Paul said in our opening scripture that before we pray for ourselves or our families, we should pray, "For kings, and for all that are in authority…." That means we are to pray for our government - for those who are in authority - from the national level down to the local level. A few of us are doing this now, but not many. If Christians were praying for our leaders, things would not be as they are in our nation.
Paul wrote under the anointing of God's Spirit, which means these words in First Timothy are God's words. God is not going to tell us to pray for something He's not going to give us. No father would tell his child he was going to buy her a doll for her birthday and then not do it.
Certainly our Heavenly Father is not less faithful in His promises than an earthly father would be. God is not a man that He should lie. He will do what He says - when we meet His conditions. So many times there are conditions to be met in connection with prayer.
In the time in which Paul wrote this, most countries had kings for leaders. Today's equivalent in our country would be our President. Paul then said, "...for all that are in authority..." (v. 2). That means all our leaders - congressmen, senators, governors, mayors - all who are in authority. It even includes policemen.
It's so easy to criticize. I hear people criticize and I know they are not praying for our leaders; for when we pray for others we are not so apt to criticize them.
As Christians, however, we are not to put politics before Christ. Some people are so politically minded they are no good spiritually.
There are some people who, if they did pray for someone who was not a member of their political party, would pray for him to be defeated. If the person were already in office, they would pray that he wouldn't be successful. That is a selfish prayer, and one that won't be heard or answered.
The Lord has impressed upon me that we should pray especially for our nation, for things can be changed through prayer. God doesn't tell us to do something just to put extra words in the Bible, or to fill up space. He has a purpose in mind. In our Scripture text we can learn the purpose of praying for our leaders.
Spiritual Opposition to the U.S.
Ministers who have traveled extensively in other countries in gospel work tell me that while other countries are doing a certain amount of missionary work, America is about the only one carrying the Gospel to the world.
Naturally, we see why the devil would oppose our nation so he could stop the flow of truth to the whole world. And we can see why God wants us to pray for those in authority, because He would have "all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4).
We can change things by prayer. We can hold back judgment even on the unsaved, and give them a little more of a chance to hear the Gospel. God told Abraham that if there were 10 righteous to be found in Sodom and Gomorrah, He would spare the cities.
I believe there are more than 10 righteous men in America today. I believe there are people who will take their place in prayer just as Abraham did in intercession. If we will do this, we can change things. And it doesn't take a great number to do it.
Too many times we read newspaper articles and hear sermons about what the devil is doing. We hear how terrible things are. I don't care what the devil is doing. There are some principles of prayer written in the Bible that apply to us today whereby we can change things.
If God really wanted to spare the land, why didn't He just do it? Why doesn't God just do what He wants to do? In 1 Timothy 2:4, we read that God wills all men should come unto the knowledge of the truth. If He is Almighty, why doesn't He go ahead and save everyone?
The God of This World
The answer is found in the Book of Genesis. After God made the earth and the fullness thereof, He made man. He then gave Adam dominion over this world. However, Adam sold out to Satan. Then Satan became the ruler, the god of this world, and he began to dominate the earth.
In 2 Corinthians 4:4, Paul calls Satan the god of this world: "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
In the fourth chapter of Luke one will find the account of how Jesus was tempted. Satan offered to Jesus all the glory of the kingdoms of this world. If he had not been able to do this, then it would not have been a real temptation. And if it had not been a bona fide temptation, then the Bible would have been lying when it said Jesus was tempted of the devil. However, the glory of this world was Satan's to offer, for it became his when Adam sinned.
Therefore, who is responsible for the wars, murders, and violence in the world? The devil is. These don't come from God. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). And God can intervene only as Christians seek His face and ask Him to move: "...ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2).
Satan's authority over matters on the earth can only be overcome as Christians pray and intercede in behalf of our country. God is looking today for someone who will "...make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it..." (Ezek. 22:30).
Excerpt permission granted by Faith Library Publications
Rev. Hagin served in Christian ministry for nearly 70 years and was known as the "father of the modern faith movement." His teachings and books are filled with vivid stories that show God's power and truth working in his life and the lives of others.
