Wednesday, 27 August 2025
CONTEND FOR THEIR SOULS
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12).
What do you do when you observe people in church who aren’t living right or who don’t come to church anymore? Rather than lament the situation or become judgemental of them, intercede in prayer for them until they are restored. Contend for their souls in prayer. Every soul is valuable to God, and the Bible says His desire is for all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
It’s part of the reasons pastors and leaders should be careful how they treat and handle those who come to church. Some can be harsh and don’t mind doing things that drive people out of the church. But when you’re a true soul winner, you’re different because you understand what it takes to win even one soul and will do everything it takes to keep them retained.
Many times, I’ve cried over a soul; I kept interceding until the person came to Christ or was restored back in the Faith. This is why we must pray ahead, at the right time, in the right way, and for the right things. When we do that, we win. Churches must prioritize time for intercessory prayer.
Epaphras, in our opening scripture, wasn’t praying for his own needs; he was praying for others. He was an intercessor. He was already walking in the glory of God, but he was praying for others to walk in it as well, to come into the fullness of God’s plan for their lives.
This is what you must do every day as well. Intercede for others, for the eyes of their understanding to be opened to the realities of God’s Kingdom and be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I pray for those who have strayed from the truth, that they’d be restored quickly, and that their affections will be on the things of the Spirit, never languid or dull, but fervent in spirit, serving you wholeheartedly, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
James 5:16 (KJV)
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
1 Timothy 2:1 (KJV)
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
Ephesians 3:14-19 (KJV)
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
1 Corinthians 11:2-34;
Psalms 142-145
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Luke 19:11-19;
1 Samuel 15
