by David Brenneman
"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." 1 Timothy 2:1-6.
"Do all things without grumbling or disputing;" Philippians 2:14.
"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;" Colossians 4:2.
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11.
"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37.
Maybe a strange topic but it is a worthy topic this morning. There are many, throughout the world let alone here in the United States of America, who erroneously display their emotional side of their political views without discerning whether their words aren't beneficial to those who hear.
Here in the USA we aren't a democracy, but rather a Constitutional Republic. Yet this gets forgotten during such rhetoric.
Time and again and in every way possible we must guard our hearts as the Scriptures say to us. We must guard our mouths as well.
For those of the household of God, we, of this world, are the most examined of all. Satan's minions as well as the unbelieving are always on the lookout for ways to discredit our life in Christ.
For all who believe and are the called in Christ Jesus...we are commanded to pray for those in authority over us. Be it politicians, law enforcement, emergency services people, employers, any whom the Lord Jesus Christ deems to establish over us in authority.
For those raring to go with arguments...your barking up the wrong tree when you don't like whomever the Lord set in those positions of authority over us by going to your fellow mankind about your unhappiness in them.
Do you not believe the whole Scriptures? That the Word of God says that indeed God establishes and it is He who removes?
Are you not tarnishing your image to the world by your words and actions when you're really in a disagreement with the Sovereign Lord over all mankind?
Jesus is the one who's directing the affairs of mankind in accordance with the plan of the Father. When He walked the Earth teaching His Disciples He taught that He was about the Father’s business. When He arose from the dead, He appointed the Apostles to carry on the Father’s business. Teaching future generations of Believers to do the same.
Personally I have a party that I align myself to. But unless I feel it safe to do so I do not bring it up. To me it's a non-issue that doesn't support the preaching of the Word. It's not something that will ever be THAT thing that will be what a person needs to know before they come to Christ for salvation. But going on about those kinds of things haphazardly will push someone away from that gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
We are to pray without ceasing...not a 24/7 ongoing prayer. But when the moment is requiring it, do it. We are to pray for ourselves and others. Praying for people here is to pray for that treasure we will have in Heaven.
It is the work of Satan to distract, to divide, to disrespect, to disrupt, the lives of people to take their minds off of Jesus Christ. Believers and the unbelieving alike don't know just how easily we can be played to do all those things.
We also play right into them when we complain unendingly about those whom God put over us.
Are you praying without grumbling? Do you not know that you're pulling nothing over on God when you are praying? He is the one who searches the hearts. Praying from a sincere heart is a requirement for a prayer that is meaningful.
Additionally...all who are put in authority over us are part of God's plan that one day will include the Rapture of the Church as well as the beginning of the Great Tribulation after that takes place.
As it's been a known impossibility...you can't hate and love at the same time. You cannot pray for the will of God for you and the world in Christ Jesus and pray against what He is both needing to do and is going to do with mankind.
Ours in Christ is to obey the Word of God. Ours is to be Ambassadors for Christ before the world. Then we are other things after that obligation is fulfilled. Then we are workers for employers, then we are father's and mother's to children. Then we are whatever our role is in the Church even. We are to represent Christ first and foremost. If we allow anyone or anything to usurp that...we've lost.
Take the time to pray as you know you ought to. Take the time to likewise ask for forgiveness if you've let your personal opinions on others disrupt your Ambassadorship in Christ.
Ours is to trust and obey.
Ours is to live, act, be, in the character of Christ to the world.
An it certainly is on us to trust in the Lord for whom He chooses to put over us. We are to give of our best as unto the Lord in everything.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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