Silas
Beloved of All
Your heart to pray for those in authority, for those who serve, and for the open proclamation of the gospel reflects exactly what Scripture calls us to do. We join you in lifting these requests before the throne of grace with thanksgiving.
God instructs us in 1 Timothy 2 to offer prayers, petitions, intercession and thanksgiving for all in authority, so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and dignity, and this is good and pleasing in His sight, because He desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. That is the purpose behind this kind of praying, not only order and peace for its own sake, but peace that makes room for the gospel to go forward as Jesus commanded, to make disciples of all nations.
A central part of that prayer is for wisdom. Scripture personifies wisdom as crying out in the streets and inviting all to come and receive her. Wisdom is described as more precious than rubies, with length of days in one hand and riches and honor in the other, and all her paths are peace. Knowledge gives facts, but wisdom gives the ability to use knowledge rightly, and wisdom is the principal thing. For leaders who carry heavy responsibility, for commanders and troops, for officials and judges and all who make decisions that affect many lives, what is needed most is not merely information or worldly cleverness, but godly wisdom and understanding.
The beginning of that wisdom is the fear of the Lord, a humble reverence for Him and a hatred of evil. The wisdom that comes from this world leads to strife and war, but the wisdom that comes from above is peaceable. It first brings peace with God, as He invites us to reason together and be cleansed though our sins are as scarlet, and then it brings peace within our own hearts and enables us to live at peace with others. Those who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. That is why we pray that those in authority would seek counsel from God rather than from worldly wisdom, which comes to nothing.
We also remember that true peace in our hearts comes only after we have understood grace. The order in Scripture is always grace and then peace. We cannot know the peace of God until we know the grace of God offered through the cross of Christ. The message of the cross may seem like foolishness to the world that trusts in its own wisdom, yet it is the power of God for salvation. The world in its wisdom did not know God, but God was pleased through the preaching of the gospel to save those who believe. So we pray not only for safety and good government and open doors for free speech and the press, but above all that many would hear the good news that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and find salvation.
We agree with you in asking for the Lord's protection over those who serve, for His angels to encamp around those who fear Him and deliver them, and for His restraint of evil and confusion of evil plans. We pray against the spiritual forces of darkness described in Ephesians 6, putting on the armor of God and standing firm, and we ask that leaders would be delivered from temptation and from the schemes of the enemy, who is a liar and murderer from the beginning.
May the Lord grant to all who lead a heart that seeks His wisdom and understanding, that they may walk in ways of pleasantness and peace, and may He keep the door open for the gospel to bear fruit and be proclaimed freely. We thank God that He hears prayer, and we continue to intercede with you in the name of Jesus.
God instructs us in 1 Timothy 2 to offer prayers, petitions, intercession and thanksgiving for all in authority, so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and dignity, and this is good and pleasing in His sight, because He desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. That is the purpose behind this kind of praying, not only order and peace for its own sake, but peace that makes room for the gospel to go forward as Jesus commanded, to make disciples of all nations.
A central part of that prayer is for wisdom. Scripture personifies wisdom as crying out in the streets and inviting all to come and receive her. Wisdom is described as more precious than rubies, with length of days in one hand and riches and honor in the other, and all her paths are peace. Knowledge gives facts, but wisdom gives the ability to use knowledge rightly, and wisdom is the principal thing. For leaders who carry heavy responsibility, for commanders and troops, for officials and judges and all who make decisions that affect many lives, what is needed most is not merely information or worldly cleverness, but godly wisdom and understanding.
The beginning of that wisdom is the fear of the Lord, a humble reverence for Him and a hatred of evil. The wisdom that comes from this world leads to strife and war, but the wisdom that comes from above is peaceable. It first brings peace with God, as He invites us to reason together and be cleansed though our sins are as scarlet, and then it brings peace within our own hearts and enables us to live at peace with others. Those who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. That is why we pray that those in authority would seek counsel from God rather than from worldly wisdom, which comes to nothing.
We also remember that true peace in our hearts comes only after we have understood grace. The order in Scripture is always grace and then peace. We cannot know the peace of God until we know the grace of God offered through the cross of Christ. The message of the cross may seem like foolishness to the world that trusts in its own wisdom, yet it is the power of God for salvation. The world in its wisdom did not know God, but God was pleased through the preaching of the gospel to save those who believe. So we pray not only for safety and good government and open doors for free speech and the press, but above all that many would hear the good news that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and find salvation.
We agree with you in asking for the Lord's protection over those who serve, for His angels to encamp around those who fear Him and deliver them, and for His restraint of evil and confusion of evil plans. We pray against the spiritual forces of darkness described in Ephesians 6, putting on the armor of God and standing firm, and we ask that leaders would be delivered from temptation and from the schemes of the enemy, who is a liar and murderer from the beginning.
May the Lord grant to all who lead a heart that seeks His wisdom and understanding, that they may walk in ways of pleasantness and peace, and may He keep the door open for the gospel to bear fruit and be proclaimed freely. We thank God that He hears prayer, and we continue to intercede with you in the name of Jesus.
