Grow With Pastor Joe

Secondly, we need to see that we must can and must be comforted in Christ which is seen in Paul’s purposeful closing of the letter in Eph. 6:21-24 which says, “²¹But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: ²² Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. ²³Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.” Paul is writing this letter not just so we would have some commands to follow, but so that we’d have comfort through our connection with Christ and His Church. We stay connected and comforted as we pray in the Spirit. Paul says here that he is sending Tychicus “a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord” to let the Ephesians hear this letter and to tell them of Paul’s situation. He is being sent so that “he might comfort your hearts.” The entire letter of Ephesians is confrontational but also comforting for the believer. It begins and ends with comforting the hearts of believers by laying out our wealth in Christ. There in the middle is the confrontation of the hearts of believers to walk according to our wealth in Christ. All of this is by grace through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul wants them to stay connected to Christ and one another so that they would be comforted in their hearts. Remember, the church at Ephesus was surrounded by the influence of idolatry and immorality causing many to fall into temptation. They needed to be connected to Christ and comforted by Christ so that they can walk according to their wealth in Him. In connection with the previous section, prayerlessness leads to comfortlessness. We should never grow complacent in our walk, but we should be comforted in our walk as we live in connection with Christ through prayer. Paul ends his letter in a loving pastoral way that is typical with even his harshest of letters. There are four things that Paul lists that should bring them comfort as he closes this letter. Each comforting truth is found in Christ. We have peace, love, faith, and grace in Christ. All of the life of the believer is in Him. Each one of these closing comforts will be given to comfort our hearts to continue to walk in our wealth in Christ. Let’s see them one-by-one. One, is peace. The book of Ephesians opens up with how we have peace with God, then continues to show our peace with one another (specifically the Jew and Gentile together in one body in Christ), and how to have the peace of God in our daily walk as we war against the world, the flesh, and the Devil. We experience the peace of God that flows from our peace with God as we pray in the Spirit in fellowship with Christ. As we grow in maturity and unity, we experience the peace of God that is in Christ. Peace for the brethren is not the absence of conflict in our daily walk, but rather the peace of God in the midst of conflict (Philippians 4:6-8). Peacefulness is as much of an identifier in the believer’s life as prayerfulness or prayerlessness. Two, there is love. This is once again a reminder of God’s love for us, our love for Him, and our love for one another. Ephesians has already shown us that we are to be rooted and grounded in love, comprehend His love for us, and to walk in love (especially within the local church). What is more comforting to our hearts than knowing that we have been given peace with God because of His great love for us seen in Christ and experienced by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our hearts should be overflowing with the peace and love of God. Three, there is faith. Faith is that total trust, dependence, reliance, and confession of Christ. We are saved by faith, and we live by faith. We were told to take up the shield of faith to defend us in the battle. The only way to live a life of love and peace with one another (and the Lord) is through faith. Faithful Christians are loving and seek peace within the local body. Notice though the key phrase, “from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Once again, we are reminded that all of the life of the Christian has Jesus as its source and substance. Any peace, love, and faith that we have is initiated by the word, work, and will of God in our life. This is seen further in the following verse in Eph. 6:24 which says, “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, Amen.” Grace is what gave us peace, love, and faith in Christ. Grace is the Christian life. By grace we are and do. Grace is the introduction, plot line, and conclusion of our wealth and walk in Christ. Grace is our story and song. Grace is our wealth in Christ. Grace is our walk in Christ. All of life is by His grace for our good and His glory. Not only does grace sum up the Christian life and the book of Ephesians; but so does the phrase “love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” The Christian life is to be one that is loving and sincere. Our love should be sincere for Christ and one another. If it isn’t then we have no love. Sincerity should be a mark of every believer’s life. We shouldn’t have to be guilted, bribed, or manipulated into walking worthy of our wealth in Christ. It should be naturally done through love and sincerity to Christ. To bring this together, Paul wants us to be comforted in our connection with Christ.

            As we bring this study to a close, I wonder, do you know what it means to be in Christ? Have you begun to understand the wealth of riches that you have in Christ? All that Christ is, has done, is doing, and will do is at your disposal. Your wealth is to enable and empower your daily walk with the Lord. Our heavenly position in Christ is for our earthly practical living. God has given you everything that you need in Christ. Are you using the resources of your wealth or are you living by your own strength? How is your heart and home? Are things in order? This incredible book of Ephesians has dealt with nearly every conceivable relationship. If you are saved, then you are in Christ. Because you are united to Christ, then you are united to His Church. All of these relationships and resources can be enjoyed as we are connected and comforted in prayer. My prayer is that each of us would be a people of prayer so that we would experience the connection and comfort that we have in Christ.

Grow with me as we study the believer’s wealth and walk in Christ.

Grow deeper.

Grow higher.

Grow wider.