The power of supplication (Part 2)
In the first part, I showed you by examples that in most of Paul letters, he emphasizes on prayer and supplication. As I said, the word "supplication" comes from the Greek word "deesis" which means "petition". The petition is a word often used in courts. When you are in court, you need a lawyer who knows the law even if you know you are right, because the judge is interested in the law and principles.
Here is an example: Michael returned in the evening and found a certain Paul in his house. Michael asked him out but Paul refused. Michael called the police and the next day they were both before the judge. The judge listened and asked Paul why he did not want to leave the house and here is Paul's answer: "I love this house and that is why I cannot leave it." This response does not interest the judge because he wants to hear an explanation based on an article from the law. If Michael handles to the judge the title deed of the house, Paul has no choice but to leave the house and if he does not, the judge will send the police to get him out.
Our God is a God of principles and promises. During the prayer of supplication, He wants to hear words that are based on its principles and promises, because the bible says that the Lord watches over His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1: 12). Remember that in the first part we read that Paul asked the Philippians not to worry but to make their needs known to God by prayer and supplication. Even if God knows everything, the apostle Paul asked them to inform Him (Phil 4: 6). When in supplication, God wants to hear you informing Him His promises according to His word. I know some people say that we should not remind God the biblical verses as if He does not know them but I think we should imitate the life of Jesus' disciples in the bible:
Let us see what happened in this situation: One day Pilate and Herod were gathered together to persecute the disciples of Jesus by preventing them to mention the name of Jesus. Instead of worrying, they informed of the situation to God through a prayer of supplication and here's part of their prayer: " who by the mouth of your servant David have said: “Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ. “For truly against your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together" (Acts 4: 25-27).
It is clear that in this prayer of supplication, the disciples quoted a biblical passage in the book of Psalms justifying their deliverance. They repeated exactly what David said in the book of Psalms (Psalm 2: 1-4), as in this passage, if the kings of the earth rise and conspire against the people of God and his anointed (Jesus), God's people are entitled to the Lord’s deliverance. In this supplication, they informed God to ask for the help they were entitled to according to his promise.
To be continued in the third part…
Chris Ndikumana
