Ephesians 6:21-24, Good Old Tychicus

²¹ 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.

²³ 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.

(Verses 21-24)

There is much here, and a lot can be seen that communicates Paul’s heart. He’s laid out a ton of theology, and now Paul ends his ‘beefy’ letter with this final benediction or blessing. These final verses are not doctrine so much as they are God’s window into the apostle’s heart.

You are Ephesus. The letter is written to you just as much as that church, and reading (and rereading) we really need to see ourselves as Ephesus (albeit 2000 years removed). The letter belongs to you as much as it belonged to the churches in Asia Minor. You really need to realize this as it changes it from history to personal accountability.

Ephesians is your personal letter from ‘home.’

Please see this as it alters the entire book. It is yours and shouldn’t ever be regulated as fine ideas or sterile theology. This letter belongs to you personally. So dear one, make it yours, for you are God’s target, and as a believer, you are loved!

Tychicus has been chosen to carry this letter to the Ephesians, which will be sent to all the churches in Asia Minor. I’m pretty sure copies will be made, and the original will stay with the bishop of Ephesus. The journey though will be a long one, and the messenger must travel from Rome to Ephesus which only the brave would do. It could be difficult.

“Travelers journeyed in convoy, sometimes hiring soldiers to protect them from robbers who preyed on the unsuspecting. Roman roads made things somewhat easier but still, walking, perhaps hiring a donkey or paying for passage on a merchant’s ship… Travel was for the brave and the strong.”

(https://cloudofwitnesses.org.uk/studies/tychicus)

Tychicus is mentioned 6x in the NT. He was a ‘gospel-veteran’ who ministered with Paul in various places in the Roman empire. Incidentally, it appears he had a good relationship with Timothy who was a new pastor of the church in Ephesus. Tychicus was someone whom Paul trusted implicitly. He was carrying Paul’s heart.

Tychicus was loyal, brave, and completely reliable. I think Paul had confidence that he would do everything necessary to make sure this letter would get through. We find that he was able to do this (thank God). We owe a spiritual debt to this man.

We can skim through this passage and never really see Tychicus at all.

Tychicus seems to have no real preaching ability, but he is called “beloved” and “faithful” in verse 21. In verse 22 he is called a “brother” and a “minister.” That word for minister is διάκονος, deacon and it means “a servant of a king” or a “waiter of tables.” I believe that reveals someone who is a minister to the needy (which is no small thing).

Paul closes his letter with a benediction.

In verses 23-24, we see the blessing is given to the church. He pronounces “peace,” “love,” and “faith.” He speaks out of God’s heart to the Ephesians, and as a leader, he is conveying God’s own blessing. A proper benediction always originates from Him and is hardly just a nice word. It is a powerful thing.

“Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.”

(verse 24)

Ephesians 6:18-20, Pray Hard

“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.”

Eph. 6:18-20, ESV

I am convinced that our most challenging work is learning to pray. Whenever we experience revival, whenever we rediscover our true calling and purpose for living, we do so by prayer. Prayer isn’t the way to get things, it’s how we change.

Prayer is the way we become like Jesus.

Satan’s primary focus is to destroy our prayer lives, he works to eliminate our communion with our Father. He detests that, and he and his demons (and the world system) work overtime to tear down our walk. The enemy concentrates everything on our prayer life.

This passage (v.v. 18-20) emphasizes several truths about prayer. If you take apart these you’ll discover how to shape and direct your ‘time on your knees.’ Notice the following.

There are four “alls” in verse 18!

• All times
• All prayer
• All perseverance
• All the saints

If we go further we see that the word “all” in Greek, (although it’s a simple adjective), gets used 1245 times in the Bible. It can mean:

• all manner of
• the whole or entirety
• everything, or the totality of
• completely

With this in mind we see that Paul stresses the complete effort of prayer and its focus. All the time, every kind, no matter what and for your brother and sisters in Christ. It’s work, spiritual work. It seems that once we put the armor on (verses 10-17) we can stand in God’s own strength.

It’s not enough to wear your armor.

If we’re clothed it’s for the purpose of prayer. Yes we must dress for war and protection, but its ultimate purpose is prayer and intercession. Don’t just wear it but pray out of it. It’ll be work, but you must do this. You must strive in prayer, so much is counting on you.

You can make a difference.

The Church is counting on you. “Paul” (all pastors, teachers, leaders) absolutely need your prayer. We need boldness, we need grace and love, and only God can give it if you’ll only intercede for us.

God will do nothing unless you start to pray. He’s waiting for you to ask. He wants you to intercede for others.

