Epaphras Prays Podcast

Who of us has all wisdom?

Or who needs more wisdom?

None of us and all of us.

How do we do that?

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 1:5

We can get all the knowledge we want, from books, encyclopedias, an internet search, or AI. But what about wisdom? That comes more often by experience.

And what of Godly wisdom, that which from above and not from other people? This comes only from God, by His word and by His Spirit. By asking.

Seek wisdom in prayer.

James tells us to ask for this wisdom. And so we ask in prayer for God to give us wisdom. His wisdom, that which is from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. James 3:17

David sought this wisdom, this leading Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You. He knew The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them. (Psalm 25:4-5, 14)

And even Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52)

* Ask that He may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in our knowledge of Him. (Ephesians 3:17).

* Ask that you God fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:9-10)

Seek wisdom in the Bible.

This Godly wisdom comes from His word, that is, the Bible, by reading and studying it; by prayer and meditation on it; by hiding it in your heart and by it abiding in us. The Word of God helps us know who God is and what He has said.

We need to know the Word.

Seek wisdom by the Spirit.

This wisdom comes also from His Spirit, who, Jesus says, will teach you all things. (John 14:26). We need to walk in step with the Holy Spirit. He will not be given to those who live apart from Him, or in rebellion to Him. The Spirit is who will guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

O, Father, grant to us insight into Your Word, and Will and Ways. Fill us with Godly wisdom, spiritual insight, knowledge of the holy, understanding of the Word, and discernment to know what is best, according to Your Truth.

We need wisdom from Almighty God to navigate through our course in this world.

This isn’t about smarts, or intelligence, but knowing something from God himself. It may be how to handle a difficult circumstance, or fix a problem at work, or handle a confrontational person. Or, it may be to lead your congregation away from snares of false teaching.

Without this Godly wisdom, we operate with only worldly wisdom, which is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. (James 3:16). And the wisdom of man is foolishness to God (1 Corinthians 3:19).

Pray Proverbs 2:2-5 - Lord, you say if we incline our ear to wisdom and direct our heart to understanding, if we truly call out to insight and lift our voice to understanding, and if we seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, then, You say we will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. We make this our request today and every day, for Jesus sake, Amen.

So, Lord, teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

Today on the prayer cast, I want to focus on the letters from the Apostle Peter. These letters contain great and precious promises and important instructions. We’ll use them to guide our prayers, praises, and petitions to God for His church, the believers, and the household of faith.

We will pray for grace, peace, and mercy. We will offer blessings and thanksgiving. We will ask for love, gifts, and the ability to serve. We will seek strength and restoration. We will pray for alertness and being on guard.

There are many things we can pray for, inspired by Peter’s prayers, for God’s people according to His Word. I invite you to join us on the prayer cast.

* 1 Peter 1:1-5

* 1 Peter 2:17

* 1 Peter 3:21

* 1 Peter 4: 7-9, 14, 16

* 1 Peter 5: 7-11

* 2 Peter 1: 2-4

* 2 Peter 3: 17, 18

Right now, it appears there's a chance for us to share the good news of the gospel.

Today, I want to pray for God's word to spread quickly across our land and be honored. Let's pray for the seeds of faith to find good soil, for workers to be sent out to gather the harvest, and for people to be ready to listen and see. I also want to pray that we can speak boldly about the gospel's mystery through Christ.

After hard times, many people who didn't believe before are now curious about the Bible, church, and Jesus. I know any number of ministers who believe this is a special time. More people are buying Bibles and attending church services. They're asking questions now because their hearts are more open than they were a short time ago.

God has opened a door for us, and we have an opportunity. Let's pray for this door to stay open so God's word can spread everywhere and bring glory. We hope many will come to believe. Let's ask the Lord of the harvest for help. The time is right, and the harvest is ready.

Let's pray together to bring people into God's kingdom.

Something has shifted. Like a wind coming ‘round from the east to the north, bringing with it a chill, and a foul air.

Recent events of tragedy and loss—from the murder of an innocent young woman on a bus, followed by the assassination of a young man speaking at a college campus event, both during our remembrance of the events of 9/11 on its 24th anniversary.

These events are horrible, tragic and sad, leaving us bewildered, shaken, angry. Because, along with loss, something deep seems to have broken, in our culture. What once was a perception of civility, peace and safety, was merely a fragile veneer. The darkness and evil that was previously held at bay is now exposed for what it is, on full display in real time before our eyes.

It’s always been there, just better hidden.

Christianity has always been under attack. Its ideas, its values, its traditions have always had opponents. But it appears (again) that we have reached a point where it is not only Christianity and the Church that are being opposed — it is Christians themselves that are being physically attacked.

People of God are those who are outspoken about their faith, living in the light of the Lord, according to the Word of God—in direct opposition to the current culture, modern society, and living in the world but are not of the world. These are who the enemy of our souls seeks to persecute.

