#220 – Epaphras – A Servant of Christ

EPAPHRAS, A SERVANT OF CHRISTColossians 4:12-13, "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.  For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis."This meditation will be to explore the life of Epaphras who is called a servant of Christ.  Paul is the writer, Colossae is the destination, Epaphras is their minister, and Paul is giving a report of Epaphras as the servant of Christ.  Lets take a look at what Paul says about Epaphras.EPAPHRAS IS ONE OF YOUThe name of Epaphras means, “lovely, spoken of by Paul (Col. 1:7; 4:12) as "his dear fellow servant," and "a faithful minister of Christ." He was thus evidently with him at Rome when he wrote to the Colossians. He was a distinguished disciple, and probably the founder of the Colossian church. He is also mentioned in the Epistle to Philemon (1:23), where he is called by Paul his "fellow prisoner."Though Epaphras is with Paul, ministering to his needs, he is still the minister of the Church in Colossae.  Distance has not changed or altered the relationship that Epaphras had with the Church at Colossae.  Epaphras is one of you.  Next,EPAPHRAS WAS A FAITHFUL SERVANT OF CHRISTColossians 1:7, "As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;" The Church at Colossae had already received a report from Epaphras as to the condition of Paul in Rome.  Paul commends him with the words, “our dear fellowservant.” This is a great compliment coming from the Apostle.  He also says, “who is for you a faithful servant of Christ.”Not only is Epaphras a faithful servant of Christ to Paul he is also a faithful servant of the Church at Colossae who brought good words of encouragement to him. Colossians 1:8 says, "Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit." I am always impressed with the pastor who has good things to say about the Church he pastors.EPAPHRAS IS A FAITHFUL MESSENGERColossians 1:8, "Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit."There is no doubt that Paul was in need of encouragement at this time.  So the Colossians sent their pastor, Epaphras to assure Paul that they love him in the Lord and continue in prayer for him.A minister is faithful when he without compromise gives out the gospel unedited.  There is no place to compromise truth.  God will not bless the wrong interpretations of the Word preached by false teachers.  Next,EPAPHRAS WAS A FAITHFUL SERVANT OF CHRISTColossians 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."It would be a great encouragement to the Church at Colossae to know that Epaphras was praying for them with such fervency as to get Paul's attention.  To be a servant of Christ is to be at His disposal at all times.  This is what Paul suggests in this verse.  While Epaphras is a long way from Colossae, he prays for them as if in their midst.  He does this as a servant of Christ.  So prayer for our church, and for others is a ministry of Christ to others, and we are the servants by which He ministers.Every God-called preacher needs to come to grips about whose servant he is going to be, i.e., a denominational servant or the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."EPAPHRAS, A FERVENT PRAYER WARRIORPrayer is a lot easier to talk about than it is to do it.  We get on our knees to pray and rise in about four or five minutes and consider that a ministry of prayer.  A short time in prayer does not compare with the kind of praying Jesus did. Luke 6:12, "And it came to pass in those days,