October 21, 2012 – Pastor Tim – “We The People – Taking Our Stand” – Click to download
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.”
When we pray, God will deliver us from unreasonable and wicked men in every area of our nation so the Word of God will have free course.
The most important reason God wants us to pray for the leaders of nations is so that the gospel can be preached and people can be delivered out of the kingdom of darkness. God’s plan and purpose is for the Church to preach the Gospel to every nation: Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” This is the Scriptural way we render the devil’s work inoperative upon the earth.
When the Gospel has been preached to all nations, the Bible says the end shall come. The devil doesn’t want the end to come because he knows when that happens, he’s through! Therefore, Satan is going to try to throw up every roadblock he can to prevent the Gospel from being preached in all the world. Mark 16:15, And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” In times of turmoil and war, it’s more difficult to spread the Gospel. That’s why the devil uses unbelievers, whose mind he has blinded to stir up trouble. 2 Corinthians 4:4, “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” Satan wants to try and stop the work of God from going forth.
However, it’s up to Christians whether the devil succeeds in his strategies. The Apostle Paul said in 1Timothy 2:1-2a, “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….” (1Timothy 2;1-2). As we obey the Bible’s instruction to pray for those in authority and for the nations of the world, we can help thwart Satan’s plans and instead fulfill God’s purposes on the earth.
Christians have authority to pray in Jesus’ name and change things in their country, no matter what country they are living in. When we pray, we give God permission to move and rule in the situation instead of Satan, the god of this world, no matter what the situation is. When Christians stand in their place of delegated authority in prayer in Jesus’ name, God brings many into His Kingdom. We don’t fight the devil to gain this authority. The authority has already been given to us in the Name of Jesus. Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. When we take our stand in prayer, we are simply exercising the authority Jesus had obtained for us.
As Christians, we have the authority in Jesus’ Name to bind the power of the devil over the political scene of a nation. We have the right to demand that Satan takes his hands off the government and the economic and social scene of a nation. We can bind every foul spirit that is affecting these areas and command them to stop in their maneuvers and cease and desist in their actions against us. Matthew 18:18, “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Heaven will come into agreement with our prayers as we pray the will of God. John 14:13-14, “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
Satan’s strategies against us on the earth can be stopped in every encounter, and God’s purposes can be fulfilled. That happens as Christians stand in authority in Christ on behalf of the nations of the world by praying for those in authority.
Make it a point to pray for those in authority of our nation. Pray for these people and events:
- President
- Congress
- Supreme Court
- State and Local Officials
- Military
- Intelligence Agencies
- Upcoming Presidential Election
1 Timothy 2:1, “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.” Paul said to pray first of all for those in authority. Therefore, let’s put first things first so God, not Satan, can have dominion in our city or nation. Before you pray for your family, pray first for those in authority, so that “we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence [or honesty].” This way we can keep Satan from taking advantage of us. 2 Corinthians 2:11, “ lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
We’ll be more effective over the powers of darkness when we take our rightful place in Christ, base our prayers securely on the Word of God, and put first things first.
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