The unsung Hero – Epaphras – the prayer warrior: (Colos.1:7; 4:12-13, Phile.23):
Epaphras did not simply lead the Colossians to Christ and then to abandon them but he taught them the Word and sought to establish their faith.
The new believers were in danger of turning from the truth and following the false teachers. Paul reminded them that it was Epaphras who led them to Christ, discipled them, and taught them the Word before these false teachers appeared on the scene. Like the Colossians, we should beware of any religious leader who does not seek to win lost souls, but who devotes himself to stealing sheep from the flocks of others.
We should never forget that new Christians must be discipled. Just as the new-born baby needs loving care and protection till he can care for himself, so the new Christian needs discipling. The Great Commission does not stop with the salvation of the lost, for in that commission Jesus commanded us to teach the Word and make disciple as many (Matt.28:18-20). The New Testament does not teach the kind of “individual Christianity” that is so prevalent today. There is no solitude in Christianity. Christianity develops through fellowship. People who ignore the local church and who find all their spiritual food in books, radio, TV, or cassette tapes will be at a great danger.
Epaphras was a faithful minister. He not only won people to Christ, but also he taught them the Word and helped them to grow. He also prayed for them (4:12-13) that they might become mature in Jesus Christ. When danger had threatened the members of the church, Epaphras went to Rome to get counsel from Paul. He loved his people and wanted to protect them from false doctrines that would destroy the fellowship and hinder their spiritual development. He was truly a disciple of the Lord.
Epaphras was someone who lived with the teacher and learned by listening, looking and living. Discipleship involved more than enrolling in a school and attending lectures. It meant total surrender to the teacher. It meant learning by living. But we who disciple other believers must be careful not to get in the way. We are not to make disciples for ourselves, but for Jesus Christ. We must relate people to Him so that they may love and obey Him. Epaphras faithfully taught his people and related them to Jesus Christ, but the false teachers came in and tried to “draw away disciples.”
In (Phile.23), we see Epaphras as fellow prisoner with Paul. It appears that Epaphras went even upto the imprisonment for the sake of Gospel.
We can summarise Epaphras as follows:
- He was a faithful minister.
- He was a good teacher to mentor to discipline and mature the young converts.
- He established the Colossians Church.
- He went to Rome to get counsel from Paul, when Paul was in prison.
- He loved his church, ready to do anything, faithfully taught to relate the believers to Jesus Christ when false teachers were freely intimidating and attacking the young believers.
- He was imprisoned for his love for the Gospel, and even in the prison, he had maintained and helped Paul.
- He is really an unsung hero and prayer warrior of first century.
(Delivered at local EGF prayer night on 28-12-2019).