以弗所書提到祈求禱告 6:18 (除其他外). 除了神的屬靈軍裝之外，禱告和懇求也是必不可少的. 為什麼? 使你能在邪惡的日子裡站立得住，對抗魔鬼的時代. Let’s look at what the Bible says about supplication prayer.
What does supplication prayer mean in the Bible?
The word ‘supplication’ in Ephesians 6:18 is translated from the Greek word déēsis (G1162). Déēsis means a petition:- 禱告, request, supplication.
A prayer of supplication is a request or petition to God. Supplication 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 not meant to gather as many earthly treasures as possible and to please the flesh. But supplication prayers are meant for the Kingdom of God and to exalt and glorify Jesus Christ and the Father.
現在, let’s 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
In the Book of Luke, we read about the priest Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth (from the daughters of Aaron) and how God answered their prayer of supplication.
它發生了, 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, 不要害怕, 撒迦利亞: for thy 禱告 (déēsis) is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. (路克 1:8-13)
The Priest Zacharias and Elisabeth were both righteous before God. They walked in all the commandments and ordinances of God blameless.
然而, they had no child. Elisabeth was barren and they were both old.
他們相信, that God was the only One, Who could provide, 他們想要什麼.
Therefore they prayed a prayer of supplication and made their desire and request known unto God. 以便, God could provide their personal needs.
We don’t know when or how long they prayed for a child. But we do know that they prayed to God and made their request for a child known to God.
God answered their request at His appointed time.
At the appointed time of God, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias. The angel Gabriel told him that his prayer (petition, request) was heard. His wife Elisabeth would bear him a son and call him 約翰.
The supplications of widows in the Bible
在盧克 2:36-37, we read about the prophetess Anna, who served God continuously in the temple with fastings and prayers (supplications).
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 祈禱 (déēsis) night and day (路克 2:36-37)
And in the first letter to Timothy, Paul wrote about the continuous supplications and prayers of the widow.
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications (déēsis) and prayers night and day (1 蒂莫西 5:5)
The supplication prayers of the disciples of John and the Pharisees in the Bible
在盧克 5:33 we read about the disciples of John and the Pharisees and that they often fast and offered supplication prayers to God and made their request known to God.
And they said unto Him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make 祈禱 (déēsis), and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? 他對他們說, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 但是日子會來, 當新郎從他們身邊被帶走時, 然後他們將在那些日子裡禁食 (路克 5:33-35)
What does the Bible say about the supplications of Jesus Christ?
在希伯來書 5:7, we read that Jesus offered up prayers and supplications (petitions, requests) for that which He needed, with strong crying and tears unto the Father Who was able to save Him from death. And He was heard in that He feared.
在他的肉時代誰, when He had offered up prayers and supplications (déēsis) with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, 並聽到他擔心 (希伯來 書 5:7)
Due to His prayers and supplications Jesus was able to fulfill 神的計劃.
The disciple’s prayer and supplication concerning the promise of the Father
耶穌登上天堂, the disciples went to Jerusalem to the upper room, together with the women and many others. 在樓上的房間裡, 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; 聖靈. They received the promise and were able to accomplish the great commission of Jesus Christ and be 他的見證人 (使徒行傳 2).
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, 和詹姆斯, 和約翰, and Andrew, 菲利普, 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 (使徒行傳 1:13-14)
Paul’s supplication prayer for Israel
Paul’s prayer of supplication to God was, that Israel would come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved.
弟兄, my heart’s desire and 禱告 (déēsis) to God for Israel is, 他們可能會得救 (羅馬書 10:1)
Paul’s supplication prayer for the church
Paul always prayed for all the saints. Paul prayed among others for the saints in Philippi and for Timothy.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every 禱告 (déēsis) of mine for you all making request (déēsis) with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now (腓立比人 1:3-5)
我感謝上帝, 我以純粹的良心從祖先服務, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers (déēsis) night and day; (déēsis(2 蒂莫西 1:3))
The supplication prayer of the church at Corinth for Paul and his companions
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 the church at Corinth prayed for them.
For we would not, 兄弟們, 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: 誰使我們脫離瞭如此偉大的死亡, 和交付: in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us; Ye also helping together by 禱告 (déēsis) 給我們, 對於許多人所賜給我們的禮物，許多人可能會代表我們給予的禮物 (2 哥林多前書 1:8-11)
Paul wrote about how they were pressed out of measure, above strength, in so much that they despaired even of life.
He wrote 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 禱告 (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 (腓立比人 1:19-20)
在腓立比書中 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. (另請閱讀: 為同胞祈禱的重要性).
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 禱告 (déēsis) 為你, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift (2 哥林多前書 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.
The saints in Judea thanked and glorified God for their professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ. They thanked them for their liberal distribution to them, and they made petitions for the church at Corinth
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, 那, 首先, supplications (déēsis), 祈禱, 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 蒂莫西 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 God’s Kingdom on earth.
Because it is the desire and the will of God that all man be saved. It’s God’s will that all man come to the experiential knowledge of the truth and no one be lost.
Therefore the saints need to pray. They need to make supplication prayer and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the sinners, 誰迷路了.
Supplication prayer for yourself and others
Praying always with all prayer and supplication (déēsis) 在精神上, 並以所有的毅力和懇求所有聖徒觀看那裡 (以弗所書 6:18)
Paul commanded the saints to not only put on the 神的鎧甲 but also to pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. 以便, they could stand in the evil day and stand against the whiles of the devil. (另請閱讀: 你能抗拒誘惑嗎?).
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.
小心點什麼都沒有; but in every thing by prayer and supplication (déēsis) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God (腓立比人 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.
What is the supplication prayer of the righteous?
The effectual fervent 禱告 (déēsis) of a righteous man availeth much (詹姆斯 5:16)
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their 祈禱 (déēsis): but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil (1 彼得 3:12)
God hears the fervent prayers, petitions, supplications of the righteous and empowers them. 因為, the righteous submit to God, trust God, and live in obedience to His will.
The righteous love God and do those things, which pleases God. 正因為如此, the prayer of supplication of the righteous shall also be according to His will.
What are characteristics of supplication prayer?
The characteristics of supplication prayer are mentioned in the list below:
- 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 according to 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.
‘成為地球之鹽’
