The Service Of Prayer

Serving – November 2017 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Epaphras And The Service Of Prayer

There is a very striking difference between the inspired records of the people of God versus all human biographies. The former may truly be said to be “much in little,” while many of the latter may as truly be said to be “little in much.” The history of one of the Old Testament saints – a history stretching over a period of 365 years – is summed up in two short clauses: “Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Gen. 5:24). How brief is the account, but how full and comprehensive! Man would have filled many volumes with the records of such a life, yet what more could He have said?

To walk with God embodies all that could possibly be said of anyone. A man may travel the globe, preach the gospel in every climate and suffer in the cause of Christ. He may feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit the sick. In addition, he may read, write, print and publish. In short, he may do all that ever man could or did do in the name of the Lord, yet it may be all summed up in that brief clause, “He walked with God.”

How good it will be for him if he can be so summed up. One may do nearly all that has been listed but never walk with God one hour; yea, he may not even know the meaning of a walk with God. The thought of this is deeply solemn and practical. It should lead us to the earnest cultivation of the hidden life without which the most sensational services will prove to be mere flash and smoke.

Introduction To Epaphras
There is something peculiarly touching in the mode in which Epaphras is introduced to our notice. The allusions to him are very brief and meaningful. He seems to have been the exact type of man so much needed at the present moment. His labors, as far as the inspired penman recorded them, do not seem to have been very showy or attractive. They were not calculated to meet the human eye or elicit human praise. But oh, they were the most precious labors – peerless, priceless labors! They were the labors of the closet, behind the closed door and in the sanctuary – labors without which all beside must prove barren and worthless.

The sacred biographer does not place Epaphras before us as a powerful preacher, laborious writer or great traveler, even though he may have been. All are truly valuable in their place, however the Holy Spirit has not told us that Epaphras was any of the three. My reader, He has placed this singularly interesting character before us in a manner calculated to stir the depths of our moral and spiritual being. He has presented him to us as a man of prayer – earnest, fervent, agonizing prayer –not for himself, but for others. Let us give careful attention to the inspired testimony:

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.” —Colossians 4:12-13KJV

Epaphras – An Example
Such was Epaphras! Oh, if there were hundreds like him in our day! We are thankful for preachers, writers and travelers in the cause of Christ, but we need men of prayer! We are happy to see men on their feet preaching Christ, using the pen of a ready writer in the noble cause, making their way in the true evangelistic spirit into regions beyond, and in true pastoral spirit going again and again to visit their brethren in every city. God forbid we should undervalue or speak disparagingly of such honorable services; in fact we prize them more highly than words can convey.

But then at the back of all we need a spirit of prayer – fervent, agonizing, persevering prayer. Without this, nothing can prosper. A prayerless man is a weak man. A prayerless preacher is a profitless preacher. A prayerless writer will send forth barren pages. A prayerless evangelist will do little good. A prayerless pastor will have inadequate food for the flock. We need men of prayer like Epaphras – men whose closet walls witness their agonizing labors. These are unquestionably the men for the present moment!

True Labor
There are immense advantages attending the labors of the closet – advantages quite particular for those who engage in such prayer and are the subject of them. They are quiet, unobtrusive labors, carried on in retirement in the hallowed, soul-subduing solitude of the divine presence, outside the range of mortal vision.

How little would the Colossians have known of the loving, earnest labors of Epaphras had the Holy Spirit not mentioned them. It is even possible that some of the Christians might have deemed him deficient in zealous care on their behalf. There probably were persons then as now who would measure a man’s care or sympathy by his visits or letters. This would be a false standard. They should see him on his knees to know the amount of his care and sympathy. A love of travel might take me from city to city to visit the brethren. A love of scribbling might lead me to write letters by every mail. Yet only a love for souls and a love for Christ could ever lead me to agonize as Epaphras did on behalf of the people of God, that they “may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

Again, the precious labors of the closet demand no special gift, no particular talents, or no preeminent mental endowments. Every Christian can engage in them. A man may not have the ability to preach, teach, write or travel, but every man can pray.

One sometimes hears of a gift of prayer. It is not a pleasant expression, for it falls gratingly on the ear. Too often it means a mere fluent utterance of certain known truths which the memory retains and the lips give forth. This is poor work. This was not the way with Epaphras, and this is not what we want and long for just now. We want a real spirit of prayer – one that enters into the present need of the Church and hears that need in persevering, fervent, believing intercession before the throne of grace.

This spirit may be exercised at all times and under all circumstances. Morning, noon, evening or midnight will answer for the closet laborer. The heart can spring upward to the throne in prayer and supplication at any time. Our Father’s ear is ever open; His presence chamber is ever accessible. Come when or with what we may; He is always ready to hear and answer. He is the Hearer, the Answerer and the Lover of persistent prayer. He Himself has said, “Ask ... Seek ... Knock” (Mt. 7:7), “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Lk. 18:1) and, “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Mt. 21:22) – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God” (Jas. 1:5). These words are of universal application. They are intended for all God’s children. The feeblest child of God can pray, watch, get an answer and return thanks.

A Powerful Link
Furthermore, nothing is so calculated to give one a deep interest in people as the habit of praying constantly for them. Epaphras would be intensely interested in the Christians at Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. His interest made him pray, and his prayers made him interested. The more we are interested in anyone, the more we will pray for him; and the more we pray, the more interested we become. Whenever we are drawn out in prayer for people we are sure to rejoice in their growth and prosperity. This is also true in reference to the unconverted. When we are led to wait upon God about them, their conversion is looked for with the deepest concern and hailed when it comes – with unfeigned thankfulness. The thought of this should stir us up to imitate Epaphras, on whom the Holy Spirit has bestowed the honorable epithet, or description, of “a servant of Christ” in connection with his fervent prayers for the people of God.

Finally, the highest appeal that can be presented to cultivate the spirit of Epaphras is the fact of its being so directly in unison with the spirit of Christ. This is the most elevated motive. Christ is engaged on behalf of His people. He desires that they should “stand perfect and complete in all the will of God”; and those who are led forth in prayer in reference to this object are privileged to enjoy high communion with the great Intercessor. How marvelous that we who are poor feeble creatures down here should be permitted to pray about that which engages the thoughts and interests of the Lord of Glory! What a powerful link there was between the heart of Epaphras and the heart of Christ when the former was laboring for his brethren at Colosse!

Ponder the example of Epaphras. Initiate it. Labor fervently in prayer and intercession. The present is a deeply solemn moment. May He raise up many in the same spiritual mold as Epaphras. These are the men and women for the conditions of the day!

Let there be united, believing, importunate, persevering prayer (Mt. 18:19, 21:22; Lk. 11:5-10, 18:1-8).

By C. H. Mackintosh, adapted.