Introduction
Sometimes we want to fight. There are many Christians that want to fight but the weapons of our warfare are spiritual. Nations are saved through prayer.
- We pray for those in authority because God is sovereign.
- We pray because it is Gods will
- We pray for the peace of the church that we may live a quiet and peaceful life
- We pray for their salvation and for the spread of salvation.
Sometimes it’s hard to pray for our civil secular authorities but this is good and acceptable to God.
Read from the Scottish confession of 1560. What does it mean that God desires all men to be saved? One view is God desires every single human being to be saved. This can’t be true. If God willed every single human being to be saved then every single human being would be saved. This isn’t teaching universalism.
The other view is He wills that His elect be saved. He desires them to come to a “complete knowledge” “epignōsis” of the truth.
One God and one mediator verse 5. The all is His elect. When God desires all men to be saved this is eternal salvation. Not a wish, not universalism this is effectual salvation.. God saves all kinds of people.. Jews, Gentiles, Kings and those in authority.
We don’t limit our prayers we pray for everyone that they may be saved. And whom God wills to save He will save. We pray for our leaders so that we have the freedom to preach the gospel without hindrance.
Let’s pray what God tells us here to pray.
1 Timothy 2:1-8 (NKJV) 1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, 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 desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For [there is] one God and one Mediator between God and men, [the] Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle–I am speaking the truth in Christ [and] not lying–a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;