“Pray And Intercede For Everyone!”

“Pray And Intercede For Everyone!”(I Tim. 2:1-6a).
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, and intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men…”
The above quote is part of the instructions that Paul gave to Timothy concerning prayer during public worship.
This horrors of the notorious Roman emperor Nero’s reign was probably in Paul’s mind when he wrote this letter. Nero was a nightmare to Christians. During Nero’s reign “emperor worship was at its peak.” While the rest of the people worshipped the emperor by saying “the emperor is Lord,” the Christians objected to it. This was reason enough to persecute them.
It is at this time that the persecuted Christians emphasised on the first creed that Jesus is Lord.” This challenge to “emperor worship” was reason enough for Christians to be persecuted and sometimes executed.
If the christian church is living under such a regime, you can imagine the nature of their intercessory prayer!
The question is, “Is it right to pray for a ruler who hates Christians – to the extent of torturing some and killing some?”
In answer to this Paul says “everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God “(Rom.13:1).
Specific to prayer as in our text for reflection today, Paul urges us that “requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives…” Afterall, there’s only one God and one mediator between God and men – the Lord Jesus Christ.
The prophet Jeremiah asked the exiles to pray for the peace and prosperity of the land of their captivity. In other words he was asking them to pray for their captors. The prosperity of the exiles depended on the prosperity of the cities of their captivity; reason why they were urged to pray for the peace and prosperity of those cities (Jer. 29:7).
Christians are asked to pray for those who persecute them. While on the cross our Lord Jesus Christ prayed asking his Father to forgive his killers because they were acting in ignorance.
Liberation prayer for the oppressed makes sense when it is accompanied by a prayer to liberate the oppressor who is ignorant of the brotherhood of all humankind.
All in all, the importance of prayer cannot be gainsaid. Persistent prayer soften God’s heart so that he releases his grace on those praying and on those for whom they are praying for.
Yes, my friend, don’t stop praying. Rather pray until you run out of words. Even so, pray as often as you can. Remember to pray for everyone!
Sunday prayer: Holy Spirit prompt me daily to pray and intercede for everyone with thanksgiving. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.