Epaphras Prays Podcast

This time we dive back into the article archives and still find fresh the prayer insights from E.M.Bounds. He explores the central role of prayer in the Christian life, emphasizing that prayer has been the peculiar distinction of all of God’s saints. This has been the secret of their power. The energy and the soul their work has been the closet. Christians Need God’s Help The need of help being so...

We usually think praise is singing to the Lord with songs, music and words, combined as hymns, or praise and worship. Indeed, the Psalms are set to musical tunes and instruments were utilized in praise. Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren [to be] the singers accompanied by instruments of music , stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice wit...

Do people often ask you to pray for them? If you’ve spent any amount of time is prayer circles, church groups, or even online, you’ll encounter opportunities to pray for people. There are always needs and problems too big for us to handle. Our praying brings God into those situations. Involving others in those prayers is one way our Lord uses to connect us with one another. He will use our willing...

Many of the most insightful and enduring lessons we learn concerning prayer come from Andrew Murray. I love this excerpt from his work With Christ in the School of Prayer , the Twenty Sixth Lesson: I have prayed for you . It has been lightly edited here: But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not . --Luke 22:32 I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you . --John 16:26 He ever...

Are you one of those who feels like praying all the time? Or, instead, do you only pray when you feel like it? Do you ever pray when you just don’t feel like praying? Says Spurgeon: If you do not pray except when you feel like praying, you will not pray much, nor pray when you most need it. My brethren, when you do not feel like praying, you ought to pray all the more, and go to the Lord to help y...

When we are faced with crises, a difficulty, or suffering, what is our response? What should it be? Too often my first response isn’t to run to the Lord. Instead it’s fear, frustration, or fretting. All too easily we all get upset and react out of emotion, letting feelings drive our thoughts and actions. Stress responses, like anger, short-term focus, and adrenaline rising, we just want to run awa...

'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. ' Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV God has ordained prayers as our means of communicating to Him, for His ears are open to their cry . (Psalm 34:15) We are to call on Him and ask of Him that He may answer. David is confident that God hears, for he says, “The LORD will hear when I call to Him.” (Psalm. 4:3). The Bibl...

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving: Colossians 4:2 From the sermons of Charles H. Spurgeon: It is interesting to remark how large a portion of Sacred Writ is occupied with the subject of prayer, either in furnishing examples, enforcing precepts, or pronouncing promises. We scarcely open the Bible before we read, "Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord;"...

For decades, actually several centuries, the people of God endured hardships while enslaved to Egyptian masters. Finally, after much groaning, they cried out to God for help. By now, they had to have been desperate for rescue and deliverance. And so they called. And when they did, God heard and responded. The people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help … And God heard...

Episode Description Join us in prayer as we pursue peace through intercession for God’s people, using powerful passages from Romans 14 and 15. Prayer Focus * Peace - Building harmony in the body of Christ * Endurance - Strength to persevere in faith * Unity - Oneness among believers * Joy, Peace & Hope - Overflowing in God’s abundance We sit quietly at your feet and look to you, Father, coming to...

One quiet night long ago, humble shepherds tending their flocks were the first to hear the glad tidings of great joy. Angels suddenly appeared in the sky to herald the good news of a Child lying in a manger, the Savior who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:9-11) Then after the angels sang and left, the shepherds went to see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to them. Can you...

Prayer Notes: * Psalm 107:32 - Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders. * Psalm 111:1 - Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. * Psalm 34:9 - Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. * Colossians 4: 2-4 - 2 Devote yourselves [ persist ] to prayer,...

If we audited our prayers, what would they sound like? Back in my radio days, we’d tape ourselves on air. It was a scoped session of when our microphone was on, and we listened back to review. Then our boss or consultant would listen with us. These “air-checks” usually involved finding things we did wrong or needed to improve on. It was either humbling or encouraging (usually both), but necessary...

Many people use a framework when giving speeches or writing articles. This helps them remember what to say, like using a three-step process, an acronym, or alliteration. In sermons, you often hear the speaker say, The three points today are this, this, and this . I like using frameworks too, even during my prayer times. It doesn’t mean I’m stuck with just that framework, but it gives me a guide or...

Often on my heart and my lips is prayer for you as Subscribers prayer group members, one which comes from the very prayers of Paul in his letter to Ephesus: I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, will have power, together wi...

The disciples seemed content that the Master would pray, often alone and early or even very late. But here Jesus finds them not with him in prayers, but asleep. He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? Matthew 26:40 Aren’t many of us are also sleeping? Watching and Praying are actions Ever tried to hold a prayer meeting at yo...

We know prayer ought to be a daily priority of our Christian life, but which prayers might be a priority for us right now? Among the many prayers, petitions, requests, and supplications needed, here are three we can all focus on: * The salvation of unbelievers – pray for those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ, that they might repent and believe the gospel; they would hear the good news, becom...

PrayerCast Show Notes: Acts 4:29-31 A prayer for boldness in our speaking about to the Lord, and asking He show His power through us. Ephesians 3:16-19 A prayer for spiritual strengthening through the Holy Spirit, rooted in God’s love, and for a deeper understanding of Christ’s love. Philippians 1:9-11 A prayer for love to abound, increase in knowledge and discernment, and for believers to be fill...

It is not a matter of time so much as a matter of heart; if you have the heart to pray, you will find the time. ~ C.H. Spurgeon In the Bible, there were lots of prayer times, like: Before daylight - Jesus rose long before dawn, went to a solitary place, and prayed there (Mark 1:35). In the morning - The psalmist declared that God would hear his voice in the morning as he directed his prayer upward...

But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. … for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Matthew 6:6, 8 Today our lesson is from Andrew Murray, and emphasizes the importance of private prayer and provides insights into how Jesus taught His disciples to pray. He hi...

Today on the Epaphras Prays Prayer Cast, let’s talk about prayers for our spiritual growth and personal godliness. In Matthew 5:48, Jesus tells us to be perfect (mature, holy) like our heavenly Father. This echoes God’s words to Moses in Exodus, saying we are to be holy because the Lord our God is holy. This time our devotional prayers will focus on growing in maturity, holiness, and striving for...

What is our confidence in praying to God? Why would I be assured of His hearing or answering? How does biblical praying work? I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whate...

This past weekend, I took a country drive past corn fields and wheat fields. Some already harvested, others underway. And down by the river, along a winding road, I encountered an apple orchard—an entire grove of trees that, row by row, had ripe red apples ready for picking. It reminded me of something E.M. Bounds wrote in his book The Possibilities of Prayer : the promises of God found in His Wor...

Who of us has all wisdom? Or who needs more wisdom? None of us and all of us. How do we do that? Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 We can get all the knowledge we want, from books, encyclopedias, an internet search, or AI. But what about wisdom? That comes more often by experience. And what o...

Today on the prayer cast, I want to focus on the letters from the Apostle Peter. These letters contain great and precious promises and important instructions. We’ll use them to guide our prayers, praises, and petitions to God for His church, the believers, and the household of faith. We will pray for grace, peace, and mercy. We will offer blessings and thanksgiving. We will ask for love, gifts, an...