Dual reward of mature prayer
Epaphras, probably originating from Colossae, was an observer of Apostle Paul and a preacher of the gospel, faithfully serving the Lord. He sends greetings in the name of the Lord to the Church in Colossae, we usually greet this way when we greet fellow Christians, it is a blessing.Epaphras shows a sincere and healthy affection for the people of the church.
We see his many and frequent prayers, that they might stand perfect in spotless righteousness, "Complete in the will of God"
Wrestling in prayer is not flippant prayer, but truly wrestling with the problems at hand.
This type of prayer brings us closer to God but at the same time, brings us closer to those we pray for as well, as we develop an understanding or an empathy for what they are going through.
This in turn brings, both us and the person we pray for, God's blessing. Its an intense form of prayer, a dedicated prayer.
As we gain maturity in prayer, we need to take the burden and the blessing on as well, the more constant and fervent our prayer life the more we mature in prayer, the closer our walk. Its not done for our own reward, but in our earnest prayer we are rewarded, and those who we pray for are as well.
Another important aspect of mature prayer is setting our hearts to obey, in a consistent obedience.
What we also need is sincere healthy affection as we pray, this sincerity is imperative to prayer. The enemy knows that when we don't pray, our growth with God is stunted.
Jesus prayed consistently. We can learn from his example of stopping to go off and pray, praying earnestly, full of affection, with true sincerity every time, wrestling with the problems at hand, coming back to lead and teach - stronger than before. This example Jesus set for us was used by Epaphras. His prayer life, described in this verse, is one of true commitment to God and those he is praying for in Colossae: A blessing to him and those he is praying for.
Our prayer walk is quintessential to our growth as Christians, but the reward in mature prayer is the blessing that is brought on those we pray for and the growth we experience through wrestling in prayer.
May God bless you as you walk closer and closer to Jesus.
| Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (Colossians4:12) |
(Rev Gregory Howse a servant of God , member of the Ethikweni Presbytery, is the minister in Port Shepstone, he is happily married to Anita and has two sons Malcolm and Angus and a Granddaughter Quinnevere)
