Introduction: I was concentrating once again upon some of the most profound verses ever penned in the New Testament, Paul’s last words in Ephesians 6. They were not Paul’s last words, mind you, but they were the last ones in this particular New Testament letter. You perhaps know of the passage. It’s where Paul describes man’s battle as primarily spiritual. And because man’s primary battle is spiritual (we’re not just molecules in motion or meat puppets, as the secularists would have us believe), the Christian man or woman to is to don, or put on, “the whole armor of God.”

But what gripped me so powerfully in my studies today was the appearance–once again–of this man Tychicus. Here’s the way Paul ends this letter. Notice his commendation of Tychicus:

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 you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts (Eph 6:21-22, ESV).

Setting: Remember where Paul was when he wrote this letter? Yes, once again he was incarcerated.

After penning this salvo about spiritual warfare (Eph 6:10-20), Paul commends Tychicus. Why?

Here are (4) leadership lessons we learn about Tychicus from here in Ephesians and other NT passages:

• He was faithful (Eph 6:21; Col 4:7)
• He encouraged the saints (Eph 6:22)
• He suffered for the sake of the gospel (Acts 20:4)
• He served the body rather than himself (2 Tim 4:12; Titus 3:12)

Questions:

• Do we see this level of faithfulness in our day?
• Do you think our generation of Christians will go down in church history as an age of faithful soldiers? If so, why? If not, why not?
• Is our ministry characterized by our encouragement of the saints and equipping them for spiritual battles?
• Do we teach how to suffer for the sake of the gospel, or do we perhaps proffer a sub-biblical message designed to keep money coming in so we can be comfortable, and none of the wrong people get offended?
• Do we serve the body of saints? Do we deny ourselves for the sake of the sheep? Or do we design structures to feather our own nests?
• Do we in many ways resemble New Testament believers like Paul’s friend Tychicus?

Introduction: Internals long before externals. Ever heard someone say, “I hate hypocrites!”? Of course. We all have. Maybe we’ve said it ourselves. There is something viscerally repulsive about hypocrisy. Spiritual hypocrisy may be the most distasteful. I think that’s why Satan loves it when so-called pastors or spiritual leaders fall. The enemy of truth goes, “See? I told you they were fakes. Just in it for money, fame, and power.” I remember how crestfallen I was when Ravi Zacharias was exposed. It hurt me deeply. I felt the same way again when Steve Lawson was exposed. I had read all the books of both men and had contributed financially to their ministries and even purchased their books to give to others I was trying to reach for Christ. But it all blew up in my face when the truth was exposed.

Connection to Scripture: In Luke 11, Jesus rebukes hypocrites to their faces.

Follow me in the text:

37 While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you” (Lk 11:37-41, ESV).

Encouragement/takeaway: In the above passage, the legalistic Pharisee purported to judge the Lord Jesus for not washing His hands before eating. (Just let that sink in: the Pharisee purported to judge God.) But Jesus gently rebuked the Pharisee by reminding him of a fundamental truth: God assesses our hearts long before He’s concerned with our handwashing. In other words, internals long before externals. If our heart is changed, the effects will show. Our theology will be made visible. But if we’re consumed with posturing and externals, that, too, is known to God. And there, too, our theology is made visible. May we have teachable spirits, hearts intent upon internal obedience and not concerned with appearances that fool neither God nor the discerning.

Introduction: A couple of years ago, I made the mistake of watching all of a series on a streaming platform titled House of Cards. I write that it was a mistake because it messed with me spiritually. The themes in that show were so dark, so vile, that I literally felt sick to my stomach when viewing more than a few episodes. The acting was superb; the cinematography was top-notch; the storylines were riveting; all of that is accurate. But something happened inside my spirit and in my guts because of watching that show. I felt like I’d seen inside the belly of the beast. I felt like I’d seen behind the black curtains into the very bowels of hell and its denizens. I still think about that show, and what it portrayed about the lengths to which some evil people will go to get and maintain power. It sickened me then and it sickens me now. For some, their god is their belly, their appetites. In short, they are their own gods (Phil. 3:19).

Connection to Scripture: In Luke 11, Jesus was teaching about the Devil and unclean spirits. Listen to the words of Christ: “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first” (Lk 11:24-26, ESV).

What’s going on here? In short, Satan is persistent; he hates the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He hates God. He hates God’s people, Christians. So, when the powers of hell are confronted, they must be vanquished entirely. They must be defeated. Fully. God’s light must vanquish the darkness. The spiritual lights must be turned on like a switch for the dark deeds to be exposed. That’s why House of Cards troubled me so deeply; darkness prevailed there. That’s why there was always a spirit of suspicion, narcissism, and jockeying for power. No one loved anyone but himself/herself.

Jesus says in John 3:19 (ESV), “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

Takeaway: Still now, years later, that show haunts me. Why? Because I so long for light and truth and beauty to prevail. I’m hard-wired to root for the righteous. I believe in truth, in the good, and the beautiful. But those categories only make sense because they are rooted in the God who is. Lord, may You be pleased to vanquish the darkness, shine the light of Your holiness on the myriad houses of cards using spiritual forces of darkness to blind the minds of countless souls. Bring glory to Yourself by exposing sin and exalting righteousness.

Introduction: Daniel is one of the most debated books when it comes to its prophetic sections. There are some cryptic passages about which there’s no paucity of debate. But what is clear in the section I want to look at in this piece is Daniel 11:32-35. These four verses speak to a vital issue, namely, the alternatives facing a people. Follow me …

Text:

32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. 33 And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. 34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, 35 and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time. (Dan 11:32-35, ESV)

Most scholars with which I’m familiar teach that the man referred to here is Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the 160s B.C. and the Maccabean revolt that resulted due to Antiochus’ destruction and profanation of the temple in Jerusalem.

