Mike Focht 7/19/2024
The Holy Spirit introduces a particular man in the book of Colossians. We do not know much about Epaphras, but we do know one thing: He was always laboring fervently in prayers for his fellow believers in Colosse. What a beautiful testimony! We can take much from his example, and by God’s grace, may He send more men and women to follow Epaphras’ noble path of service.
That said, I would like to point out that some prayer is labor. Prayer is not always labor. The Bible says much more than that, but God does make it clear that some prayer will be work. Some would like to dispute that fact, and maybe they have never felt labored in prayer, but the Word of God is clear that a particular type of praying is laborious.
I want to bring a bit of clarity as to how prayer can be labor. Much like the common farmer, the man or woman who sets about this type of prayer must understand that they are setting about a laborious task. The two are very alike in many ways, so I will use the farmer as an apt illustration.
First, both the farmer and the saint laboring in prayer set about their task in a daily manner. The farmland, just like the praying heart, will soon turn to wilderness if it is not tended daily. Morning and night, day by day, week by week, and month by month, the farmer and praying saint labor to a specific end. They start at a particular time and end at a proper time.
The time allotted to this task may vary according to the scope of the work, but time will be required nonetheless. Everything may conspire against us to interrupt the work, but like the faithful farmer, we know that any serious time away from our plot will result in a pathetic or meager harvest. This type of praying will likely take enough time that the praying saint—like the farmer—will have to narrow their interests and limit the time given to other pursuits.
I am not setting up any legalistic parameters or seeking to be overly dramatic. I am simply saying that daily prayer will be laborious and require a commitment of time as a necessary part of the process. The praying saint will certainly miss a day here or there for a designed rest, an immediate need, or an unforeseen tragic circumstance. Daily time is necessary to reap a harvest on a farm or in spiritual fields.
Second, like the farmer, the prayer must set about praying with a systematic approach. The farmer knows what seed he is sowing, where he wants it to grow, and the approximate time the harvest will be ripe. In like manner, the prayer has his wits about him as he prays. His praying is not haphazard or directionless. Prayer is a uniquely spiritual work that can accomplish unique spiritual goals, just as physical work accomplishes physical goals. We labor in prayer to see the work of God that only He has the power to accomplish. Consider your spiritual goals accordingly.
We cannot set about accomplishing a specific work with unspecific methods. If our thoughts are always scattered, our seed will be, too. Do we need tools to help ease the task? Let us use them without guilt, just like the farmer. Use the Word of God to help you plot your task, diagram your goals in a prayer journal to help you weak mind, and decide where and when you plan to set about your work of praying. Don’t find time. Make time. We want to plant our prayer seeds in the best possible environment to grow.
Such simple steps are open to any servant willing to do the work, but rest assured, it will be work. The world, the flesh, and the devil will quickly conflict with any such organized labor in prayer because Satan is well aware that the harvest can be eternally bountiful. Both the farmer and the saint know the curse is still active in this world where we seek to harvest fruit.
Third, prayer, like farming, requires energy. Prayer requires effort! Epaphras was known not just for his praying but for his zeal. Even the apostle Paul was impressed with the labor of Epaphras. The zeal I am speaking of may not look like a rush of emotion and tears. Those pass quickly. I am speaking about a deep love and resolve of the will—and sometimes even sweat!
Frankly, the energy required to keep up a healthy, fruitful, and living farm for twenty or thirty years is unknown to most of us. In like manner, the effort, energy, and strength to regularly and systematically cover a body of Christ in prayer for the same amount of time is also little known. May God pour out His Spirit into our churches and raise up men and women with the heart and determination to labor in prayer! God knows we need them!
Again, lest some become discouraged, I want to repeat that laboring in prayer is not the only type of prayer. Some of our prayers are childlike communion, worshipful adoration, simple thanksgiving, and common supplication. That said, laboring in prayer like Epaphras is an essential type that the Holy Spirit desires believers to see. Laboring in prayer is not beyond our skill but simply beyond our determination and, maybe for some, beyond our desire. Nevertheless, the labor of prayer will not seem equal to the eternal fruit produced by such. Faithful men and women of prayer must remember they have one more thing in common with the farmer: The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.