FATHER, HELP THEM TOO 1 Timothy 2:1-3; Proverbs 21:1
Adoration Confession Thanksgiving Supplication
Introduction Continuing series Connecting with God We ve been looking at How to Pray We started with beginning prayer with a time of adoring God This helps put everything else in right perspective Then, we focused on the confession of our sins
Introduction Next, focused on giving thanks to God for freedom from the guilt/power of sin Then, we turned our focus to prayers of supplication, also called prayers of petition - when we come to God and ask Him for something We started with the need to pray for ourselves
Introduction Then, we introduced the reason for praying for others we need each other The Lord s Supper reminded us that Jesus died for all of us All of us were sinners and all of us still struggle So, we really do need each other to encourage and build up
Introduction Last week, we looked at how we can effectively pray for others Knowing that others face the same struggles we do Others face the same attacks we do Others have the same desires we do It gives us a starting point with how to pray for them
1 Timothy 2:1-4 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be
1 Timothy 2:1-4 saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Introduction Today, I want to look at the mandate to pray for those in authority This is not an option for believers Therefore or First of all indicate the priority of prayers for all men including those in authority Prayer should be the top priority of the church and believers
The priority of prayer Billy Graham said, "The three secrets to successful ministry are: prayer, prayer and more prayer." We pray even when we don t agree with the policies of the people who lead us We pray for those in authority this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior
Praying for those in authority Understand all authority comes from God No one is placed in public office apart from the will of God God sometimes does it purposefully God sometimes allows the people s will to come to bear All authority comes from God
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Therefore, we must trust the sovereignty of God We should view politics through a different lens God is the God of the nations Washington doesn t call the shots; God does The Bible is records numerous moments where God manages the hearts of kings
Proverbs 21:1 The king s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
Paul s prayers for other believers Remember the Egyptians God influenced the release of the children of Israel They even found favor in the eyes of the Egyptians as they began their exodus Cyrus, king of Persia The destiny of the people lay, not in the will of Cyrus, but in the will of God
Ezra 1:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing.
WE can trust the sovereignty of God He is God and we aren t God will orchestrate everything for His ultimate will to be achieved God is faithful God is all knowing omniscient If He is in charge (He is) and He knows what is right and best (He does), then we can trust Him
1 Peter 2:13-15 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men,
We must remember our responsibility in regard to authority Submission to God first Submission to the governing authorities Submission is not unconditional If authorities require something that goes against the Word of God, we must obey God first
Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than men.
The purpose of praying for those in authority God s will To lead a tranquil and quiet life The purpose of a tranquil and quiet life is so that the gospel can be taught freely and openly Freedom to worship and gather together Freedom to speak the Gospel
The purpose of praying for those in authority Remember the early church in Acts Did not pray for persecution to stop Nero was emperor when Paul wrote this persecuted Christians horribly Prayed for Boldness Prayed for opportunities The biggest thing they prayed
For us How about you? Do you submit the governing authorities? How about speed limits, taxes, etc.? Do you pray for those in authority? Doesn t matter whether you like them or not It is God s will to do this
"The three secrets to successful ministry are: prayer, prayer and more prayer." Billy Graham