Question: 'God helps those who help themselves - is it in ...



CHANNELS: Bearing One Another’s Burdens

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Roy Christian Church

There are many passages of scripture that indicate that we should bring requests to God in prayer, on our own behalf and on behalf of others.

Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit i on all occasions j with all kinds of prayers and requests. k With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying l for all the saints.

1Ti 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, w intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—1Ti 2:2 for kings and all those in authority, x that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness y and holiness. 1Ti 2:3 This is good, and pleases z God our Savior, a 1Ti 2:4 who wants b all men c to be saved d and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Philippians 4:6. “Do not be anxious about anything, q but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. “

My friend Tommy pointed out a passage I hadn’t paid much attention to in Colossians 4:12-13. There, Paul writes about a friend named Epaphras.

Col 4:12 Epaphras, i who is one of you j and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, k that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature l and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.”

Epaphras is a great man of prayer and I’d like for us to consider these few words about him this morning.

1. He is one of you.

Epaphras had a personal stake in their spiritual lives. He knew and loved them. I really believe this is an important element. Not all intercession will be for those we know personally, but when this link is present, it provides some extra motivation when the trials of intercession come along. Epaphras was praying for his home church, which may have included family, spiritual mentors, and possibly a pastor who obviously needed Epaphras to pray for him.

Job 16:20 My intercessor a is my friend 29 b as my eyes pour out c tears d to God; Job 16:21 on behalf of a man he pleads e with God as a man pleads for his friend.

2. He is a servant of Christ Jesus.

He was a prisoner in Rome, one of several fellow prisoners mentioned by Paul. Reading verses 1:7,8 we are led to think that Epaphras was the Pastor of the Church in Colosse. Paul loved him as a " dear fellow servant" who had great concern for them all.

If you want to be an intercessor, understand it is primarily a service for your Lord. It will translate into direct service to others only because of your love for Jesus. There will be times in intercession when you feel all alone and wonder if those for whom you are praying understand your depth of love and service. Here is where knowing you serve Jesus will count. It will be a great encouragement to know your work is recognized by Jesus and He is with you as you pray!

3. He always wrestles in prayer.

Epaphras was contending in prayer. Greek is agonizomai. Contending like an Olympic athlete. Contest for a prize. A struggle or contest. A battle. An action at law, like a trial. Epaphras was a gold medalist in intercession, praying for others.

Striving to obtain something. Endeavor with strenuous zeal to obtain something. Luke 13:24. “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door.”

Struggling with difficulties and dangers.

It’s the same word Paul uses to tell Timothy to “fight the good fight” (1 Tim. 6:12), and that he uses to describe his own life: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). He also uses it to enlist the prayers of the Roman church, “I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me” (Romans 15:30).

Prayer is not a passive, easy, comfortable exercise. It is work! We want to teach out children and grandchildren to have a good work ethic. However, when it comes to prayer, we don’t exhibit or expect that same level of intensity. Too far. Too long. Too Tired. Too much.

Colossians 1:29. to this end, I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Weekly reminders that a friend an mentor is praying for me weekly. Bill lets me know that I am on his list. Dean Trune regularly prays for me and for Stacy. I see him once or twice a year, each time he reminds me that he has been praying for me. When he says it, I believe it.

4. He prays that you stand firm in all of God’s will, mature and fully assured.

Paul tells us that Epaphras always labored fervently in prayer for his brothers and sisters in Christ. It was for Christians that Epaphras prayed day after day with intense earnestness. This was an indirect way of winning the lost to Christ, for if believers get more of God's grace, they will go and tell the lost of Jesus. It is difficult to find soul winners, but more difficult to find Epaphrases to pray for them. The cold, reluctant inconsistencies of Christian workers are an immense hindrance to the winning of souls. When the workers are full of the Holy Spirit and have a love for souls, the lost see in them something that the world cannot give.

Typically when we think of intercessory prayer, we consider prayer requests, which, typically, focus on physical or health needs. Years ago I read “Celebration of Discipline,” and Richard Foster’s thoughts on intercessory prayer changed my prayer life. Rather than praying immediately for the sick to be healed, maybe there is a greater request: that God’s will would be done. Is there something that we can learn in sickness, in grief, in despair? Dependence on God? Peace from Him? Sufficiency of God? Power of faithful witness in the face of suffering?

Can you imagine what the church in Colosse looked like as this prayer was answered? This is the essence of what makes an individual and a church effective. What would happen if we had 25 or 50 or 150 people wrestling in prayer for the RCC family and mission? What sort of impact could the church have if we had men and women like Epaphras who were constantly laboring and struggling, contending in prayer

Three verses. Sing one. Stop to pray. Sing another. Stop to pray. Sing another.

1. Two minutes to pray about THE LOST while Tommy is playing quietly in the background. Millions of people are perishing without Christ. In your own home, in your office, in your neighborhood. Pray that God will open their eyes to the truth of the gospel.

2. Two minutes to pray about THE SAINTS while Tommy is playing quietly in the background. Let’s pray for our brothers and sisters in faith that they would develop and mature in their faith, that they would be a strong demonstration of Christ’s love. That’s how the world will be changed.

3. Two minutes to pray about SOMEONE for whom you have a heavy heart.

“wrestling in prayer” cards. For two weeks will you pray together with me? We’ll wrap up our two weeks of focused intercession at the park.

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