Prayer Defined
Notes
Transcript
Prayer Defined
Prayer Defined
Our aim this morning is to understand what is meant when we say prayer.
QUOTES:
QUOTES:
We have the marvelous and unspeakable privilege of communion with Him (Christ)....The greatest privilege that you have is not accepting Christ as your personal savior. The fact is that Christ accepted you and you belong to Him. The great privilege is communion with Him (Christ). - Art Crawford
ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF LET US PRAY STUDY ON PRAYER:
ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF LET US PRAY STUDY ON PRAYER:
We are to pray for what God has already said He will do.
The question then...the beseeching, the need to calm our souls and rest our minds is,
“What Has God said that He will do? Do you trust it - do you trust that it will be and trust and know that it is good?
Prayer Defined By English Dictionaries
Prayer Defined By English Dictionaries
In worship, a solemn address to the Supreme Being, consisting of adoration, or an expression of our sense of God's glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits. A prayer however may consist of a single petition, and it may be extemporaneous, written or printed. - websters 1828
Practice of supplication (Petition; earnest request.). - websters 1828
an address (such as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought said
an earnest request or wish - meriam websterrs unabridged
Prayer Defined By Biblical Greek & Hebrew Equivalents:
Prayer Defined By Biblical Greek & Hebrew Equivalents:
1. HIKETERIA
1. HIKETERIA
used 1x = supplication
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
2. ENTEUXIS
2. ENTEUXIS
used 2x: 1x “intersessions”, 1x “prayer”
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
3. EUCHE
3. EUCHE
used 3x: 2x “vow”, 1x “prayer”
A prayer offered in faith or an oath or vow
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
4. AITEMO
4. AITEMO
used 3x: 1x”require”, 1x “request”, 1x “petition”
Usually used in the greek NT in the plural - speaking more public group prayer than personal private prayer
Always used of a group of people petitioning God.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
“let your” - “your” is plural
“request” is our word “aitemo”
5. EUCHEOMAI
5. EUCHEOMAI
used 7x: 3”wish”, 2”prayer”, 1 “can wish”, 1 “I wish”
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
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.
6. EUCHARISTEO
6. EUCHARISTEO
used 15x: 9x “thanksgiving”, 3x “giving of thanks”, 2x “thanks”, 1x “thankfulness”
Thankfulness is inseparable from prayer.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
7. DEESIS
7. DEESIS
used 19x: 12x “prayer”, 6x “supplication”, 1x “request”
Always an intreaty that is addressed to God
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
2xs one verse
8. DEOMAI
8. DEOMAI
used 22x: 12x”prayer”, 9x”beseech”, 1x”make a request”
To express a need, to beg, to ask
10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
Deomai is used 55x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - Ge 19:18; 25:21; 43:20; 44:18; Ex 4:10, 13; 32:11, 31; Num 12:11, 13; Dt 3:23; 9:18, 25; Josh 7:7; 1 Sam 13:12; 1Kgs 8:33, 47, 59; 9:3; 13:6; 2Kgs 1:13; 13:4; 2Chr 6:24, 37; Esther 4:17; Job 5:8; 8:5; 9:15; 11:19; 17:1; 19:16; 30:24; 34:20; Ps 28:2; 30:8; 64:1; 119:58; 142:1; Pr 26:25; Isa 37:4; Jer 26:19; Da 4:27, 33f; 6:5, 8, 10f, 13; 9:13, 18, 20; Hos 12:4; Zech 8:21; Mal 1:9;
Yes, he (Jacob) wrestled with the angel and prevailed (Ge 32:28 - Angel = Angel of the LORD); He wept and sought (Lxx = deomai) His favor. He found Him at Bethel And there He spoke with us (Ho 12:4).
Psalm 30:8 To You, O LORD, I called, And to the Lord I made supplication (Lxx = deomai)
Psalm 119:58 I sought (Lxx = deomai) Your favor with all my heart. Be gracious to me according to Your word.
Psalm 142:1 Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD; I make supplication (Lxx = deomai) with my voice to the LORD.
Da 6:11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication (Lxx = deomai) before his God.
Prayer is an outward demonstration and recognition of ones need for God. In this it is also a confession
9. PROSEUCHE
9. PROSEUCHE
used 37x: 36x “prayer”, 1x “pray earnestly”
12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Prosceuche is used 62x in the Septuagint (LXX)
Psalm 84:8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; (Hebrew = tephillah = prayer; Lxx = proseuche) Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah.
It is a prayer whose essence is that of worship and devotion. The idea is of setting one's focus on God. The Holy Spirit displays this in Hezekiah's response to a potentially "big" anxiety producing problem...
14 Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15 Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.
It is the earnest approaching of the throne with wonder.
10. EUCHARISTIA
10. EUCHARISTIA
used 39x: 26 “give thanks”, “12 thanks”, 1x “be thankful”
Be grateful, to give thanks
To be grateful is to give recognition to God’s sovereign control
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
11. EROTAO
11. EROTAO
used 58x: 23 “ask”, 14 “beseech”, 14 “pray”, 6 “desire”, 1 “entreat”
Speaking equal to equal - ask interrogate or inquire
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
(the beauty of the verse is in the coming day when we have no need to ask anything.)
