Today’s Reading:
1 Tm 2:1-8
First of all, then I urge that petitions (specific requests), prayers, intercessions (prayers for others) and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all people. for kings and all who are in [positions of] high authority, so that we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This [kind of praying] is good and acceptable and pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour. Who wishes all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge and recognition of the [divine] truth. For there is [only] one God, and [only] one Mediator (who died to reconcile) between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom [a substitutionary sacrifice to atone] for all, the testimony given at the right and proper time. And for this matter I was appointed a preacher and an apostle – I am telling the truth; I am not lying [when I say this] – a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. Therefore, I want the men (and women) in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and disputing or quarrelling or doubt [in their mind]. (1Timoty 2:1-8; AMPV)

Paul here exhorts us all to intercede with all manner of supplication, prayer, intercessions and give thanks for all situations of men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that the nation may be quiet and peaceful and that we may live a life of all godliness and reverence to God. This does not mean that Christians would blend in and not be noticed, rather, it is to be able to display the beauty of the Good News and allow the church’s mission to go on without hindrance (2Tim 3:12; 1Pet 3:13-17). This service is good and acceptable to God. It is the desire of God that all men should be saved and thereby come to the realisation of the truth of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 1-4). But it is a pity that it is not all people that would be saved because many would reject our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ (Matt. 25:31-46; Jn 12:44-50; Heb. 10:26-29). The message of the Gospel is universal, the whole world is under the merciful eyes of God and the offer of salvation. God loves all to be saved.
Although God is all-powerful and all-knowing, He has chosen to allow us to work together with Him to fulfil His plan for the world through our prayers. How this will be done is a mystery to us because of our limited knowledge and understanding of the workings of God. But for us to reap the benefits of good governance, which is a gift from God, we are to continuously pray for those in authority over us, for the church’s welfare and for the advancement of the gospel (v. 2; Rom. 13:17). Because our persistent prayers will yield much and powerful results (James 5:16). Paul wrote this letter around A.D. 54-68, during the reign of the notoriously wicked emperor Nero. At this time, persecution of the early church was a growing threat. He fuels the great fire that destroyed much of Rome in A.D. 64 in order to take away the focus off himself, he made a scapegoat of the Roman Christians. This brought about great persecution throughout the Roman empire, where Christians were denied a lot of their rights and privileges in the society, and as if that was not enough, many were publicly butchered, burned or fed to animals. What is happening in the world today, especially in our nation is what Paul called the ‘dangers of the Last Days’ (2Tim. 3:1-5). One may wonder that since the time of Paul, the end has not come. Let us not forget that a thousand years in the presence of God is like a watch of the night. He predicted that these days would be very difficult ones. People will love only themselves and money; they will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God; ungrateful and being disobedient to parents. Nothing more will be sacred. Today, many people of God operating under the influence of the devil and his cohorts. Unloving and unforgiveness is the order of the day. People slander each other without self-control. A lot are cruel and hate what is good and true. A lot will act religious but had rejected the power of God that could make them godly. The false ministers that have crept into the church, have brought the church into the dispute in the eyes of the world, and endanger her mission to the unbelieving world (vv. 1-15; 3:1-13).
When we are in comfort, there are tendencies to forget to pray for our religious leaders and those in authority over our nations, and so we take the spirituality of the church and good governance for granted. It is not only when we experience challenges and problems that we pray for our nations. We should pray for the whole world so that the unreached places of the world will be conducive to the spread of the gospel. What do we do?
We must recognise and believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is the only true Son of the Father. Jesus Christ came to the world to save the perishing souls. He is the only way to the Father, and He is the only door that opens to the presence of the Father. He died and was risen from the dead and is exalted to a place of honour at the right hand of the Father. Anything outside this is contrary to the will of God for all who have been saved. Have you surrendered your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour?
Be steadfast in prayer. Because through prayer, we can bring all things into the will and plan of God. Ask the Holy Ghost to repair and refuel your prayer altar. Ask the blood of Jesus to cleanse and the Holy Spirit to purify your spirit man, and make it function to the glory of God. Pray for those in governance who have the power to persecute the church but pray against the evil spirit behind their throne. Pray for perishing souls and pray against the end-time evil spirit using them to perpetrate evil.
Put on the whole armour of God and rely on His might to be able to fight the good fight of faith. Remember, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to pull down strongholds of human false reasoning and to destroy the false argument. We are to destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God and the truth of the Gospel. Through prayers and the power of God, we capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ (2Cor 10:4-6).
On your part, desire to live a holy life with the help of the Holy Spirit, and put on the love of Christ, humility, and forgiveness as garments. Pray always and live the word of God.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
Father, in your mercy, as individuals, families, societies, communities, and nations, forgive our diverse sins, especially sins of shedding innocent blood, in Jesus name.
Lord, the heart of the king is in Your hand, and you turn it to wherever you will. By Your mighty power, turn the hearts of our leaders and those being led to doing good. Let the spirit of deceit, falsehood and selfishness that have engulfed our nations be consumed by your fire, in Jesus name.
Father, thank You for the knowledge that our children are gifts from You and that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. In your mercy, grant us the wisdom and guidance to lead our children in Your path of righteousness. As parents, give us the discernment, patience and clear observation, teachable spirit to lead them in the right way by the power of Your Holy Spirit, in Jesus name.
Father, let the power of the Cross and the Holy Spirit be released to dethrone flesh in the Body of Christ. Let the life of Christ our Saviour be truly established in Your Church, in Jesus name.
Father, let every evil establishment and satanic tree in this nation be uprooted by fire, in Jesus name.
We come against every spirit of the anti-Christ, and wicked spirit from dry places, working against this nation and command it to be completely frustrated and die, in Jesus name.
Father, let the desires, plans, devices and expectations of the enemies of this nation be totally frustrated and die, in Jesus name.
Father, deliver our nations from the ungodly race that do not fear nor know YOU AS GOD, in Jesus name.
Father, let your plan for this nation at this season be fulfilled, and restore your glory upon our nation, in Jesus name.
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