Epaphras Prays Podcast

Note: There is more in the Article voiceover than what is written here.

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1

This Godly wisdom is a divine attribute and a gift from God. We can access the knowledge of the holy by earnestly seeking it in faith, in the Bible, in prayer.

This isn’t wordly wisdom, —not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing—but Godly, holy, heavenly, spiritual wisdom. wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

So we ask for wisdom, just like Solomon did.

My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, And search for her as [for] hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5

Here are 5 key things we can do and pray for to discover the knowledge of God:

* receive, treasure - be intentional

* incline - study the word

* apply - have a teachable heart

* cry out, lift your voice - be consistent in asking

* seek, search - be diligent in searching

The promise of knowledge of the holy is conditional, that is - If we do these things, then comes the divine promise: we will understand and find.

Let’s continually ask for Wisdom from God and the knowledge of the holy One

Who else needs this wisdom? Please pass this along with a note that let’s them know you read this and are asking them to pray with you

Could we number the birds of the sky, or fish in the sea? What’s the number of types of trees? How many are the raindrops in spring?

Our God is an infinite God and His creativity is unlimited. We could sooner count sand on the shore as the endless numbers of anything He has made.

How many kinds of prayer are there, do you think? Is it two, or nine? 101? I like what Spurgeon says, As many as are the flowers of summer, so many are the varieties of prayer.

Paul says we must pray with all…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints… Ephesians 6:18

The dimensions and varieties of all prayer and supplication—

with all kinds of prayer: public, private and secret, social and solitary, solemn and sudden; verbal and silent, long and short;

with all parts of prayer: filled with praises, sprinkled with confession, petitions for mercy, and adorned with thanksgivings for all blessings and graces received;

with all manner of praying: sung to music, and cried out with groans, shouted from a hilltop, and whispered beside a bed;

with all types of prayer: deprecatory prayers when sins have provoked the Lord to jealousy; supplicatory prayers which ask blessings and implore mercies from God for ourselves; and intercessory prayers on behalf of others for God to intervene for them;

with all posture of prayer: on our knees, and standing, sitting, walking, and kneeling. Nothing is said about these; position, place, and time are all left open and available to us, whenever in want or need;

with all perseverance: we must determine to continue in prayer, whatever changes there are in our circumstances; and we must persevere in it while we live in the world, remaining steadfast;

While prayer is personal, these articles are meant to be shared. You can help someone else learn about praying just by sending this. Which also helps me out.

and in the Spirit—our spirits must be engaged in praying and we must do it by the grace of God's good Spirit, helping us in the praying, for the Spirit also helps our weakness: For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. (Romans 8:26) It is the Holy Spirit in us who prays and enables us to pray. It is praying not according the flesh (the selfish desires of the carnal mind) but according the word, will and way of the Lord.

for all the saints: those in our homes and our assemblies; the pastors, elders, those in the seats; the teacher, evangelist, and missionary; from babe in Christ to senior saint.

There is no limit of God’s creation, nor limits on our praying to Him. Pray, with all.

I pray because I have something to say to God, always striving for you in prayers that you may stand complete and fully assured in all the will of God. I write because I have something to say to you about praying to God.

Have you ever felt like your spiritual life not very fruitful? Like you’re trying hard to be patient, loving, or faithful, but struggling instead?

I sure have, and I don’t think I’m alone! Today we’re shifting focus from trying to asking. Based on Galatians 5 and the story of the vine and the branches, I invite you to pray specifically for the Holy Spirit to cultivate His character and nature in you.

Whether you’re struggling with one area or looking to deepen your growth in all nine aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit, this podcast is for you.

Highlights

* The Tree Parable: Exploring the powerful imagery from Jeremiah 17 and Psalm 1 of being a tree planted by streams of water that does not fear drought but continues to produce fruit.

* The Vine and the Branches: A look at John 15 where Jesus explains that the Father prunes fruitful branches to make them even more fruitful.

* One Fruit, Nine Characteristics: Clarifying that the “Fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5) is a singular, unified character of Christ, not a list of separate traits to pick and choose from.

