The Warfare Of the Christian Believer

L. THE EXAMPLES OF FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

-- { Ephesians 6:21-24 }  ²¹ So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord. ²² I am sending him to you for this very purpose, to let you know how we are, and to encourage your hearts. ²³ Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ. -- NRSV

Breath Prayer For The Week (A "breath prayer" is a brief sentence or simple phrase that can be repeated often to Jesus in one breath.)

Jesus, may I be a faithful soldier on Your mission.

Dear Friend, grace and peace be unto you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ.  Amen.

You have heard the phrase, “Last but not least.”  That is the case here.  In fact, the end of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is really the beginning.  It all begins with and ends with faithful Christian soldiers.

We are presented with two Christian soldiers who were faithful to the Lord Jesus.  They are examples for you and me who are part of the Army of God.

First, there was the Christian soldier Tychicus (6:21-22)  “Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.  I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.”

Tychicus was a native of Asia.  He was a companion of Paul on several journeys.  He was commissioned by Paul as a messenger to various churches.  He was entrusted to deliver the letters of Paul to the Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon.  He was sent on a special mission to Ephesus.  He was to be sent to Crete to relieve Titus.  And he was called Paul’s beloved brother, a faithful minister and a fellow-slave for Jesus.

Paul says three significant things about this soldier for Jesus.

1. He was a “dear” brother.  He was a person who had believed in Jesus and demonstrated that belief in loving others.  He treated others as his brother, loving and helping them as he could.  Therefore, he was dear to others hearts and loved.

2. He was a “faithful” brother.  He was called and gifted by Jesus to preach the gospel and to minister to the needs of God’s people.  He was a person who had a world-wide vision for God’s work.  He was faithful to that work.  He had no complacency or questioning.  He did the work God set out for him to do.  He knew where his strength came from day by day – the Lord.

He knew the very words of Jesus as recorded by John, “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me.  Night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4)

3. He was a friend of believers – a messenger of encouragement.  Paul was in prison and the believers in Ephesus were concerned for him, and Paul was concerned that they know that he was doing well by the strength of the Lord.  Notice I didn’t say under the circumstances.  No, Paul was way above the circumstance by the grace of the Lord.  

So how was Paul going to comfort the church, which was so far away?  The answer was in a very dear friend and fellow minister named Tychicus.  This man, Tychicus, was willing to give of his time to minister a message of comfort and encouragement to the Ephesian believers.  He was a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus.

Second, there was a Christian soldier Paul (6:23-24)  “Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.”

After all of Paul’s sharing with the Ephesian believers we now get a small glimpse into his heart.  

1. Paul was a spiritual leader and brother to other believers.  His concern was for the spiritual welfare of others.

1. He invoked “peace” upon them.

2. He invoked “love” upon them.

3. He invoked “faith” upon them.

Did you know that you can do the same to any believer?  You can ask, invoke God’s grace of peace, love, faith or any other characteristic of God to another.  You can extend a blessing to another.  

When I enter a person’s home I invoke God’s peace and blessing to be upon that home.  You can do the same.

2. Paul was a prayer warrior for other believers.  He prayed the most important prayer of all – “grace to you.”  May God’s grace, unmerited favor, love, and blessing rest upon the believers in Ephesus.  Is that your prayer for your fellow believers?

In just a few moments, following this sermon, some men and women of this congregation will be coming forward to become soldier of Jesus in leadership positions on the Church Council in this congregation.  

As they do their ministry they will need the grace of God upon them for peace, love and faith.  Leadership is not an easy calling.  Prayer will need to be a constant part of they work.  They will need to pray for God’s grace to rest upon you.  And you will need to pray for God’s grace to rest upon them.

These that come forth are not elected or appointed as representatives of St. Mark’s but as leaders.  They look ahead with vision to the future and the Lord’s will for our mission.  They push ahead to do our Lord Jesus’ work.

Heavenly Father, St. Paul has taught us many things in this series.  Help us take his example to heart and live for you as powerfully as he did.  Pour Your grace and blessing upon us as a congregation to do Your will.  “Your will, not our will, be done at St. Mark’s.”