Hello and welcome to Van Life Devotions. We are in Turkey visiting several areas where the early churches once gathered. Today we are in Hierapolis where there was once a church. More about this is a moment, but first let me tell you about this amazing place.
This area is known as Pamukkale - “CASTLE OF COTTON” – because of these breathtaking natural travertine formations. Hierapolis sits on an active seismic fault line that has created earthquakes and hot springs over many years. The precipitation of minerals from the geothermal hot springs hardens into the sedimentary rock travertine and form the so-called “cotton flowers”. They are so pretty.
The people of Laodicea – about 12 kilometres away use to have water come in pipes from this area. By the time it reached Laodicea the water was lukewarm and used for medical purposes.
Hierapolis was an ancient city that was probably settled about 200 years before Christ and lasted for around 1500 years when it was abandoned after an earthquake. The church was in existence since the first century. It is widely believed that the Apostle Phillip was martyred here and in the past two decades archaeologists believed that they found his tomb which we visited and prayed for the persecuted across the world.
24 kilometres from here is Colossae and when Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians, he acknowledged the church that met here. In chapter 4 verses 12 and 13 Paul writes: “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis”(Colossians 4:12-13 NIV).
It is widely believed that Epaphras was the founder of the churches at Colossae, Laodicea and here at Hierapolis. We know of great bible characters like Abraham, Moses, Isaiah but we know very little about Epaphras. Paul describes him as a “dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf” (Colossians 1:7 NIV). Epaphras was converted in Ephesus, discipled, and then trained by Paul who sent him off to evangelise these areas of Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis.
As a faithful minister he served these churches well teaching about God’s love and grace. At one-point Epaphras went to Rome and reported to Paul all that was happening in this church (Colossians 1:7) which prompted Paul to write this letter to the church.
Perhaps the most notable feature of Epaphras is his prayer for his church members that they stay strong in the face of false teachings. Paul tells us that he “wrestled in prayer” (v12). The word used here means “agonizing.” It is the same word used when Jesus prayed in the Garden (Luke 22:44). We get the impression that prayer was serious business with Epaphras!
Through his pastoring and prayers these three churches grew. According to early Christian writings, the Apostle Philip spent the last years of his life here in Hierapolis. During the 4th century as Christianity became the main religion of this area, a church was built on the spot where Philip was crucified in AD 80. In the 6th century the city's Roman baths were transformed into a church.
I thank God for people like Epaphras who wrestle in prayer for people and churches. They are usually not your upfront rather the behind-the-scenes servants who hearts become so burdened that they agonize in prayer. If you are such a prayer, thank you. Our Lord hears your prayers. Maybe you struggle with prayer. Don’t give up. God hears your prayers too as the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit knows your desires and intercedes for you.
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father. Thank you to those who have wrestled in prayer for me and others. Help me to be prayer for others.
O God, preserve us who travel; surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to our journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
David Moyes
