I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. 1 Timothy 2: 1-6, NIV.
Isn’t God good? On another occasion I will be going back to the topic: We Serve A Good God. Today’s topic serves as a temporary departure from the heart of that topic, to one that serves as a bridge between the two. I believe that the study of intercessory prayer is very appropriate at this point, because in it, the love of God for all people is very evident. Because God is Creator, and the parent, par excellence, His love for His creatures is limitless. Notice that prayer, all kinds of prayer, from requests to thanksgiving, is to be made for everyone, to include those in authority! This exhortation brings to my mind the command that God gave his people when they were going into Babylonian captivity. Allow me to share it with you:
“This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: . . . ‘ “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29: 7). We too, are exiles in this world. Sin had separated us from the Father, and from our paradise home. God could have decided to destroy us and make Himself an entirely new race of people. But His love for us, as sinful as we are, did not allow Him to give up on us!
Many Christians are of the opinion that God is our God only. I cannot agree to that. As a parent, most of us love our children, whether they are obedient to us or not. Of course their disobedience breaks our hearts, especially because we know that sooner or later, the consequences of their disobedience will affect them. But under no circumstance, do we stop loving them! How much more a loving, kind, and compassionate Father who delights in mercy! Do we really believe that He is willing to give up on those who are not now walking in His footsteps? Do you believe that because there is so much ungodliness in the world of politics that we are not to keep our governments in prayer? The Word of God does not support that viewpoint. We are encouraged to pray for all, and as if reading our minds, He adds, “for kings and all those in authority.”
We are not of this world, as Jesus was not of this world (John 18: 36). But let us not forget that “. . . this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24: 14). God is interested in reaching the whole world! What more effective way of reaching the lost in the world than through intercessory prayer? I have seen lives that were on the road to perdition make 180 degree turns. I have seen legal decisions overturned by divine intervention. I have seen people in high places accept the Lord Jesus Christ as the Master of their lives, and become new creatures in Him. I have seen too much, not to know the incredible value of intercessory prayer.
Just as God did not give up on us, we dare not give up on others! Let us pray them into the kingdom!
We will continue!