In the previous blogposts, the spiritual armor of God was discussed and prayer and supplication, which is essential next to the spiritual armor in order to stand in the evil day and to stand against the whiles of the devil. But what is a prayer of supplication? What does supplication prayer mean? What does the Bible say about supplication prayer? And what are examples of supplication prayers in the Bible?
What does supplication prayer mean in the Bible?
The word ‘supplication’ in Ephesians 6:18 is translated from the Greek word déēsis (G1162) and means a petition:- prayer, request, supplication.
A prayer of supplication is a request or petition to God and is used for personal needs, the needs of others and/or requests regarding the will of God and the Kingdom of God.
Supplication prayers are not begging prayers and are not meant to gather as many earthly treasures as possible and to please the flesh, but they are meant for the Kingdom of God and to exalt and glorify God.
Let’s have a look at the word ‘déēsis’ and how it’s used in the Scriptures of the New Testament.
The answered prayer of supplication of Zacharias and Elisabeth
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer (déēsis) is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. (Luke 1:8-13)
In the Book of Luke, we read about the priest Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth, who were both righteous and walked in all the commandments and ordinances of God and were blameless.
However, they had no child, because Elisabeth was barren and they were both old.
They believed, that God was the only One, Who could provide, what they wanted and therefore they prayed a prayer of supplication and made their desire and request known unto God, so that God could provide their personal needs.
When or how long they prayed for a child is unknown. But that they prayed to God and made their request for a child known to God is a fact.
God answered their request at His appointed time. And so the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and said to him that his prayer (petition, request) was heard and that his wife Elisabeth would bear him a son and he would call him John.
The supplications of widows
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers (déēsis) night and day (Luke 2:36-37)
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications (déēsis) and prayers night and day (1 Timothy 5:5)
We read about the prophetess Anna, who served God continuously in the temple with fastings and prayers (supplications). And in the first letter to Timothy, Paul wrote about the continuous supplications and prayers of the widow.
The supplication prayers of the disciples of John and the Pharisees
And they said unto Him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers (déēsis), and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And He said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days (Luke 5:33-35)
The disciples of John and the Pharisees were also fasting and offered supplication prayers to God and made their request known to God.
The supplications of Jesus Christ
Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications (déēsis) with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared (Hebrews 5:7)
Jesus offered up prayers and supplications (petitions, requests) for that which He needed, doing this with strong cryings and tears, so that He was able to fulfill God’s plan. And the Father heard His prayer and supplications
The disciple’s prayer and supplication concerning the promise of the Father
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication (déēsis), with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren (Acts 1:13-14)
When Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples went to Jerusalem to the upper room, together with the women and many others, and they continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, which was characterized by its definiteness of purpose.
Because of their faith, their obedience to the words of Jesus, and their prayer and supplication, they received the promise of the Father; the Holy Spirit and were able to accomplish the great commission of Jesus Christ and be His witnesses (Acts 2).
Paul’s supplication prayer for Israel
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer (déēsis) to God for Israel is, that they might be saved (Romans 10:1)
Paul’s prayer of supplication to God was, that Israel would come to the knowledge of the truth and would be saved.
Paul’s supplication prayer for the church
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer (déēsis) of mine for you all making request (déēsis) with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now (Philippians 1:3-5)
I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers (déēsis) night and day; (déēsis (2 Timothy 1:3))
Paul always prayed for all the saints, who were a.o. at Philippi and for Timothy.
The supplication prayer of the church at Corinth for Paul and his companions
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us; Ye also helping together by prayer (déēsis) for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf (2 Corinthians 1:8-11)
Paul wrote in the second letter to the church of God at Corinth with all the saints which were in all Achaia, about the tribulation and how they were pressed out of measure, above strength, in so much that they despaired even of life and how they trusted not in themselves, but in God, Who raises the dead and had delivered them from so great a death and would deliver them.
Paul also mentioned how the church helped them by their supplication prayer; their request, petition for their needs.
For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer (déēsis), and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death (Philippians 1:19-20)
In Philippians 1:19, Paul emphasized again the importance of the prayer of the church for Paul and that partly because of their prayer (their petition) they were able to preach Christ among the people.
Paul acknowledged the necessity of praying for the saints and emphasized in several parts of the Bible the importance of praying for fellow believers and to persevere in prayer and not give up (Read also: ‘The importance of praying for fellow believers’).
The saints supported each other in the spiritual needs and the natural needs
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; And by their prayer (déēsis) for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:12-15)
Through the obedience of the church at Corinth and their gift (collection of money) to the saints at Judea, the church not only supplied the needs of the saints in Judea, but God was glorified through their act of giving.
Because the saints in Judea thanked and glorified God for their professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ and for their liberal distribution unto them, and made petitions for the church at Corinth
And so the church supplied the natural needs of the saints at Judea and in return, the saints at Judea prayed and made requests to God for the spiritual needs of the church at Corinth.
Supplications for all people, for kings and all, who are in authority
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications (déēsis), prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
Paul commanded Timothy first of all, that petitions be made continually for personal needs, prayers and intercessions, giving of thanks on behalf of all men, on behalf of kings and all those holding high positions, in order that they would lead a quiet and peaceful life in godliness and honesty. So that they could represent and preach the Kingdom of God to the people and establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Because it is the desire and the will of God that all man be saved and come to the experiential knowledge of the truth and no one be lost.
Supplication prayer for yourself and others
Praying always with all prayer and supplication (déēsis) in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians 6:18)
Paul commanded the saints to not only put on the armor of God but also to pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, so that they were able to stand in the evil day and to stand against the whiles of the devil (Read also: ‘Can you resist the temptation?‘)
They were supposed to stay spiritually awake and watch with all perseverance and supplications for all saints, so that they would be able to stand in the evil day and against the whiles of the devil and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication (déēsis) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God (Philippians 4:6)
When you are born again and have received God’s nature, you shall pray in the Spirit according to His will.
Your requests shall be made known unto God through your prayer and supplication with thanksgiving and shall be according to His will and for His Kingdom.
The supplication prayer of the righteous
The effectual fervent prayer (déēsis) of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16)
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers (déēsis): but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil (1 Peter 3:12)
God hears the fervent prayers, petitions, supplications of the righteous and empowers them. Because, the righteous submits to God, trusts God, and lives in obedience to His will and does those things, which pleases Him. Because of that, the prayer of supplication of the righteous shall also be according to His will, because:
- Supplication prayer submits to God and acknowledges God for Who He is
- Supplication prayer exalts God
- Supplication prayer trusts in God and has faith in God, for what He can do
- Supplication prayer is a petition or request in the Spirit after the will of God
- Supplication prayer is a petition, request for the needs of yourself and/or others
- Supplication prayer is continuous, persistent, and expectant
- Supplication prayer always gives thanks to Gods
And when the supplication prayer is answered, God is glorified.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
