Revolution Era

Welcome to another series! This time, I will be exploring another massive topic - PRAYER. Much like worship, prayer has been muddled, meddled, poorly taught, and abused. So much so that the very word can produce polar-opposite thoughts and emotions from one Christian and another. The reason for this is, I will propose, two-fold: 1) Misguided teaching, wrong teaching, and/or biased teaching. 2) A failure in the Body of Christ, as a whole, to realize and embrace the fact that Jesus Christ not only established a New Covenant with us, but also shattered many of the paradigms, hindrances, and structures both in the spirit and the natural when he declared, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Mt 28:18). EVERYTHING changed after the Cross.

Because of the limitations in length here, I have chosen to condense this series into 4 Parts:

I) A word study on common Greek words accosiated with prayer.
II) A look at the teachings of Jesus Christ regarding prayer.
III) A look at the teachings in the New Testament Epistles regarding prayer.
IV) Destroying Sacred Cows!!!

The purpose of this series is to explore the teachings of Jesus and his immediate followers, in order to establish a New Covenant perspective and understanding on the notion of prayer. In doing so, we can then use these teachings as our foundation for renewing our minds (Rom 12:2) and adopting a Christ-centered life in the arena of prayer. Finally, we will also be able to examine some currently held teachings and doctrines on prayer, and see if they are based on Old Covenant paradigms (Old Wineskins), or if they are based on the teachings of Jesus Christ (New Wineskins). As Jesus taught,

“No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’" Lk 5:36-38.

Religion will always taste better, because it is well aged and smooth. New wine is bitter, and hard to swallow at first. Even to Christians, Jesus' teaching are often hard to swallow, because they sound nothing like the teachings of the Torah (Law), nor have they the aged taste of Christian religiosity.

Part 1: Why You Need To Know The Greek Truth

Now, I know that this may seem like a bore to many of you; having to plug through some Greek word definitions. Don't underestimate this section though! It is absolutely imperative that you at least browse through the list of word presented below. Why, you ask?

1) In order to see that we have been robbed of the true weight and meaning of many teachings of Christ and his apostles because of the poor and conservative translational efforts of modern day Bible translations.

2) To have full revelation and insight into each and every passage of Scripture we will be examining (and, hopefully, passages you will examine on your own time too).

So then, let's have a quick run through the list of common words used today in English pertaining to the arena of prayer, and discover their Greek sources. You will soon realize how much richer the Greek word is in each case!

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"Pray", "Prayer"

> προσεύχομαι (προσευχή) – proseuchomai (proseuchē)

1) to offer prayers, to pray

KJV - pray 83, make prayer 3, pray for 1

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Mt 6:5

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name... Mt 6:9

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak. Mt 26:41

> δέομαι - deomai

1) to want, lack
2) to desire, long for
3) to ask, beg
a) the thing asked for
b) to pray, make supplications

KJV - pray 12, beseech 9, make request 1

Pray [beseech] ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Mt 9:38 (Lk 10:2)

And when they had prayed [beseeched], the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31

For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; night and day praying [beseeching] exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 1 Th 3:9-10

> εὔχομαι – euchomai

1) to pray to God
2) to wish, to pray, to pray for

KJV - wish 3, pray 2, can wish 1, I would 1

And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. Acts 26:29

Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray (εὔχομαι - wish, would) one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer (δέησις – seeking, asking) of a righteous man availeth much. Jam 5:16

> εὐχή – euchē

1) a prayer to God
2) a vow

KJV - vow 2, prayer 1

And the prayer (εὐχή – vow) of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up... Jam 5:15

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"Ask", "Demand"

> αἰτέω (αἴτημα) – aiteō (aitēma)

1) to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require

KJV - ask 48, desire 17, beg 2, require 2, crave 1, call for 1

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Mt 6:8

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you... Mt 7:7

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Mt 18:19

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask (αἰτέω - aiteō), we know that we have the petitions (αἴτημα - aitēma) that we desired (αἰτέω - aiteō) of him. 1 Jn 5:15

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"Supplication"

> δέησις – deēsis

1) need, indigence, want, privation, penury
2) a seeking, asking, entreating, entreaty to God or to man

KJV - prayer 12, supplication 6, request 1

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. Lk 1:13

And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise [the disciples] of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? Lk 5:33

These all continued with one accord in prayer (προσευχή) and supplication (δέησις – seeking, asking), with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1:14

Praying (προσεύχομαι ) always with all prayer (προσευχή) and supplication (δέησις – seeking, asking) in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication (δέησις – seeking, asking) for all saints... Eph 6:18

> ἱκετηρία – hiketēria

1) an olive branch
a) for suppliants approached the one whose aid they would implore holding an olive branch entwined with white wool and fillets, to signify that they came as suppliants
2) supplication

