He’s no famous Bible character. In fact, his name appears only 3 times in the Bible, but there’s just something about him.
We would not have known his name or his life’s work if Paul had not mentioned him in his letters to the Colossian church and to Philemon. We would not have known his place & impact in the kingdom, but heaven would have known. Many lives he touched may not even have known his name, but the Master would have known. This man was such that Paul called him a fellow servant, a faithful minister and a servant of Christ (Colossians 1:7 & 4:12), terms he used ever so sparingly in his epistles.
EPAPHRAS. His name literally means he was devoted to the goddess Venus, but this man received Jesus and became devoted to the Master. He became so devoted to God’s people in Asia Minor that, even when he was imprisoned and could no longer serve as a pastor or minister directly to them, he kept agonising, contending & labouring fervently for them in prayers for one purpose: that they might stand perfect and complete (mature and full) in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12).
Epaphras was a faithful minister of Christ (apparently a pastor & teacher) to them while he was a free man. Being imprisoned, he could have had a number of different responses. He could have gone into self-pity, depression, doubt or even resentment towards God. He could even have gone on a “ministry vacation”. After all, you can’t pastor a church from prison. He could have taken a break from being a Christian. Some people do in such situations, but not Epaphras.
I may be in prison, I may not be able to write letters to teach and instruct the church like Apostle Paul, but I can pray. My freedom may have been taken away, but my speech hasn’t. My body may be locked in, but my mouth isn’t locked; my tongue isn’t tied, my knees can still bend. I cannot be in Colosse physically, but I can still touch them in the Spirit. After all, the adversary that seeks to keep them out of the centre of God’s will is a spiritual adversary. It’s not a flesh-and-blood battle. I may not have a pulpit to preach from, but I have a prayer altar to mediate from!
Such was this man’s conviction that he burned with great zeal for the saints in Colosse, Laodicea and Hierapolis. Paul the apostle saw it and bore witness. If the letter to Philemon was not written or read, we would never have figured out that he was a prisoner (Philemon 1:23). He was unlimited by the bars.
There are those that are in a physical prison, like Epaphras. There are those who are not limited by physical bars; but are barred by old age, physical infirmity, financial lack, illiteracy & peculiar circumstances from serving God the way they desire to. Some have their heads bowed in discouragement, self-pity & low self-esteem. Some have their hands weakened by their circumstances. Whichever category you may belong to, God has sent me to you with a message: YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE LIMITED! Where you are, in those very circumstances; even in a physical prison, YOU CAN BE MIGHTY FOR GOD.
Epaphras was a mighty prisoner; mighty for God, mighty in prayer (Colossians 4:12). Anna was a widow, limited by her social circumstances. She had enjoyed only 7 years with her husband; but she did not become a bitter old woman. She worshipped night & day in the temple, fasting & praying. She prophesied over the Messiah Himself (Luke 2:36-38). Seemingly inconsequential in the social order, she was mighty in the Spirit. Many widows have learnt from her through the centuries of the Church. Hagin spoke of one of them who prayed a full gospel church into her town. Paul was an apostle, he was a go-go man; ever on the move for the Lord Jesus. Imprisonment came, but his mouth was not shut. He could pray, he could write, he could instruct & mentor; and so he did.
Are you bitter or battered (discouraged) because of your circumstances? Look to Jesus & the joy His Spirit supplies within (Romans 14:17&18). That joy is your strength. You can look beyond your circumstances & pray for others as Epaphras did.
Is your job/academic schedule preventing you from serving in the specific way you would like to serve? Does there appear to be no way around it yet? You can still serve another way. If nothing else, you can be an intercessor. If you can’t serve behind the pulpit, you can be mighty for God behind closed doors.
Are you a widow with an empty nest? Are you “too old” to serve in a department? You can still be an intercessor. You can still be an encourager, you can still visit; you can still be a mother to many. You can be a conduit for the gifts of the Spirit. You can even write.
Are you weakened by physical infirmity? Have you released your faith & received healing that has not yet manifested? You can look beyond yourself & lay hands on other sick people. You’ll be shocked, they’ll be healed! Even if you can’t move from your bed, you can still pray!
It doesn’t matter what your peculiar situation is. You can cover distances in the Spirit like Epaphras. There are unconfirmed reports of women in church history who even took it a step further: crisscrossing continents in the Spirit, ministering physically to prisoners of war & returning to their homes in time for dinner. If so, they must have learnt from Jesus, Elijah, Elisha, Paul & Philip (John 6:21, 1Kings 18:12, 2Kings 5:26, 1Corinthians 5:3&4, and Acts 8:39&40). I said that to let you know how limitless you are in Christ. The possibilities of the divine life in you are endless.
If the only way you can serve God & His people in your peculiar situation is by interceding, then give yourself to it. I say again: YOU CAN BE MIGHTY FOR GOD RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE!