12. EPEROTAO
12. EPEROTAO
used 59x : 53 - “ask”, 2x”demand”, 1x “desire”, 1x “ask a question”, 1x “ask afterwards”
To ask a question about something that you are interested in.
21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
13. AITEO
13. AITEO
Used 71 x: 48x "ask”, 17x "desire” 2x "beg”, 2x "require”, 1x "crave”, 1x “call for”.
Gk dictionary -ask, request, inquire, demand.
Word Nuance (missed in dictionary) - as the holy spirit uses it, is almost exclusively a request from an inferior to the superior...or the seeking by the inferior from the superior.
John 16:22
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.23 And in that day ye shall ask (EROTAO - not our word - mans “equal to equal”) me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask (equal to equal...you don’t have to ask anything) the Father in my name, he will give it you.24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
The verse is saying that you are now known as you are known...you don’t have to ask anything. Right now it is lesser to greater.
Note: We have 2 english words translated “ask”. The 1st is equal to equal and the 2nd is lesser to greater. The verse in using these two words is saying that the day is coming when you don’t have to ask anything.
Perhaps one of the greatest revelations of education is that we are not God. We ask because we are the lesser with a natural draw or awe or wonder towards that of the greater.
In the same light, our recognized need and/or want displays the same truth - we are not God. We are not fully sufficient in and of ourselves. We need the full sufficiency of God. Lesser to greater.
God on the other hand in reference to all things, but here, I highlight especially in reference to us, knows all and has need for nothing in the supplication of all of our needs. And the day will come when we know just as we are by Him known. That is, when we see the fullness of the revelation of God, the fullness of all things in Him.
14. PROSEUCHOMAI
14. PROSEUCHOMAI
Primary word for prayer
used 87x: 83x “pray”, 3x “make prayer”, 1x “pray for”
A word that can be translated worship. Very earnest prayer
30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
15. PARAKALEO
15. PARAKALEO
Called alongside
used 108x: 43 “beseech”, 24x “comfort”, exhort, desire, ,pray, intreat, exhortation, call
Call, invite for help
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Prayer is a humble and submissive posture of communion. It is a comfort and a joy of fellowship. It is where unity of spirit is sought, peace of mind is found, and courage for abiding is given. It is a thankful petitionioning which brings renewing to the mind and spirit in the very practice of it. It is a petitioning as it is a worshipful recognition of the perfection of God’s will and the trust that we have been given in His divine and soveriegn love and care for us. It is thankful in recognition of what we are petitioning. That a once dead man can be quickened into the reality of their everlasting Fathers care and watch over them. Thankful that the new man, though cloaked in flesh, has the Spirit within by which God beckons them unto Himself. Thankful that the abiding in His presence, by His soverign grace, brings confidence of abiding in His will. Prayer is where we step outside of the noise of this world and stand before the Throne of God Almighty by the means of Christ Jesus our Lord - the things of earth grow strangley dim and the wonder of God becomes our worship and our life.
Prayer is where we become as we are wether it be in private prayer or together as a church,
Prayer is where we become as we are, it is our stay: Philippians 4:6–7 KJV 1900
6 Be careful for nothing; / that is to say don’t be drawn in different directions and distracted, especially in areas of anxiety.
but in every thing by prayer / proseuche/ a giving of earnest prayer - spoken out as a wish or vow. A consiouse speaking out in worship, submission, confession, supplication, intersession, praise an thanksgiving. The highlight hear is that it is a intentional speaking out as a form of worship.
and supplication / deesis/ an intreaty expressed to God which reflects a humble heart and a knowing of lacking.
with thanksgiving / eucharistia/ To be grateful is to give recognition to God’s sovereign control
let your requests/ Aitemo / Always used of a group of people petitioning God.
be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, / Your conscious prayer/worship, brings you into a keeping that is beyond what you can know or ask for…understanding/ nous/ the mind or seat of reflective consciousness - the faculties of perception, understanding and those of feeling, judging, and determining…
How?…
the peace / eirene/ of God. That word for peace occurs in almost every book of the NT. The peace is descriptive of the harmonious relationship between God and you accomplished in Christ Jesus. The reality of who you are to God, the truth of His good and perfect will for you, the glory of His completed work and your knowing of it, and standing in His presence harmoniously, not judge nor condemned....but knowing that no matter how bad you think you messed up or what this world throws at you God shall complete the good work that He has begun in you, for the assurance of it is complete and the complete revelation of it shall be completed unto you…and this truth...
shall keep your hearts and minds/ keeping is a guarding as of a soldier guarding what belongs to Christ.
through Christ Jesus. /through is to say in…it should be “in”. It is a primary preposition and it speaks of a fixed position wether it be a place, time or state.
You see that is what prayer displays - your gloriously fixed position in Christ - the inconcievably amazingly eternal harmonious position that is with God the Father and friends that is your keeping and that is why we have this glorious gift of prayer or communion before the throne of Almighty God Himself. - Amen.