Government and Prayer
- Details
- Category: Perspectives
- Published on Sunday, 11 September 2011 11:57
- Written by Aurelius
- Hits: 89
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1 Tim. 2:1-4
Paul wrote this passage of scripture at a time in which he and the saints of his day lived under the brutality of the Roman Emperor, Nero. If the Holy Spirit was not Paul’s inspiration for writing this passage, it would have been easy for Paul to instruct the saints to resist the Roman Government with everything at their disposal. Instead, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, Paul exhorts the saints to pray for all men with emphasis on kings, and those that are in authority. This is a good scripture for modern day saints to obey. For we live in a time in which some use the banner of Christianity to incite the saints to resist those in government using human means. They do this by appealing to the fears of the saints as well as appealing to the desire of the saints to see the will of God fulfilled in this earth. However, if we want God’s results in any matter, we must do things God’s way. God’s way is for us to pray for kings and those that are in authority that the saints may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Obeying this scripture, which includes making supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks for all men puts us in a position to witness the blessings that God may bestow on those in authority (Joel 2:12-14).
We obey Paul’s instruction to Timothy because we believe that no ruler, though he be a modern day Nero, can overthrow or defeat the purpose of our God. God has promised to allow the saints to live a peaceful and quiet life if they make the activities of ungodly rulers a matter of prayer. The saints are able to rest in obeying God’s word because praying for those is authority is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. The saints need to trust God and faithfully obey him without regard for the activity of any political leaders because we know it is the will of God for all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. As saints, we do not know how the church will be tested, but we know that as we preserve to holiness and prayer in the midst of our trials, God will move on the hearts of men. For the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, and as the rivers of water, he turns it where he will (Proverbs 21:1). My perspective is to pray for those in authority in good times as well as in bad times instead of being provoked to an activism that is contrary to what is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.