Epaphras Epistle

Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. (Col 4:12-16)  NKJV

This verse is the foundation for the “Epaphras Epistle”, the message of encouragement the Lord has directed me to publish on a regular basis. I start with this review because there are those who are not aware of the source of my desire to be an encouragement to you. This scripture was highlighted to me by the Holy Spirit in 1986. I am using it also because Epaphras was an intercessor, and Intercession is what I want to highlight in this issue.

There has never been a time in my memory where intercession for our country has been more critical. I remember the “Standing in the Gap” gathering on the mall in DC and the cry for 2 Chronicles 7:14 to come about. I am sure that there was shaking in the heavenlies and God granted us mercy for the sins of our country, but the course didn’t change significantly. Then there were calls to “Solemn Assemblies” across the land (I still wear my red wrist band) and prophetic voices called for prayer for our nation, yet the tide of godlessness still moves across our land.

We have witnessed disaster after disaster in this country and in other parts of our hemisphere. The question often asked, is this the end, is it too late for America? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

God has not forsaken our country nor has He ignored our cries.

But I do believe that we need to take a fresh look at our intercession. It’s time to take a deep breath and rethink our focus. It may well be that the Lord is teaching us to see His Body on earth as the manifestation and demonstration of “the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven”.

Isaiah 59:16 describes God’s astonishment that there is no one to intercede where there was no justice. So, He took it on Himself to bring salvation. In Ezekiel 13:5 God gets after the prophets because they have not led Israel to go up into breaches or gaps in the wall to repair it so that the House (nation) of Israel might stand in the day of battle.

In Romans 8, we see one of the greatest prayer meetings ever spoken of.  The Church is praying (not too effectively), the Holy Spirit is interceding according to the will of God, and Jesus is at the right hand of God making intercession for us. Now, if we can tap into that intercessory prayer meeting, things will happen. Also Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus “lives forever to make intercession for us”.   

Someone has said, find out what Jesus is praying and start agreeing with Him.

How then should we pray? I want to encourage you in a couple of areas. Listen now, I am not suggesting that you are praying wrong. But, I am challenging you as God has challenged me, to listen to what the Spirit is saying, and if He says “here is the focus, let’s get together on this”, then that’s what I’m gonna do.

These are areas that He has spoken into my spirit:

Whether the disasters are God’s judgment or not I can’t say . I do know that choices do affect how God responds. What ever the case, my assignment is to pray for mercy for those whose lives are devastated. Where God shows me that there are people and places in danger because of wrong choices, I must pray for repentance or mercy. I believe that our country is in that place now.  

The late Ed Cole gave a great insight that has helped me greatly. He said:

        “Repentance is the Pivotal Point between ruin and  Reconciliation. “

He used the story of the Lost Son in Luke 15:11. The pattern:

Rebellion, Ruin, Repentance, Reconciliation, and Restoration.

The Rebellious son was Convicted in the pig pen (Ruin), and Repented in his father’s arms. Only after he had repented could he restore communication which led to complete Restoration. 

Repentance has become a life and death issue for America!

All through the Bible you see that where this pattern is followed, restoration results. There may be consequences that follow, but restoration leads to healing.

But, where a nation or a person doesn’t follow this pattern, the result is Ruin.

The second thing is a revelation that took me some time to digest. Again, I’m only sharing what the Lord has given me to share with you. It is this. Our focus of intercession is to be on the Body of Christ, His Church. 1 John 2:17 and 1 Corinthians 7:31 say that this world in its present form is passing away. John 16:33 says, “in this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”.

The world won’t get any better no matter what politics or governments may do!

We are told in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness……..”. Jesus taught us to pray “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.

Matthew 24:14 says;

 "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. This preaching of the gospel of the kingdom is not to be primarily with words. It is to be with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power through His church.

This means intercession for the Church to faithfully carry out her transformation into the Bride of Christ while advancing the kingdom of God against the kingdoms of this world until they become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. This is the current and vital call of Christ today.

So the focus of our intercessions is not on the degradation of the world around us, but is to be for the Bride and for her work here on earth as she prepares herself for the Bridegroom.

We are to pray also with compassion for mercy to those under God’s judgment resulting from reluctance to believe and receive His grace to govern their lives. This may be nations or individuals who are lost and in need of God’s saving grace.

One other admonition from the Spirit is to pray for those in leadership. Again, its not the time for judging, but praying for leaders of integrity and wisdom who are aware of the times, and know what to do. The Bible says if we do this, we will be at peace with God.  And finally, pray for he peace of Jerusalem.

Colossians 4:12 is the model God has given me to pray for you, “that you may stand perfect and complete in the will of God”.

That your prayers may be effective and fervent and avail much because they are God inspired.

Remember, if God be for us, who can be against us. And God is surely for us!

Yours in Christ