|
Because of recent events, the "Sunday Sermon" is on Friday this week, and the
regular study in Hosea will be on Sunday
Pray For Them
"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" (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
As this is written, stolen airplanes have just slammed
into public buildings within the United States of America. The first one went to
New York and hit the north Twin Tower of the World Trade Center and then the
South Tower was struck as well. And while the country still reeled from these
blows, another airplane "missile" slammed into the heart of the
Pentagon, within the nations capitol. The planes had been taken by thieves, who
stole the lives of crew members and passengers alike and then robbed thousands
more of their lives, who just happened to be in and around the buildings they
hit.
At a factory, where I work in a Human Resources position
in the mornings, and before I fully knew what had happened to this country, I
was told of the events and was asked to pray. While we were praying, I thought
about the leaders of this nation and I wondered how long it had been since I had
specifically prayed for our leaders. Too long, I decided and I prayed for our
leaders at that moment.
All too often, I have heard from people that they don’t
pray for a person who is in office, because they "don’t like them."
Whether we like them or not has no relevance – we are to "pray
for all who are in authority" (1 Timothy 2:2). If you are
overwhelmed because there are too many leaders to pray for, follow the
"Adopt a Leader" suggestion of "Focus on the Family" –
pick one or two leaders and start to pray regularly for them. Then write and
tell them you are praying. I believe they will be encouraged that you are
praying for them. You will make a difference.
Throughout the morning, I was involved in other prayers
and thought again that we do not pray enough. I think that we do not pray
sufficiently for those in government and positions of leadership.
When I was in college, I wrote a term paper on President
Chester A. Arthur from New York. The President was suddenly dead, and Vice
President Arthur was sworn into the presidency. Many at the time were horrified,
for Mr. Arthur, a man with a "shady" past, had been a selection
designed to "balance the ticket", and nobody ever expected him to be
President of the United States. But he surprised everybody at the time, by
becoming a pretty good man for the office. It’s likely that many people prayed
for President Arthur, and God answered those prayers.
The issue isn’t about who won the election, for God is
in charge of those who win, all over the world. The words "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"
(Romans 13:1), were written by Paul during a time when there were lunatics among
those who were the "Caesars" of Rome. And Paul continued: "whoever
resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will
bring judgment on themselves" (Romans 13:2). Those in office may not
be our choices, but God appointed them and we should pray for them.
It will likely be seen that those who flew the airplanes
into our buildings hated Americans, and had no use for American government. They
may well have been "religious" people, for history is full of those
who thought they served religion by attacking innocent people. Actually, such
people are cowards when they hide evil acts behind "religion" and
pretend something "good" has been done. They have brought
"judgment on themselves".
As children, we called such people "bullies" and
they are. From God’s perspective, we finally see them for what they are –sinners
in need of God. Jonathan Edwards penned a wonderful work during the time of the
"Great Awakening" in America called "Sinners in the Hands Of An
Angry God", based on Deuteronomy 32:35, "Their
foot shall slide in due time." Those who crashed those planes are
now being judged by Almighty God.
When you saw the bully in action, did you pray for his
victim? Did you, as a child, pray for the school officials who must determine
fault in the matter? Did you pray for the bully (for he is in the greatest
trouble of all – without repentance and salvation in Christ Jesus, he is under
the judgment of God). Did you pray? Are you praying for our leaders now? Many
are likely praying now – but we should have prayed more BEFORE it happened.
You have to wonder, if we had been praying as a nation, would this have happened
at all?
You have a right to be angry at what was done, and America
has a right to anger in relation to what has happened to the country. Our
military may have to take up weapons and strike back in relation to this threat
to our land and people. But, we have a "first-strike" weapon that is
more powerful than any other in our arsenal – we have prayer. Prayer in the
Name of Jesus Christ.
How many times have you been delivered because someone
prayed for you? How many times have nations been delivered by the prayers of
those who prayed for them? The answer is that we have often been delivered by
the prayers of others. Sometimes we are prayed for by those we scarcely know. We
usually don’t know those in office, but we should pray for them, just because
that is what God has told us to do.
As a people, when we pray in unity, it is like building a
shield of prayer around this nation. And we should ask: Was the shield weakened
at precisely the moment those cowardly attackers chose to strike? We should pray
more – and maybe we can prevent a "next time."
It is time to bathe your nation in the prayers of its
people.
Father, we pray for America during this time of sorrow.
The victims, their families, all who are suffering right now. Help them, Lord.
We pray for all the emergency and medical personnel involved - keep them safe
and sustain them. Guide those in government as they decide what must be done in
the light of these events. Protect us, Lord. And Heal us, Lord, heal this land.
Teach us to pray. In Jesus Name. Amen
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org
|
