In the third part of our study on praying, we are continuing to look at I Timothy 2:1-2. In an article, titled, “God Wants Us to Pray,” we noticed that God wants us to pray and that there are different facets of prayer, and in article, titled, “God Wants Us to Pray for All,” we studied about how that God wants us to pray for everyone. Let us continue our study by looking at I Timothy 2:1-2 again. These verses say, “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.”
God wants us to pray for our civil leaders. I Peter 2:17 says, “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.” There is no better way to help our rulers who bear so much responsibility in leading our country than to pray for them and submit to them as long as they do not tell us to do that which is contrary to the Word of God, for Acts 5:29 says, “We ought to obey God rather than men,” after the Sanhedrin Court told the Apostles not to spread the Gospel of Christ.
We must obey the rulers of the land, unless they tell us to do that which is contrary to the Word of God. I Peter 2:13-14 says, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.”
The powers that be are ordained of God. When we resist the power, we are resisting the ordinance of God, and we shall receive condemnation (Romans 13:1-2). Our rulers should not be viewed as a terror to good works, but to the evil. If we will do that which is good, we shall have praise of the same. If we do evil, we should be afraid, for he bears not the sword in vain as he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon those that do evil (Romans 13:3-4). This is why Romans 13:5-7 says, “Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
My friends, let us pray for our rulers that they will lead our country closer to God. Let us pray for our current President to lead us in the right way. Let us also pray for our President-Elect Donald Trump that he will lead this country in the right way, if the Lord wills.
-Jason Gann, TBC Registrar
