Supplication

I believe, for the most part, supplication is the missing ingredient in many prayers that go up before the Father. Consider the following:

John 15:5

I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.

The word supplication is the Greek word, "hiketeria" which means to be "of a suppliant," or "an olive branch" carried by a suppliant. Now the word suppliant means petitioner. Therefore, when the Word commands us to offer both prayer and supplication up to the Father, it insists that we acknowledge the fact that our prayers and petitions are at one with those of our great intercessor, Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Supplication is a type of prayer, thanksgiving or plea that acknowledges before the Father the role of Christ in our lives. The reason we see prayer and supplication so frequently used in the same verse is because the Apostle is using it as an offering. It is indeed an acknowledgment of Christ being the one who carries us. He is the vine to which we are attached. We must acknowledge our helplessness without Him and the supply that comes to us through Him. Thus, it is in His name that we pray.

It is for Christ’s sake that we live. We are branches that cannot live, move or work without Him. This supplication must be more than words, it must be the true disposition of our heart. If so, the Father will pour out more grace to help us in times of need. We are His ambassadors. He has given us all things freely that allow us to present Him to the world. We can be very Christ even as Paul was. If we walk in the supply of the supplicant, we can work the works of righteousness and glorify the Father.

Ephesians 4:16

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The objective of ministry is to reconcile those outside the Body of Christ to God. It is to set the captives free. Jesus did this quite well in our lives. But He was so effective because He loved us with the love of the Father.

Every joint in the Body of Christ is compacted with a measure of the grace of God that affords us the ability to love the brethren with the love of the Father. Oftentimes, we want to jump the gun and run to the working of miracles and other exploits. But the two great commandments must be evident in us first before this grace will pour out into the lives of others in the form of healings, signs and wonders.

The effectual work in every part must be that of love if the Body of Christ is ever to walk in the fullness of the stature of the man Jesus Christ. Otherwise, our prayers and supplications are not “in the Name of Jesus.” It becomes just a phrase we use to open and close our prayer sessions.

It is the Word of God and the Holy Ghost that will bring us to this place in the Spirit. A place where we willingly love even our enemies, and dare not to do anything that will bring reproach on the ministry of Christ in the earth.