Time for Serious Prayer
Words of Faith 4-26-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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1 Timothy 2
[1] I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone‑‑ [2] for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. [3] This is good, and pleases God our Savior, [4] who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

The Apostle Paul led the most radical spiritual revolution that the world has ever seen. But interestingly enough, he was not about political revolution. Paul did not fight earthly battles against Rome. He used something much more powerful... prayer. Here Paul urged believers to pray for kings and all those in authority. That was a big order in his day.
Nero was growing increasingly resentful toward Christians, especially after the fire that destroyed Rome in July of 64AD. The Roman Empire was disintegrating under Nero, and Christians began to suffer persecution from the Roman authorities. Paul was especially aware of the deteriorating political atmosphere because he had only recently been released from imprisonment in Rome.
Paul knew that the problems of this age were never really political. The battles being waged are not against flesh and blood or political systems. The battles are for the souls of men and women, and the stakes are eternal. That is why Paul urged prayer for the salvation of all men, especially rulers. His hope was that a stable non-interfering environment like that of previous days might be recovered so that the Gospel could go forth.
Sounds like a prayer that we can relate to. Today Paul would urge us to pray as never before for world leaders and a stable economy, but not so much because we want the personal benefits of such stability. Paul would urge such prayer simply because the Gospel needs to go out. There are missionaries who need to be able to travel. There are people who need to hear the Good News. Now, more than ever, we need to live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness so that the Gospel may be proclaimed.
So how are your prayers these days? We need to pray for those who have lost jobs, homes, and hope. We need to reach out with compassion. But we especially need to pray for the leaders of civil government. Paul did not specify the content of these prayers. Still, almost certainly, he was instructing that requests be made for the salvation of the people and their governors. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, [4] who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
It is powerful to think that even when Christians were suffering under terrible persecution from the Roman authorities, Paul urged prayers of thanksgiving. This was much more than a suggestion that things "could always get worse, so be thankful." Paul consistently taught a prayer life that includes thanksgiving in all things and in every situation. Paul had a deep trust that even in what appears to be the "worst of times," God is richly at work in every opportunity.
So how do we pray these days? Paul would certainly urge us to pray for the salvation of our leaders, for our friends, for those serving the Gospel around the world and here at home, for a revival of the church, for an outpouring that reaches the lost, and certainly for economic stability and political peace that would allow the Gospel to be proclaimed around the world.

Father God, it is often easy to be focused solely on my own personal concerns in a difficult economic time. I lift the leaders of my community, state, and nation. I pray for the salvation of our national leaders and a realization that the only answer is Jesus. I pray for those I am aware of who are suffering. I ask You to use this time to draw near to individuals and for each one to see Your hand of provision and know Your mercy. I pray for times of peace and stability for the Gospel to go forth. Revive Your church, O Lord. Pour out Your Spirit on all sorts of people in these last days. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.