You've Got Mail

December 1, 2024 • Jason Whitley • Ephesians 6:21–24, Colossians 4:7–8, 1 Thessalonians 4:18, Proverbs 25:25, 2 Timothy 4:12

Friends, you have mail here in your Bible, you have inspired mail. And the reason you have this inspired mail here is because of a man named Tychicus. Tychicus was the mailman --the courier-- for this letter, and he brought the beautiful letter of Ephesians that we get to finish today. Who was Tychicus? He is mentioned several times in Scripture, notably in Ephesians, Colossians, and Acts, as a beloved brother and faithful minister. He was entrusted with delivering key letters from the Apostle Paul, including the epistles to the Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Paul’s letter to the Ephesians ends with a message of encouragement, facilitated by Tychicus. As noted in Ephesians 6:22, Tychicus was sent “that he may encourage your hearts.” The Greek term for “encourage” encompasses comfort, courage, and uplifting. This ministry of encouragement reminds believers of the importance of both theological truths and their practical implications for daily living. We bring the book of Ephesians to a close today, but I sure hope you don't bring Ephesians to a close in your own life. Paul highlights several qualities in Tychicus that serve as a model for believers: 1. Willingness to Do Hard Things for God: Tychicus undertook arduous journeys to deliver Paul’s letters, demonstrating courage and self-sacrifice. 2. Support During Hard Times: As a beloved brother, Tychicus stood by Paul during his imprisonment, offering personal encouragement. 3. Sacrificial Service to the Local Church: Tychicus served not only Paul but also the Church, reading and possibly explaining Scripture to the congregation. 4. Ministry in Community: Paul never worked alone, and Tychicus exemplified teamwork in ministry, collaborating with others like Onesimus. 5. Taking the Good News to New Places: Tychicus embraced the Great Commission, risking his life to carry the Gospel to uncharted territories. 6. A Heart for Others: Tychicus’s life reflected humility and a focus on others, a key hallmark of Christian service. Quotes about Humility: C.S. Lewis: 'If I were to meet a truly humble person, we would never come away from meeting them thinking they were humble. They would not be always telling us they were a nobody because the person who keeps saying they are a nobody is actually a self-obsessed person. The thing we would remember from meeting a truly gospel-humble person is how much they seemed to be totally interested in us.' Timothy Keller: 'The essence of gospel humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself. It is thinking of myself less.'

The Soldier's Knees

November 24, 2024 • Jason Whitley • Ephesians 6:18–20, Romans 12:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:16–18, John 15:5

John Bunyan once said, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.” This timeless truth highlights the Christian's most powerful weapon: prayer. In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul exhorts believers to take up the armor of God, not merely to stand firm, but to pray. Prayer, like a soldier’s knees bent in reverence and readiness, completes the Christian’s preparation for spiritual battle. 1. Pray Continually Paul commands us to pray “at all times in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18). This echoes his words in Romans 12:12: “Be constant in prayer,” and 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.” Early Christians exemplified this devotion. Acts 2:42 records their steadfastness in prayer alongside teaching, fellowship, and breaking bread. How can we, in a busy and distracting world, obey this command? Charles Spurgeon offers practical wisdom: “I always feel it well to put a few words of prayer between everything I do.” Like breathing, prayer should be woven into the fabric of daily life—whether in moments of thanksgiving, supplication, or confession. 2. Pray Dependently Paul emphasizes that our prayers must be “in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18). This reminder humbles us, pointing to our utter reliance on the Holy Spirit. Romans 8 assures us that the Spirit helps us in our weakness, interceding when we do not know how to pray. Scottish pastor Robert Murray McCheyne captured the essence of dependence in prayer: “What a man is alone on his knees before God, that he is and no more.” True prayer is a declaration of our insufficiency and God’s sufficiency. 3. Pray Passionately Prayer is not a casual exercise but a spiritual struggle. Paul calls for “all perseverance” in prayer (Ephesians 6:18), recognizing its challenges. James offers Elijah as an example: “He prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain” (James 5:17). Elijah, though an ordinary man, demonstrates that passionate, persistent prayer yields extraordinary results. Even Jesus, in His greatest agony, prayed more earnestly (Luke 22:44). If the sinless Son of God depended on prayer in His darkest hour, how much more must we? 4. Pray Selflessly Paul exhorts believers to make “supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). This selfless intercession mirrors the examples of Job, who prayed for his friends, and Jesus, who interceded for Peter’s faith (Luke 22:32). Paul himself sought prayer, asking the Ephesians to pray for his boldness in proclaiming the gospel (Ephesians 6:19-20). One of Paul’s companions, Epaphras, exemplified selfless prayer. Colossians 4:12 describes him as “always struggling on your behalf in his prayers.” His dedication to interceding for others reflects the heart of true Christian love. Conclusion Prayer is the Christian soldier’s lifeline to the Commander-in-Chief. It completes the armor of God, empowering us to stand firm in spiritual battles. As Edward Payson said, “Prayer is the first thing, the second thing, the third thing necessary to minister. Pray, therefore, my dear brother, pray, pray, pray.” Let us, like the Apostle Paul, take up prayer as our ultimate weapon, knowing that the church advances on her knees.

Put on Christ's Armor

November 17, 2024 • Jason Whitley • Ephesians 6:10–12