The Daily Guide
Epaphras' prayer example
Epaphras, who is one of yourselves and Christ's servant, sends you his good wishes. He never stops praying strenuously for you, asking that you should stand fast, mature in your faith, firm in your convictions, always engaged in doing the will of God.
Colossians 4:12 - William Barclay's translation
Epaphras - now there's a Christian who, if you'd lived in his time, you'd have wanted to have praying for you. Look how he prayed for people. Look what he prayed for them. His prayer, as it received its answer, would go along way to seeing Christians living daily in the legacy Christ left us.
Look at the energy Epaphras put into prayer. Look at his faith in prayer. He prayed unceasingly with all fervency. He prayed strenuously. Today we live in a time and in a world that needs from us the same stirred up, strident prayer that Epaphras offered up. Why is such prayer necessary? Why isn't at times a less fervent form of praying sufficient? How do we set ourselves up to be able to engage in strenuous prayer? What nature or character does such prayer take? It is very likely that Epaphras was taught the answers to these questions by his mentor, the apostle Paul. Paul's teaching on this sort of prayer is recorded in his letter to the Ephesians. Let's take a look at that teaching. Eph.6:10-21.
Why is such prayer necessary? Because we "wrestle" with principalities, powers and rulers of darkness who are bent on hampering, disrupting, distracting and blocking. How is strenuous prayer, like that Epaphras prayed, carried out? It has to be done in the whole armour of God, to wear this armour you have to seek the Lord to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. What does such prayer consist of? It consists of all manner of prayer and supplication in the Spirit with all watchfulness on behalf of the saints. This is spiritual prayer. This is prayer that greatly impacts the lives both of those who are prayed for and those who pray. Jam.5:16.
In the Spirit, pray fervently
Copyright © 2009 P.F. (Simon) Measures
Right click to print this page only. Select Print below to get pamphlet.
| Respond | Home |
This daily devotional page originates from
Pastor Simon's Teaching Pages
www.teachingpages.co.uk