Wrestling for Others in Prayer

In the movie “Nacho Libre,” Jack Black plays the role of Ignacio, a hapless monk who works as a cook in a rural Mexican orphanage. He is secretly torn between the duties of his monastic calling and his burning desire to become a professional wrestler. Hiding his internal conflict, he lectures the children: “O.K. Orphans! Listen to Ignacio. I know it is fun to wrestle ... but you cannot do it. Because it is in the Bible not to wrestle your neighbor.”

Funny, I can’t seem to find that verse. In fact, rather than saying that devoted Christians may not wrestle, the Bible implies that we must. We must wrestle, that is, in prayer.

The book of Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul, in Rome, to a group of Christians in ancient Turkey. Paul had just received a visit from their pastor, Epaphras, who had delivered a report about the progress of the church. Writing to encourage the congregation in their faith, Paul closed the letter by telling the church what their pastor was doing during his visit to Rome. “Epaphras ... 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....” (Col. 4:12-13a)

Epaphras was wrestling for his church in prayer. The Greek word translated “wrestling” means: struggling; fighting; endeavoring with strenuous zeal. It was the word used for hand-to-hand combat in the Olympic Games. From it we derive the English word “to agonize.” Epaphras was not just mumbling through a list of names in his morning devotions. He was engaged in intense spiritual warfare in their behalf.

The combative nature of prayer is a common theme in Scripture. In Exodus 17, Moses’ posture as an intercessor is the decisive factor in the Israelites’ victory in battle. In Daniel 10, Daniel’s prayer and fasting are directly linked to warfare in the spiritual realm. Ephesians 6 says that praying “in the Spirit” is the way Christians put their spiritual armor to use. It is the way they “struggle ... against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” The Puritan William Gurnall called prayer “a necessary duty to the Christian in his spiritual warfare.”

It is interesting to note that, in Colossians, Paul links Epaphras’ prayer life to the fact that he was “working hard” for the church. It is the task of a spiritual shepherd to intercede for the sheep. Any pastor who does not fervently pray for God’s people is not really doing his job.

I wonder if this can be said about other roles we play in life. Is a father who doesn’t pray for his family really leading his home? Is a wife who doesn’t intercede for her husband really fulfilling her wedding vows? Are church members who don’t pray for their elders really trying to build up their church? Are Christians who don’t pray for their unbelieving friends really laboring in the harvest field of the Lord? It is not only pastors who are expected to wrestle in prayer.

It is said that professional wrestling matches are fixed. The outcome of the contest is determined before the fight ever begins. This may be so, but any wrestling fan will tell you that there is still intense exertion involved.

When we wrestle in prayer the outcome of our conflict is fixed, too. Colossians 2:15 says that God has already “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Christ.” We don’t go to prayer with the fear that Lord’s side might somehow lose. We intercede with the absolute confidence that our Savior can never fail. Nevertheless, like in wrestling, intense exertion is involved. Through prayer we wage war in the service of our King. So let us pray fervently. Let us pray faithfully. Let us wrestle for each other in prayer.