A Nation Worth Praying For

A Nation Worth Praying For

1 Timothy 2:1–8 KJV God and Government: A Biblical Balance

Theme

The Christian's response to earthly authority must begin with prayer to our heavenly Authority.

Proposition

God calls His people to pray for those in authority so that we might live godly lives and freely carry the Gospel to those who need Christ.

Key Thought

We do not pray merely for better government; we pray for an environment in which godliness can flourish and the Gospel can go forward.

Introduction

Throughout this series, we have considered the Christian's relationship to government.

Government has a God-ordained place.

Christians should be good citizens.

But our highest allegiance always belongs to God.

There is another responsibility we cannot overlook:

We are commanded to pray for those in authority.

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all… prayers… be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority…”

Remember the setting:

Paul was writing to Christians living under the Roman Empire.

Their government did not share their values.

Yet Paul did not tell them to complain about Rome.

He told them to pray.

It is easier to criticize an authority than to intercede for one.

But Paul says, “first of all…”

Before criticism, frustration or political arguments, pray

Paul is not telling them to pray so they get the government they want.

He is saying that Believers should pray so that they have the freedom to be the people God wants them to be.

“That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

We understand this morning, America's greatest need is not political

We dont need new Leaders, Our leaders need Christ.

We dont need new neighbors, Our neighbors need Christ.

We dont need a different community, Our communities need Christ.

As long as there are souls who need Christ and churches that need liberty to proclaim the Gospel, we have a nation worth praying for.

I. The Priority of Prayer

— vv. 1–2

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.”

Paul begins by establishing the priority of prayer.

Before Paul tells Timothy what the government needs to do, he tells the church what we need to do.

“First of all…”

Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort.

A. The Urgency of Prayer

“I exhort therefore…”

Exhort carries the idea of urging someone toward a course of action.

Paul is not merely suggesting prayer.

He is urging the church to make prayer a priority.

We need to remember Proverbs 21:1: “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”

We believe God can save a sinner.

We believe God can change a life.

We believe God can answer impossible prayers.

Then why would we believe that government is beyond His reach?

Sometimes we spend more time talking about our leaders than talking to God about our leaders.

We spend more time worrying about Washington than trusting the God who rules over Washington.

The church must never allow its political concern to become greater than its prayer concern.

Before we complain — pray. Before we worry — pray. Before we become angry — pray.

A. The Urgency of Prayer

B. The Variety of Prayer

Paul uses four different expressions:

“supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks…”

1. Supplications — Specific Requests

Bring particular needs before God.

Pray for:

Wisdom in decisions.

Restraint of wickedness.

Protection of liberty.

Justice.

Opportunities for the Gospel.

Don't merely pray, “Lord, bless our country.”

Pray specifically.

2. Prayers — Dependence upon God

Prayer itself is an acknowledgment that our confidence is not in government.

Government has its God-ordained responsibility, but government is not God.

Our hope is not in:

An election.

A political party.

A president.

A Congress.

A court.

Our confidence is in the Lord.

3. Intercessions — Praying for Others

We pray on behalf of others.

That includes:

Those with whom we agree.

Those with whom we disagree.

Those we respect.

Those whose decisions concern us.

4. Thanksgiving — Recognizing God's Goodness

Paul even includes “giving of thanks.”

Thank God for the country in which we live.

Thank God for the freedoms we possess.

Thank God for every opportunity we have to worship and proclaim the Gospel.

Thank God that He remains sovereign regardless of who occupies an earthly office.

Our prayers should never become complaints disguised as prayers.

A. The Urgency of Prayer

B. The Variety of Prayer

C. The Scope of Prayer

“for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority…”

Notice the word all.

Not merely those we agree with.

Not merely those who share our convictions.

Not merely those we voted for.

A political party should never determine our prayer list.

When we pray for government, remember that we are praying for people.

Behind every office is a person. Behind every title is a soul. Behind every decision-maker is someone who will stand before God.

When we remember that, it becomes much harder to become so frustrated with government that we stop praying for those in it.

I. The Priority

II. The Purpose of Prayer

— vv. 2–3

“…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

Paul now explains why believers should pray for those in authority.

A. A Peaceful Life

“a quiet and peaceable life…”

These words emphasize tranquility both around us and within us.

The desire is for conditions in which believers can quietly live out their faith without unnecessary disruption or interference.

But notice carefully:

Peace is not the final goal.

Paul continues:

“…in all godliness and honesty.”

God does not merely want us comfortable.

He wants us Christlike.

A. A Peaceful Life

B. A Pious Life

“in all godliness…”

Our greatest concern should not merely be:

The prosperity of America.

The power of America.

The peace of America.

Our concern should include the godliness of God's people.

Titus 2 reminds us that we are to live “soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”

We often ask God to change the nation.

But perhaps our prayer also needs to be:

“Lord, convict Your church.”

Before asking God to make America great again, we ought to be asking God to make us godly again.

A. A Peaceful Life

B. A Pious Life

C. A Principled Life

“…and honesty.”

The word carries the thought of dignity, gravity, and honorable conduct.

Christianity should not merely be professed.

It should be practiced.

Our conduct should match our confession.

Our character should match our Christianity.

How can we demand righteousness from our nation while refusing righteousness in the church?

Our prayer cannot only be:

“God, work in the people over us.”

It must also be:

“God, work in the person within me.”

Then Paul says: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.”

