Ephesians 6:21-24 Ephesians: Final Greetings

Paul brings this glorious epistle to a close with a few simple parting words, a greeting, and a benediction. We are introduced to Tychicus, the bearer of this letter, and learn a bit about his friendship with Paul, as well as the obvious care that the Ephesian church has for Paul’s welfare. Paul evidently had great confidence and love for Tychicus, as his beloved brother and faithful co-laborer in the Gospel. Due to Paul’s close relationship with the Ephesian church, instead of a few lines of personal nature at the end of the epistle, Paul sends Tychicus, a living epistle, to update the church about his welfare. The personal face to face visit and testimony of Tychicus would encourage the church far more than a mere few lines in a letter.

Obviously Paul had a deep concern for relationships. With all of the high theology and practical individual application that he has just written to them in the 2400 or so words which precede this ending, Paul concludes with evidence of his desire to forge a stronger personal link between himself and the church he loved so greatly. This is the outworking of his exposition on God’s new society – demonstrating that it is more than mere theological theory. Paul wanted the church, to live like the church – to deepen their fellowship, by praying for one another, sending this epistle, and sending Tychicus who would encourage them and carry personal information from Paul. Prayer, correspondence, and personal visitation remain the three major means by which Christians can encourage one another to this day, and so contribute to the building up of the body of Christ.

This being the beginning of a new year, it is a good time for us to reflect upon our own church life. How connected are we to the brethren? How much do we really know about our brothers and sisters in Christ? Do we truly count them as family? Are we being aloof from our spiritual brothers and sisters, giving preference to our physical family and secular friends? How often do you pray for those in your church – not just the pastor, but other congregants? With the advent of the telephone, email and Facebook, we have an unprecedented opportunity to reach out and encourage our brethren far more than past generations – are you taking full advantage of these things to correspond often with your church family? Of course, nothing replaces face to face fellowship – how often do you actually see your brothers and sisters face to face to fellowship, pray for, and encourage one another during the week? What steps might you take this year to strengthen the external ties that bind our hearts in Christian love?

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Luke 2:10-11 Twelve Joys of Christmas

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

On a silent night 2000 years ago, likely in the spring time, while shepherds watched their flocks, they found themselves in the midst of an unexpected supernatural episode. Out of the calm evening sky, suddenly there appeared an angel from the realms of glory, accompanied by a shining light from the glory he radiated from being in the presence of the Holy One. Shepherds who were usually rugged men, familiar with fighting off hungry wolves, met something that evening more frightening than anything they would ever meet in nature. Theirs was the same response that every other human being has ever had upon encountering the Holy; these shepherds literally quaked at the sight of glories stream from heaven afar, to quote the popular Christmas hymn.

The only appropriate reply from the fearful angelic creature was, “Fear not.” (see also Gen 21:7, Dan 10:19). Not only did the angel tell the shepherds that they need not fear, but they gave the grounds for them to instead be joyful. ‘For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’ The long-expected Messiah had come, and rather than fearing, which was their natural reaction, these shepherds had every reason to now rejoice.

Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures the only appropriate response to anyone’s encounter with the Holy was to tremble. This was because of the inherent feeling of unworthiness that men feel in the presence of the Holy. Isaiah experienced this in his encounter with God (Is 6:1-5) as did Daniel (Dan 10:11). Augustine spoke of the Holy as causing him to be ‘a-shudder in so far as I am unlike it.’ Yet the message of this holy angel who visited the shepherd’s field was one of such great news, that fear was to be replaced by the only other appropriate response – that of joy.

When we think of joy, we often relate it to celebration and delight over certain circumstances of life. We can all think of days of our lives where we experienced great joy – the end of the school year, our graduation day, our wedding, the birth of a child – are some examples. Christian joy, however is something quite different. Christian joy is something that comes when we are hated, rejected, reviled and spurned – we are told in that day to leap for joy, for the great reward to be counted among those who are worthy of such persecution. (Lk 6:22-23). Christian joy is one that causes one to sell all he has in order seize the treasure (Mt 13:44). Christian joy will not only come in the future when we experience heaven itself, but is a present reality as we know that our names are written in heaven (Lk 10:19-20). Jesus told us that he spoke in order that our joy may be full (Jn 15:11).

On the day that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there was every reason to rejoice. The incarnation of God in human flesh gives us every reason to rejoice as well. This week meditate upon the incarnation of Christ and write down as many privileges, benefits, reasons, or purposes that the incarnation accomplished over which you can rejoice.

