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EPAPHRAS : ALWAYS LABOURING FERVENTLY IN PRAYER

Text: Philippians 2:25-30
5 March 2006

(I) BACKGROUND TO THE LIFE OF EPAPHRAS

1. He was a Pastor to the Colossian Church

a. He taught the Colossian Church

“As you also learned from Epaphras,…” Col. 1:7

b. He was one of them

“Epaphras, who is one of you,…” Col. 1:12

c. He kept in touch with Paul concerning the Church

“Who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.” Col. 1:7

2. Commendations concerning Epaphras

a. Fellow servant

“Our dear fellow servant,…” Col. 1:7

b. Faithful minister

“Who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,…” Col. 1:7

c. Fellow prisoner

“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,…” Philem 23

(II) AN EXAMPLE OF ONE WHO LABOURED FERVENTLY IN PRAYER

1. Prayer as something to struggle strenuously in

“Labour fervently…in prayers,…” Col. 4:12

2. Following the example of Jesus in prayer

“And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:44

(III) REASONS FOR EPAPHRAS TO LABOUR FERVENTLY IN PRAYERS

1. The imperfections of the Church

“That you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” Col. 4:12

a. Still not spiritually matured

b. Still not fully walking in all the will of God

2. Struggles against personal doubts

“He who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:6-8

3. External Spiritual resistance

“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days;…” Dan. 10:13

4. Sin problems

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, which is idolatry.” Col. 3:4

(IV) MAINTAINING CONSISTENCY IN LABOURING IN PRAYER

“Always laboring fervently for you in prayers,…” Col. 4:12

1. His deep sense of duty as a servant of God

“A bondservant of Christ,…” Col. 1:12

2. His deep sense of identification with his Church

“Who is one of you…” Col. 4:12

“For you…” Col. 4:12

3. His deep sense of concern for others

“For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.” Col. 4:13

(V) THE CHALLENGE TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF EPAPHRAS IN PRAYER

1. To be counted on to labour in prayer

2. To be compelled to labour in prayer

3. To care enough to labour in prayer

4. To conform to this example