* The Power of Asking: A core teaching that while God produces the fruit, asking Him to do so actively cultivates our participation and can accelerate spiritual growth.

* Prayer for Each Fruit: A short journey through specific scriptures and prayers for each of the nine characteristics:

* Love: John 13 & 1 John 4

* Joy: John 15 & Philippians 4

* Peace: John 14 & Colossians 3

* Patience: Ephesians 4 & Romans 2

* Kindness: Ephesians 4 & Colossians 3

* Goodness: Romans 15 & 2 Thessalonians 1

* Faithfulness: 1 Corinthians 4

* Gentleness: Matthew 11 & 2 Corinthians 10

* Self-Control: 1 Corinthians 9 & Titus 2

* Visible Reflection: A reminder that bearing fruit is not just for our private spiritual life but is the visible evidence to the world that we are disciples of Jesus.

Know that spiritual maturity, like a real tree, takes time and deep roots. But the good news is that the Father delights in giving good gifts to those who ask.

If you found yourself lacking in love, joy, or self-control today, just ask. Ask the Holy Spirit to bear that fruit in you, and watch as He works to make you a tree that prospers in all you do, for His glory. Bearing fruit isn’t just something we keep to ourselves, it reflect Christ’s character to the world around us.

This group grows because people like you share it. Just like fruit, it’s not meant just for you, but for sharing with others in need of it.

Image by Karl Egger from Pixabay

Join the Prayer group free and help intercede for the People of God from the Word of God

One of the best ways to learn to pray is by reading and praying from the Scriptures directly.

Another is to read or hear others pray, especially those great intercessors of the past, like the Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon. His prayers were transcribed for us to read, but listen along as we pray from Pulpit Prayers

Prayer 8 —

We adore Thee because Thou art holy and we love Thee for Thine infinite perfection. For now, we sigh and cry after holiness ourselves. Sanctify us wholly, spirit, soul, and body. Lord, we mourn over the sins of our past life and our present shortcomings. We bless Thee Thou hast forgiven us. We are reconciled to Thee by the death of Thy Son. There are many who know that they have been washed and that He that beareth away sin has borne their sin away. These are they who now cry to Thee to be delivered from the power of sin, to be delivered from the power of temptation without, but especially from indwelling sin within.

Listen and pray along with Spurgeon, this prayer for holiness…

Know someone who needs encouragement like this to deepen their prayer life? Send them this. Sometimes it helps getting that encouragement from someone they trust.

Thank you for listening and for praying. Please consider a free subscription and continue with us in the prayer closet.

Epaphras was a devoted early Christian minister and fellow servant of the Apostle Paul, known for his deep commitment to prayer and spiritual care for the church in Colossae.

Today we learn about praying for others as he did, and be encouraged to do likewise.

He is mentioned only three times in the New Testament — twice in Colossians and once in Philemon — and is described by Paul as a “faithful minister,” “servant of Christ Jesus,” and “fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus”

Epaphras likely founded the church in Colossae after being converted, possibly during Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, and later traveled to Rome to update Paul on the Colossians’ spiritual condition. This included good news of the progress of the gospel, of their "faith in Christ Jesus" and of their love toward all the saints.

He is especially noted for “always wrestling in prayer” for the Colossian believers, desiring their spiritual maturity and steadfastness in faith. In other versions, he is said to be always laboring, or —struggling, wrestling, striving in other translations.

The original word used is agōnizomai, which means to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary).

And it was always, or at all times, without ceasing, continuously he was praying like this. To always make such effort is commitment! This is dedication!

O, that each congregation would have such a one as this!

Perhaps that’s you? Or is it someone you know? If you would do me a favor and share this with them, it might be the encouragement they need also.

You’d be helping them, and this newsletter, grow. So bless you!

This is how he served them: Epaphras was praying for them, selflessly focused on others in his fellowship. His concern was for others. We are told he was “our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ” and he was acting “on your behalf.” (1:7). Paul also commended Epaphras for his hard work for the assembly in Colossae, but also the nearby churches in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Epaphras must have known that in order for these believers to live out their faith and spread the good news of Jesus, they needed God to help them grow in Christ and be fully convinced of His words.

