The Prison of Freedom

by Don Hatfield

still alive and I told him that they were. He said that was good because it was never too late to start. He said to honor them meant to fix a value on them. A value higher than we would place on ourselves. Then stick to that value and things would go much better for us here on this earth. As a matter of fact we would probably live much longer just by giving them honor they deserve instead of grieving them. I told him I planned to make amends if I ever got out of here.

  Next discussion, Paul then said,” Tychicus, you said that you would like to have children someday so here is the best advice I can give you.” He then wrote, “And ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Tychicus, I cannot emphasize this enough. Do not provoke or exasperate your children. Do not raise them in anger for that emotion is natural enough without you aiding and abetting it. Rather, nourish them up to maturity and exhort and teach them in the things of the Lord.” Paul then asked me if my mother and father knew the Lord. I said that they did not but that I hoped to tell them about Him. Then I thought for a moment and said, “If they had known Him perhaps they would have nourished me in the Lord and then my earlier life would have been so much better. Paul I want to be that kind of a father if ever given the chance.” Paul said, “I believe you do Tychicus, I believe you do.” Paul then asked if my family were wealthy enough to have servants and I said no. He then asked if I had ever been a servant and I said no and then I stopped and said,” Not until now.” Paul smiled and said how right you are and began to write, “Servants be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling in singleness of your heart as unto Christ. Not with eye service as men pleasers but as servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart. With good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men.” Paul stopped and said, “Tychicus, even though you do not have servants and neither are you a servant explain to me what you think I have written.” I thought for a moment and then said, “I hope that someday there will be no servants or slaves. I hope that someday we will see that we are to be obedient and listen for our Master’s voice. We should be trembling as one who knows that he may not be able to complete all the Lord asks of him but we will try to do it in His grace and power. That we would be sincere and not self-seeking. Free from pretense and hypocrisy. Even more that we would do it unto the Lord and not to impress men.” Paul said, “Glory, Tychicus, I could not have said it any better myself.” I was honored that Paul would say that about me and I quietly thanked the Lord.

  Next discussion, Paul said, “Tychicus if you do those things you shall receive a reward from the Lord. If not in this life then in the next. Our friends in Ephesus should know the same thing.” He then wrote, “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man does the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free. And ye masters do the same things unto them forbearing threating knowing that your Master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him.” Paul then said, “Tychicus is it not glorious to know that we serve a Master who does not play favorites. If you do right by others then He will do right by you. It matters not to Him if you are a servant or a free man He will treat you the same.” We both just praised the Lord together.

  We suddenly heard a noise outside of the cell window and went over to see what was going on. There were columns of Roman soldiers marching by in full uniform. I ask Paul if he thought they were going off to do battle somewhere. Paul watched them for a moment longer and then turned to me and said, “Tychicus, again God has used you in my life.” I was puzzled and ask him what he meant. Paul said,” I sensed in my spirit that this letter to the Ephesians was just about finished but I wanted to give them some parting encouragement and was praying about what to write. Those Romans soldiers and you have given me that answer.” Paul then went back over to our table and sat down and began to write. I went over and sat down beside him and read the words he was writing. “Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Paul stopped and said, “Tychicus, we are coming not only to the end of this letter but also to your stage of learning at this time. I sense that it may be time for you to put what you have learned into practice. Pay careful attention to what I am writing now for I think that you will need it every day of life.” I ask him what exactly he thought was going to happen. Paul said, “I am not sure but I am sure that you need to understand what I am writing and let it sink deep into your heart. So we will go slowly and discuss in depth what the Lord has laid on my heart to write to you and the Ephesians. Tychicus, maybe these words are for all believers although I do not see how this one letter can be given to all of them. Tychicus, when those soldiers came marching past us in full battle armor you ask if they were going off to war. I do not know where they are going but they looked prepared for war if it was thrust upon them. We are soldiers in the army of our Savior and need to put on our armor so that we will be prepared to fight this heavenly fight. I am going to show you and our brothers in Ephesus just what armor we should have on and how to use that armor against our enemy so pay close attention.

  Next discussion, Paul then began to write, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places. Tychicus, it is so important that we realize who we are battling against. We must realize that we are in a wrestling match and the victor is the one who gets his opponent down and holds him there with his hand on his neck. Our opponent will often try to make us think that our match is against flesh and blood, against our own brothers and sisters in Christ but we must look beyond that to see where the real battle is taking place. Tychicus, our battle is against angels and demons, against beings more powerful and superior to man but infinitely weaker than our Savior Jesus. These rulers have no respect for divine things for they are ungodly and immoral and their final destiny is misery in hell. However for now or for this period of time we must fight against their evil purposes and desires that take place around us. Tychicus, because they are more powerful than us we must learn how to fight them while resting in our King and Lord. For the battle is already won when we put on the armor of our Lord and Savior. Tychicus let’s take a look at what that armor is and how we are to use it.”

  Next discussion, I must admit that I was glad Paul was going to show me how to use this armor because after he described who the enemy was it scared me. I thought how am I supposed to fight and enemy that I cannot see who is more powerful and superior to me. Paul then said, “Tychicus before we learn how to use the armor we must learn to put it on and why we should put it on. See if you can read the words I am writing. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand.” Paul said, Tychicus when you read the words I have written what have I told you to do.” I look at the words again for I knew Paul was trying to get me to realize something. Finally I said, “Take on the whole armor of God.” Paul replied, “You are missing something Tychicus. Let me explain. First God wants you to take up the whole armor so that you can use it. Second God is going to want to put on all of the armor this includes the greaves, breastplate, shield, helmet, and sword. Third, the reason you are doing this is so that you may withstand, oppose and resist this evil in these days of peril to the Christian faith. Now, Tychicus, let me ask you one more time after you have done all this what does He want you to do. Read what I have written one more time.” I read the words again and at last I saw it. I said to Paul, “He has not told me to do anything but stand. Explain that to me for I thought that He wanted me to do something.” Paul smiled and said, “He does, He wants you to stand. He wants you to stand safe and sound, He wants you to stand unharmed, immoveable, firm, keeping your place in the victory that has already been won. Tychicus the battle is His, the victory is declared, the triumph came with the cross, we are only to stan
d and watch as our foes are vanquished.” Paul then said, “So let us put on the armor and see how He will use it through us.

  Next discussion, Paul then wrote, “Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness.” I stopped Paul and said excuse me but you repeated the word stand thinking that his eyes had caused him to overlook this fact. Paul looked over at me and said, “Thank you, Tychicus but I meant to use that word again. Having told you to stand that is exactly what God wants you to do. He wants you to stand there and see the salvation of the Lord at work. Remember when I told you about the parting of the Red Sea.” I thought back to that night right before we went to sleep when Paul had told me about God delivering the Israelites out of Egypt. How they had come up to the Red Sea with the Egyptians chasing them. How they began to panic and scream at Moses their supposed deliverer that they were going to die. I said to Paul, “Yes I remember.” Paul then ask me, “Do you