KJV - supplication 1

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers (δέησις - deēsis) and supplications (ἱκετηρία – hiketēria) with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered Heb 5:7-8

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"Intercession"

> ἐντυγχάνω – entygchanō

1) to light upon a person or a thing, fall in with, hit upon, a person or a thing
2) to go to or meet a person, esp. for the purpose of conversation, consultation, or supplication
3) to pray, entreat
4) make intercession for any one

KJV - make intercession 4, deal 1

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray (προσεύχομαι – proseuchomai) for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession (ὑπερεντυγχάνω - hyperentygchanō) for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession (ἐντυγχάνω - entygchanō) for the saints according to [the will of] God. Rom 8:26-27

But this [man], because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession (ἐντυγχάνω - entygchanō) for them. Heb 7:24-25

> ὑπερεντυγχάνω – hyperentygchanō

1) to intercede for one

KJV - make intercession for 1

but the Spirit itself maketh intercession (ὑπερεντυγχάνω - hyperentygchanō) for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Rom 8:26

> ἔντευξις – enteuxis

1) a falling in with, meeting with
a) an interview
1) a coming together
2) to visit
3) converse or for any other cause
b) that for which an interview is held
1) a conference or conversation
2) a petition, supplication

KJV - intercession 1, prayer 1

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications (δέησις – seeking, asking), prayers (προσευχή), intercessions (ἔντευξις – meeting with [God], converse, petition), [and] giving of thanks (εὐχαριστία – “Eucharist”), be made for all men... 1 Ti 2:1

For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving (εὐχαριστία – “Eucharist”): For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer (ἔντευξις – meeting with [God], converse, petition). 1 Ti 4:4-5

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"Giving Thanks"

> εὐχαριστία – eucharistia

1) thankfulness
2) the giving of thanks

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer (προσευχή - proseuchē) and supplication (δέησις - deēsis) with thanksgiving (εὐχαριστία – eucharistia) let your requests be made known unto God. Phl 4:6

Continue in prayer (προσευχή - proseuchē), and watch in the same with thanksgiving... Col 4:2

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications (δέησις - deēsis), prayers (προσευχή - proseuchē), intercessions (ἔντευξις - enteuxis), [and] giving of thanks (εὐχαριστία – eucharistia), be made for all men... 1 Tim 2:1

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"Faith"

> πίστις – pistis

1) conviction of the truth of anything; belief
2) fidelity, faithfulness

From the root word, πείθω – peithō

1) persuade
a) to persuade, i.e. to induce one by words to believe
b) to make friends of, to win one's favour, gain one's good will, or to seek to win one, strive to please one
c) to tranquillise
d) to persuade unto i.e. move or induce one to persuasion to do something
2) be persuaded
a) to be persuaded, to suffer one's self to be persuaded; to be induced to believe: to have faith: in a thing
1) to believe
2) to be persuaded of a thing concerning a person
b) to listen to, obey, yield to, comply with
3) to trust, have confidence, be confident

KJV - faith 239, assurance 1, believe + 1537 1, belief 1, them that believe 1, fidelity 1

> ἀπιστία – apistia

1) unfaithfulness, faithless
2) want of faith, unbelief
3) weakness of faith

KJV - unbelief 12

And he marvelled because of their unbelief. Mk 6:6

> ὀλιγόπιστος – oligopistos

1) of little faith, trusting too little

KJV - of little faith 5

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Mt 8:26

See also, Mt 6:30; 14:31; 16:8; Lk 12:28

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"Fast", "Fasting"

> νηστεύω, nēsteuō

1) fast

KJV - fast 21

> νηστεία, nēsteia

1) fasting

KJV – fasting 7, feast 1

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"Amen"

“The word "amen" is a most remarkable word. It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. It has been called the best known word in human speech. The word is directly related -- in fact, almost identical -- to the Hebrew word for "believe" (amam), or faithful. Thus, it came to mean "sure" or "truly", an expression of absolute trust and confidence. – HMM” (source)

Hebrew:

> ןמא – ‘amen

1) verily, truly, amen, so be it

KJV - amen 27, truly 2, so be it 1

Greek:

> ἀμήν – amēn

1) firm
a) metaph. faithful
2) verily, amen
a) at the beginning of a discourse - surely, truly, of a truth
b) at the end - so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled. It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues to the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed, had offered up solemn prayer to God, the others responded Amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own.

KJV - verily 101, amen 51

And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. Lk 4:24

And all the angels stood round about the throne, and [about] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. Rev 7:11-12

Alright, we made it!

I hope you were somewhat enlightened by some of the Greek words we've looked at. You're now ready to move onto Part 2!