His deep concern, his strong desire, was for the brothers and sisters in Christ to live according to this faith, and so he wrestled against those things that would hinder that, and for spiritual growth and protection.

Epaphras prayed from his deep desire for the spiritual maturity of the Colossian believers. His intercession was for two things: that they may stand perfect (1) and be fully assured in the full will of God (2).

Perfect, or mature (teleios) means completeness and perfection in faith. His goal was for the Colossians to grow in maturity so they are able to finish their race, and completely and confidently stand as having lived faithfully in the will of God.

Writes Matthew Henry: We must stand complete in all the will of God; in the will of his precepts by a universal obedience, and in the will of his providence by a cheerful submission to it: and we stand perfect and complete in both by constancy and perseverance unto the end.

Being fully assured means having a deep confidence and unspeakable conviction in understanding God's will for us. Epaphras had to have been totally convinced the will of God was most needed and the best course for the church. Assurance comes from knowing His revealed Word, trusting it and living according to it.

Though briefly mentioned in Scripture, Epaphras left a lasting legacy as a model of faithful intercession and selfless service, reminding believers of the power of being zealous, persistently praying and having a spiritual investment in others. This is why he is the namesake of this ministry. His humble, selfless service, focused on others reminds us that prayer is vital, it is work, and our consistency matters.

Take this example today as encouragement, even inspiration, to pray for others—for spiritual growth, and to live fully, completely in the will of our great God.

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On the matter of time spent praying, there are two questions: how often should we pray, and, how long should we pray? The first has to do with the frequency of praying, and the other with the amount of time spent praying.

And the answer is: as often and as long as is needed.

Says Spurgeon: I always feel that there is something wrong of I go without prayer for even half an hour in the day

We can and should do likewise!

Start small with a daily commitment, trust the habit will naturally deepen over time, and prayer becomes the most precious part of the day.

I did this. I used to think: “15 minutes, check-off, good to go.” Then I learned that it’s relational, spending precious time with one you love. And now 15 seems too little.

Podcast Notes

Start Small, Grow Consistently: Begin with just 15 minutes of daily prayer. It’s achievable and can become the sweetest part of your day as your relationship deepens.

Prayer Is Essential: Like Daniel and Epaphras, believers are called to pray constantly — not because it’s easy, but because temptation and need are constant.

Epaphras: The Quiet Intercessor: A humble, hardworking servant who “wrestled in prayer” for others. It wasn’t for fame, but for their spiritual maturity and steadfastness.

Make Time, Sacrifice Something: Replace 15 minutes of scrolling, TV, or leisure with prayer, and treat it like a non-negotiable appointment with God.

Challenge: Commit to one week of 15-minute daily prayer—then reflect: Did it feel like a chore… or a gift? Let us know how it went!

Image by Ruslan Sikunov from Pixabay

Join a group of intercessors who labor in prayers for God’s people

Most of us have been there. We’ve brought the same request before God again and again, wondering if He hears, wondering if we’ve done something wrong, wondering if we should just stop asking. But Scripture and church history are full of stories of people who waited — and found that the waiting itself was part of the answer.

A woman once came to a pastor in tears. She’d been praying for her prodigal son for eleven years. “I’m starting to think God doesn’t care,” she said. The pastor opened his Bible to John 11 and read her two words: “Jesus wept.” Then he said, “He cares. He’s just not finished yet.”

Here are three reasons Spurgeon says God’s answers may be delayed:

God delays to display His sovereignty. He is not subject to our timetable, and sometimes the silence is simply His reminder that He is God and we are not; that grace is a gift, not a vending machine transaction.

God delays to deepen our desire. The waiting sharpens us. It shows us how much we truly need what we’re asking for, and it burns away the casual requests, leaving only the prayers we genuinely cannot live without.

God delays to display His glory at the fullest moment. When Jesus finally arrived at the tomb of Lazarus, He didn’t come to console a grieving family, He came to raise the dead. The delay was preparation for something greater than healing.

