There is a similarity between spiritual growth and physical growth. No one is born a full-grown human. In the natural, people are born babies and they grow up. No one is born a full-grown Christian. They are born babies. Then they are to grow up, spiritually.

The Bible says, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2).

These churches of Galatia were trying to get back under the law instead of walking on in grace. Paul was alarmed. So he was praying and travailing for them that they mature and grow.

Epaphras did the same thing for the Colossian Christians and those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. In Colossians 4:12-13 we read, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect, mature, and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis."

The Centenary Translation of the New Testament translates verse 12 like this: "Epaphras, one of yourselves, salutes you, a slave of Christ who is always agonizing for you in his prayers, that you may stand firm, mature, and fully assured in all the will of God."

I remember particularly the wonderful experience with God a young woman had when she came to the altar during a revival meeting I was holding. She was gloriously saved and gloriously baptized in the Holy Spirit. Oh! What a glow was upon her face.

Just a little less than a year later, I was back in the area and I inquired about her because of the very unusual and marvelous experience she'd had with God. "Oh," they said, with their faces dark and frowning, "She's backslidden."

Then, just as plainly, the Spirit of God spoke up on the inside of me and said, "Yes, and the church is to blame for it. The church is responsible for it." I couldn't understand that for the longest time. How could the church be responsible for somebody's backsliding?

Then I saw it in Galatians 4:19: "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." You see, that church just saw her get saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit. Then they said, "Well, she's got it made now."

But she was a baby. They should have continued to hold her up in prayer. Because they did not, when Judgment Day comes, God will hold that church responsible. He is going to require of every church responsibility for the babies born at its altars. "What did you do with them? Did you teach them? Did you continue to pray for them?"

While people are babies spiritually, somebody has to carry them. Somebody has to feed them. Somebody has to care for them. This is one place where prayer comes in. Older believers need to hold them up in prayer as they're learning to walk.

When my children or grandchildren fell as they were learning to walk, I didn't slap them. I got hold of them and loved them and said, "Just keep at it, honey. You'll learn."

In many cases, in praying for Christians, such travail is not necessary, because they are not so tightly bound as the Galatian church seemed to be. Learn to listen to the Spirit of God and pray as He directs.

Source: The Art of Prayer by Kenneth Hagin.
Excerpt permission granted by Faith Library Publications