COLOSSIANS 4:12-18 - PAUL, PARTNERS, PRAYER

COLOSSIANS 4:12-18

PAUL, PARTNERS, PRAYER

Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Epaphras, the one who had brought news of the Colossian church to Paul sent greetings back to the believers there. Apparently he had decided to stay on with Paul and learn from him for a while. Epaphras was a devotee (a willing slave) of the Lord Jesus Christ. Epaphras’ labor of love was diligently, persistently, passionately, powerfully interceding on behalf the familyship of his home church. He prayed that they would continue to mature in their faith due to his work among them and his investment in prayer on their behalf. He asked the Lord to give them confidence as they surrendered to His will. Epaphras wanted the Lord to infuse the Colossian believers with fearless perseverance so that when serving the Lord became difficult, when the storms of life arose, they would not lose heart. He prayed they would be able to stand firm.

Colossians 4:13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

Paul was a witness that Epaphras was a multi-tasker, praying for the congregations at Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis zealously. This was not a quick, “Bless the church at Colossae.” He was pouring himself out in specific prayer on their behalf. He invested time in prayer with intention and intensity. He did not take this responsibility lightly.

Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

Even though Luke was Paul’s personal physician and highly literate and intelligent, he may not have been in the upper social strata because often times physicians were slaves. He may have been chosen for the profession because he could handle all the gross stuff. Luke was not only Paul’s doctor, but he was Paul’s ancient days’ biographer. He was the author of the Gospel of Luke as well. Demas, at this point, was a faithful friend and co-laborer with Paul. However, in Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he reports that Demas had utterly abandoned him and been drawn into the world (2 Timothy 4:10). Perhaps he was enticed by the opulent trappings of the high society of Rome, especially in contrast to the modest accommodations of Paul who was under house arrest.

Colossians 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Other translations use a feminine form of Nympha and say the church which meets in HER house. Either way, Paul was telling the recipients of the letter which was to be read in both Colossae and Laodicea to pass on his greeting to this person and the congregation there in Laodicea. There were women who hosted congregations in their homes.

Colossians 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

Paul’s epistles, his letters, were to passed among the churches in an area to be read to many congregations. Ephesians may have been read to these congregations as well.

Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

Paul asked them admonish Archippus not to walk away from his purpose but to persevere in what the Lord had called him to be. He encouraged him to be courageous and stand firm in the Lord. From Paul’s greeting to Philemon, many believe that Archippus may have been Philemon’s son or a leader in the church that met in Philemon’s house.

Colossians 4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

Although Paul used a secretary to write his letters, he often wrote the final salutation himself and signed his own name. Paul asked the believers to continue to offer prayers of intercession on his behalf because from them he would receive strength from the Lord.

Challenges:

1.       Paul refers to intercessory prayer as “labor”. Are we working in this manner for the good of the familyship of believers?

2.       Are you investing time in prayer with intention and intensity?

3.       Have you ever known someone who was active in ministry but was enticed away by the world? Have you ever been enticed?

4.       Paul praised Epaphras for his ministry of intercession and as his last comment of the letter requested prayer on his own behalf. Do we give intercessory prayer a place of importance in our daily lives?