The Impact of Prayer on People, Part 1 (TMF:2910)

Friday, July 03, 2026

Peace to Live By: The Impact of Prayer on People, Part 1 (TMF:2910) - Daniel Litton
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All these directions then leads to maturity, what we do, and what we don’t do, and it was these instructions that Epaphras prayed about. So, this action from Epaphras obviously leads to the point that the prayer of the minister of God does have an impact upon the church. As we discussed a lot in both chapters 1 and 2, prayer simply isn’t ceremonial. It simply isn’t a ritual wherein the prayer is simply accomplished to be obedient to a command from God. Rather, the prayer specifically makes a difference, and it could be also that the amount of prayer might truly make a difference. The mind is wondering just how important people actually think that prayer is. What is meant is, do people feel it is important? Do people really think that it makes a difference? Stop and consider. If people really believed that prayer made a difference, wouldn’t they pray regarding more things?

For the Maturity of the Christian (TMF:2909)

Thursday, July 02, 2026

Peace to Live By: For the Maturity of the Christian (TMF:2909) - Daniel Litton
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This first area of maturity probably shouldn’t surprise us, for it is what Paul has been discussing specifically in chapters 3 and 4 in addressing the believers, when he has gotten down the basics of a godly life, and how that godly character in each individual is supposed to look, and really, how it’s not supposed to look. That’s what he had talked about. He summarized the whole section, remember, by telling us what we should “seek” and what we should “set [our] minds” on. That’s the two areas, what are actions actually are, what are desires really are, and what we think about in our minds. It is through these two areas that the rest of chapter 3 falls into place. And Paul spent a great deal of time telling us what behaviors shouldn’t be found in us, and any more if we were converted at an older age. He also spend a large section telling us what good attributes we should have—good character traits, and also how the marriage relationship is to work.

The Example of Epaphras, Part 4 (TMF:2908)

Wednesday, July 01, 2026

Peace to Live By: The Example of Epaphras, Part 4 (TMF:2908) - Daniel Litton
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And this just wasn’t easy praying, but Paul, believe it or not, points out that Epaphras was “struggling” in his prayers for the body. He was putting great effort and likely particularities into his praying. They weren’t simply general circumstances he was praying for, but specific circumstances as well. Thankfully, Paul just doesn’t leave us there, but he lets us in on some of the specifics of what Epaphras was actually praying for, when he says, “that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God” (ESV). So, we have two specific things in point of fact, that which pertains to maturity of faith and also assurance of faith, assurance particularly in God’s will, and what that will is for them. This first area of maturity probably shouldn’t surprise us, for it is what Paul has been discussing specifically in chapters 3 and 4 in addressing the believers, when he has gotten down the basics of a godly life, and how that godly character in each individual is supposed to look, and really, how it’s not supposed to look.

The Example of Epaphras, Part 3 (TMF:2907)

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Peace to Live By: The Example of Epaphras, Part 3 (TMF:2907) - Daniel Litton
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This surely insinuates that both Paul and Epaphras had been spending a lot of time in prayer. Really, that makes sense considering there wasn’t a whole lot Paul could do anyway while he was locked up. So, why not pray? Many of us can probably relate to this in some degree of a similar occurrence, like, for instance, when we are sick and we are bound to our beds. It does seem like when that happens that more time can be spent in prayer. We pray because we don’t feel like doing much else, and really can’t do much else. But what Paul noticed within Epaphras’ praying is that he seemed to focus on his own church, which certainly makes sense. This also shows what is part of the responsibility for one who leads a church, for a minister, and that is to literally spend a significant amount of time praying for one’s church members, and the church body as a whole. And this just wasn’t easy praying, but Paul, believe it or not, points out that Epaphras was “struggling” in his prayers for the body.

The Example of Epaphras, Part 2 (TMF:2906)

Monday, June 29, 2026

Peace to Live By: The Example of Epaphras, Part 2 (TMF:2906) - Daniel Litton
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Undoubtedly, Paul had to be greatly encouraged to receive as a visitor someone who was representing the body in Colossae, and not only that, the actual likely founder of that church. In the course of Paul’s poor fortune in being locked up, this had to be something which brought joy to this heart. To see that the Colossian church was doing well, and was being lead by a fellow who was indeed faithful. He had told Paul all about the church body, and how they loved one another in Colossae. That’s what he emphasized most, for that’s what Paul brings to the forefront in describing the believers. Love. The foundation principle of love. Notice, nonetheless, in our text today in chapter 4, what Paul actually emphasizes in regard to Epaphras himself. What does he point out? If we look at the text after his greeting, “always struggling on your behalf in his prayers.” This surely insinuates that both Paul and Epaphras had been spending a lot of time in prayer.