Ephesians 18-20 (Ambassadors for Christ)

            Summary:  Paul is finishing his armor with an encouragement to pray at all times.  Prayer for supplication and perseverance and also for himself, as Paul was imprisoned while writing this letter.  And then he gives the reason why he has done all the things he has done in an indirect way by saying, “I [Paul] am an ambassador in chains” to declare the Gospel boldly.

            Note: the Greek word for always in verse 18 maintains the idea “in every season”

Timeless Principle:  Paul is now turning to set up his salutation and end his description of the armor.  He urges the Ephesians to pray for supplication and perseverance.  This is a serious and often overlooked ideal.  Let us explore further supplication as this text describes.  Supplication is an appeal to God through prayer, a request.  Well what does this mean and how does this apply to us in light of this text.  Paul mentions that when praying for supplication we should keep what in mind?  The end.  He specifically says “to that end.”  What does this mean?  It means cross-centered supplication.  Not health and wealth.  There is another key attribute to the supplication talked about here, that being for all the saints.  Too often I find myself in prayer asking for nothing but things for myself forgetting about the rest of the saints.  In my self-centeredness, its all about me myself and I, as if I am the only laborer of Christ.  This shows my extreme pride and uncovers sin in my heart.  I am not saying that praying for things in your own life is wrong but rather if all your prayers, like mine most often do, look like ”Father, do all of these things for me,”  then check your heart in prayer and ask is it one of humility or one of selfish pride. The second important word here is Perseverance.   The Christian life is not easy, by any definition of the word.  One must count the costs of falling after Christ before making a decision to do so because things happen that hurt, friends and relationships can be lost, mockery, ridicule, and a painstaking call to be Holy.  Paul asks the saints in Ephesus to pray for perseverance because persecution was heavy and he himself knew this all to well.  Paul persevered in a valiant manner by the power given him through the Holy Spirit and would continue to be persecuted until his martyrdom under the tyrannical rule of Nemo.  Never once did he back down or give up, imprisoned, beaten, stoned, lost at sea, shipwrecked, but despite all those things he counted gaining Christ so important that all those things were as rubbish.  Perhaps this is what Christ means when he says his burden his light, yet also says that no servant is above his master and if he was persecuted then so shall we be persecuted.  These two statements almost seem contradictory.  Only someone who counts Christ as a treasure will be like a man who sold everything he had to gain the treasure.  As one progresses in Christianity, as the painful work of sanctification sets in, as you as you know you is put to death, being made into the image of Christ. Only at that time can we really see what Christ means when he says that his yoke is easy and his burden light.  I won’t pretend to know fully what this means but will continue to pray that Christ will reveal it to me more fully.  Perhaps the mystery is simply that as one endures for the sake of Christ, it becomes more and more relevant to that person that Christ is infinitely more worth any momentary suffering that comes their way making them able to face their hardships with joy. 

Paul makes a bold claim and answers why he has so readily endured for Christ.  He does so because he is an ambassador in chains (in chains probably refers to his imprisonment in Rome but could also refer his being bound to the Gospel).  He has been called to a holy calling to boldly proclaim to a lost world the redeeming news of the glory of Christ, known to us as the Gospel.  Why is this important to us?  What application can we pull from Paul’s ambitious statement.  The answer can be found in a question, are we any different from Paul is our calling any different?  The answer to this is simple, no.  Christ gave us one central command, go forth and make disciples of all nations.  Not if you are called to evangelism then use your gift.  Yes there is the gift of evangelism but that does not excuse any Christian to merely sitting around doing nothing to fulfill the great commission.  If anyone is in Christ it should burn within them to see the lost reached for Christ.  We are ambassadors, Christ uses us to spread his Gospel, he uses us to attack the very gates of hell.  So then let us joyfully embrace this calling and make live within us so that it consumes us. 

My Prayer: Father, my soul is desolate.  I am a sinner who only cares about myself for the most part.  Cure me of this prideful cancer, work through me, using me as your instrument.  Father I plea that oppurtunities may be given us to boldly proclaim your Gospel, that the ministries of my fellow laborers would blossom so that your name may be clearly and fully represented to a lost world.  Father, I pray that you may give the words for I cannot change anyone’s heart but you alone can perform a supernatural change.  Provide us with perseverance to withstand the schemes of the devil, give us the strength to put on your armor.  Father I am futile and need your strength otherwise this task is impossible so I plea to you to give me this strength.  Give us boldness to proclaim the Gospel despite what it could do to our self-made shrines that built for ourselves.  Our ultimate goal is to become like you and be light to a dark world.  Father we pray above all that your will would be done. In Christ’s name, Amen.