S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The concept of praying for our leaders is not unique to democratic nations, and it did not begin with the United States' National Day of Prayer. The Bible contains many commands to pray for our lea...

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October 23 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeremiah Kaaya Supporter Pastor at Springs of Power Church, Teacher by professional

First of all, we have to recognize that leadership is a project of God. God Himself is a leader and He knows the whole task of leadership, though on His part, He requires no body's prayers. He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient. As that; God is the CHIEF Leader. Whoever is in leadership position, only does so on God's own behalf. The connotative meaning here is that; to pray for a leader is to ask God to empower that leader so that that leader is well directed in his leadership tasks by God Himself. When we pray, we are asking God for His intervention and guidance so we do not go astray. God's thoughts mean well, well as those of us the humans have been poisoned by the devil and unless we ask God to guide us away from going the way of the devil, we may end up in an abyss. Remember, the devil's project is to steal, to kill and to destroy (John 10:10). As that, once one is a mortal leader, he needs spiritual guidance. Mark you, every physical manifestation, there is a spirit behind it. Thus the need to pray for our leaders whether political or spiritual or whatever leadership it may be, so that they are well guided to lead according to how they have been guided by God.

God recognizes all leaders, even Hitler, or Stalin, or Idi Amin in the case of Uganda, all were led to be so by God. No leader becomes one without God's "consent", though it is invisible (Romans 13) (Mathew 23:2). What happens is only that one begins to lose contact with God and fall prey to the devil who is readily available to direct them the lee way. Saul had gone astray, but David continued to recognize he was king. Leaders are just like a common person who begins a journey with God, say he has chosen to be Born Again, but along the way, he loses God's guidance. Such means; he begins to lead himself, something he has no material to do by himself. God gave Adam and Eve an opportunity to lead, when they chose not to lead by God's guidelines, they forsook God. Leaders who lead brutally have simply forsaken God's guidance and they have not had anybody to pray for them a meaningful prayer. Even Christians forget their role to pray, they simply choose to castigate rather than pray. Christians forget that they aren't judges, but they are to pray.

But sometimes, there is also the element of not recognizing leadership and therefore choose to castigate and condemn rather than to pray. Such comes as a result of little or no respect for such leadership. That is why Jesus in His teachings He taught nobody to rebel against leaders. He taught that it is okay to follow them, but with caution so that if they go wrong and have lost God's guidance, we intervene by way of prayer so that they can get back to guidance by God. In Mathew 8:1-4, when Jesus healed the leper, he directed him to go and show himself to the priest. Meaning Jesus recognized these leaders, much as they had perceived that what He preached was not mostly in their favor.

How should we pray for our leaders?
We should pray that they too accept to be led of God whose thoughts mean well for them and for those they lead. We pray for them so that God, who is the CHIEF Leader and the source of all strength and power will be at the center of their leadership. All leaders originate from God's desire for them to be so. As that, they always have to look to Him for guidance.

Why should we pray for our leaders?
We should pray for our leaders because since they too are mortal, they can be made use of by the devil. As that; we pray for them so that much as they have others to submit to them, they should also submit to God who is all knowing and all powerful. The people you are leading are God's not yours. You are as mortal as they are, you are all faced with the same fate. So, you ought to submit to God for guidance. As Christians, we pray to God to guide our leaders so that they do not go astray, keep with God and lead well, as the word of God guides. In God is all.

May 06 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

In the Bible, we can read about examples of those who prayed for their leaders, and my opinion is the same:

RegardingTimothy and the congregation in Ephesus, Paul urged them “first of all” to pray for their leaders — even those who actively persecuted Christians. Whatever their religious or political persuasion, leaders are entrusted by God with responsibility for the peace and security of the community and those who live there. And so, even before we vote, or volunteer in a campaign, or write to our representatives, or talk about them on social media, we should pray. This is especially important when we disagree with positions taken by our leaders.

Read 1 Tim 2 1-3 - First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made concerning all sorts of men, 2 concerning kings and all those who are in high positions, so that we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with complete godly devotion and seriousness. 3 This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Saviour, God,

Paul gives a reason why Christians should pray concerning high government authorities. In answer to such prayers, God may move the authorities to permit Christians to keep on serving Him without being persecuted and to live a peaceable life “with complete godly devotion and seriousness.” 

Nehemiah prayed that God would ‘give him pity’ before King Artaxerxes (Ne 1:11)

Christians prayed concerning the threats of the rulers in their day (Ac 4:23-30), and undoubtedly their prayers on behalf of imprisoned Peter also involved the officials with the authority to release him. (Ac 12:5)

When secular authorities seek to interfere with the teaching of the good news, we are moved to pray “concerning kings and all those who are in high station.” For what purpose? “So that Christians can go on leading a calm and quiet life with full godly devotion and seriousness.”

Conclusion:

What can we do? We can pray “concerning kings and all those who are in positions of authority” when these individuals are called on to make decisions that affect our Christian life and ministry. (1 Tim. 2:1, 2, Neh. 1:11) As the first-century Christians did, we too pray intensely to God for our brothers and sisters who are in prison. (Read Acts 12:5; Heb. 13:3) Further, we can pray concerning prison guards who are in charge of our brothers and sisters. 

Note this example about the apostle Paul: After spending one day at sea and travelling about 70 miles (110 km) north, the ship docked at Sidon, on the Syrian coast. Apparently, Julius did not treat Paul as an ordinary criminal, possibly because Paul was a Roman citizen who had not been proven guilty. (Acts 22:27, 28; 26:31, 32) Julius [the Roman official in charge of Paul] let Paul go ashore to see fellow Christians. How the brothers and sisters must have enjoyed caring for the apostle after his long imprisonment! 

So yes, the scriptures encourage Christians to pray on behalf of the government officials so that they can ease the burden of those faithfull Christians.

10 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report