Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/64

Contributor - Rev J. Van Oostveen

Title - The Wrestler

Topic - Parayer

"EPAPHRAS- ALWAYS LABOURING FERVENTLY FOR YOU IN PRAYERS." Col 4 :12

The prayer experience is a varied one - sometimes the answer seems to come very easily, at other times only after much striving. He who would desire great effects in prayer must be ready to wrestle, as did Epaphras. Underneath the conflict of intercession there was - A GREAT LOVE.

There will be no real wrestling without love. We are not prepared to take such pains, to suffer such pains, unless we do truly love. Paul says of Epaphras: "I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them that are in Hierapolis." You see, so far as Colosea was concerned, there were very close bonds uniting them to this Epaphras. He was one of themselves. "One of you." Natural kinship should always pass, through deep love, into spiritual concern. Evangelistic zeal should always begin at home; as Andrew did, who "first found his own brother ... and brought him to Jesus". The closer our bonds of unity are the more our concern ought to be for each other in prayer.

That closeness came as he was one who first preached Christ amongst them - at least the early verses of the first chapter seem to convey that impression. Those Colossian believers were, in all probability, Epaphras' children in the faith; and that gave them an added preciousness in his eyes. So he was the one to whom they turned so much - for help, and guidance, and encouragement in all the difficulties of their new-begun Christian life, in their heathen surroundings. He was not with them at the time when Paul sent them this letter and to tell the truth, he was greatly missing them as well as they were greatly missing him. He was so accustomed to do so much for them; but now separated by hundreds of miles across land and sea as Paul is in Rome, what can he do for them? Well, love can always find something to do for its loved ones; and as a matter of fact, distance cannot prevent this man doing for them the greatest thing that anyone can do for another - so he prays for them; and his prayer has A GREAT AIM.

"That ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." It is a prayer for their circumstances - that "all the will of God" for them may be brought into actuality in their experience; that they may miss none of it; that it may "all" enter into their life, even though at times it may not seem fitting, since whatever God's will for us, must also be Ms best for us. That does not only cover our spiritual state, but also our physical, and our material conditions. Then his prayer is also a prayer FOR THEIR STEADFASTNESS - "that ye may stand". That no devilish influence in that devilish city shall bring about their downfall, that no painful condition shall bring moments of doubt of the Wisdom and Love of the Will of God, that no false teacher shall take away the truth, that nothing shall cause them to waver in their loyalty to their Lord. This "also is a prayer FOR THEIR CHARACTER AS CHRISTIANS. That they may be perfect and complete". That they may develop into strong Christians even come to the extreme in this world of being perfect and complete. Epaphras loves his Christian brothers and sisters so much that in prayer he desires the highest and the best for them. It may well be our purpose as we give ourselves to prayer for those on our list. But let us also note that Epaphras made this prayer at a great cost.

Here is one of the prayer secrets; FOR WHAT COSTS COUNTS! We discover that this Christian brother was at that prayer "always". For this grand purpose he took all the time he had left in his busy life and he made time when he did not have it. Would your life and that of your family be different if this example would be followed? Oh, that we knew more about this sacrificial giving of time to go apart with God to intercede for others. How infinitely worthwhile it would prove to be. It might involve us in the loss of some ease, some pleasure, some sleep, maybe; but what gains would be made in our treasures in Heaven! Yet it was more than time that Epaphras gave, he also gave of his strength - "labouring fervently". Our word "agony" comes from this, and is the word used for the extreme efforts of a wrestler trying to win a match honestly. Paul says that he can compare it to the toil and struggle of a wrestler, as he marks his friends earnest anguish in prayer.

Do we know anything like this in prayer. All too often we grow so tired of praying; but have you ever experienced growing tired through prayer? Have you ever known to rise from your knees, completely exhausted from prayer? You remember Jacob, wrestling at Pniel, and daring to say right in God's face: "I will not let thee go, except Thou bless me". How costly that struggle was for Jacob; he went lame for the rest of his ]life - but he obtained a new birth and became a new Jacob. Through prayer Jacob obtained a new name, a new power, a new life. Let us seek His grace to learn the secret of wrestling prayer, at whatever cost to ourselves; a secret so mighty as to give power to prevail with God and with men. Here we discover a great need. It is the need that we dare to stick to prayer. The lack of Wrestling Prayer is all too evident and all too common and apparent in Christian Service. There is a constant need to urge Christians on, to keep on going. Yet, he that putteth "his hand to the plough of wrestling intercession and keeps on "looking back", is no fit employee for the Kingdom. The opposing forces of wind and rain may beat in his face, but he must "steadfastly set his face", as His Master did in another furrow. The secret of this quality is, like all Christian Virtues, to be found "in the Spirit". Then is as He is allowed absolute control over our being, that we are enabled thus to wrestle in prayer "with all perseverance". This is one of the mighty prayer secrets that we are to employ!

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