Praying for Our Nation
Seldom has the Christian realized the power that Almighty God has granted to them to secure peace for their nation. Our elected officials are not the reason this nation fails or succeeds. This nation fails or succeeds as a result of the commitment Christians have to diligently pray for those in authority. Politicians may have civic authority, but the Christians have the authority of Christ on the earth.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and GIVING OF THANKS, be made for all men; for kings, and for ALL that are in authority; THAT WE MAY LEAD A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE in all godliness and honesty.” A Christian is a Christian before they are ever a Republican or Democrat. We are citizens of the commonwealth of Heaven before we are ever citizens of an earthly nation. Too often, Christians are blaming the president or another politician for the state of the nation meanwhile God has given them the power to change things in prayer. The Bible says to give thanks for your leaders, not sit around and complain about them. The Bible says to pray, supplicate, and intercede for those in civic government “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.” Many times believers are the ones sitting around saying, “This country is going down the drain.” Believers that talk that way are part of the problem and not part of the solution.
Ezekiel 22:30 says, “And I (God) sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before Me FOR THE LAND that I should not destroy it, but I found none.” God is looking for someone to stand in the gap. Many people today, even Christians, are the gap. They complain, they bicker, and they defend the purposes of a political party when they should have entered into the presence of God and changed things there. We must learn that Christians, not politicians, dictate what happens in our nation.
When Abraham interceded for the city of Sodom in Genesis chapter 18, we learn something very important about the influence that righteous people have on our nation. As God was about to destroy Sodom because of the horrific sins of that city, He said in Genesis 18:26, “…If I find fifty righteous within the city then I will spare the place for THEIR SAKES.” God said that He would withhold judgment upon the land for the sake of the righteous. The faithfulness of Christians does not affect the health of a church or a community only; it affects the health of the entire nation. I challenge every Christian to pray for our nation, civic leaders, and troops. Let’s stop complaining and start praying that our nation be changed.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
