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).
The apostle Paul cites Epaphras as one “Always labouring fervently in prayers.” Those two words “labouring fervently” are rendered that way to provide a good understanding of what he actually did and how. Both words are from the same Greek word ‘agonizomai’—fight!
You can read that verse thus, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, greets you, always fighting for you in prayers.” A question to ask would be, “If Epaphras was fighting for them in prayers, who was he fighting against?” It certainly wasn’t God, as it was God who inspired him to pray in the first place; it’s God who hears and answers prayers. So, certainly, God is not the enemy.
Now, the purpose of his prayer gives us an idea of the enemy. His prayer was for the Christians in Colossae to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. This must be because there’s an enemy, Satan, out there trying to stop them from becoming perfect and complete in the will of God. This he tries to do by hindering or attempting to hinder their Christian growth
Paul describes these demoniacal forces in Ephesians 6:12 when he said, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” These evil forces are the ones darkening the minds of men, swaying them from the path of God’s truth.
It’s the reason we must fight for them in prayers as Epaphras did. I encourage you to write down names of people who you might have noticed or heard are not walking in the light of God’s Word or have strayed from the faith, and fight for them in prayer. Pray fervently for them every day, and you’d see remarkable results. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I break the influence of Satan over my family members, friends and others around the world who aren’t yet born again. I pray that their minds and hearts are opened to the Lord, as the light of the glorious Gospel shines with great intensity into their hearts to embrace the grace of God for their salvation, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Colossians 4:12 – Epaphras, who is [one] of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 – I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and [for] all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Galatians 4:19 – My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Ephesians 3:1-21 & Isaiah 19-22
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
John 1:14-23 & 1 Kings 1
PRAYER OF SALVATION
We trust you have been blessed by this devotional. We invite you to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life by praying thus
O Lord God, I believe with all my heart in Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. I believe He died for me and God raised Him from the dead. I believe He’s alive today. I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life from this day. Through Him and in His Name, I have eternal life; I’m born again. Thank you Lord, for saving my soul! I’m now a child of God. Hallelujah!
Congratulations! You are now a child of God.
Nothing happens in your life except that which you’ve voiced with your mouth. Your prosperity, health, success, victory, progress, and promotion in life are the result of what you say with your mouth.
~ Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc. DSc. DD
Praise Song For The Day
Join Us To Sing Excellent Songs Of Worship As Praise The Lord With This Song entitled "Omnipotent Father"
Confessions for Today!!!
My words are anointed with power because I’m filled with the Holy Spirit! The rhema of God that changes things is in my heart and in my mouth today, and in the Name of Jesus, I declare that I’m walking in divine health, increase, progress, and prosperity; my organs are invigorated with the life-giving Word of God, and I am alive!
