A Journey through Ephesians …. 6:21-24 {Our Final Post}

To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work. I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:21-24.

When we were on staff with Campus Crusade, I will never forget mailing out our monthly prayer letter. The Crenshaw Chronicle, we called it.

Brent would write it up, complete with details of what God was doing in the lives of college students, how our supporters were helping fund the spreading of the Gospel and, of course, some snap shots of our three teeny-tiny boys. Brent and I would trek to the post office, buy 200 stamps, rent a RedBox movie and sit for hours – stuffing letters, licking envelopes and placing stamps.

It wasn’t my favorite job, lol. Just imagine mailing your Christmas Cards every month. BUT we LOVED encouraging and updating fellow believers on God’s work at the University of Tennessee.

After reading the final four verses of Ephesians, I realize that the Crenshaw Chronicle may have been similar in nature to the letter Tychicus carried – a full report to share, in greater detail, how Paul was doing, specific prayer needs and general encouragement to the reader’s faith.

Tychicus played the role of postman for Paul’s prayer letter.

The important thing I want you to notice, friend, is that the contents of this letter are not just for “missionaries” to write. The bigger picture is that Paul wanted others to know specific requests that he had…. so he would be covered in prayer.

Twice, to my knowledge, Paul encourages us to pray with SPECIFIC requests. Look:

Ephesians 6:18 Amplified^: With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people. 

Philippians 4:6 Amplified: Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.

Friends – this is what I sense the Holy Spirit saying to me today …. Bring back the Crenshaw Chronicle!

No, I don’t mean a huge mail out with clip art and pictures of the boys. However, I STILL NEED A PRAYER TEAM.

And. So. Do. You.

Think on this – do you have a core group of people in your life who routinely pray for you? A team who know that they are THE people praying over the SPECIFIC requests of your life? No pressure – but pressure. LOL

I’m not talking about the passing “pray for me” comment you may mention to someone at church – but A CORE TEAM who know you, know your family and COMMIT to intercede without fail.

This is NOT selfish. I think it is essential.

And when I think through the people on my “core team” of prayer warriors – I am VERY picky.

I need prayer warriors who will truly pray – and pray boldly. And specifically. These women KNOW ME. They KNOW MY FAMILY. And I am not a BIT shy about asking them for this. Because it is reciprocal and mutually understood that this is just what we DO!

Tychicus carried specific requests to the church of Ephesus because Paul needed prayer and today I encourage you to do the same. If you were to write up a “full report about what you are doing and how you are getting along” complete with specific requests for prayer, to whom would Tychicus take it?

Maybe only ONE person comes to mind – well that is perfect. Because between the two of you there are three. Jesus says, “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” We know Jesus is currently siting at the right hand of the Father, interceding for you – SO! Sounds like a prayer team to me!

Oh friend, as we conclude this study, I can’t encourage you enough to continue on this journey. Continue in the Word, continue in unity, continue in prayer, continue covering yourself with God’s full armor to protect yourself from the attack of your enemy and lastly, ask some others to cover you, too. Write your own Chronicle – complete with specific needs – and ask people to pray. Don’t be shy in asking. WE NEED EACH OTHER IN THIS WAY.

In closing, I want to borrow Paul’s language to speak a blessing over you. I don’t know your specific requests, necessarily, but I know that you have them. I know you have needs, and hurts, and fears. So in faith and in the power of Jesus Name I ask His blood to cover you, your needs, your loved ones and your future. I pray that His Word would be a light for your path. I pray you would continue to hunger and thirst for Him and that you would be satisfied. I pray you would be filled to overflow with the Holy Spirit and that the peace that surpasses all understanding would guard your heart and mind. And I pray that The Lord would bring people around you, to pray over you and support you in the specific needs of your life. Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. May God’s grace be eternally upon you, your family and all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you for journeying with me through Ephesians. It has been my delight!! It has been such an honor to come to this table every morning, knowing that you, fellow sojourner, were on the other side of this screen. Until next time, grace and peace, sweet friend.