AMEN & AMEN

Have you ever wondered why we say amen when we pray? For the longest time I had never considered the word “amen” to mean anything other than “okay Lord, I’m finished praying, goodbye” just like we say “goodbye” right before we hang up the phone.  But the word “amen” is important.  I would even venture to say that once you understand what “Amen” means, it will completely transform your prayer life.  As Christians today, I believe we take many things for granted.  Especially when it comes to the Word of God.  This word Amen is one of those very valuable and needful truths we need in our lives when it comes to our prayer life.  After all, we say Amen literally every time we pray, right? 

“Amen” G281 pronounced am-ane’ is of Hebrew origin (H543) amen (אָמֵן); properly, firm, i.e.(figuratively)trustworthy; adverbially, surely (often as interjection, so be it):–amen, verily. This word is literally a Hebrew word; meaning when we say it, we are speaking in the Hebrew language. The Strong’s Exhaustive concordance defines this word as meaning, “verily, truly, so be it.” When you pray and we say, “amen” we are saying, “so be it.”  When Jesus was preaching, many times He would say “Verily I say unto thee.”  He was actually saying “Amen I say unto thee.” 

Why is this so important as it regards our prayer life though?  When you pray, you are asking the Lord to intercede in a matter or petitioning God to change a situation, heal the sick, save the lost, etc.  However, when you say Amen, you are literally making a proclamation of faith.  You are literally saying “so be it” or “It Shall Be Done!”  When we say amen, we are coming into agreement with the Lord.  When we agree as touching anything, it shall be done.

Matthew 18:19 – Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven.

This is why it is so important to know the word of God; i.e., the promises of God so that when you pray, you can stand upon the promises of God and agree with them in prayer to God by saying Amen!

Finally, the Hebrew word Amen H543, comes from the root word H539 which is pronounced ‘aman.   H539 is the primitive root; properly to build up or support; to foster as a  parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet, morally to be true or certain; once (in Isaiah 30:21; by interchange for 541) to go to the right hand:–hence assurance, believe, bring up, establish, + fail, be faithful (of long continuance, stedfast, sure, surely, trusty, verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the right.

What in the world does all of that mean?  When the word is spelled with with an “a” instead of an “e” it is pronounced, “aman.” Also when it is spelled with an, “a” instead of an, “e,” the Hebrew word means, “to support, confirm.” This word was used when it talked about Abraham’s faith. It reads,

Genesis 15:6 – “And he believed (אָמַן aman) in the LORD; and He counted it unto him for righteousness.”

Abraham believed God. When God said to Abraham that He would have a son, Abraham said, “amen.” In a sense we could read this verse and say that he amened God and He counted it to him as righteousness. He agreed with God and His promise to Abraham.  It’s not that hard to amen God.  It’s not that difficult to believe Him and His word.  God is faithful! 

2 Corinthians 1:20 – For all the promises of God in Him are Yea, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us”

Romans 3:4 – …Let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written…

God’s word is powerful and alive.  However, in order for the promises of God to come to reality in your own life, you have to come into agreement with God personally.  That’s how it works!  All Abraham did was believe God, He agreed with what God said to Him.  And because of this, it was accounted unto him for righteousness.

So from now on, when you’re finished praying and you say the word amen, you need to understand that you are speaking words of faith like “everything that I just prayed, Lord, so be it, or as bro Rick Rigsby used to say sometimes when he was finished praying with someone at the altar, “and it shall be done.”