It will not be easy. The enemy wants to suppress your prayer life. He absolutely hates it. Satan wants to see us passive and dull and you cannot let him do this. You have a very critical part and place in God’s kingdom. Perhaps others are waiting for you, and perhaps you’re the only one who can step in the gap for them.

You’ve been given a part of God’s field to care for, you have your own sphere of influence. No one else has it, but you.

There many different ways to pray:

• On your knees
• walking
• standing or sitting
• vocally, or in your thoughts
• with others, a group
• using a prayer list
• “arrow” prayers (shot up with 1-2 sentences)
• using the Psalms or reading the many prayers in the Bible

(I know there are many more, but these are what comes to mind right now.)

There’s a “school” of prayer and the Holy Spirit intends to teach you.

Don’t play hooky. You will make mistakes or lose focus. The Spirit will teach you stanima. You might pray for one or two minutes at first, but it’ll grow and you’ll learn endurance. Remember though–you’re most like Jesus when you start to intercede for others.

Maybe your sanctification comes when you pray?

“You need not cry very loud; he is nearer to us than we think.”

-Brother Lawrence

Ephesians 5:15-20, Making Music

Peter Paul Rubens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

¹⁵ So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. ¹⁶ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. ¹⁷ Don’t act thoughtlessly but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 

¹⁸ Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, ¹⁹ singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. ²⁰ And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:15-20, NLT

Verses 15-17 pretty much deal with a ‘cautious’ life that is under God’s special attention. These contain an awareness that the Father intends for each of us. Every believer chooses to be wise–and thoughtful. These three verses reveal that much of the Christian life is derived from this understanding.

I love God’s grace. Salvation is by that alone.

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

I once saw a cat walking on top of a fence. His was a careful and thoughtful walk.

It seems that there was a barking dog who wanted this cat for breakfast and he watched every move that he made. One little slip and it would be all over. But that tomcat just walked, balanced on just top of the fence, one paw in front of the other. One misstep would plunge him to a waiting mouth.

To follow Jesus requires walking a tightrope.

Verses 18-20 drive home true praise and worship under the wonderful guidance of the Holy Spirit. We’re to be filled and directed, not with booze, but with God’s presence.

Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves.

So much of a circumspect walk demands praise and worship. And so often that is the missing piece of our discipleship. We honestly don’t realize this, and we rarely put it into practice. We have this (very) wrong idea that it’s optional, or superfluous.

Making music to the Lord in your hearts.

Making music. To the Lord. In your hearts. Which phrase is most important I wonder? Of the three the second one is clearly critical, and the third is right up there. But I would suggest each is pretty significant. (So, what instrument do you play?)

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Being thankful is probably the most difficult. Paul saves it for last in this list, most likely because it’s the hardest. If you think about it you may understand its challenges. To say “thank you” for everything is the backbone of the disciple’s walk. To thank Him for everything (all of it) is the hardest thing a believer must do.

Ephesians 5:10-14, Carry the Light

¹⁰ Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. ¹³ disclosure

“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”

Eph. 5:10-14, NLT

This passage explains two things: the darkness of an unbeliever and the light of the Lord. You and I once walked in the darkest darkness. Nightime was our home, it was what we chose. Looking in the rearview in verse 8, we finally understood.

“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” 

As believers we now understand that we’ve been fundamentally changed, the black darkness was drained from us (we were full of the night). Instead, now, the light has been infused in us and it has now altered everything. The deathly poison has been stopped.

^10 “Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.”

We must be careful. We must figure out what pleases our Father, that is critical. His pleasure is paramount.

We must renounce everything dark. Instead, we’re called to “expose them.” I suggest that this isn’t some militant stand that drives us to actively confront the evil inside of a “worlding.” It seems to me it’s more of an understanding of darkness that resides in those who continue sinning, repeatedly over the Father’s mercy.

We are a people infused with light.

Everything is different now. We’ve exposed the night, and our passion is to please Him alone. Our lives now are radically different, as those who have touched the Holy One. Moses once connected with His glory, but now we have connected with Him in a new way. We now carry His light.

.

“It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. ¹³ But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them.”

The word “shameful” in the original Greek means “filthiness.” These sins are secret ones, a deep dark wickedness that’s hidden from others. But verse 13 talks about a complete disclosure–a clear revelation of their sin. It seems we must rest in the fact that all will be revealed when God determines all will be known and seen for what it is.

“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”

The resurrection of Jesus woke us up. We “slept” for the longest time but now we’re aware or awake. He’s shined the light on us and we now understand. This verse is written in the form of a poem, perhaps used as a “hymn” for the early Church. The idea here is to be “awake” (or “aroused” from a deep sleep).

“The dead” pretty much describes the radical change of someone whose a sinning corpse into a believer who now has the light. A spiritual revolution–a radical change in our very being. We are incredibly different now.