First, what interests me here is how “the wise among the people” (v. 33) behaved. What does the text say about them? It says they “knew their God” and that they “[stood] firm” and “[took] action” (v. 32).

Second, the wise helped others understand because destruction was afoot (v. 33).

Third, a winnowing occurred as part of judgment (vv. 34-35). In other words, purification.

God was refining His people. He was separating wheat from chaff. He was using suffering to purify His people. He was teaching them.

Encouragement: The alternative was made plain, in other words. God’s people could either bow to the pagan forces and capitulate or they could stand firm in the Lord, and fight for truth and light. This is simple but not easy. Simple, I say, but not easy.

The Issue: The Matter of Separation vis-à-vis the Truth

Background: For over a year now I have been teaching the saints from class. We are near the end now of Matthew’s gospel. This Sunday we will be in Matthew 26. This is where the chief priests and elders plot together to kill the Lord Christ. It is also the section in Matthew’s gospel where a woman anoints Jesus’ body with very expensive ointment she pours from her alabaster flask. And do you know what’s happening? A separation is occurring. A division between the spiritually hardened (the chief priests and elders) and the spiritually regenerate and tender (the woman with the flask of ointment) unfolds in real. Two types: those hostile to the truth vs. those who embrace the truth.

Jesus’ Words about the Woman:

10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her” (Mt 26:10-13, ESV).

Teaching: In sum, Jesus was rebuking those who were more concerned with criticizing the woman than with embracing Him as the only Savior. They were more concerned with external appearances and finances. Meanwhile Jesus says this woman’s obedience will remain forever lauded wherever the gospel is proclaimed. How’s that for a commendation?

Encouragement: When your desire is to please the Lord, rest assured that separation will occur. Those whose longing is for the approval of man will resent you. But your obedience is known by the Lord Christ. Stay true, stay humble, and trust the Lord.

Introduction: We Soldiers love lists. We have packing lists, lists for manifests, lists of personnel and equipment, lists that accompany various pieces of equipment, etc. I carry a little black notebook nearly everywhere with me that contains, you guessed it, lists that I have for each day—everything from my Bible-reading plan, to Soldiers I counsel, to what I’m teaching on at church, to reminders to contact my dad for his birthday this week.

Segue: The Apostle Peter provides a list, too, and it’s for the Christian.

Here’s the text:

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pt 1:5-7, ESV).

Teaching: In plain terms, all Peter is teaching is that our theology is made visible by our lives, our behavior. “What a man believes, he lives; everything else is just talk,” is a way I’ve heard it and even phrased it myself.

To what does the phrase “For this very reason” in the beginning here refer? The reality of true repentance and saving faith that God grants to His people. Peter’s saying to us, “If you’re born again, live like it.”

Encouragement: What encourages me so much is that Peter knew his own weaknesses. He wasn’t too big for his britches. I mean, think about it. The Apostle Peter was also the man who denied his Lord three times on the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested—just as Jesus had predicted. It was fulfilled in precise detail. Don’t we think that Peter always carried that shame with him? I do. I don’t think he ever forgot how he betrayed his Lord. But Peter was still a ransomed sinner and apostle of Christ. Be encouraged, is what Peter’s saying. Why? Because he, too, blew it. And yet Christ restored him. May we learn from Peter’s list, just like the Apostle Peter did. He gave his life in service to the Redeemer. What an honor.

Text from 1 Peter 4:

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Context: “Suffering as a Christian” is the superscription editors have placed in most English Bibles. As a summary headline. It summarizes the big idea(s) of what immediately follows. Therefore, let us examine what follows in these sentences from the Apostle Peter, especially the phrase “insofar as” found in verse 13.

Here are the “big ideas” from the passage as a whole:

• The wisdom of spiritual vigilance (v. 12)
• The necessity of suffering due to one’s Christian witness, not suffering due to one’s folly (vv. 13-16)
• Judgment of the Christian/church (v. 17)
• Trusting God as sovereign (v. 19)

This Phrase: “Insofar as” is crucial as a phrase. It appears in v. 13: “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” Grammatically speaking, it functions here as a conjunction that essentially means, “to the degree that” or “to the extent to which.” It’s a meausement, in other words, a comparison.

Why It’s Important: Context, context, context; that’s why “insofar as” is vital. What’s Peter’s main point in his first letter? Joy amidst suffering. Don’t forget that. It’s not to be a fake joy, a sort of perfunctory facade of “Too blessed to be stressed” nonsense platitudes. No, none of that silliness.

Rather it is a divine joy imparted to the Christian who has learned to understand that trials come by the providence of God who ordains even evil for His purposes. Isaiah 45:7 (ESV) reminds us of this truth:

I form light and create darkness;
    I make well-being and create calamity;
    I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Encouragement: “Insofar as” is important, dear reader, because, as a conjunction, it links the thoughts of joy and suffering. We’re not to be surprised at the fiery trials (v. 12) because they’re part of God’s plans for His people. He uses our sufferings for His glory. Admittedly, this is a hard lesson of Scripture, but it is there nonetheless. Learning to persevere in God amidst the fiery trials burns away spiritual fat in our lives, conforming us to the image of God the Son. We don’t like suffering, but it is (we must say it) good for us when it’s part of God’s plan. Not self-inflicted suffering, mind you; that’s our own folly. But the text says that when we suffer as Christians, then we should rejoice and be glad. That’s a hugely important distinction.

Are you struck down? Are you amidst fiery trials? Are you persecuted? If you’re a follower of the Lord Christ, rejoice, Christian pilgrim, for God has His hand upon you and is using those sufferings to draw you to Himself.