Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Hosea 4-6
     New Testament Reading: Colossians 4

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills. For I testify about him that he works hard for you, for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis (Colossians 4:12-13).

As Paul closed his letter to the Colossians, he listed other servants of Christ who were with him and helped ministered with and to him. When he came to Epaphras, Paul could not just list him with the rest without adding a comment about him. Epaphras was the man that prayed!

Epaphras had been led to Christ through Paul’s ministry in Ephesus and had returned home to Colosse to share the good news of salvation. It seems likely that Epaphras also founded the churches in the Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Epaphras’ motivation to share the Gospel was the fact that he was a servant of Christ Jesus (v12).His ministry was characterized by total commitment to Christ and the gospel in a manner more often associated with the apostle Paul himself. No wonder Paul called Epaphras our dearly loved fellow servant and a faithful minister of Christ (Col 1:7).

Epaphras loved Jesus Christ and wanted to serve Him and share His message of salvation. One secret of his ministry was his prayer life.

Epaphras Prayed Constantly. Paul said, He is always (v12). He did not pray only when he felt like it, or when he was told to, or when others prayed. He was constantly in prayer, seeking God’s blessing.

Epaphras Prayed Fervently. Paul said He is always wrestling (v12). We get the impression that prayer was serious business with Epaphras. The Greek word used here by Paul is the same word used to describe our Lord’s praying in the Garden (Luke 22:44)

Epaphras Prayed Personally. Paul said He is always wrestling for you (v12). Epaphras did not pray around the world for everybody in general and nobody in particular. Epaphras carried for these people in his heart and prayed for them personally.

Epaphras Prayed for Spiritual Maturity. Paul said, He is always wrestling for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills (v12). Epaphras’ great desire was that the believers might mature in their Christian Faith. He was concerned that these Christians know and do the will of God.

Epaphras Prayed Sacrificially. Paul said he works hard for you (v13). Real prayer is hard work. When Jesus prayed in the garden, He sweat great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Pastor Warren Wiersbe said, “If there is no burden, there can be no blessing.”

All the men with Paul were named, but Epaphras was the only one commended for his prayer ministry. This does not mean that the others did not pray, but it suggests that prayer was Epaphras’ major interest and ministry. Even being Paul’s fellow prisoner could not keep him from entering the courts of heaven and praying for his brothers and sisters in the churches.