PRAY FOR ALL MEN
Last Wednesday, on National Day, we held our Day of Prayer, from 9am-12noon. This has been a regular event in our church calendar until it was disrupted by the Covid-19 precautionary measures. We held off the holding of this event for the last 3 years. This year, we resume this event. Thanks be unto God unto all those faithful few who devoted themselves to pray for the nation as well as for the church.
The apostle Paul wrote, “1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1Tim. 2:1-4). He exhorted us to make prayers for all men; particularly for kings (political) and those in authority (civil / spiritual).
Although the apostle Paul was under house arrest by the Roman emperor who was against Christianity, yet Paul urged the believers to continue to pray for the kings. Why? Because he believed in prayer and that God is sovereign. No kings could exercise any power except that it be permitted by God. And if God had allowed so, then God must have His purpose. Hence, the apostle Paul surrendered himself fully under the divine hands of God. Paul outlined four aspects of our prayer – supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings.
Supplication is the act of seeking God to meet a specific need. All of us have needs in our lives. However, we must not let such needs overwhelm us and create anxiety in us. Surrender them to the Lord: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6). When we surrender all these unto the Lord, God will replace our anxiety with peace in our hearts (Phi 4:7).
Prayer is a general term to describe the seeking of God’s will and favour. Prayer is not asking God to do what we want in life. Instead, it is about conforming our will to His will. We pray to know the will of God and to obey it. God has promised that He will guide us when we seek Him in prayer. What is required of us is a spirit of humility and obedience.
Intercession is the act of seeking God on behalf of others. To intercede for others is to seek God’s favour on the needs of others and not self. All Christians have the direct access to the throne of God in prayer. As believers, we have the duty to pray for others. When Abraham knew that the Lord will destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, he interceded for them. The destruction might not concern Abraham but he remembered Lot and his family were in the city of Sodom. We must do our part interceding for others, especially those who are still outside the kingdom of God.
And during the week, we thank God also for answering our prayers for the salvation of Lee Hua’s mother. We have been having her in our prayer list every prayer meeting. We thank God for answering our prayers. We pray that this list of those who are still outside of the kingdom of God will continue to dwindle, and then for it to be replaced with a new list. God does answer prayers.
Finally, thanksgiving refers to the act of giving thanks to God for all that He has done for us. We must learn to thank God for the good times as well as the bad times: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1Thes. 5:18). It is an act out of a heart filled with gratitude unto the Lord. Murmuring and complaints are often the result of ingratitude; but a heart of gratitude will always bring forth praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord.
The Lord Jesus highlighted to us many times in His earthly ministry on the importance of thanksgiving. When the woman was healed of a blood issue, Jesus prevented her from leaving secretly. He required her to render glory unto God. When Jesus healed the ten lepers, He commended the Samaritan leper who returned to give thanks to God. At the same time, He questioned the rest who were healed and did not return to give glory to God (Luke 17:17-18). All these show us that thanksgiving is our obligation unto God. So, let us learn to fill our hearts with thanksgiving, that the glory of God may be magnified.
So, let us learn to pray, not only for ourselves and our church, but for all men, and even for those in authority. We pray that God will continue to bestow prosperity and peace unto the nation. We pray that God will put in place the next generation of leaders, who are capable and morally upright to lead the nation. Pray that the name of the Lord be magnified and glorified. Believe in prayer. HCL.
