Pray for our Nation

The last three articles have been a response to the election. The first, See the Good that has Come, discussed the biblical response to the difficult circumstances we are likely to face in the next few years. The second, How to Choose Joy in Adversity, gave a detailed description about how to manage our minds in response to living under less than desirable political leadership. The third, What Makes Someone a Christian, discussed different ideas people hold about what makes one a Christian and compared them to what I believe the bible teaches about being a Christian. This fourth article in this series will begin a section about appropriate actions we can take as preparation for the coming adversities. I see a need for us to pray, to purify our hearts and to be ready to proclaim our hope in Christ to those who are willing to hear. This article will discuss our need to pray for Political leaders, for Pastors, for God’s Providential intervention and for a positive response to the truth of God.

Many years ago I decided to live honorably so that I would have few regrets when it was all over. In many ways I have done well. When it comes to my prayer life, I have little but regret. The reason is that I have failed to use the time God has given me to pray consistently for what I believe and for those I love. It is my goal for 2009, to change this pattern. I have decided to ask God to guide our new leaders, to provide circumstances to waken our nation and to allow me to participate in a spiritual revival in America.

Jam 5:16 The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

When Paul wrote his first letter to Timothy (AD 63), the Christian sect had become widely known and had aroused the suspicion of Rome. Nero was the Roman Emperor at this point and would prove to be no friend of the church. In his letter, Paul reminds Timothy of the need for the church to pray for political leaders:
1 Tim 2:1-4 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Paul tells us to pray for the President and those who hold positions of authority over us. What are we to ask God to do? He wants us to ask that these men rule in such a manner that it provides an environment of freedom and peace. In this environment we are free to worship without censorship and free to share the gospel without interference. My prayer for our new president is that his policies will enhance the church’s freedom to publish the gospel, not hinder our efforts to make Christ known. I am also praying that all the false ideas about separation of church and state that are common today, will be discarded. I especially hope that public schools will open their doors to the bible as literature and to speakers bringing the gospel message.

In addition to prayer for political leaders, Paul also expected prayer for Pastors and spiritual leaders. The church can only go as far as their leaders are prepared to take them. We live in a day where the church seems to be a mile wide and an inch deep. The church appears to be consolidating into mega-churches with smaller churches dying off through attrition. Large churches have large resources to advertise and package their services so that they appeal. Large appeal brings large numbers. Large numbers decreases intimacy and discipleship. My prayer for our churches is that their Pastors would learn and teach the depths of God’s word. Our people are starving for the word but don’t even know it. They have been fed on milk for so long, they don’t know that meat even exists. The pastors of America have been trained to inspire but not instruct, to manage but not lead, to motivate but not train. The call from the pulpit is to give money and perform tasks as a means of spiritual growth. Christian works are always the result of growth, never the means. Spiritual growth is the result of feeding on the milk and the meat of God’s word.
Peter explains that we grow through the word:
1 Peter 2:2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
The writer of Hebrews admonishes us to leave the basics behind and grow to be mature Christians:
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

My prayer for the pastors in America is the same as Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus:
Eph 1:16-19 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,

We are praying for our political leaders to provide the environment of freedom and our pastors to prepare our people for service. Now we must pray for the people of America to awaken to their spiritual need. How does God wake people up to their need for Christ? One of the ways that God reveals need is through providential circumstances. Providence is defined as God’s gracious care of others. God uses difficult circumstances to humble us and cause us to reach the end of our own resources. When life becomes more difficult than our human resources can handle, we are forced to look beyond ourselves for aid. My prayer is that God’s love for man will motivate Him to allow very harsh circumstances that bring the masses to the end of self and opens their hearts to the gospel of Christ.

James 5:17-18 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

Elijah prayed for providential adversity to come upon his land so that his people would awaken to their need for God. The drought caused many to starve and die. Those who survived were awakened to their need for God’s grace and mercy.

Finally, I am asking that God help the newly awakened to be positive to the message of the gospel and the word of God. The drought in Israel revealed man’s inability to help himself. It opened the eyes of many to their need for someone who could control the rain so that crops would grow and people could eat. When the people saw the work of God, they fell down and said, “the Lord is God” (1King 18:39). The people turned to God.

Let us pray for our political leaders to give us freedom to worship and evangelize. Let us pray for our Pastors to seek the depths of God’s word to prepare us for the ministry. Let us pray for Providence to provide circumstances that exhaust our human resources. Finally, let us pray that God will give the masses ears to hear and eyes to see the truth of the gospel and the word of God.

I have committed to pray this every day for the next year. I am asking you to make this same commitment. If you agree with this article and agree to make this commitment, then please e-mail me and let me know.

In the next article, we will discuss purification of our hearts as preparation for the ministry.