church.
· 2 of the 4 remaining will simply lose interest and drift away from the church … for no obvious reason.
In two or three years, out of this group of 12 …
· … only 2 of you will still be attending church ---
· --- and only 1 of you will still be attending THIS church.
There was dead silence in the room. All these wide-eyed new Christians looked around at each other as if to say, “How could that happen to us?”
Finally, one of them spoke up and asked, “What can we do to change those statistics?”
The pastor was waiting to hear that question. He had his answer ready. He said, “You can get together and as a group decides that you are not going to let anyone go.”
That is exactly what they did. These strangers --- who had never been together until that gathering at the Pastor’s home --- formed themselves into a Small Group. Week by week they came to really KNOW each other. They supported each other through tragedies, divorces, conflicts, and moral failings. In 4 years of meeting together, only 1 person left the church. That small caring group changed the Statistics from losing 10 out of 12 to losing only 1 out of 12.
Would you like to see that kind of thing happen here? I would. I believe we have an understanding of this, but we haven’t taken it seriously yet. It’s time to get serious - really serious. And with that, we come to the end of our beloved epistle.
Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. (Ephesians 6:23–24)
I could spend an entire message with just these two verses, but I will close our series with the four blessings Paul leaves: Peace, Love, Faith, and Grace.
Peace. As learned a couple of weeks ago, we are given the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace (Ephesians 6:15). It is literally the complete reconciliation with God and through that, we have reconciliation with each other. Romans 5:1 “1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The peace Paul is talking about is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God - Shalom.
Love. Here in the Ephesian Church, love abounded. Ephesians 1:15 “15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,” 1 John 4:19 “19 We love because he first loved us.” May we never lose our first love as the church in Ephesus eventually did, sadly. (Revelation 2:4)
Faith. This word appeared seven other times in Ephesians. Paul has in mind both saving faith and practical day-to-day faith. real faith has two elements: belief and trust. To have true faith we must believe what is revealed in Scripture about the truth of God and his character and belief (trust) that He is in control.
Lastly, Paul leaves us with the word Grace. Grace is the very first work of formal greeting of this letter and it is here that he closes his letter, having used the word twelve times. Grace is always a gift that cannot be earned with merit. It is an unending flow from God’s throne to us through the conduit of His love. It is through Jesus Christ you can receive it today.