His light has made us new.

Ephesians 5:6-9, All Aboard!

⁶ “Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. ⁷ Don’t participate in the things these people do.”

⁸ “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ⁹ For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.“

Eph. 5:6-9, NLT

I can see two major hubs–one going away and one moving toward God. Think of a train station with two separate tracks with trains going in opposite directions. One goes east and the other goes west.

Verses 6-7 warn us that the train going one way will definitely destroy those traveling that way–a derailment or a bridge collapse maybe. But something will happen. However, the one that’s traveling to the light will doubtless find it. When we see it that way a decision to board is easy.

“Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 

Fooled has the idea of being tricked into the deception or delusion of another. There are some who will argue, persuasively attempting to draw you in. “Sin? I’m different.” No matter how reasonable they sound, something isn’t quite right (you feel it).

“The anger of God.” Is that doctrine even acceptable anymore?

“Don’t participate in the things these people do.”

The idea behind “participate” is rather chilling. It’s a compound made up of two words: union and companionship, and to become one.

The word “participate” was a word used to become a guest at a special feast.

We’re expressly told not to do this.

“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord.“

There’s quite a contrast here:

• darkness and light
• once and now
• full and have

“So live as people of light! ⁹ For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.“

According to verse 9, God’s light inside you is quite productive. The English Standard Version is very helpful here–“for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.”

We’re now people of light! God has poured Himself into each believer.

“The issue is now clear. It is between light and darkness and everyone must choose his side.“

    G.K. Chesterton

Ephesians 5:3-5, Wallowing in the Mud

³ But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴ Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 

⁵ For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Ephesians 5:3-5, ESV

Growing up I remember leaning over a fence to watch the pigs. They typically had a mud hole they wallowed in, and the pigs were caked with muck. I’ve been told that since they’ve got to regulate their heat, so they like to roll in the mud. I never saw a clean pig. They were always filthy.

A number of different sins are mentioned here. We can make a list if we want to, but God isn’t really interested. Passages like these are not to be dissected, instead, they’re to be a warning. We dare not think otherwise.

God made us lambs not pigs.

Paul writes to the Ephesian church about holiness and life in the pig pen. Sins are clearly described and we’re warned not to be unholy or unrighteous. As a believer, you must understand these things.

Some “piggish” Christians want to be believers, but by their actions, they deny a life of a saint set apart for godliness. Immorality and impurity have been chosen as acceptable. And since they believe that God will always forgive them they continue to wallow. They’ve made this choice.

Most of the sins listed deal with sexual problems issues that Paul insists are not the way we should live. They are always wrong and always evil. We dare not deceive ourselves into thinking and acting otherwise. In another Epistle Paul clearly tells young Timothy to “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts.” (2 Timothy 2:22, NLT.)

Flee is a common translation. It means to “shun, vanish, to be saved by flight.” Perhaps this clarifies things. I think verse 5 of this passage is a definite warning:

“Has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.“

If we’re true we must be transformed. We must realize that we’ll never receive the kingdom if we choose to live with these sins. They’re never part of all the things God wants to give us (“an inheritance”). They completely separate us from God’s life. This should scare the bejeebers out of us.

We must renounce these things and we must flee. As believers, we must have good running shoes that will enable us to avoid these sins.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Matthew 5:8

Ephesians 4:25-29, Making Room for the Devil

²⁵ “So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. ²⁶ And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil.“

²⁸ “If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. ²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

Paul now takes his good theology (chapters 1-4:24) and gets very practical. It’s not enough to think but we must do it. These five verses tell us that our behavior is just as significant as having good theology. He covers many different areas, and we continually need to stay alert.

Check out this list:

• Lying
• Anger
• Stealing
• Swearing, foul talk

“So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.“

The word used for “lies” here is pseudos. It’s where we get the idea of an intentional falsehood, something fake, pretended or a sham. As believers that’s forbidden, when we do so we deny our “one-ness” with each other.

God is always true, a lie has never crossed His lips. To be Christ-like then means that we are people who will always speak the truth as well.

“But let us speak the truth in love.”

Eph 4:15

Love here in the original Greek is agape–God’s own love which is absolute love. It’s a love that doesn’t have limits, it just gives and gives without any kind of a limit. The Father calls us to “talk” this way with others. (Can you imagine what would happen if we started doing this?)

Our lies will always separate and divide. God calls us to use agape love in our connection with others.

“for anger gives a foothold to the devil.”

To “give” means to furnish, supply or commit. I suppose the idea means to hand something over to Satan for his use. We do this sometimes, but here that driving force is anger.

“No matter how just your words may be, you ruin everything when you speak with anger.”

    John Chrysostom

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

The first sentence is pretty much clear.

