Power of Prayer!

Epaphras, who is one of you, says hello. What a trooper he has been! He's been tireless in his prayers for you, praying that you'll stand firm, mature and confident in everything God wants you to do. I've watched him closely, and can report on how hard he has worked for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. (Col 4: 12-13 The Message Bible)

Epraphras is not a name you hear much of. He was a member of the Colossian church, and obviously a dear saint in the Lord. We know that he suffered imprisonment with Paul at one time. But the thing that really impresses me about this saint is what Paul wrote about him– he's been tireless in his prayers for you.

The intercessory work of Christians through prayer is the work behind the scenes, the silent ministry that the world knows little of, yet more powerful than any weapon on earth unleashing power from above that makes demons tremble!

This was a man with whom Paul must have been accustomed to praying, and clearly Paul knew of his zeal from personal experience. But notice what Epaphras prayed for – that you may stand firm, mature and doing everything God wants you to do! That's my prayer for our planning team.

In this day and age, when you can feel the spiritual battle going on all around us– when faith will be tested to the extreme – my prayer is that you will stand perfect and complete in the will of God! With so much work to be done, and so many of us under severe attack, never neglect the power of prayer – for this silent ministry counts so much more than you may realize. It's the power that will claim the spiritual victory and the victory over our lives.