God’s people who live this way are under attack from evil, from those who hate God, hate his church and hate his people. I’m thinking of the thousands around the world martyred for our faith, many this past year, whose names are unknown to us, but not to God. They show the rest of us what it means to take a stand in naming Jesus as our Lord, not denying faith in Him.

And so we, just like the ancients we read about in Scripture, living under the sovereign will of our Almighty God, should also cry out as they did,

for protections and deliverance from evil for those who belong to Jesus.

Jesus tell us how to pray: deliver us from evil,

David Prayed many times for deliverance.

Pray for protection.

May the Lord keep us under the shadow of his wings.

But we must also take a stand.

Pray for thousands of new converts.

So pray for the salvation of lost souls trapped in sins and darkness, in bondage to the devil.

Ask that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ (Colossians 4:2). Pray…that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored (2 Thessalonians 3:1) and may the word of God spread rapidly (Acts 6:7).

Pray the Lord open hearts as He did a certain woman named Lydia (Acts 16:14) to heed the things spoken by Paul.

Pray all the Lord’s servants be kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)

Or else pray for the Lord’s holy judgement

on His enemies, those who deny, defy, plot, scheme, and serve the devil and his demons.

Conclusion

The Lord has often used someone who stands in the gap, as a watchman on the wall, standing before is holy throne asking for His holy help, crying to Him for divine intervention for His people.

This is where we are today. Millions of believers around the world are living, working, serving, preaching, teaching—and being persecuted for their faith. If you’re reading this, you are among those called to intercede for all the others.

Not all will pray, but we can pray for them and for one another. Jesus says to watch and pray, so I pray we stay alert and pray. And I pray for more who will pray — more intercessors, brothers and sisters who heed the warnings, take seriously the call, and take a stand in the prayer closet for those who take a stand on the front lines.

Are we in persistent prayer?

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer. Romans 12:12

Most likely we are not as we ought!

Christian, we need to be praying, not just in turmoil, emergency or crisis, but in all circumstances, situations, and issues — good and not, and for all others about us.

Only the Lord can do what only he can do, and only prayer brings our Lord into the situation to do it. Yes, he uses fallible people (like me!) to accomplish His work, but we must be in the business of asking Him to. So let’s pray.

Show Notes:

Pray for the people of God, and pray for those who do not know God:

* Remember the Lord

* Return to the Father’s house

* Repent for our sins

* Restore us again

* Redeem the ungodly

* Rebuke enemies of Your people

* Righteous in the lands

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The dreaded orange cones came into view, signaling road work ahead. On a route I frequently travel, this three-mile stretch of highway is undergoing repairs: one lane, reduced speed, men working.

Heavy equipment operates just beyond the cones, moving dirt, dumping rock, burying pipes, and rebuilding the roadbed. Bulldozers grade the earth, front loaders shift massive loads, trench diggers, and even a crane—all are busy under the direction of men in hardhats. Skid steers and pickup trucks buzz between them while the construction crew's office runs on a generator.

We stop for a flagman, and I watch a tanker truck labeled FUEL lumber past. All this equipment needs fuel, probably daily, I think. This truck goes to a depot to bring back the supply that keeps the tractors moving. I imagine its driver is busy from dawn to dusk. My mind begins to drift, following that train of thought.

A honk jolts me to attention; we're moving again. I pass the flagman in his bright yellow vest and offer a slight wave.

Slowly, steadily, progress is made, and the road is rebuilt. Soon, hopefully not too long from now, the cones will vanish, all lanes will open, and we will marvel at the smooth new surface.

And you know what occurred to me?

Road construction is a lot like the Church. It's being built into something for God's glory. Ministries, acting like heavy machinery, serve the congregation. Preachers, worship leaders, and youth staff are like excavators and bulldozers which clear the way. Those who print bulletins, run the soundboard, or direct parking are like the essential support vehicles. Hospital and prison ministry, weddings, funeral services—each is a vital part of the local body of faith.

Like highway workers, all contribute to building God's kingdom on Earth. Maybe you're a dump truck, a cement mixer, or simply an orange cone. Each part is necessary, but I believe the most vital vehicle for that crew is that FUEL truck.

This truck doesn't dig, dump, or pave. Instead, it retrieves the fuel essential for all the other equipment to function. Now, the truck isn't the power—it obtains the power — the fuel, supplies it, and distributes it to the heavy machinery.

Prayer is a lot like that. Prayer retreats to the closet to seek the Spirit (who is the power) and, through intercession, supplies the ministries that serve the body and build the church.

Maybe you are a FUEL truck for your congregation?

Most people will drive right by without even a glance. But the Lord sees. He sees you coming to the depot for a daily supply of fuel. He fills you and you intercede for divine power to be supplied to all the equipment of ministry.

You see, without that truck, all the fancy heavy road construction machinery grinds to a halt. It is the same in the church without the ministry of intercession.

So my friends: Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. (John 16:24)

I want to introduce some of the Scriptures we use regularly to intercede for the people of God. Some call these the Apostolic Prayers, because they were written in the Epistles (letters from the Apostles like John, Peter and Paul) to the various assemblies they wrote to.