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Apologia: Always Ready to Give a Defense for the Hope that is in You 1 Peter 3:15

“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence”

The Apostle Peter is known for many things such as, walking on water at Jesus’ bidding, being at Jesus’ transfiguration, and for often speaking his mind. However, the Apostle is not often considered one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament. Nevertheless, the two short epistles Peter did write in the New Testament are very important letters for believers. The first letter is especially important as it speaks to the persecuted church – those who were suffering for their faith at the time when this letter was written, and also for the persecuted throughout the church age. In this first epistle from Peter, specifically chapter 3:13- 4:19 is a section that deals with suffering. One aspect of suffering that Peter raises is being able to give a defense for the hope that each Christian has in Christ. While you may not immediately think of this as suffering in a classical sense, if you ever had to give an answer for reason why you believe in Christ, you know that it does take a great deal of patience and can lead to much heartache. Confrontation and even quarrelling is often not far away when one is called upon to defend their faith.

The biblical term for defense is apologia in the original language. While it may sound very similar to the English word apology, this is not the meaning of the Greek word. Apologia simply means defense, and this is the meaning in 1 Peter 3:15 – our text for this Sunday. From apologia, we get the term Apologetics – the branch of Christian theology that deals with the defense and establishment of the Christian faith. This discipline requires considerable study and research in order to gain an expertise in defending the faith against skeptics and atheists who would try to dismantle the Bible and Christian thought. In this text however, Peter is not calling everyone to defend their faith in that manner, but in the sense of a defense for the hope that every believer has in Christ. So in this sense, Apologetics is something every true believer is to be involved in! In our text, Peter is not recommending you be able to defend your faith; he’s commanding you to do this. Peter instructs every true believer, “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence”

We’ll open up this text in three sections: first, “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts;” second, “always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you;” and third, “yet with gentleness and reverence.” We encourage you to meditate on this commandment from the Apostle Peter and as you do consider these questions:

Is Christ set apart as Lord in your heart?

Have you ever been challenged to give a reason for the hope that you have in Christ?

What was your defense?

Did you answer your questioner in gentleness and reverence, or did it lead to confrontation and quarrelling?

Ephesians 6:18-20 Praying Always

… praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel … Eph 6:18-19

Here Paul concludes his teaching on the Christian’s spiritual battle, calling us to all prayer and supplication; he uses both words mainly to add intensity to the idea. The words “with all” which in Greek, precede “praying always,” are linked to the exhortation to stand in verse 14. So although prayer is not linked to any specific piece of armor, it is included in the manner in which we as Christians take a stand against the devil. There are times in Christian warfare where we will feel unable to even wield the sword of the Spirit – at such times, even at all times, in everything, let us call upon our all powerful God in prayer (See Rom 8:26-27, 12:12, Phil 4:6, Col 4:2-3, 1 Thess 5:16-18, 1 Tim 2:1-2).

Paul runs one idea into the next in this text detailing the manner and objects for which he is calling upon us to pray:

a) praying always

b) with all prayer and supplication

c) in the Spirit

d) being watchful …

e) with all perseverance and supplication

f) for all the saints

g) for me …

First as the manner of prayer, it is to be offered always – literally in every season. The specific context of spiritual warfare tells us that this is an exhortation to pray under every season of conflict. There are times in every Christian’s life where we need to cry out to God with increased intensity because the dire circumstances necessitate us to do so. In such circumstances we become utterly dependent upon the Holy Spirit in our prayers, as we can only pray with His divine assistance (Ro 8:26, Jude 20). Praying ‘in the Holy Spirit,’ means to rely on His power and wisdom as you pray; it means submitting your thoughts, will, and desires to the Word of God, until we intuitively ‘think God’s thought’s after Him,’ and develop instincts that are keeping in line with His will. To pray with all prayer and supplication, means that we are to offer all kinds of prayers to God including petitions. Philippians 4:6-7 both reminds and invites us to: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication , with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; promising us that: the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Remembering that the primary context is prayer in the midst of battle, such ‘warfare prayer,’ requires vigilance and perseverance. Do not forget that the ground in which Christ is building His church is a territory occupied by an enemy; so alertness is warranted. The word ‘watchful’ conveys the idea of the military soldier who is on watch, who must stay awake and alert on his guard duty. With all perseverance, suggests determination or resoluteness as opposed to growing weary and giving up (see Mark 13:33, 14:38). Prayer is the expression of the life of a disciplined soldier for Christ who is in constant communion with God.

Secondly the text tells us the object for which we pray: “For all the saints.” Charles Hodge said, “No soldier entering battle prays for himself alone, but for all his fellow soldiers also. They form one army, and the success of one is the success of all.” Every time we address “Our Father,” we address God corporately with the saints, but we are also to pray for the saints – for one another – beginning with those in our local assembly, but then extending to believing peoples of all nations, particularly those living under regimes that are hostile to the Gospel. Sinclair Ferguson writes, “No stronghold of Satan is safe from the remotest saint who knows what it is to pray!” Lastly Paul asks for prayer for himself, in particular that he would be bold in his preaching of the Gospel. Pastors and ministers today need much prayer if their congregations are going to hear preaching with Gospel boldness. Brethren, pray for me.

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