Pure Prayer Partners

GREEK WORD WITH ENGLISH TRANSLITERATION: δέησις  (deesis)

PRONUNCIATION:  DEH-ay-sis

STRONG’S CONCORDANCE #: 1162

MEANING: prayer; request; supplication

BACKGROUND OF WORD (ETYMOLOGY):

the original Greek root word literally meant "to be lacking" with the result being making a request of someone to fulfil that which was lacking; this word for prayer is not one that focuses on praise, but focuses on asking or making a request of God for a need;

HOW TRANSLATED IN KJV, NASB AND/OR ESV:  prayer; supplication; request

# OF TIMES USED IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT: 19

KEY VERSE IN THE BIBLE WHERE GREEK WORD USED:

Philippians 1:4 - "Always offering prayer (δέησις) with joy in my every prayer (δέησις) for you all."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

    

The word “prayer” is the Greek word ‎ deesis. This word describes a heartfelt request for God to answer a concrete, specific need — usually some type of physical or material need. The church of Philippi was suffering financially at this time. Considering how they gave of their finances despite their own financial struggles, it makes sense that Paul prayed earnestly for God to answer and meet the concrete, physical needs of this sacrificially giving church.

When Paul says he is “making request,” the Greek tense carries the idea of Paul continuously making requests for the Philippian believers. This is definitely not a one-shot, occasional prayer; rather, Paul makes it very clear that praying for these believers is a part of his daily pattern. The word “request” is again the word ‎deesis ‎now used twice in this verse, which categorically substantiates that Paul was asking God to answer and provide for the physical, tangible needs of this church. And notice that Paul said he made these requests “with joy.” It was no burden for him to pray for his partners; he did it with pleasure and joy.

In Philippians 1:5, Paul explains the reason he feels so passionate about these believers who had so faithfully supported his ministry. He says, “For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” The word “fellowship” is the Greek word ‎koinœnia‎, a word that depicted partnership or a mutual participation in some project or event and often referred to a partner, a sharer, or a companion.  Paul was laying a foundation for believers to have prayer partners in the purest sense of the word, or as I would call it, “Pure Prayer Partners”. 

Intercessory prayer sometimes involves disappointment and pain. Later in this letter he counseled the Philippians, "Join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things" (3:17-19). Those false believers not only were uncharitable in the extreme but also were shamelessly worldly. They were "enemies of the cross of Christ." Their false teaching and immoral living seriously threatened the church, and that tragic state of affairs brought pain to the apostle. Paul reminded the church at Corinth that "out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you" (2 Corinthians 2:4; cf. 11:29).

But Paul's prayers for the Philippians were offered with great appreciation, thankfulness, and joy. Neither the unbelieving false teachers, such as those just mentioned, nor squabbling believers, such as Euodia and Syntyche (4:2), could rob Paul of his joyful remembrance of this cherished congregation. After beseeching Clement and an unnamed elder at Philippi to help reconcile those two women, he exults, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" (4:3-4).

CHALLENGE FOR THE DAY:

    

Like Paul, believers who possess God-given joy do not focus on themselves, even in the midst of pain or difficult circumstances. We are rather concerned about our fellow believers' pain, difficult circumstances, hardships, failures, and sorrows, and they earnestly intercede for them. As such, we need to joyfully pray for God to bless our fellow believers in every way, above all for their spiritual welfare.

It seems that throughout most of the history of the church only a minority of Christians have known the true, full joy that God gives to His obedient children. Lack of joy reveals itself in three ways: in negative thoughts and talk about others, in a lack of concern for their welfare, and in the failure to intercede on their behalf. Joyless believers are self-centered, selfish, proud, and often vengeful, and their self-centeredness inevitably manifests itself in prayerlessness.  Ask God today to restore that joy of praying for others.  May God cause you to refocus your attention this day on the needs of others.  Stop even now to think of one or two others who have had recent difficult days wherein “Thanksgiving” may not have been as much a time of thanks as it was for you and make request unto God for them. 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

    

Lord, I thank You for allowing me to be a participant in the Gospel by praying for others and making requests unto You on their behalf. Help me to always be aware of the great impact my prayers and requests have towards the Kingdom of God.  Cause me to be more faithful in my prayer life, with specific attention on praying for the needs of others.   
I pray this in Jesus' name!  Amen.