Ephesians 6: 18-24
Now that we are wearing our armor, it's time to go to war.
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for the saints,
We are to go to battle in calling on God to help and strengthen and teach and provide and do all the things He promised to do for us, not allowing ourselves to be distracted or diverted from surrounding the saints with God's protection and healing.
and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel,
for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Even Paul needs prayer! He's in prison, or at least, house arrest, constantly chained to guards. But he is able to write, and have people minister to his needs. I find it interesting that he is requesting prayer for boldness to open his mouth with the Gospel! Isn't that what he's been doing constantly in his travels? I wonder what is intimidating him? No matter who we are or what we've done, our enemy is still nipping at our heels!
But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.
I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.
He doesn't want them to worry about him, so he's having Tychicus bring this letter to them, then he'll be there to tell them all the details of Paul's circumstances and how God is carrying him through.
Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a common blessing often given in various figurations. But then he ends with something interesting.
Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.
The last word Paul uses in this epistle is en aphtharsia, which means "in incorruptness," and the noun denotes a quality of the future life. The adjective means "imperishable" or "unfading." To pair this idea with "love" may be related to the phrase, all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, and suggests that we are even now living the eternal life that will never fade, because we are sealed with the Holy Spirit for the Day of Redemption (1: 13-14; 4: 30).
Paul ends this letter with the same idea he started it with. He began with us "in the heavenly realms" (1:3), and now he finishes it with us there.
God sees the end from the beginning, and He finishes what He started. So Paul has written to the Ephesians to encourage them (and us) to live now in this world as citizens of the next, availing ourselves of all the advantages and accoutrements we need to grow into the adult sons and daughters of the King.
Spiritually we are already in the heavenly realms, even though physically we're still here on the Earth. We need to renew our minds to think as heavenly citizens who are on assignment in this foreign country as ambassadors of our King.
O my Father, please help us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which You have called us (4:1), to walk as children of light (5: 8), making the most of of our time (5: 16). Father, grow each of us up in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18), and bind us together in the bond of Your Spirit of Peace into Christ's one body.
Then together we will attain to the unity of the faith, and grow up into the stature of the mature man which will be to the full measure of the fullness of Christ (4: 13).
O Father, fill up Your house with Your uncountable children! Fill every place at Your great Banquet Table, and we will enjoy sweet fellowship forever with You and one another, without end!
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Christ Jesus is our Lord God Almighty, sovereign King of the Universe; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