You see, there is a kind of faith that only forms in the furnace of waiting and forged, not in the moment of answered prayer, but in the long, quiet stretch between the asking and the receiving.

It looks like Elijah on his knees, face to the ground, praying six times with no sign of rain, and sending his servant back for a seventh look. It looks like Paul, thorn unremoved, learning that grace sufficient is not grace absent. It looks like a woman who has prayed eleven years and keeps praying on the twelfth, even when she doesn’t feel like it, because she has decided that God is worth trusting even when He is silent.

Remember this: The prayers you’ve prayed are not lost. They are filed in heaven, and heaven never loses a file.

“Our Father has reasons peculiar to Himself for thus keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show His power and His sovereignty, that men may know that the Lord has a right to give or to withhold. More frequently the delay is for our profit... Your prayers are all filed in heaven, and if not immediately answered, they are certainly not forgotten, but in a little while shall be fulfilled to your delight and satisfaction. Let not despair make you silent, but continue instant in earnest supplication.” — C.H. Spurgeon

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! — Psalm 27:14

See also: Psalm 31:24; Psalm 37:9, 34; Psalm 130:5; Isaiah 8:17; Isaiah 30:18; Isaiah 40:31

This kind of waiting means to look for with hopeful expectation, with patience and endurance — while we pray through the delay.

What about you, are you praying even though He delays?

Want to join a group of intercessors who are learning to watch and pray, to cry to the Lord? Consider a free subscription.

We are surrounded by the lost. If they don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior, they are lost, unsaved, in the domain of darkness, aka. pagans. And they may well be family, neighbors, co-workers; our family doctor, the girl at the grocery checkout, a client; a person sitting next to us, or someone we consider voting for.

We pray today for unsaved people among us, as did Paul: Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. Romans 10:1 ESV

Do we have that same heart for the lost as did Paul?

He told his fellow Christians (Brothers) that it was his heart’s desire the unbelievers be saved, and so he prayed. It’s likely few of us could truly say this is a desire of our own heart to that same degree.

Paul was speaking of “they”, his kinsmen, those of Israel, who despite their position as God's chosen people, had not acknowledged Jesus the Christ as the Messiah. Instead the Jews had rejected Him, and rather maintained the Law and sought righteousness on the merit of their own works, according to their tradition.

As Barnes notes: “He had no desire that his kinsmen should be destroyed. He still wished their welfare; and could still pray for them that they might return to God.” He prayed that they might be saved: “This clearly refers to salvation from the sin of unbelief; and the consequences of sin in hell. It does not refer to the temporal calamities which were coming upon them, but to preservation from the eternal anger of God”

Help the Church pray more, share this post with another who would also pray

His heart’s desire (or good will of his heart) was an earnest and sincere wish; not only did Paul cherish this feeling but he expressed this desire to God, in prayer. He would likely not have prayed for them if they had not been utterly cast away. Since many still disbelieve today, we, like Apostle Paul, pray for all in the nations who today reject Christ and the Gospel message of salvation apart from Law and Works.

Certainly we know many of the same types of folks around us— those who have either not heard the Gospel (properly presented), or, upon hearing, have rejected it’s saving truth and grace, mercy and eternal salvation.

First—Ask the Lord to give you a heart for the lost, to make it a desire of your heart to see them saved.

Then—Ask for the salvation of unbelievers around you (known and unknown to you) that may they be given the gift of salvation and faith leading to repentance and life in Christ. Make a list, ask for them by name, that He would choose them as He chose you.

Plead with the Lord on their behalf! Ask the Lord:

* To give knowledge of salvation to these people by the remission of their sins, - Luke 1:77

* For a heart that believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth their confession made unto salvation. - Romans 10:10

* For by grace they be saved through faith, and that not of themselves; it is the gift of God, - Ephesians 2:8

* For the word of the Lord to grow mightily (the preaching and teaching) and prevail (be heard, be light in darkness, win the lost) - Acts 19:20

And pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the field, which are ripe and plentiful, but the laborers are few.

Pray for harvesters.

We pray this blesses you and that you’d consider joining us as a free subscriber

We are connected in communities, aren’t we? Family people, church people, work people, and neighbors, friends, and on and on. We are social creatures, spending much of our time in proximity to other people.

