Praying for Kings

I am inflicted with the same disease that you have. We resist and rebel against authority. We just do not want anyone telling us what to do. However, God has made it pretty plain that authority has been put in place by Him and for our benefit.

Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 teach us that governing authorities are God’s ministers to us and we are commanded to obey them. First Timothy 2:1-8 not only tells us to pray for all in authority but spells out the reasons for doing so.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. (NASU)

We are commanded to pray for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. I suppose that if we pray for authorities to be honest, fair, good, and just that will help us to live tranquil lives because they will govern well. However, the clear theme of this passage is salvation and God’s desire for all men to be saved.

As believers in Christ, we must get past our rebellious, sinful dislike of authority and begin to earnestly, passionately, and consistently pray for kings and all who are in authority. It seems to me that the reason why praying for the salvation of those in authority will lead to a tranquil life for Christians is because the gospel is necessarily divisive and confrontational. Unless those in authority are Christians, believers in Christ will almost certainly come into conflict with authority.

Proclaiming the gospel will inevitably lead to conflict with unbelievers. “Jesus is the only way to heaven” is certainly a confrontational message. Teaching that homosexuality is behavior which can be changed by the power of God rather than an orientation which cannot be changed is a divisive teaching. Teaching that mankind is a sinner in need of a Savior instead of teaching “I’m O.K., You’re O.K.” will make you very unpopular.

I have good news. If you pray and those in authority turn to Christ, you will lives of tranquility and peace. If authorities do not follow Christ, but you do, your lives will not be tranquil or peaceful. Instead your life will be full of strife and turmoil. However, if you faithfully live and proclaim Christ, your life will be a fragrant aroma drawing lost people to Christ. The greatest movements of the gospel have always come in the face of opposition.

Verse 8 is an important component, “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.” As believers in Christ, we should pray for kings and all those in authority and live without wrath and dissension. That is a winning strategy straight from the Holy Spirit. The result will be God glorified and souls saved.

You can email Pastor Ellison at [email protected].