Inspired Reports and Human Biographies

There is a sharp difference between inspired biblical reports and any human biography. For the men of faith, this is true: “The less is reported about them, the more they served God.” Of people in this world, one often must say the following: “The more has been reported about them, the less they served God.”

Enoch: A Life in Two Sentences

Just think of Enoch, a believer of the Old Testament. His life lasted 365 years. It is summarized in only two short sentences. “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:24).

This description is brief. Yet it still speaks of a rich and fulfilled life. How many pages would a human author have filled? He would describe Enoch’s life in all its details and developments.

“Walked with God” as Heaven’s Heading

But what more needs to be said than “walked with God”? No more needs to be said. There is nothing more beautiful and nothing more important. God can give this heading to a believer’s life.

Perhaps a Christian serves his Lord devotedly. He travels the earth to proclaim the gospel. He experiences the sufferings that follow his devotion. He helps where he can. He visits the sick. He reads the Word and writes about it.

In short, he may do everything in the Lord’s work. Yet his life can be summarized in this short sentence. “He walked with God.” How happy a Christian may be. His life receives this divine verdict.

Activity Without Fellowship

Someone may do almost everything we just listed. Yet he does not walk with God for a single hour. Perhaps he does not even understand what it means. To walk with God is a serious thought.

We want to be encouraged to live with the Lord in secret. Without hidden fellowship with the Lord and without living communion with Him, service becomes worthless.

Epaphras – A Man of Prayer

“Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis” (Colossians 4:12–13).

A Biblical Portrait

We find a biblical portrait of life in Epaphras. The way he is introduced already touches our hearts. This servant is mentioned only briefly. Yet the Spirit of God always describes him vividly and clearly.

He must have been one of those believers we need so much today. His service, as recorded by the inspired writer, seems unremarkable. It did not draw people’s attention or admiration.

And yet, or precisely for that reason, his service was invaluable. His service was mostly conducted in secret. Epaphras’ field of work was in the sanctuary. Without his efforts in prayer, other services were barren and worthless.

Not Loud, Yet Essential

The inspired biographer does not present Epaphras as an eloquent preacher. He is not presented as a diligent writer. Perhaps he was both. Both are important for the edification of God’s people.

But we do not know. The Holy Spirit limits Himself to telling us this. Epaphras was a man of faith. He knew fellowship with his Savior and prayer to Him.

This “simple” service should give us much to think about. Epaphras was a man of prayer. He was one of those who prayed “fervently.” That is, pleading and persistent prayer (see James 5:16). He did not pray for himself. He prayed for others.

The Different Services and Servants

If only we had more brothers and sisters like this. They would intercede in prayer for God’s people. We are thankful for preachers. We are thankful for writers. We are thankful for those who travel in service for Christ.

But we need believers of prayer. We need believers in secret. We need Christians like Epaphras. Of course, we rejoice when Christ is presented in lectures. We are also glad when brothers can write of Christ. We are glad when they can proclaim the gospel.

Shepherding and visiting believers are also invaluable services. May the Lord keep us from undervaluing such services. May He keep us from even despising them.

The Spirit of Prayer Behind Every Service

Yet in all these services, we always need a spirit of prayer. We need earnest, fervent, and striving prayer. Without this service, there can be no growth. A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian.

A prayerless preacher is a useless preacher. A prayerless writer will hardly produce edifying writings. A prayerless evangelist will do little good. A prayerless shepherd will have little food for the flock.

We need men of prayer. We need men like Epaphras. We need men whose “quiet room” is marked by prayer. These are the believers we so greatly need.

The “Ministry of Prayer”: Love for God’s People

There are special advantages that accompany this “ministry of prayer.” This ministry is, above all, a quiet ministry. It takes place on one’s knees in God’s presence. One withdraws to Him. One is alone with Him.

The Colossians might never have known Epaphras’ zealous service. They would not have known it without the Spirit mentioning him. Perhaps there were believers in Colossae. They measured service by the number of visits, lectures, or books.

They would have needed to see Epaphras on his knees. Only then could they judge the extent of his love and service. Only love for God’s people leads us there. Only love for Christ leads us there.

It leads us to strive in prayer as Epaphras did.

The “Ministry of Prayer”: For Every Christian

The ministry of prayer requires no gift. It requires no special ability. It requires no spiritual endowment. Every Christian can, and should, practice this ministry. Not everyone is called to teach, write, or travel. But everyone can pray.

Sometimes people speak of a “gift of prayer.” Such a gift does not exist. No, we need a true “spirit of prayer.” That means inner awareness and inner drive. We should stand in prayer for God’s people and the gospel.

Such a ministry has no “working hours.” It can take place anywhere. It can take place at any time. At any time, the heart can go to the throne of grace. It can go with prayer and supplication.

The ear of our God and Father is always open. His presence is always accessible. We may come whenever we want. We may come with whatever we want. He is always ready to hear. He is always ready to answer.

He is the Hearer and Answerer. He rejoices in every sincere, pleading prayer. There is no language He loves more than this. We speak like Jacob and say, “I will not let You go unless You bless me” (Genesis 32:27).

The “Ministry of Prayer”: Fellowship and Sympathy

Nothing draws us more to God’s people than prayer. Whoever is used to praying for believers’ concerns is like Epaphras. He will sympathize with them with his whole heart. He will take an interest in them.

Because Epaphras cared about the Colossians, he prayed for them. The more he prayed for them, the more he cared about their welfare. The more compassion we feel for someone, the more we will pray. The more we pray, the more our sympathy will grow.

When we pray for God’s people, we will rejoice. We will rejoice when we see growth, progress, and renewal.

Prayer for the Gospel

The same is true, of course, for prayer in the gospel. When we are led to pray for unbelievers’ conversion, we will also act. We will commit ourselves in practical ways. We will be grateful from the heart. We will be grateful when a soul turns to God.

The “Ministry of Prayer”: Fellowship with Christ

Finally, the highest motive for the ministry of prayer is this. It is agreement with the heart of Christ. The Lord Jesus is constantly occupied with His people. He desires that His own “may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.”

Everyone who intercedes for believers can enjoy fellowship. He enjoys fellowship with our great Advocate and Intercessor. It is wonderful that we can pray on earth about such things. They correspond to the thoughts and interests of the Lord of glory.

We can understand that the bond was close. It was close between Epaphras’ heart and Christ’s heart. This close bond is always the natural result. It is the result of a practiced life of prayer.

The “Prayer Ministry”: Admonition and Encouragement

Following Epaphras’ Example

We want to let ourselves be urged to follow Epaphras’ example and imitate him. We live in a difficult time. It is a time when believers like Epaphras are urgently needed. They are believers who are ready to work for the Lord’s work on their knees. That is how Epaphras served his Lord.

A Call to Spend More Time in Prayer

The last mention shows him as a prisoner and fellow sufferer of the apostle Paul (Philemon 1:23). Should the example of this devoted servant not encourage us to spend more time in prayer? The Lord honors Epaphras and his service. He does so by calling him a “faithful servant.” Should this distinction not encourage us to follow his service?

“… just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf …” (Colossians 1:7)

“Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” (Colossians 4:12)