“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”  
Colossians 4:12
 
Here in Colossians we meet another of Paul’s fellow workers in Christ Jesus our Lord.  As I see it, Tychicus delivered Paul’s letters to the churches, Epaphras ‘labored fervently’ in prayers for the church.
 
Let’s see what Scripture opens up to us concerning prayer for the church.  The church is not a building where we attend worship, it is not a set of doctrines created by man nor is it a man made organization.  What then?
The church is an  assembly of believers gathered together who are redeemed followers of Christ, who is Savior and Lord.  As well as all the redeemed who are followers of Christ Jesus.  The church is, as Scripture tells us, the body of Christ,
“And He (God) put all things under His (Christ) feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”  
Ephesians 1:22-23
 
In Paul’s prayer for the Colossians 1:3-8, he ends with,
“As you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.” 
Vs. 7-8 (Read Paul’s whole prayer of thanksgiving for them.)
 
It is Epaphras’ fervent prayers for his fellow Colossians ‘to stand perfect and complete in the will of God.’ 
 
Concerning God’s will, the writer of Hebrews prays,
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen.” 
 
We have Paul’s exhortation that we walk ‘worthy of our calling’ -- to become mature.  This, too, should be our prayer as well. 
 
Here are some fervent prayers that Scripture has provided. 
First from Jesus Himself in John 17:20-22 as He prays for those who will believe,
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You; that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” 
 
Then prayers from our fellow saints:
Paul in Romans 1:9,
“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you also in my prayers.”
 
Paul in Ephesians 1:15-16,
“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.”  
(Read his whole prayer for revelation,  Vs.15-23)
 
Again in Ephesians, Paul prays for them for a clear understanding of God’s great love for them. (Read Ephesians 3:14-21. There seems such a fervent desire for them to KNOW the reality of and the supremacy of Christ Jesus.)
“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” 
Vs. 14-15
 
Paul prays for the Philippians,
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”  
Philippians 1:3-5  (Read Vs. 3-11 for his prayer of thanksgiving.)
 
Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving for the Colossians.  It is in this prayer he speaks of Epaphras’  ministering to them as mentioned above.
“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints.”  
Vs. 3-4   (Read Vs. 3-8 for the whole prayer.)
 
Since Epaphras worked so closely with Paul, I wonder if this is where he learned to pray fervently.  If we study Paul’s prayers, could we, too, become fervent prayer warriors for the church?  We are living in a time of much persecution of the church throughout the world and we see it in our own country.  There is a need for us to stand firm on bended knees fervently, ardently, striving on behalf of the church of God, the Body of Christ.
Lord we ask that You put that burning desire in our hearts to stand firm in prayer for Your church.  We ask that You be our wisdom and strength to be and do all that would please Your heart.  All glory to You Lord God. Amen
 
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them.”  
Ephesians 2:10