Within these letters were what he was praying for on their behalf. These are written for us to give us insight to what is the will of our Heavenly Father for His dear children. If Paul was asking them, and the Spirit preserved them, then we may pray them--and rest assured God is answering them, according to His perfect plan.

I invite you to pray along with us with these four passages. We make slight modifications in the text to personalize these as prayers of our own to the Lord God as we approach His throne to ask on behalf of our own fellowship.

Praying the passages alone is a complete prayer. However, we also use these as both a starting place and a landing place. This works especially well in a small group. Listen to a sample prayer below.

* Romans 15:5-7 RSV

* Romans 15:13

* 1 Corinthians 1:4-8

* 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

My recommendation starting out is to go through one verse each day, in this way you can slow down and be thorough. There is no need to speed along and “get more verses in,” better to take time going through the passage, pausing along the way and allowing the Spirit to lead. One part of the verse may be emphasized over others one time, and something else on another day.

Listen on Spotify

Subscribe to: Epaphras Prays | For The People of God from the Word of God. This is a newsletter about personal and intercessory praying. It helps more people learn to pray more.

When suffering strikes or joy overflows, our immediate response reveals the condition of our hearts. James 5:13 gives us clear direction: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise." Yet how often do we turn to prayer last instead of first? This Biblical wisdom challenges us to examine whether we're truly praying for ourselves in the way our Lord intends—not just for comfort, but for transformation.

Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort.

Prayer in suffering transforms us beyond mere comfort. The Lord is often after something more than just our personal comfort.

Biblical examples show the power of fervent, persistent prayer. God answered both prayers, demonstrating His faithfulness to those who pray persistently.

Cheerfulness demands grateful praise, not silent enjoyment. Proper gratitude transforms our joy into worship that honors the Almighty.

In short, true prayer for ourselves moves beyond selfish requests to seek the Spirit’s transforming work in our hearts, creating souls that trust Him in suffering and praise Him in blessing.

Psalm 30 captures both sides of James 5:13 - prayer in suffering and praise in cheerfulness.

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever." (Psalm 30:11-12)

So, Prayer and Praise—the twin pillars of a heart properly positioned before God in good times or suffering times.

When we read the scriptures, especially the New Testament, it's clear that prayers are focused on God's people. If you look at Paul's letters, you'll see he primarily and exclusively prayed for the church. Epaphras also labored in prayers for his congregation. Jesus prayed all the time and is said to still pray through His followers today.

A church's life is closely linked to its prayer life. In Revelation, prayers are shown as powerful and lasting, those are the golden bowls of incense filled with the prayers of saints. The New Testament teaches us to rely on our Lord and encourages constant prayer, especially for success in ministry work. But many believers go hours or days without praying, even though it's so important.

Prayer is crucial for the growth of God's kingdom. Ignoring it can slow down our own spiritual growth, and slow the Spirit’s work on earth. Praying brings His work into the situation.

I believe if the church wakes up to its duty and uses faith to claim Christ's promises through prayer, amazing changes will happen. So, let's bow our heads and pray to our Heavenly Father for God's people.

If you would like to add your prayer to ours

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Subscribe to: Epaphras Prays | For The People of God from the Word of God. This is a newsletter about personal and intercessory praying. It helps more people learn to pray more.

Have you ever picked up a book you’ve read before, looked though it again, and thought, “I’d almost forgotten this!”

The reminder of something is even more encouraging than the original learning of it. For me, that’s what reading E. M. Bounds on prayer is like. It’s drinking from a mountain spring that never runs dry.

Thumbing through the chapter “Prayer Fills Mans Poverty With God’s Riches” I’ve made some notes outlined here. I pray you are also encouraged.

The Bible clearly teaches that prayer is meant to be answered by God; that God, as Father, gives to us His children what and when we ask.

Prayer is the basis of relationship of Father and Son. And prayer is the condition of proclaiming the Gospel, defeating the darkness and bringing the Light.

This is basic truth evident through the Testaments, but now ignored by many, and also under attack. We act like we pray, but just for show or pretense or obligation.

You see: prayer is real work; praying is vital work.

Look to Jesus who himself is the illustration, definition, and demonstration of praying.

Paul says prayer is watchfulness and perseverance. Believers are to be alert, vigilant, and steadfast.

Bounds: Prayer is the highest intelligence, the profoundest wisdom, the most vital, joyous, efficacious, and powerful of all vocations.

Have nothing to do with dull, lifeless praying — that is mere routine. Casual, flippant praying is useless. Take serious the chief business that is praying, being skillful and adept like master-craftsman in the great work and high art of prayer.

Let us be so in the habit of prayer, so devoted to prayer, so filled with its rich spices, so ardent by it’s holy flame, that all heaven and earth will be perfumed by its aroma, and nations will be blest by our prayers. E. M. Bounds

So remember these three things:

Sincere supplication moves the heart of God, serious seeking requires our whole being, and steadfast service through prayer transforms both us and our world.