Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

PROSEUCHOMAI* - Part 7 - εχηγεομαι (Strong's #1834)
To pray

Please note that all Biblical quotes, in this and all other lessons posted to Greek Thoughts, are from The Literal English Translation of the Bible produced by BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America.

We are continuing with our study of the word προσεὺχομαι (Strong's #4336, pronounced prō'sūk-ō-mī^F1), which means, "to pray." It is a word compounded from the preposition πρὸς (Strong's #4314, pronounced prōs^F1) meaning "to" or "toward," and the word εὔχομαι (Strong's #2172, pronounced ū' kō-mī^F1) meaning "to wish, to desire." Εὔχομαι is used in the New Testament to express a wish, which is its basic, root meaning.

We have learned from the previous parts of this study that God's answer to prayer is only guaranteed when the believer's underlying wish and desire in prayer is for the Lord's will to be done. We saw this principle revealed in 1 John 5:14-15. In James 4:1-4, we saw the same principle again, but with the additional understanding that those praying in order to fulfill their own hedonistic desires will not receive an answer; because they have set their desires on the things of the world and are actually committing spiritual adultery positioning themselves as enemies of God. We also learned, from James 1:5-8, that a double-minded person is one who asks God for wisdom but does not ask in faith—trusting the Lord through trials in order to gain His wisdom. The focus here is again on the wish or desire underlying a person's prayer. Additionally, in these same verses (1:5-8), James added to our understanding by revealing that one must ask in faith, believing that the Lord's will is being done in response to prayer. We then turned our focus to Paul's teaching about prayer, from Philippians 4:4-7. In these verses, Paul commanded that everything should be brought to the Lord through prayer (προσεὺχομαι), with thanksgiving. He states that the peace of God will guard the hearts and thoughts of those who leave in the Lord's hands the answers to situations prayed for, for His will to be done.

Teachings on prayer, whether penned by Paul, James or John, originate from the Lord's teaching on prayer, as recorded in the Gospels; therefore, last week, we turned our attention to the Lord's teaching on προσεὺχομαι, from John 14:12-14. This week we continue to study the Lord's teaching on προσεὺχομαι, from John 15:5-7.

John 15:5-7

5)

I am the vine, you are the branches. The one abiding in Me, and I in him, this one is producing much fruit; because separate from Me you are not able to do one thing.

The Lord's teaching here about the vine and the branches is classic because it contains so many conditions already existing in a true believer's life. The word for "abiding" in the phrase, "The one abiding in Me" is the present participial form of μὲνω ^F2 (Strong's #3306, pronounced mĕnō^F1). Applied here, the participial form expresses a person who is continually abiding in the Lord as a condition of life. The Lord uses this same participial form to describe His own abiding in the believer as being continuous and never ending. The Lord is emphasizing that the one permanently abiding in him "is bearing much fruit." This is presented as a factual statement, since it is expressed in the present tense, and, consequently, cannot be viewed as a challenge for any believer to produce fruit in and of him/herself.

6)

If anyone should not abide in Me, he is thrown out as the branch, and is dried out, and they gather them and throw them into a fire, and they are burned.

The Lord continues His teaching on the condition of those who are not abiding in Him by likening them to dead branches— branches without the spiritual life-source of the Lord, without which they are therefore dead and lifeless. Such branches are gathered together and burned.

7)

If you should abide in Me, and My words should abide in you, whatever you should desire you will ask, and it will happen to you.

In verse 7, the Lord presents another factual statement applying to those who abide in Him and in whom the Lord's words abide. To these people, the promise is given that whatever they should desire they will ask, and it will happen to them. Many present day Church leaders use this last phrase to teach that the Lord is presenting a blank check, so to speak, to any and every believer. However, it must be noted that the promise given in this verse, is dependent upon the preceding conditional clauses: first, if the Lord is abiding in him; and second, if the words of the Lord are abiding in him. When these conditions are present in the ones praying, the Spirit of Christ and His words will cause an expression of a desire for the Word of God to be fulfilled and accomplished.

A good example of this is the prayer taught to the disciples by the Lord, as recorded in Matthew 6:9-13. It is commonly called The Lord's Prayer; but I suggest that it is better titled The Disciple's Prayer, since the Lord is actually teaching those who follow Him how to pray. It begins: "Our Father, the One in Heaven, let Your name be sanctified; let Your kingdom come; let Your will happen, as in heaven, also upon the earth." This demonstrates how one who is under the influence of God's Spirit and Word will pray—he will pray for the Lord's will to happen upon the earth as it has been decreed in heaven to happen.

When we understand the conditions given in John 15:7, it is impossible to conclude that a promise of answered prayer is given based upon personal beliefs about what the Word of God is saying. While we are free to express our wishes to God, we must take note that all of our studies on prayer thus far show that prayer must be based on what the Word of God presents about prayer: God only guarantees an answer to prayer when it is expressed under the influence of God's Spirit and His Word; so that the prayer is in accordance with the words of Christ who said, "Let Your (God's) will happen upon the earth as it has been decreed in heaven."

Next week we will study Jesus' prayer to the Father, offered in the garden just prior to the crucifixion, as recorded in Matthew 26:36-39.

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*PROSEUCHOMAI is the English font spelling of the Greek word προσεὺχομαι.

F1: English pronunciation guide for Greek words: āle; ăm; ēve; ĕnd; īce; ǐll; ōld; ǒdd; ūse; ŭp

F2: See Archives on this Web page for extensive study on μὲνω.

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