Prayer for all people—including those in authority—is not merely permitted.

It pleases God.

And verse 4 begins to explain why.

I. The Priority

II. the Purpose

III. The Passion Behind Prayer

— vv. 4–7

“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

Here is where Paul's argument becomes unmistakably evangelistic.

Why should we pray for all men?

Because God desires all men to be saved.

Our concern for government must never overshadow our concern for the souls of those in government.

A. God's Desire — They Need to Be Saved

“Who will have all men to be saved…”

No class of people is beyond the reach of the Gospel.

Kings need Christ.

Governors need Christ.

Judges need Christ.

Legislators need Christ.

Our neighbors need Christ.

We tend to see labels.

Republican. Democrat. Conservative. Liberal.

God sees souls.

That does not mean we overlook wickedness.

It does not mean we compromise truth.

It means disagreement must never cause us to forget someone's soul.

Pray for their soul first of all.

2 Peter 3:9 reminds us that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

The greatest thing that could happen to a leader is not that they change parties—it is that they change masters.

A. God's Desire — They Need to Be Saved

B. God's Deliverer — Christ Is Their Only Hope

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

Man's greatest problem is not political.

Man's greatest problem is sin.

And there is only one answer to that problem:

Jesus Christ.

Government can:

Pass laws.

Punish crime.

Protect freedom.

Maintain order.

But government cannot:

Forgive sin.

Change a heart.

Reconcile man to God.

Save a soul.

Only Jesus can do that.

Verse 6: “Who gave himself a ransom for all…”

The answer is not found in the:

Statehouse. Courthouse. or White House.

The answer is found at Calvary's hill.

Christ gave Himself.

Christ paid the ransom.

Christ provided redemption.

The hope of the nation is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A. God's Desire — They Need to Be Saved

B. God's Deliverer — Christ Is Their Only Hope

C. God's Declaration — We Are Responsible to Proclaim It

“Whereunto I am ordained a preacher…”

Paul had:

A Message

Christ gave Himself a ransom for all.

A Mission

Take that message to others.

A Ministry

Preach and teach that truth faithfully.

The church has that same Gospel responsibility today.

Mark 16:15: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

This gives us another reason to value and pray for religious liberty.

We do not desire liberty merely so we can sit on our blessed assurance.

We desire liberty so we can spread the Gospel.

Liberty is not merely something to enjoy.

Liberty is an opportunity to use.

If God has given us an open door to preach Christ, then we ought to walk through it while it is open.

I. The Priority

II. the Purpose

III. The Passion

IV. The Purity of Prayer

— v. 8

“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

Paul finishes his exhortation where he started:

Prayer.

But now the emphasis changes.

Paul has addressed who we pray for.

Now he addresses the person doing the praying.

A. Pray with Holy Hands

“lifting up holy hands…”

This is more than physical posture.

It points us toward spiritual condition.

Psalm 24:3–4 asks: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart…”

We spend considerable time demanding righteousness from government.

God demands righteousness from His children first.

David prayed in Psalm 139:23: “Search me, O God, and know my heart…”

Before asking God to clean up Washington, perhaps we need to ask:

“God, clean me.”

Revival always gets personal before it gets national.

A. Pray with Holy Hands

B. Pray Without Wrath

“…without wrath…”

Political anger can easily become personal hatred.

There is a difference between righteous indignation toward wickedness and sinful wrath toward people.

James 1:20: “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

We should:

Oppose wickedness without hatred.

Stand against error without bitterness.

Speak truth with love for the sinner.

If our political convictions cause us to hate the very people God commands us to pray for, something has become dramatically out of balance.

Our burden for our nation should drive us to our knees, not drive us into bitterness.

A. Pray with Holy Hands

B. Pray Without Wrath

C. Pray Without Doubting

“…and doubting.”

Our confidence is not in the person holding an office.

Our confidence is in the God who holds all things.

Daniel 2:21 reminds us: “he removeth kings, and setteth up kings…”

Administrations change.

Presidents come and go.

Political parties rise and fall.

Nations themselves rise and fall.

But God does not change. He is the same yesterday today and forever

Psalm 103:19: “The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.”

No election removes God from His throne.

No administration takes God by surprise.

No earthly power can overthrow His sovereign rule.

We pray without doubting because God is still God—and that will never change.

Conclusion

— Before Anything Else, Pray

Paul begins this passage:

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all…”

And he ends it:

“I will therefore that men pray every where…”

The passage begins with prayer.

The passage ends with prayer.

And right in the middle stands Jesus Christ and the Gospel.

That tells us something about how Christians ought to respond to the condition of a nation.

We can be concerned.

We can participate responsibly.

We can stand for truth.

We can oppose wickedness.

But first of all—pray.

Pray for those over us.

Pray for godliness within us.

Pray for the Gospel to go through us.

And pray with confidence in the God who rules above us.

The question is not

“Is America a nation worth saving?”

The question of this text is:

“Are the people in this nation worth praying for?”

Paul's answer is unmistakable:

Pray for all men.

Why?

Because all men need Christ.

So instead of allowing the condition of our nation to make us bitter, let it make us burdened.

Instead of merely talking about those in authority, pray for them.

Instead of merely asking God to change Washington, ask Him to change us.

And while God has given us the liberty and opportunity to preach Christ:

Pray for the nation. Live godly in the nation. And preach the Gospel to the nation.

Because this is a nation worth praying for.