Epaphras
“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 4:12-13).
We are thankful for preachers, pastors, teachers and missionaries, but what we also need is men and woman of prayer, those who labor like Epaphras. Without a spirit of fervent, agonizing, persevering prayer, no spiritual work will be able to prosper.
The precious and vital labors of the prayer warrior require no special gift, peculiar talent or preeminent mental abilities. A Christian may not have the ability to preach, teach, write, or travel; but every Christian can pray. What we need among Christians is a real spirit of prayer, a spirit that enters into the current need of our fellow-believers and takes those needs up to God in persevering, fervent, believing intercession at all times and in all circumstances.
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
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