Pray for all in authority

Preached at Glen Aros Christian Fellowship on
Sunday 15th March 2009

Let’s look at Ezra 6:1-12

Ezr 6:1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the scrolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that was in the province of the Medes, a scroll. And in it was a record written thus:
3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem. Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations of it be strongly laid. The height of it shall be sixty cubits, and the breadth of it shall be sixty cubits,
4 with three rows of great stones and a row of new timber. And let the expenses be given out of the king's house.
5 And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be given back and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, to their place, and place them in the house of God.
6 And Tatnai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-boznai, and your companions, the officials Beyond the River, keep away from there.
7 Let the work of this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place.
8 Also I make a decree as to what you shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God, that at once expense be given to these men from the king's goods, from the tax Beyond the River, so that they may not have to stop.
9 And that which they have need of, both young bulls and rams and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of Heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the choice of the priests at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail,
10 so that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savors to the God of Heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.
11 Also I have made a decree that whoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house and be set up, and let him be hanged on it. And let his house be made a dunghill for this.
12 And may the God who has caused His name to dwell there destroy all kings and people who shall put their hand to alter or to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have made a decree. Let it be done with speed.

Look at verse 10

10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

• Offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven
• Pray for the life of the king
• Pray for the life of the kings sons

Jeremiah 29:1-14

Jer 29:1 And these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders of the exile, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon.
2 (After Jeconiah the king, and the queen mother, and the eunuchs, the rulers of Judah and Jerusalem, and the craftsmen, and the smiths, had departed from Jerusalem.)
3 The letter came by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah the king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, saying,
4 So says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I caused to be exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5 Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their fruit.
6 Take wives and father sons and daughters. And take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters, that you may be multiplied there and not become few.
7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be exiled, and pray to the LORD for it. For in its peace you shall have peace.
8 For so says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your fortune-tellers in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you dream.
9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the LORD.
10 For so says the LORD, When according to My word seventy years have been fulfilled for Babylon, I will visit you and confirm My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.
11 For I know the purposes which I am purposing for you, says the LORD; purposes of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you shall call on Me, and you shall go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
13 And you shall seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found by you, says the LORD; and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD. And I will bring you again into the place from where I caused you to be exiled.

Look at verse 7

7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be exiled, and pray to the LORD for it. For in its peace you shall have peace.

• Seek the peace of the city
• Where I have caused you to be exiled
• Pray to the LORD for it.
• For in its peace you shall have peace

Look at verse 8

8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

• Thus says the LORD the God of Israel
• Let not your prophets deceive you
• Let no your diviners deceive you
• Do not hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

Look at verse 9

9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, says the LORD.

• For they prophesy falsely unto you
• In my name
• I have not sent them
• Says the LORD

Beware of false prophesies

Let’s look at 1 Timothy 2:1-8

1Ti 2:1 First of all, then, I exhort that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For God is one, and there is one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
7 To this I am ordained a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie), a teacher of the nations, in faith and truth.
8 Therefore, I desire that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Look at verse 1

1Ti 2:1 first of all, then, I exhort that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

• I exhort that first of all
• Supplications
• Prayers
• Intercessions
• And giving of thanks
• Be made for all men

Look at verse 2

2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

• For kings
• For all that are in authority
• That we may lead a quiet life
• That we may live a peaceable life
• That we may lead our lives in godliness
• That we may lead our lives in honesty

Look at verse 8

8 Therefore, I desire that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

• I will therefore that men pray every where
• I will that men pray every where lifting up holy hands
• I will that men pray every where without wrath
• I will that men pray every where without doubting.

What are supplications?

Lu 1:13 But the angel said to him, Do not fear, Zacharias. For your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

Lu 2:37 And she was a widow of eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, serving God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Ac 1:14 these all were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

What are prayers?

Mt 17:21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

Mt 21:13 And He said to them, It is written, "My house shall be called the house of prayer"; but you have made it a den of thieves.

Lu 6:12 And it happened in those days that He went out into a mountain to pray, and He was spending the night in prayer to God.

What are intercessions?

It has the idea of an interview. You are going before God and laying out before him certain items in order and detail, where you have been, what you have done, what you are doing now. You may do this on behalf of another.

What is giving of thanks?

Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Col 3:17 And everything, whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

Heb 13:15 By Him, then, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

Romans 31:1-6

Ro 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

Look at verse 13

Ro 13:1 let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

• Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers
• For there is no power but of God
• The powers that be are ordained of God

Queen Elizabeth II
Prince Charles, prince of Wales
Prince Harry
Prince William

Gordon Brown
Baraka Obama

Look at Proverbs 8:15

Pr 8:15 By Me king’s reign and princes decree justice
16 Princes rule by Me, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.

• By Me kings reign
• By Me princes decree justice
• Princes rule by Me
• Nobles rule by Me
• Judges of the earth rule by Me

Look at Daniel 2:20 - 23

Tit 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
10 A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

Look at verse 21

21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.

• He changes the times
• He changes the seasons
• He removes kings
• He sets up Kings
• He gives wisdom to the wise
• He gives knowledge to those who have understanding

Look at titus

Tit 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to every good work,
2 to speak evil of no one, not being quarrelsome, but forbearing, showing all meekness to all men.
3 For we ourselves also were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, slaving for various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 that being justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 Faithful is the Word, and as to these things, I desire that you strongly affirm that those believing God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
9 But avoid foolish questions and genealogies and contentions, and strivings about the Law, for they are unprofitable and vain.
10 After the first and second warning, reject a man of heresy,
11 knowing that he who is such has been perverted, and sins, being self-condemned.

Look at verse 1

Tit 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to every good work,
2 to speak evil of no one, not being quarrelsome, but forbearing, showing all meekness to all men.

• Put them in mind to be subject to rulers
• Put them in mind to be subject to authorities
• Put them in mind to be obedient
• Put them in mind to be ready to every good work
• Put them in mind to speak no evil of anyone
• Put them in mind not to be quarrelsome
• Put them in mind to forbear
• Put them in mind to show all meekness to all men.

1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Look at verse 13, 14

13 Then be in obedience to every ordinance of men, because of the Lord, whether to a king as supreme,
14 or to governors as sent by Him for vengeance on evildoers, but for praise on well-doers.

• Be in obedience to every ordinance of men
• Because of the Lord
• Whether to the king as supreme
• Or to governors as sent by Him for vengeance on evildoers
• But for praise on well doers