Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• We can have fellowship with each other in God
• Fellowship with those who cannot speak our language
• Eph 6:18-24
• Fellowship of Prayer
• Fellowship of Sharing
• Fellowship of the Father and the Son
• Bible Reading
• Fellowship of Prayer (v18-20)
• An oppression in preaching on Spiritual warfare
• The devil attacks our thoughts and our feelings, but...
• We have the promises of God
• We have the armour of God
• We have something else - prayer
• Do you believe prayer works?
• The apostle has been speaking much about prayer in this letter
• Moving away from the battlefield to the fellowship
• Pray continually
• Pray for the saints
• Pray for Paul
• Fellowship of Sharing (v21-22)
• Paul wanted more than a letter, there was need of the personal touch and personal sharing
• Fellowship of the Father and the Son (v23-24)
• Deep fellowship through Jesus Christ

Fellowship of Prayer (v18-20)

• Example from Brazil of children and family present at the prayermeeting
• Paul is stirring up the Christians to pray for him
• Not just him and the local church
• Remember the other churches and pray for them also
• Praying always, all prayer, all perseverance, all the saints (v18)
• This is possible for those in the Spirit
• Generally throughout the day
• Make a list of those in the fellowship and pray for them daily
• Mark Johnston - Fellowship is not just prayer or friendship over a cup of tea
• Paul was writing in prison
• He had some visitors but there were times when he was alone
• He felt fellowship with the believers
• Jesus said 'men ought always to pray'
• Prayer is not easy and is sometimes difficult
• Col 4:12 - Epaphras laboured fervently in prayer
• Discouragements and sorrows can cause us not to pray
• Prayer does change things
• Example of Elijah
• Example of Daniel
• Conversions of those through prayer
• What does it mean to 'pray in the Spirit'?
• Real prayer is from the heart and in the Spirit
• Knowing God helping you as you pray
• What prayers should we pray?
• Bring everything to God in prayer
• Bring thanksgiving
• Ask for forgiveness of sins and forgive others
• Consider the needs of others in addition to your own needs
• Remember the church in particular
• Pray for persecuted Christians
• Pray for the preachers
• Examples
• Example from hymn about prayer
• Example from Bill Capper
• Example of Paul and Silas on their way to prayer every day

Fellowship of Sharing (v21-22)

• There are many examples of sharing in the New Testament
• More necessary for Tychicus to be released from Paul to the
  Ephesians
• He was to share their affairs
• He was to comfort their hearts
• Paul knew the Ephesians cared deeply for him and he wanted the Ephesians to know he cared deeply for them
• Examples of those who have moved away from the fellowship that we still remember
• Rom 1:10-12
• How open are we?
• Challenge from Brazil and Bala
• Be wise in when and who you speak to
• 2 Cor 6:11-12
• If there is to be deeper fellowship, we need to be open with one another

Fellowship of the Father and the Son (v23-34)

• Paul's burden was that the brethren would know the peace of God
• He wanted them to know God's love with faith
• He knew this only came from the Father and Jesus Christ
• Ps 122:6-8
• Peace - within Jerusalem/within the Fellowship
• Peace - the legacy of Jesus Christ
• At the start of the letter - the doctrine of election, adoption, redemption
• At the end of the letter - may peace reign in your hearts
• May true Christians know more and more of the grace of God in
  their lives

Closing Remarks