References: 

• Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God.
  • 1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplication, Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgiving
• Matthew 7:7-11 - αἰτέω aiteo - ask
  • Consider Jesus’ illustrations
  • Recall Solomon and Bartemaeus
    • Mark 10:35 - James and John: give us what we want (desire) aiteo
    • John 4:9-10 - Jesus asks aiteo first, then tells the woman that if she only knew, she would be asking aiteo. 
• Supplication (deēsis)
  • For one’s self: (noun only in Luke, verb also in Mt 1x)
    • Mt 9:38 - the one time in a Gospel other than Luke (ask for harvest workers to be sent)
    • Luke 1:13 (Zechariah's specific plea for a son), 2:37 (Anna’s constant and needy petitions), 5:33 (the disciples of John fasted and “prayed” (deēsis)).
    • Luke 8:28 (unclean spirits (Legion) make supplication)
  • For others: we see that prayer for others isn’t always “intercession.”
    • Romans 10:1 (Paul’s desire and (deēsis) for Israel), 
    • 2 Cor 1:11 (the Corinthian community in their (deēsis) for Paul and his coworkers), 
    • 2 Tim 1:3 (Paul thanks God that he remembers Timothy "in my (deēsis) night and day).
• Supplication: a seeking, asking, entreating, of God
  • 1 Timothy 2:1 - δέησις (deēsis): supplication
    • denotes an earnest plea rising from a sense of need.
    • focuses on a specific request placed before God, whether for oneself or for others. The word highlights dependency, urgency and humility.
  • Paul describes supplication as a part of love within the Body for the Body
    • Eph 6:18 (generic prayer & supplication)
    • vs 19-20 (continues the supplication of v 18)
• Supplication as a part of mission.
  • 2 Cor 1:8-11
    • Paul and his companions were facing overwhelming opposition. They were ready to give up, to collapse.
    • But the supplications of God’s people in Corinth sustained.
  • 1 Peter 3:8-12
    • Peter is reminding that God hears the supplications of those who are right with Him
    • This also lead to life that is worth living.
• Look Around. 
  • What issues do you notice 
    • In your life? 
    • In the lives of those close to you? 
    • In the world? 
  • How would you express the desire that God would do something about these issues (wants, needs)? 
  • That expression would be, in terms of prayer, a supplication.
    • God gives permission
    • God encourages our asking
    • God wants to know what is on your heart.