This devotion is a monthly ministry of the Pee Dee Baptist Association, comprised of 32 Southern Baptist churches in Dillon and Marlboro Counties. For more information call 774-8062.
Featured this month is Rev. James Smith, the pastor of East Dillon Baptist Church, Dillon.
Serving Faithfully
Colossians 1:7-8 and 4:12
Philemon 1:23
John Hyde, a Presbyterian minister in the early 1900s, served as a missionary to India. He was called the man who never sleeps because of the many hours he spent in prayer.
At a missionary conference in Calcutta in 1908, he was asked to pray, and his prayer was, “God, may we see one soul saved every day here in India for this coming year.”
The next year, in 1909 at the missionary conference, the report was given that more than 400 souls had been brought to Christ. Again, Rev. Hyde was asked if he would pray at the conference. This time he prayed, “God, may we see two souls saved every day here in India for this coming year.”
The next year in 1910 at the missionary conference, the report was given that more than 800 souls had been brought to Christ. Again, Rev. Hyde was asked to pray, and this time he prayed, “God, may we see four souls saved every day here in India for this coming year.” And he added, “God, give us souls, oh God, or we die!”
God continued to answer Rev. Hyde’s prayers and, before his death, he saw a mighty revival sweep through India. Today you mention John Hyde’s name, and very few know who you’re talking about. The same is true concerning the man who is mentioned in our text … this man by the name of Epaphras.
Epaphras is found only three times in the New Testament so little is revealed about him. We know he was a native of Colossae and that he pastored the Church in Colossae. As a matter of fact, he founded the church in Colossae as well as other churches in that part of the world. It is believed that Epaphras was a martyr for the cause of Christ. His name, Epaphras, means “lovely.” What such an appropriate name that is for a Christian and for a pastor. We are to be “lovely” people in and through Christ.
Like Rev. John Hyde, Epaphras was a praying man. This we will see, but right now I want us to take the three times he is mentioned in the New Testament and see if God will g9ive us a full view of the faithful servant.
Epaphras was a faithful preacher of the Gospel. Look at Colossians 1:7. Here Paul call Epaphras a “fellow-servant” and “a faithful minister of Christ.” This tells us a couple of things about Epaphras.
1. He was a faithful pastor. In Col. 1:3, Paul gives thanks to God for the saints at Colossae. Now, Paul had never been to Colossae nor had he ever met the saints there, but he knew of their faith as having depth and great quality.
You see, their “faith” was the result of their pastor, Epaphras. In Col. 1:5-7, we see that Epaphras was an evangelist, he was the one who brought them to Christ, and he was a great teacher. He not only had introduced them to Christ, but he had discipled them.
2. He was a fruitful pastor. Look at Col. 1:6. I mentioned how Epaphras had planted this church at Colossae and others. This tells us that he was a soul-winner, a fruitful pastor. To be a fruitful servant, you must be a faithful servant.
Epaphras was a firm preacher of the Gospel. Look at Philemon 1:23. Paul has called Epaphras a “fellow-servant” and here Paul calls him a “fellow-prisoner.” As a minister, a servant of and for Christ, he was no fair-weather follower. He stood for Christ no matter the cost.
1.“Fellow-prisoner” describes his stand for Christ. A couple of historians have this to say: Adam Clark, a 1700s Methodist, said,” At some time Epaphras had suffered imprisonment for the truth of the Gospel; and on that account Paul calls him his ‘fellow-prisoner.’” Matthew Poole, a 1600s English non-conformist, said, “Epaphras was a fellow-prisoner with Paul either in the same place or upon the same account.”
2. “Fellow-prisoner” describes his sacrifice for Christ. The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary says, “Epaphras was the first Bishop of Colossae, and he suffered martyrdom there.” This shows us his commitment as a servant faithfully serving his Savior and Lord.
Epaphras was a fervent prayer-warrior of the Gospel. Look at Col. 4:12. Paul shares with these saints the faithful and fervent prayer life of Epaphras. Now, we ask ourselves, how would Paul know about his prayer life? Maybe he heard from sharing a prison cell with him. I don’t really know, but Paul’s words here do reveal for us four things about Epaphras’ prayer life:
1. He prayed persistently: “always.”
2. He prayed personally: “for you.”
3. He prayed with purpose: “that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”
4. He prayed passionately: “always laboring fervently.” Fervently means with emotion and to agonize.
