Praying For Those In Authority

God Wants His People to Become the Controlling Influence in World Affairs Through Prayer

1 Timothy 2:1-4 – “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…” (vv.1-2)

He did not say criticize, fret, and worry first.

Pray first – follow God’s instructions.

Luke 18:1 – “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”

God has promised to do certain things for our land if we will follow His instructions.

2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

All of God’s promises are for all of His children.

2 Corinthians 1:20 – “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”

God receives glory when we act on His instructions and receive His promises.

It Is Within the Power of God’s People to Do the Things Which Will Bring Healing to the Land

The fact that our land needs healing indicates that the Christians have failed to do what God said.

We are the salt of the earth.

Matthew 5:13 – “Ye are the salt of the earth…”

Salt gives flavor.

Salt preserves – stops corruption.

Humble Yourself

God will not humble you – only you can do that.

Matthew 18:4 – “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this

little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

To humble yourself is to submit to God and His Word.

Rewards of humility:

James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 – “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (v.6).

Seek God’s Face

Literal: Get directly into God’s presence.

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Forsake Their Wicked Ways Don’t allow sin (strife, evil speaking) to have dominion over you. Receive forgiveness for not praying first of all for those in authority.

Confess your sins and receive your forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Forgive.

Mark 11:25 – “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Pray First of All 1 Timothy 2:1-4 – “…first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions… be made… for all that are in authority… For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour” (vv.1-3).

The ultimate purpose of our praying: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God.”

God’s ultimate purpose in this is that we will be able to spread the Gospel (v.4).

Good government enables God’s will to be performed.

Why We Pray for Those in Authority Romans 13:1 (AMP) – “Let every person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God’s appointment.”

1 Peter 2:13-15 (AMP) – “Be submissive to every human institution and authority for the sake of the Lord, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, Or to the governors…” (vv.13-14)

How to Pray One man through the prayer of intercession can change the course of a nation.

Ezekiel 22:30-31 – “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it…” (v.30)

Abraham stood in the gap for Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 18:20-22 – “And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;” (v.20) “And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord” (v.22).

There are three heavens:

God’s throne

Heaven of planets and stars

The unseen heaven where Satan has his dominion

Ephesians 6:12 – “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of the world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

The Battle Is in Heavenly Places Our weapons are not carnal.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (v.4).

Double kingdom: visible and invisible

Ezekiel 28:15-17 – “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee…they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee… I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”

Behind the visible kingdom of Tyrus was the invisible kingdom ruled by Satan.

Daniel’s Prayer Delayed Daniel 10:1-14, 20 – “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me…but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me…Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days” (vv.12-14).

Prince of Persia was one of Satan’s angels.

There was no warfare until Daniel prayed.

It was Daniel’s prayer that got the angel of God through.

It is what the believers do on earth that decides the course of events in heaven.

Scriptures to Pray Deuteronomy 17:15-20 – “Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother” (v.15).

Proverbs 25:2,5 – “Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness” (v.5).

Proverbs 29:4 – “The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.”

Proverbs 16:10 – “A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.”

Proverbs 21:1 – “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”

Ecclesiastes 8:4 – “Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?”

Joshua 1:8 – “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is

written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Pray they receive the wisdom of God.

James 1:5-6 – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to

all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (v.5).

Pray that they will not be influenced by popular opinion.

Pray Proverbs 2:10-16 (AMP) for the President.

Proverbs 2:10-16 – “For skillful and godly Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to you. Discretion shall watch over you, understanding shall keep you, To deliver you from the way of evil and the evil man, from men who speak perverse things and are liars” (vv.10-12).