Prayers, petitions... be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority

1 Timothy 2:1-8 (NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

A Call to Prayer

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. ³ This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. ⁷ For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

⁸ Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

The church today needs to heed Paul’s exhortation to pray for our leaders and for the leaders of other nations. That does not mean that we soften our stance against policies, principles or practices which are contrary to our faith and the word of God. Paul says “… God our Savior,  desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  Paul believed that and when he stood before kings, rulers and authorities he shared his testimony. He told them how Jesus Christ had changed his life. Those kings, rulers and authorities were no less unrighteous than the ones who have authority in the world today. Yet Paul recognized that even those in the deepest darkness needed the life changing revelation that Jesus Christ died for their sin.

Ephesians 6:10-18, includes another exhortation to pray. It says: ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.   ¹⁸ With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit…

It is vital that we as believers are able to recognize and separate the spiritual darkness behind peoples actions from their human soul. Jesus says: “ I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32) These leaders whether misguided by the philosophies of men or darkened by the practice of evil deeds, are like all mankind,    all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)   Only God knows the potential that lies within these unredeemed souls. Paul was one who persecuted the church. He was responsible for the arrests of many believers and watched and condoned the killing of at least one, Stephen. Because of the tremendous gifts and calling on Paul’s life, he became one of the greatest leaders of Christ’s body rather than one of it’s greatest enemies. God called someone to pray for Paul.

Acts 9:10-19, recounts the story. ¹⁰ Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” ¹¹ And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, ¹² and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” ¹³ But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; ¹⁴ and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” ¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; ¹⁶ for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” ¹⁷ So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; ¹⁹ and he took food and was strengthened.

How different might history be if Paul’s eyes were not opened, if he never learned the truth of Christ’s cross. We pray for many things. We pray and intercede for the physical needs of others. We pray for protection, provision and all kinds of blessings for God’s people. We pray that those we love will come to know Christ.           Jesus says:  Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ ³² For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.(Matthew 6:31-33)    Seek first His kingdom…  It is not that believers should not be politically active or politically aware. It is simply that our first and primary responsibility and mandate is to the kingdom of God. Our greatest authority is in the spiritual realm.  

 Jesus shared this shortly after teaching His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:8-13, He says: your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. ⁹ “Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
¹⁰ ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
¹² ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’

Paul says: ”I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,  for kings and all who are in authority.” Just as Ananias faithfully prayed for Paul, may we be faithful to pray with great expectation that God’s will would indeed be done. May we truly seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, only You know the gifts and calling on each individual life. As You said to the prophet Jeremiah, I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. So too do You know the plans that You have for each one in every position of leadership and authority throughout the world. May we Your people be faithful to pray that Your kingdom would come and Your will would be done. May leaders, kings, rulers and authorities throughout the world come to a life changing, life saving revelation of Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, it is You alone who convict the world of sin and righteousness. May eyes be opened as Paul’s were, even as mine were.  I pray as Paul says, without wrath and dissension, that  all men  be saved and  come to the knowledge of the truth. Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.      Amen.