UNITY – Part 15 – Unity Mobilized
Passage:
“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, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. 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. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that he may encourage your hearts. Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.” (Eph. 6:18-24)
Prayer:
Introduction:
Last week Pastor Jim talked about our spiritual armor that we are called to put on.
- and how if we are going to walk in this world – Then we must be prepared to face it.
Living out our faith in this world world isn’t easy.
- Being a light in the workplace isn’t easy – there are landmines to navigate
- Leading your family isn’t simple – it is messy, hard, and takes a lot of patience
- fighting against temptation to sin or facing our trials isn’t easy – it is a fight that comes with bruises and it gets bloody.
There are so many challenges that we have to face. And Paul knows that if we go into the fights that we have to face unprepared and unprotected – then it isn’t going to end well
I believe that within the context of Ephesians – That in addition to Paul telling people how to defend themselves against spiritual attacks that come in – there is a sense here where Paul is saying –
- we have spent all this time talking about unity – We’ve spent all this time talking about what your identity in Christ looks like – and why we can love one another even if we disagree – in light of all of these things – it’s time that we mobilize.
- Paul lays out the marching orders for a mobilized unity. that impact the world around it.
Look out for eachother:
The first aspect of mobilized unity that Paul calls the people to is that they Look out for eachother:
- Just as the roman shield wall – took care of eachother in the midst of ranged assaults from arrows and spears –
- we are to take care of each other in the midst of the spiritual assaults that we come across in this world.
You can see this in Paul’s call that we pray for eachother – look at your text:
“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,”
He says – be vigilant – be watchful – look out for eachhother – pray for each other – intentionally bring the needs of one another to the father – constantly –
The christian life is not a solo run – it’s co-operative
There are two main ingredients that Paul is calling us to here –
- He is calling us vulnerability and availability.
Be Bold:
pray also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
- After Paul tells believers to be there for each other – he asks specifically for prayer for himself – but I think there is some principles here that we can draw from.
We talked about this earlier – but Paul is currently in prison while he is writing this letter – most scholars estimate that he is about to die within the near future –
- And I find it interesting the contents of his prayer request for himself – He asks that God would give him boldness to stay consistent – to not bend away from his mission of preaching the gospel to people in need – but that he would be bold and steadfast.
- Rest in your Identity in Christ:
Finally the third thing that Paul gives to the church for unity mobilized – is to rest in their identity in Christ.
“Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that he may encourage your hearts. Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.”
- Paul sends a man by the name of Tychicus – who has been with Paul helping him – he is presumably the one who brought this letter we have been going through to the people – and he says that he is sending him so that he may encourage the people where they are.
I find it very interesting in all the chaos of the circumstances that were going on – in Paul’s life and the lives of those in the church Paul says,
- Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.”
Paul ends his letter with how he started it. If you remember all the way back in chapter 1 – Paul started the letter by talking abut the importance of their identity in Christ – he ends the letter the same way.
- He wishes them peace and love and grace – coming from God the father and from Jesus the son – all of these things are given in the wonderful gift of salvation that we have spent so much time talking about.