Theme: The Impact of unsung Heroes in the Bible
Topic: Epaphras – Interceding in Prayers
Main Text: Colossians 1:1-8, 4:12-13
Key verse: Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
– Colossians 4:12 NKJV.
Introduction:
Intercessory prayer is one of the potent tools of revival in the body of Christ. The prayers involve fervently carrying the burdens of other brethren, missions, and situations to God in prayer. Due to the silent and background nature of this activity, it is not often promoted or recognized as a foremost ministry activity, but it certainly is (see James 5:16, Heb 7:25, Rom 8:34, Eph 6:18). These scriptures underscore the importance of intercessory prayer. It is indispensable in ministry and the propagation of the Lord’s work. Epaphras, our unsung biblical hero today, was a worthy intercessor. In Colossians 4:12, we see that Epaphras is described as a “bondservant” and a fervent laborer in prayer. These words describe a man who committed his time, energy, and focus to praying for the brethren. The description does not fit someone who occasionally or casually mentioned brethren in prayer nor were his prayers a second thought. Epaphras labored in prayer, devoting considerable amounts of time and effort to it. Let us learn some lessons from the life of Epaphras for our own Christian walk with God.
Q1. Read Colossians 4:12-13, 1:7-8 (1a) How is Epaphras’ identity, work, and character described from the scriptures above? (1b) How do you think he came to be so described? (1c) Participants should describe how their identities would be written among brethren today. Discuss what changes you can make to change your identity/story for the better.
Paragraph 2:
Epaphras is introduced to us in Colossians 1:7 as being among those from whom the church at Colosse learned the gospel. He is called a dear fellow servant and “faithful minister of Christ on your behalf”. We referred to his “laboring” in prayer for the Colossians in our introduction above. Intercessory prayer is when a person intercedes on another’s behalf and pleads for their cause. It is often referred to as “standing in the gap” between God and the person or people prayed for. To stand in the gap is to expose oneself for the protection of someone or something. Epaphras stood in the gap for the Colossians. Moses interceded for Israel (Exodus 32:11,31-32; intercession marked Samuel’s ministry (1 Samuel 12:23); Jesus interceded for the church in John 17 and He continues to intercede for us today (Hebrews 7:25). Job longed for an intercessor (Job 16:21); in Ezekiel 22:30 God sought one that would stand in the gap for the land but found no one. Intercession is a critical ministry. Those who practice it effectively, like Epaphras, are often unsung, but they reflect Christ’s character and join Him in His present-day ministry.
Q2. (2a)Read Col 1:7-18 and list the prayer points. What strikes you about what Paul and Epaphras were praying for? (2b) What was the content of Epaphras’ intercessory prayer listed in Colossians 4:12? How does it relate with the prayers Paul listed in Chapter 1? (2c) Read Ephesians 4:11-13. What is the purpose of the work of ministers in the church, such as Epaphras and Paul?
Paragraph 3:
The content of Epaphras’ intercessory prayer was that the Colossian believers would “stand perfect and complete in all the will of God”. This is a theme echoed in Ephesians as being essentially the reason God gave the five-fold ministry to the church (Ephesians 4:11-16). It also echoes what our Lord Jesus prayed for us in John 17:20-23 (see v23 “that [we] made be made perfect (mature)….”). As believers, we are called to grow to maturity. We see from the examples of Jesus, Paul, and Epaphras that intercessory prayer is a critical aid in the journey to maturity. We must not neglect it.
Q3. Read Romans 8:34, 1 Timothy 2:1, Eph 6:18, 1 Thess 1:2, Matt 5:44 (3a) Can a person that is not Born Again engage in continual intercessory prayers for others? Discuss. (3b) How can we go beyond praying for ourselves and engage more fervently in intercession?
Prayer: “Our Dear Father, your servant Epaphras showed a good example of one who had received your help in fulfilling the mandate of being his brothers’ keeper in ministry. Please help us to leave such a good record in our own Christian journey. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
