10/06/2014 - PERFECT AND FULLY ASSURED

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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 fully assured in all the will of God. Colossians 4.12

In Chapter 4 of his letter to the Colossians, Paul tells them about Epaphras, a person he defines as a bondservant of Christ. It is important that someone that is used by God evaluates your work in the Lord and defines you as His servant. He who serves the Creator in a Biblical way – and we can only serve the Most High in submission to His Word – brings to his life a great blessing.

One of the things that called the attention of Apostle Paul was that Epaphras always labored fervently for the Colossian brethren in prayers. The Scriptures declares that he who forgets one of his own is worse than the unbelievers (1 Tm 5.8). It is good that we do something in favor of our people. Thus, by extension, we can claim the same promise that Paul made to the jailer in Philippi, when he said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household (Acts 16.31).

Another thing that Apostle Paul said concerning Epaphras was that he did not fight for uncertain things. Paul’s friend had a purpose in mind as he labored for his people in prayers. He wanted his brothers and sisters not to lose anything and to be victorious. The one who desires his people to be blessed should do the same, instead of just asking, all the time, just for God to bless his people. Pay attention to the fact that being specific in prayer helps a lot.

One of the desires that lead Epaphras to pray was that his people might be maintained firm. No one will obtain victory in the spiritual world if they are not firm. We cannot be besides our people all the time. That is why it is necessary for them to be unshakeable in faith, assured of their rights in Christ, and with the experience of using His authority – which is given to all who believe in Jesus – over the powers of the kingdom of darkness (Lk 10.19).

For Epaphras, the Colossians should be maintained perfect. Being unshakeable is a basic condition for those who do not want to be deceived by the evil one. Those who are not perfect in the faith are driven by various doctrines, that most of the time, have a demonic origin. The devil uses the wicked – people who do not feat God – to inform us that such things are not true. Those who are maintained perfect never stumble.

In the end, the request that Epaphras asked God, laboring fervently in prayer, was that the Colossians might be fully assured in all the will of God. If we made a poll today among the saved, we would see that most of them are not assured of their rights in Christ. This is not good, for these people can be easily deceived by the adversary. Therefore, I make the same prayer that Epaphras did for you, dear reader!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares