Transcript

If you have your Bibles please turn with me to Ephesians 6.

The following is called: WANTED: AMBASSADORS. Hours will be 168 per week. Pay is minimal to zero. No experience required, but toughness and resiliency helpful. No retirement provided in this life, but unlimited benefits in the next.

Working conditions are not the best. There are hassles, discrimination, put-downs, and even persecutions. In this job, it is mostly give and no take.

There are few breaks, no vacations, no sick leave, no material bonuses, few compliments, and only one promotion which comes at the end of your life.

Applicants must be willing to sacrifice, study long, pray hard, labor unceasingly, and must be willing to be called a “fool.” The job is not easy. You will often work alone, but you’ll never be alone. People in this line of work are in a minority.

Applicants must be willing to share their testimony to people and in crowds that are both sympathetic and antagonistic, both understanding and prejudiced. Applicants must realize that identification with our organization makes them unpopular with the majority.

Applicants must be prepared to live or go to any place on earth.

All applicants are required to understand before they sign up that they must relinquish all rights, legal or otherwise to all personal property such as cars, houses, real estate, money, recreational vehicles, stocks, IRA accounts, in fact EVERYTHING.

Though this position is hazardous, there are great rewards, joy and satisfaction to the work. We believe that “in due season we shall reap if we do not faint.”

Those interested may apply at the foot of the Cross. There is no legal age limitation and whosoever will may come.

God’s will and desire is for an army of faithful ministers who are willing to do whatever it takes to stand for Him and His truth for today and to make His Word and the gospel known.

Paul and Tychicus are examples to us of faithful ministers. They both lived these things in their Christian lives, and gave their lives wholly to Christ in service to Him.

And God desires us to do the same. He wants us to put our “application” in and devote our lives to be His faithful ambassadors.

Ephesians 6:21 reads, “But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things.”

Paul had told the Ephesians about praying specifically and intelligently in 6:18, and now he speaks of sending Tychicus so they could “know my affairs and how I do,” and thus give them more information about him and know how they could pray for him and his needs.

Tychicus, says Paul, would tell them “my affairs” or what he was doing, and “how I do,” or how he was doing.

Paul knew the Ephesian church cared for him and would want to know of his well-being and details relating to him and his situation in Rome, and he was sensitive to this.

So Tychicus was to inform them of Paul’s welfare: how he was holding up in his imprisonment, how he was doing health-wise and emotionally, what was taking place in his life day-by-day, what he was doing in his ministry for the Lord even while in prison.

Tychicus appears five times in the New Testament. We first read of Tychicus in Acts 20:4 where we learn that he was from Asia Minor (possibly Ephesus) and read that he was part of a group of men who helped Paul deliver the love offering from the Gentile churches to the poor Jewish saints in Jerusalem.

So Tychicus joined Paul during his third missionary journey and traveled with him to Jerusalem, and from this point forward he was one of Paul’s faithful companions.

Tychicus may have trusted Christ during Paul’s 2-3 year ministry in Ephesus, the capital of Asia Minor then. What we do know for sure is that Tychicus was willing to leave all that he knew in order to follow the Lord, leaving his home, his family and his friends in Asia.

In Titus 3:12 we read of Paul telling Titus how he was considering sending Tychicus to Crete to relieve him, “When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.”

Crete was a difficult place to minister as evidenced by the content of the book of Titus. Titus 1:12 describes the residents of Crete: “Cretians are…liars, evil beasts, slow bellies,” i.e., they were deceptive, ruthless, and lazy gluttons.

Though Paul wasn’t sure who to send to temporarily replace Titus, the fact that Paul thought of sending Tychicus, first showed that he knew that Tychicus was reliable and would go if he asked him, and second that he was capable to handle ministry there.

Later Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:11,12: “Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.”

At the end of his life facing his execution, Paul requests Timothy to come to him, and to make that possible he sends a faithful and willing Tychicus to fill in for Timothy at the church in Ephesus while he was away.

It should be noted that Paul told Timothy in 2 Tim. 1:15: “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me.” Unlike his countrymen from Asia, Tychicus had remained a “faithful” minister to Paul and the Mystery until the end.

So Tychicus was a pastoral fill-in and he was a mail man! Here in Ephesians we find Tychicus was with Paul in Rome during Paul’s first Roman imprisonment.

He had proven himself to be loyal and trustworthy and therefore he is given another important task by Paul: to deliver this letter to the Ephesians, and then afterward to travel inland to deliver the letters to the Colossians and to Philemon.

Now, talk about important mail to deliver! He had carried wealth before, but now he carried amazing spiritual wealth and treasure. The incredibly precious truths for the Body of Christ in the books of Colossians and Ephesians are of infinite value.

The trip to deliver this mail from Rome to Ephesus was a long, difficult trip. As the bird flies it was a trip of at least 800 miles, having to travel over both land and sea, which would have taken a lot of time and been a long, exhausting trip.

