FUNDAMENTALS OF PRAYERS:SUPPLICATIONS(6)

In the last part I indicated that there are tools for thanksgiving. Yes, please refer to the tools for praise, adoration. Basically they are the same tools. I want to concentrate in this final part on supplication.

What is supplication: It is a humble petition to someone in authority. Asking for your desires, believing the person the petition is directed to, is able to answer you. In Luke 18:1 Jesus said 'that men ought to pray and not to faint'. So in the story of the woman and the wicked judge, that followed, the woman kept on insisting on the Judge answering her. The judge buckled.

When in your prayer process starting from adoration up to thanksgiving, there is no doubt that you already believe there is an authority who is able to answer you. If not you wouldn't have wasted time doing all that. Hence, at this junction of supplication, you are privileged to ask for anything. I mean basically anything. The contents of what you pray about is basically subjective. It varies. However, there are things you ought to ask for in the course of supplication:

1. Everything you personally desire.

2. Everything that will effect the will of God on earth. (Mt 6:10)

The above two areas will help you concentrate and focus on what to pray for. However, I want to address the key words to effectively get the prayers answered, and such key is the name of Jesus.

 Ask yourself, or better still write those things that you desire most. Ensure you believe that you have them, and make the petition unto the Lord. And you will have them. Mark 11:24. Use the word of God. Be familiar with the word of God. Align the word of God with your needs. Let the word of God be in you. John 15:7.

 Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. Luke 11:2. He taught them to say Our father who hath in heaven...

However, the disciples after Jesus had left to be in heaven, they prayed using Jesus' name. Yes, they knew what Jesus told them in John 16:23 'and in that day you will ask me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the father in my name he will give to you. verse 24...until now you have asked nothing in my name. ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

What is 'in that day' I believe, they are days after Jesus had left. We are not saying in the name of the Father alone anymore. We are saying in Jesus name. Jesus himself gave them this panacea. Ask the father in my name. They demonstrated these in Acts of the APOSTLES.

In Acts 3. Peter and John performed the miracle, not by themselves but in the name of Jesus. Peter said Silver or Gold I have none, but what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth...the bible records the crippled man walked and leapt.

Peter did the same in Acts 9:22-34 and Peter said to him 'Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed. Then he arose immediately' There is power in the name of Jesus. So in supplication, let's ask in His name and He will answer us. Amen.

Paul used the name also effectively in Act 16:18...and this she did for many days. But Paul greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her' and he came out that very hour.

In Phil 2:5 onwards, the bible tells us 'at the mention of his name every knee shall bow... and every tongue will confess. These scriptures are not decorative, they are creative. Go ahead and make your supplications as prayers that must be answered.

Conclusion

I will say the rules of prayers of supplication certainly will be the following(not exhaustive though)

1. Pray through the father in Jesus Name.

2. Believe you receive

3. Forgive

4. Rely and depend on the Holy Spirit. Rm 8:26. 1 Cor 14:14

5. Pray in the Holy Ghost. Jude 1:20

Praise the Lord.