The Prison of Freedom

Introduction 

Come meet the Apostle Paul as he writes his letter to the Ephesians. Take an imaginary journey and set with him and a new young believer named Tychicus. Listen as Paul writes his letter to the Ephesians while explainng its meaning to Tychicus. Set with them in the confines of their jail cell in Rome as they meet Gregory, Mr Gruff, Lucius and Angel.

The Prison of Freedom 

Chapter one 

Day one 

They had me in hand cuffs as they led me toward the prison cell. They said that telling men about Jesus was not allowed here in the city of Rome. I had only been a believer for a short time and was just bursting to tell others of this wonderful Savior. I never dreamed that I would be arrested for doing so. They led me down a winding hallway to a heavy wooden door. They unlocked it, took off the cuffs and roughly pushed me inside. I tripped and fell onto a hard floor facing the wall. I had been slapped around some and felt bruised and broken in body and in spirit. I laid there for a little while and then rolled over and it was then that I saw him sitting there looking at me. He rose up and came over and helped me into one of the rickety wooden chairs that were in the cell. He gave me some water and then sat down beside me and said the strangest thing. "God sent you to me", I just stared at him. Finally I opened my mouth and said, "What in the world are you talking about? He spoke very gently to me and said, "God has sent you here to learn and to help. First to learn of Him, to know of His grace and love for you and second to help me. You see I have very bad eyesight and I am writing to some of my fellow believers in Ephesus to encourage and uplift them. When I write it is hard for me to know if they will be able to read it. Now that you have come I will explain to you about your God and Savior as I write. You can then look at my writing and tell me if you think they will be able to read it." 

I stared at him for a little while and then asked his name. He said my name is Paul what is yours I told him that mine was Tychicus. He was an average size man in his mid-forties with closed cropped dark hair and dark eyes. He clothes looked as if they had once been very expensive but were showing signs of wear as they had several rips in the arms and back. Once while we were washing I saw his back and it looked like he had suffered terrible beatings. I did not dare ask him about for as I was to discover he was a very private man. A serious man whose conversation always revolved around his Savior and God. It was getting late and I was physically exhausted. Paul shared some of his bread and water with me and then said let's get some sleep for we have much work to do tomorrow. With that we both went to bed. 

Day Two 

The daylight came dripping through the one window that was in the cell. I began to stir around and when I looked for Paul I spotted him in the corner of the room down on his knees praying. I thought that perhaps that I should do the same. I must confess that as I was trying to pray I would take a peek with my eyes to see if Paul was done. After a while I grew tired of waiting and just sat down on the floor and watched him. It was as if he were somewhere else with someone else. Finally Paul looked around at me and smiled and said," good morning." The guards brought us some figs, bread and grapes. Paul then got out his writing materials looked at me and said, "Let's get started" I pulled up a chair beside of Him and sat down. I can now only tell you how he began to teach me and write at the same time. He would write a sentence or two speaking out loud as he wrote then we would often talk about what he had written. I would then look at what he had written there in that dim light and tell him if I could make out the words that he had written. What follows is what Paul explained to me. I hope that you come to know our Lord a little more intimately as I did when you hear what he had to say. His very first sentence to his fellow believers at Ephesus started like this. "Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints which are at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Paul stopped and looked at me and in a kidding voice said to me," Tychicus, my apostle, how are you feeling today? I said." Paul I am no apostle", to which he answered." My dear Tychicus we are all apostles because and apostle is one who is sent, a messenger for our Savior Jesus Christ. Tychicus, we are all sent to tell the world of the good news of Jesus just as someone told you my young saint." At this I actually laughed out loud and said," Paul you do not know what you are saying calling me a saint. You have no idea what a wicked life I have lived." Paul nodded his head and said," my young friend I do not need to know. The moment you came to know the Savior you became one of Gods most Holy things. That is the way He looks at you now, a most Holy thing in His Son Jesus." I was humbled to think that God would think that of me. Paul then said," that is why He wants you to be faithful as the other saints are in Ephesus. We have all become saints by the will of God in Christ Jesus our Savior." Oh yes, I learned one other thing just from that first sentence that Paul wrote. I learned that Christ means anointed one and that Jesus means that Jehovah is Salvation. I must admit that I had already become excited about this time I was going to spend with Paul. How can I put this so that I do not bore you to death? I think that I will just say next discussion when we I began to tell you of what Paul explained to me.