His journey has been described as: “Tychicus would first have to cross much of Italy on foot, then sail across the Adriatic Sea. After traversing Greece on foot, he would sail across the Aegean Sea to the coast of Asia Minor [at Ephesus]. After all that, he still faced a journey of nearly 100 miles on foot to reach Colosse.”

But the fact that we have the letters before us show that Tychicus made it, he faithfully did his job and delivered the letters. Not only was Tychicus to deliver the letters, but he was instructed by Paul to deliver more information about the apostle’s situation.

Paul says here that Tychicus would “make known to you all things,” i.e., he would tell them all the things the Lord was doing in Rome.

We can be sure Tychicus brought news of the progress and power of the gospel and how the gospel was going into uncharted territory, telling of the conversions in Rome including those in the barracks of the Praetorian Guard and even in Caesar’s household.

Paul told the Philippians “My bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace…” “All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household” (Phil. 1:13; 4:22).

Paul gives Tychicus a two-fold commendation and says he was: “a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord.” From what we’ve learned in Scripture of him we see this was true.

Being a part of the family of God, Tychicus was Paul’s (and our) brother. Family ties among our earthly families are strong, and the ties between believers are likewise strong, and often even stronger. We are one in Christ and we are family in Him.

We are brothers and sisters in Christ, and as brothers and sisters watch out for each other, are there for each other, help each other, so Tychicus did for Paul.

And to Paul, Tychicus was a “beloved” brother, a brother dearly loved, and not only by Paul, but by all who knew him.

Tychicus was also a “faithful minister.” Tychicus ministered to Paul, he ministered for Paul, and he ministered to the Body in whatever way he was asked or led to do.

Paul told the Corinthians that “it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (I Cor. 4:2), and Tychicus lived up to this requirement of God.

Ignace Jan Paderewski, the famous Polish composer-pianist, was once scheduled to perform at a great American concert hall for a high-society extravaganza.

In the audience was a mother with her fidgety 9-year-old son. Weary of waiting, the boy slipped away from her side, strangely drawn to the Steinway on the stage.

Without much notice from the audience, he sat down at the stool and began playing “chopsticks.” The roar of the crowd turned to shouts as hundreds yelled, “Get that boy away from there!”

When Paderewski heard the uproar backstage, he grabbed his coat and rushed over behind the boy. Reaching around him from behind, the master began to improvise a magnificent countermelody to “Chopsticks.”

As the two of them played together, Paderewski kept whispering in the boy’s ear, “Keep going. Don’t quit, son, don’t stop, keep going son, don’t stop, don’t quit.”

And so the Master works in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure. And He takes our “chopsticks” and makes it a masterpiece.

He takes our surrender and submission, our humble service, our simple labors, our work for Him, and by grace, the Lord uses it and He uses us.

And He tells us to keep going, to not quit, to not stop, to not give up, to be faithful, to be consistent, to be dependable, to be reliable, to be devoted, to be trustworthy, to keep following and serving Him.

And He who “makes all things beautiful in His time” works in and through us and makes our work pleasing and good and beautiful and magnificent in His sight.

Vance Havner said this, “God is faithful, and He expects His people to be faithful. God’s Word speaks of faithful servants, faithful in a few things, faithful in the least, faithful in the Lord, faithful ministers.” And we also are to be faithful.

God wants all of us to be His faithful ministers. And He wants us to be faithful to the truths contained in the letter to the Ephesians, to be faithful to the “unity of the Spirit,” to keep it, guard it, and stand for it.

We are to be faithful to “make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,” and what God is doing today through Christ’s heavenly ministry.

We are to be faithful to the good works that “God hath before ordained” that we should walk in them. We are to be faithful to live in light of our position in Christ, walking worthy of it, and to walk in love, as children of light, and circumspectly.

We are to be faithful to the gospel of pure grace that salvation is by grace through faith, and not of works. We are to be faithful to put on the new man, to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the wiles of the devil, to be a strong testimony to God’s grace.

Ephesians 6:22 says, “Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.”

Paul says that he sent Tychicus to them “for the same purpose,” or for this very purpose: that they “might know our affairs” and “comfort your hearts.”

Now notice in verse 21, Paul was speaking of himself personally, as Tychicus was to let them know “my affairs, and how I do.” In v. 22, he changes it to “our affairs.”

Verse 22 is speaking of Paul and Tychicus and all those associated with him in Rome. Paul wanted them to know about all those working with him in the furtherance of the gospel. In the letters to the Colossians and Philemon, Paul speaks of Aristarchus and Epaphras who were fellowprisoners with Paul saluting the brethren.

Marcus, Demas, Justus, Luke were all fellow laborers in Rome with Paul in the ministry (Col. 4:10-14; Phile. 23,24). And Paul wanted the Ephesians to know about all their affairs in the gospel ministry and their labors together for Christ.

Tychicus was also sent to “comfort” their hearts. The term “comfort” speaks of bringing courage, strength and cheer to their hearts. I.e., Tychicus was sent to encourage them. So Tychicus was sent for this very purpose: to inform them and to encourage them.

And so Paul writes and sends a letter which would have done nothing but encourage them and which continues to encourage believers to this very moment.

