"Tychicus the Helper” (Ephesians 6:21-24) - Belong IX -

Do You Have Such a Person?
This morning I want to open with a Korean poem by Ham Sok Hon titled, Do You Have Such a Person? The following is a rough translation:

Do you have such a person,

A person to lean on when all fades away,

A person who stands firm when all turns to chaos?

Do you have such a person,

One who doesn't crumble even when others turn away,

One who, even when betrayed,

Endures silently and still loves?

...

If you have such a person,

Even if the world abandons you,

Even if the darkness covers the earth,

You will have hope and strength to rise again.

Do you have such a person?

Having such a trustworthy friend is one of life’s greatest blessings. The Apostle Paul, though he faced so many trials, was blessed with godly, true friends who sustained him, especially in times of crisis.

Tychicus: A Beloved Helper
Tychicus, in today’s passage, was one of Paul’s most trusted friends and helpers—a true partner in ministry. Paul calls him a “beloved brother” and a “faithful minister in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:21). These words reflect the deep trust Paul had in him. Tychicus wasn’t just a letter carrier; he was someone Paul trusted to share updates about his life and ministry. In Paul’s time, private letters were carried by faithful messengers like Tychicus, who delivered not just the words but also the heart behind them.

Paul sent Tychicus with an important purpose: to encourage the church and keep them from being disheartened by Paul’s imprisonment. Later, Tychicus might have returned to Paul with uplifting news from the Ephesians, refreshing Paul’s spirit. Tychicus was a bridge person—someone who faithfully connected and strengthened the body of Christ.

Do You Have a Helper in Your Life?
Do you have a “Tychicus” in your life journey? In The Pilgrim’s Progress, God provides Christian with "helpers" at crucial points in his journey, guiding and encouraging him to stay on the path to the Celestial City. First, Evangelist helps Christian turn to God and begin his pilgrim journey. Interpreter prepares him for the road ahead by showing him spiritual truths through vivid illustrations. Faithful, a fellow pilgrim, walks with Christian, encourages him, and ultimately lays down his life as a martyr. After Faithful’s death, Hopeful becomes a steadfast companion and helper, walking along with Christian through trials and doubts.

Each helper reminds us that God uses His people to guide, comfort, and encourage us. More importantly, these helpers point to the ultimate Helper—the Holy Spirit.

The Helper
Throughout the Old Testament times, God sent helpers like prophets, judges, and kings to his people. Jeremiah was one of the God-sent helpers. At that time, Israel didn’t follow God’s ways (“the Ten Commandments”), and everyone did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. God’s verdict on human hearts was this: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9, NIV) Jeremiah warned of God’s impending judgment (“exile to Babylon”) and urged to repent. He also brought messages of hope, called a New Covenant:

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. (Jer 31:33-34, NLT)

But sadly, the Israelites did not turn back to God. And eventually, they were exiled to Babylon. But God didn’t give up on his people. Even in those darkest moments God sent another helper, Ezekiel, who delivered this message of restoration:

“I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” (Ezk 36:26-27, NLT)

This wonderful promise was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. During the Last Supper, Jesus said to his disciples, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26, ESV). On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in God’s people. The same Holy Spirit still comes and lives in everyone who believes in Jesus today. The Holy Spirit strengthens us, helps us, and sustains us in every season.

Joy in Suffering
At the end of his life, Paul faced imprisonment and abandonment. He wrote, “At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength… So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.” (2 Timothy 4:16-17, NRSV) Even when human helpers were absent, the Holy Spirit, Paul’s ultimate Helper, gave him strength to endure.

William Wilberforce, the English politician who fought against slavery, is another example of someone sustained by the Spirit. In his later years, Wilberforce faced financial ruin. As a respected politician, Wilberforce was once wealthy. But he sacrificed much to support his oldest son’s business. He sold most of his stock and even his boyhood home. Despite his efforts, the business failed, and they lost everything. In his seventies, Wilberforce was essentially homeless and had to live alternately with second and third sons. Those around him were deeply moved by his response to these trials. In the midst of loss and hardship, Wilberforce still rejoiced and gave thanks in the Spirit. He wrote:

The loss incurred has been so heavy as to compel me to descend from my present level and greatly to diminish my establishment. But I am bound to recognize in this dispensation the gracious mitigation of the severity of the stroke. Mrs. Wilberforce and I are supplied with a delightful asylum under the roofs of two of our own children. And what better could we desire?

Not Alone
The Apostle Paul ended his life alone in prison. When all human help had faded away, the Holy Spirit gave him the strength to stand firm. Paul declared with confidence, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7) Then he added, “From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all eager for his coming” (v. 8).

The Holy Spirit is available to everyone who loves Christ and his coming. The Holy Spirit empowers us to stand firm, no matter the circumstances.

I’ll close with this poem, Ordinary days by Missy Buchanan. This poem beautifully captures the power of the Holy Spirit to transform the mundane into extraordinary:

There’s a slow, steady rhythm to ordinary days.

Uneventful kind of days that follow a simple routine of meals, medications, and favorite TV shows.

During this time, empty squares march across the calendar.

One day feels like the next.

In truth, I like days that are uninterrupted by crisis or sudden change.

I am thankful for the repetition.

But Lord, it’s easy to get lost in the monotony.

Save me from the emptiness that comes with too much time to think and too little to do. It is fertile soil for negative thoughts to grow.

And if I hold too tightly to rigid routine, remind me that I may miss out on a wonderful surprise.

Help me rediscover the abundant blessings in my life.

Today I will turn the pages of an old photo album, and I will give you thanks for my life stories.

I will pray for my loved ones, calling each by name.

O Lord, show me the extraordinary joy in ordinary days.

Come, Holy Spirit, come, be my Helper! Amen.