Silas
Beloved of All
Your intercession for those in authority is right and good and pleases God, and it follows exactly what Scripture teaches when it tells us to offer prayers, petitions, intercession and thanksgiving for all who are in authority, so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and dignity, and so that the gospel may go forward, for God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Thank you for carrying this burden faithfully and for asking above all for wisdom for leaders, commanders, generals and troops, and for all who hold responsibility. That request is the best request that can be made. Scripture presents wisdom as the principal thing, the most valuable possession, more desirable than rubies or silver or gold, and nothing we might desire can compare to it. When wisdom is pictured as a person calling out in the streets, we are meant to hear the voice of the Lord himself, for in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
You remember how Solomon, when he was given the opportunity to ask for anything, did not ask for riches or fame or victory over his enemies, but asked for wisdom to govern the people well. The Lord was pleased with that choice and said that because he had asked for wisdom rather than wealth or honor, He would give him wisdom and also add to him the other things he had not asked for. That is still the pattern. When leaders seek wisdom first, they are then able to use whatever resources, strength or influence they have in a right way.
The starting place for that kind of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, which is to hate evil and to turn from it. It is the beginning, the foundation and the source. God gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for those who walk uprightly. The person who finds wisdom finds life and happiness, for wisdom is a defense and it preserves and keeps those who love it. That is why Scripture urges us to seek it as we would seek silver or hidden treasure, with diligence and earnestness.
There is another kind of wisdom that is not from above. It is earthly, natural and sensual, and it leads to envy, strife, confusion and every evil work. The wisdom of the world, even when it sounds impressive, is foolishness with God and it comes to nothing. It cannot lead people to know God. Only the wisdom that comes from God leads to purity, peace and life.
For this reason your prayers for wisdom and for salvation for those in authority are so needed. They need not only strategic skill but godly wisdom that hates evil, loves what is good, and understands how to lead in a way that allows order, justice, freedom of speech and the open proclamation of the gospel and the teaching of the Bible, in obedience to Christ's command to make disciples of all nations. And your prayers for protection are also biblical. The Lord is able to command His angels to guard those who fear Him, to encamp around them and deliver them, to restrain the spirits of darkness and to bring to confusion the plans of those who plot evil, as He did when He revealed the plans of the king of Syria to Elisha and when He warned David of Saul's intent.
Continue to stand in this work of prayer with all kinds of prayer, with thanksgiving and with worship, putting on the full armor of God and wrestling not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil. Pray that leaders would come to know Jesus Christ as Savior, for salvation is through Him alone, that they would be given wisdom from above, that they would be protected from temptation and delivered from evil, and that God would grant peace where possible so that the gospel may be proclaimed freely and bear fruit.
Father, we agree with this intercession. Grant to all who are in authority wisdom that comes from Your fear, turn their hearts to seek You, bring them to salvation through Jesus Christ, surround with Your protection those who serve and those who are vulnerable, restrain evil and the evil one, and grant peace and order that the good news of Jesus may be spoken openly and heard. Give Your people persistence in prayer and confidence that You hear and answer, in Jesus' name, amen.
Thank you for carrying this burden faithfully and for asking above all for wisdom for leaders, commanders, generals and troops, and for all who hold responsibility. That request is the best request that can be made. Scripture presents wisdom as the principal thing, the most valuable possession, more desirable than rubies or silver or gold, and nothing we might desire can compare to it. When wisdom is pictured as a person calling out in the streets, we are meant to hear the voice of the Lord himself, for in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
You remember how Solomon, when he was given the opportunity to ask for anything, did not ask for riches or fame or victory over his enemies, but asked for wisdom to govern the people well. The Lord was pleased with that choice and said that because he had asked for wisdom rather than wealth or honor, He would give him wisdom and also add to him the other things he had not asked for. That is still the pattern. When leaders seek wisdom first, they are then able to use whatever resources, strength or influence they have in a right way.
The starting place for that kind of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, which is to hate evil and to turn from it. It is the beginning, the foundation and the source. God gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for those who walk uprightly. The person who finds wisdom finds life and happiness, for wisdom is a defense and it preserves and keeps those who love it. That is why Scripture urges us to seek it as we would seek silver or hidden treasure, with diligence and earnestness.
There is another kind of wisdom that is not from above. It is earthly, natural and sensual, and it leads to envy, strife, confusion and every evil work. The wisdom of the world, even when it sounds impressive, is foolishness with God and it comes to nothing. It cannot lead people to know God. Only the wisdom that comes from God leads to purity, peace and life.
For this reason your prayers for wisdom and for salvation for those in authority are so needed. They need not only strategic skill but godly wisdom that hates evil, loves what is good, and understands how to lead in a way that allows order, justice, freedom of speech and the open proclamation of the gospel and the teaching of the Bible, in obedience to Christ's command to make disciples of all nations. And your prayers for protection are also biblical. The Lord is able to command His angels to guard those who fear Him, to encamp around them and deliver them, to restrain the spirits of darkness and to bring to confusion the plans of those who plot evil, as He did when He revealed the plans of the king of Syria to Elisha and when He warned David of Saul's intent.
Continue to stand in this work of prayer with all kinds of prayer, with thanksgiving and with worship, putting on the full armor of God and wrestling not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil. Pray that leaders would come to know Jesus Christ as Savior, for salvation is through Him alone, that they would be given wisdom from above, that they would be protected from temptation and delivered from evil, and that God would grant peace where possible so that the gospel may be proclaimed freely and bear fruit.
Father, we agree with this intercession. Grant to all who are in authority wisdom that comes from Your fear, turn their hearts to seek You, bring them to salvation through Jesus Christ, surround with Your protection those who serve and those who are vulnerable, restrain evil and the evil one, and grant peace and order that the good news of Jesus may be spoken openly and heard. Give Your people persistence in prayer and confidence that You hear and answer, in Jesus' name, amen.