The second sentence means we’re always aware of edifying (building up) others. What we say has incredible power, we strengthen or weaken by what we say to another. The word for encourage is where we get the word “edifice” from. It can mean to construct or assemble.

I suppose that takes thoughtful effort.

What we say matters. Angry, or frustrated and we allow the devil to slam others. It seems even words that are not planned, and not really focused become a bit dangerous. Plain old casual talk can serve a purpose, but there is something better. According to this passage, we can speak to another “deliberately” and pre-planned.

Ephesians 4:17-19, “Cannon Ball”

¹⁷ “With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. ¹⁸ Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. ¹⁹ They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.“

Paul reissues his authority just in case the Ephesians forgot. His responsibility, (as an Apostle) extends to accurately describe that man who is without God (and it’s not a pretty sight). But Paul also demands that the Church must separate itself.

This passage is a real cannon blast to living in sin.

¹⁷ “With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.”

Authority in the original Greek manuscripts is “martyromai” which means “to protest, or to demand a witness.” It indicates having legal power to declare something Paul has a right to. He carries apostolic power given to Him by God. (Now that’s the real authority.)

Being a “Gentile” describes an ugly truth about their person or society. The initial declaration is “hopeless confusion.” The World can’t understand.

The lost are separated from what is real and true; their thinking is completely scrambled.

“Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.“

They have blind minds (even the very best). “They wander” or drift through life completely unaware of the things of God. I suppose some will try hard to see, but they fall short. Efforts maybe are given but it’s not enough.

“Closed” and “hardened” are sad and painful places to be.

“They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.“

It’s getting brutal now! The verse is pretty explanatory. The world carries a heavy burden as they try to find relief through lust. Lust is like a glass of salt to someone wandering in the desert. Not only can’t it satisfy, but it also makes matters worse.

“Practice” is a routine or habitual exercise. In a sense, it’s fashionable to sin, but it’s what the fallen world does. People are not pure, they can’t become godly, so it’s romper room time as they look for something that will satisfy them.

The real issue it seems is one of separation from the world. We are present, but never participants. We’re supposed to soar, not sin. We’re different. This passage makes it clear that being active sinners isn’t an option.

Ephesians 4:4-6, Guess What!

“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.“

Eph. 4:4-6

One. That’s all there is. One.

One…

• Body, our connection to each other
• Spirit, God’s that ignites us
• Hope, confidence in His work
• Lord, King, and Master of those He had delivered
• Faith, our common commitment
• Baptism, a sign of repentance and faith, is the entry point
• God, the awesome Father who now walks with each of us

These three verses contain seven references to all that is common to everyone who believes in Jesus. No matter what we believe in, each is universal and shared.

And actually, to minimize any one of these destroys everything.

You must believe me, and trust the Word. We’ve entered into something common. Each of the seven belongs to our singular faith. To set any one of these aside disturbs our connection with our Father and separates us from our brother.

When I step inside any Church, I can’t really rest until I see the seven.

We’ve been knitted together by the Holy Spirit. Paul emphasizes our oneness, he declares the community of our faith. We dare not place anything (denomination, doctrine, or “name”) above what the Holy Spirit intends. I don’t belong to the “First Baptist Church” or the “Third Koinonia Praise Fellowship”–I belong to Jesus’ Church–and every believer is my brother and sister.

The Holy Spirit never calls believers to become one; simply, we must grasp that we’re already one and need to behave like we’re one.

“One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.“

One Father! “Over, through, and in.” If we could only see this it will alter our thinking. To grasp this we would see our walls fall flat and we would reach out and finally walk with our brother and sister hand-in-hand.

Oh how that would please our Father!

3:20-21, “To Him Be Glory”

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.“

This passage is a doxology to the prayer (verses 14-19) that drove Paul to his knees. A doxology is a liturgical formula of praise to God. In light of everything that has happened to us, this is to be Paul’s obvious next step–it’s logical and fitting. He has to do this.

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,”

“Able to do” is a phrase that stresses the power of God to do anything He wants–even seemingly impossible things (like ‘raising’ us up). I think He has done this to us the Church! The phrase to do is dynamai where we get the English word, “dynamite.”

“Far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.” That word ‘abundantly’ is the Greek word, hyper which needs no definition for us–it’s obvious. The “ask or think” part of v. 20 suggests that what has happened is way beyond any hope or dream we have; it’s far beyond what we consider possible.

It is our dream come true.

“To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,”

There’s only one response possible to all that He’s done we declare (and live) in His glory. We need to declare that same glory and pass it on to others. As old Christians, we need to recognize a new generation of believers following us who need us to pass on that glorious “good news.”

“Forever and ever. Amen.”

Who can say more?