These are people God put in our lives—to relate to, work with, share life with—and pray for. The Lord wants you and I to come to Him and ask for blessings on their behalf. And you may be the only person to ever pray for that individual!

Even if we don’t know a specific need or request they have, we ought still pray. We can pray from God’s word in complete confidence that He hears and will answer according to His word. Here are seven prayers for different people groups:

Pray for God’s people

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle [you]. - 1 Peter 5:10 NKJV

* perfect—be complete, sound or fit, equipped

* establish—be stable, fixed, firm, steadfast

* strengthen—be strong (in faith), have power

* settle—be on a firm foundation, rooted on truth

Pray for your people

Prayer is the most powerful and effective tool we have to bless and protect our family. Let’s pray for them to think more on Jesus

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things [are] noble, whatever things [are] just, whatever things [are] pure, whatever things [are] lovely, whatever things [are] of good report, if [there is] any virtue and if [there is] anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. - Philippians 4:8 NKJV

Set [our] mind on things above, not on things on the earth. - Colossians 3:2 NKJV

Pray for unsaved people

Ask for the salvation of unbelievers around you: co-workers, neighbors, friends; may they be given the gift of salvation and faith leading to repentance and life in Christ.

We ask the Lord: To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, - Luke 1:77 NKJV

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. - Romans 10:10 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, - Ephesians 2:8 NKJV

Pray for yourself

Pray for growing in the Lord in your inner man -- that [You] would grant [me], according to the riches of [Your] glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in [my] inner man, - Ephesians 3:16 NKJV

Pray for more Love--And this I pray, that [my] love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, - Philippians 1:9 NKJV

may [I] be able to comprehend with all the saints what [is] the width and length and depth and height-- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. - Ephesians 3:18-19 NKJV

Pray for our those who govern

May they govern by the Word of God - As we pray from Psalm 19:7-11 for our public servants, we pray they would know and value the commandments of God and teachings of Christ, and may these guide them in how they live, serve, and govern.

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. - Psalm 19:7-11 ESV

Pray for preachers, teachers, evangelists

Grant to Your servants that with all boldness [we] may speak Your word…and [we] may all be filled with the Holy Spirit, and [we] speak the word of God with boldness.—Acts 4:29, 31

And may the word of the Lord grow mightily and prevail.—Acts 19:20 NKJV

Pray for harvesters

Then He said to them, "The harvest truly [is] great, but the laborers [are] few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. - Luke 10:2 NKJV

"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. - John 16:23 NKJV

And so, we ask.

Amen

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Back in the early days when I first began to seek the Lord in prayer, I really knew very, very little about praying at all. After all, it was not something that I naturally knew or had learned automatically.

But the church I started attending, it was a big part of their day. They had several in-church prayer meetings each day for one hour at 6 and noon and 6 p.m. seven days a week.

I started going. I hooked up with other individuals to start praying with. But I felt like I had so little to offer and so much to learn.

One of the things that really helped was going through the Psalms, of course. The other thing that helped was praying with prayers. That is, other people who knew what prayer was and how to go pray.

And I studied what they did. Listened to what they did. And started to try and incorporate that into some of the praying that I was trying to do.

One of the things that also helped was I came across an old hymnal. And in the hymnal, along with the songs, were a number of prayers from the Psalms and other prayers of the church for their liturgical services.

Not knowing any different or any better, I started going through them and reading them as prayers. And they were a big help to me back then, and they still are today.

If you, or if someone you know, is a little newer to prayer or would just like to grow in their prayer life, sometimes it’s helpful to read a prayer and pray a prayer that utilizes somebody else’s words.

I like a number of these, let me share a few with you.

Hear my prayer, O Lord. Let my cry come to Thee.

This is select verses from Psalm 102.

Hear the Prayers, and pray along in the podcast and make these prayers your own.

Question: What is one thing you’ve found particularly helpful in learning to pray? If it is a book, or article, or a simple idea, please bless us with a comment about that.

Join in the group and get regular articles and prayers like this one.

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