And Paul sends a man to encourage them, who had proved to be nothing but an encouragement to himself and his ministry. So the man in chains sought the comfort and encouragement of others. Like Paul and Tychicus we should be encouragers of the church.

Max Lucado writes the following: I discovered the importance of encouragement in a half-Ironman triathlon. After the 1.2 mile swim and the 56 mile bike ride, I didn’t have much energy left for the 13.1 mile run. Neither did the fellow jogging next to me. I asked him how he was doing and soon regretted posing the question.

“This stinks. This race is the dumbest decision I’ve ever made.” He had more complaints than a taxpayer at the IRS. My response to him? “Goodbye.” I know if I listened too long, I’d start agreeing with him.

I caught up with a 66-year-old grandmother. Her tone was just the opposite. “You’ll finish this,” she encouraged. “It’s hot, but at least it’s not raining. One step at a time…don’t forget to hydrate…stay in there.”

I ran next to her as long as I could. My heart was lifted, but my legs were aching. And I finally had to slow down. “No problem,” she said as she waved and kept going. Max Lucado asks, “Which of these two describes the counsel you seek?”

We should be comforters and encouragers like Paul and Tychicus, and like this energetic grandma. God’s will is that we build each other up. We all need encouragement.

Ephesians 6:23 says, “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Great words of the gospel are contained in Paul’s benediction and closing of the letter. And with simply dignity and eloquence Paul gathers together four spiritual graces frequently mentioned by the apostle: peace, love, faith, and grace, and his desire is that they be the experience and commitment of the Ephesians and the Body of Christ.

Paul says “peace be to the brethren,” the family of God.

The Ephesians, and us too, find peace by reading this letter, in knowing of our position in Christ in heavenly places, blessed with all spiritual blessings, that we are redeemed, forgiven and accepted in Christ, that we have a heavenly inheritance and access to God.

Paul then says, “love with faith.” Earlier in the letter, Paul wrote in 1:15: “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints.” Paul wanted this to continue in them.

This is very simply how the Christian life is to be lived: “love with faith,” with love toward all and faith toward God. “Faith” speaks of the believers’ vertical relationship with God, and “love” speaks of the believer’s horizontal relationship with men.

It’s been said that, “Love is the outgrowth of faith.” As we live by faith in Christ, and grow in our faith and His Word and see His great love in it, His love will mark our lives.

Paul says “peace” and “love” have their source in God. The source of all blessing is “from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. All our spiritual blessings are from Him (1:3).

The Father and the Son are the Author of true peace and love. And Paul wanted that peace and love which flows from God worked out and lived out by faith, through the power of God, in obedience to the Word of God.

This peace and love is the result of the Christ’s life and work within, and our personal growth and faith in Him. And in the measure that we yield to the Lord and grow in His Word and apply it to our hearts, He works His peace and love out through us.

Finally, Paul says in Ephesians 6:24: “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.”

Paul extends “grace” to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Grace introduced the letter and grace concludes it, with grace permeating it in between. Grace is the key word of the entire letter of Ephesians.

Ephesians tell us in the dispensation of grace, we are saved by grace, kept by grace, blessed by grace; we have a standing in Christ by grace, and we’re empowered to live for Christ by grace.

God’s grace, not guilt or legalism, is the motivation for us to serve and to live for Him and obey the instruction of His Word. As we do so, we will be transformed by grace.

In v. 23, Paul was speaking of “love” for the saints and here he speaks of “love” for the Lord. And he extends “grace” to all those who love the Lord “in sincerity,” which is synonymous with believers, as only true believers love the Lord in sincerity.

The words “in sincerity” speaks of an incorruptible, genuine love. We who have trusted Christ as our Savior genuinely love the Lord because of His genuine love for us in dying for us. Love meets love here, and we love Him because He first loved us.

And God would have us manifest our sincere love for Him not only with our lips but with godly lives which honor our Savior, as we walk in His love.

And so Paul closes the letter with a benediction which reflects the themes of this epistle: peace, love, faith, and grace. We see these truths in this letter.

“For [Christ] is our peace, who hath made both one…for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace” (2:14,15). “And came and preached peace to you which were afar off” (2:17); “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (4:3). “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (6:15).

“Wherefore I also, after I heard of your…love unto all the saints (1:15); “that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend…what is the breadth… length… depth…height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” (3:17-19).

“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love” (4:2); “But speaking the truth in love” (4:15); “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us” (5:2); “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church” (5:25).

“…after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus” (1:15); “For by grace are ye saved through faith” (2:8); “In [Christ] we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him” (3:12); “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (3:17); “Till we all come in the unity of the faith” (4:13); “Above all, taking the shield of faith” (6:16).

“Grace be to you…from God our Father” (1:2); “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (1:6,7).

“That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus…For by grace are ye saved” (2:7,8).

“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward…Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given…” (3:2,8).

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (4:7). “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (4:29).

“Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.”

And so may we apply obediently and in the power of the Spirit, the truths of peace, love with faith, grace and all the transforming truths taught in this letter which will yield God’s blessing and joy in our life.