5 Reasons Why We Pray For Our Nation Series

5 REASONS WHY WE PRAY FOR OUR NATION

By NG WAH LOK

(www.tabernaclemusic.net)

Text : 1 Tim 2:1-4

Introduction.

“THE CHURCH WILL ALWAYS GET THE GOVERNMENT SHE DESERVES”.

The above saying is very true. When a nation sins, God brings a judgement from within or without. God can bring bad governments to power or allow the nation to be conquered by an adversary. When Christians pray, the grace and mercy of God are over the nation. For this reason, Christians must always pray for their nation.

The following are the benefits for praying for our nation.

1. GOD GIVES US A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE

1 Tim 2;1-2 Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in godliness and reverence.

We are exhorted first of all to pray for :-

a) All men

b) Kings

c) All in authority.

“PRAYER FOR THE NATION IS NOT AN OPTION, IT IS A COMMAND ”.

“SOME PEOPLE PRAY ONLY WHEN THEY ARE IN CRISIS. THAT IS THE REASON WHY THEY ARE IN CRISIS”.

Recently ,we saw the spirit of violence in Indonesian streets. Many churches were burned down during the riots. There were also a series of violent killings in American schools. The bombing tragedy in New York is again a serious threat to those who love peace. Yet many take the peace in their nations for granted and fail to pray.

Should not the church rise up and bind this spirit of violence ? We are commanded to pray for peace in our land.

2. GOD HEALS OUR LAND

2 Chron 7:14 If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Has our land been corrupted ? We can find the answer when we compare the lifestyles of the people today with those living 20 years ago.

a) Morals of young people ?

b) Values ?

c) Dressing ?

d) Censorship of TV ?

e) Materialism ?

f) Easy availability of pornographic materials on the streets and the internet ?

g) Respect of the elderly ?

h) Growth of false religions ?

Today, you will find that our children are exposed to things we were never exposed to when we were young. We cannot deny that we are worse off today than 20 years ago. We need to pray for our nation so that God will heal our land.

“THE PROBLEM TODAY IS NOT WITH UNANSWERED PRAYER - BUT UNOFFERED PRAYER”

3. GOD SPEAKS AND SENDS VISIONS

Dan 9:20-21 Now while I was speaking, praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in vision at the beginning , being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening sacrifice.

Daniel 9:5 We have sinned and committed iniquity….

Daniel confessed the sins of his nation. As a result, God sends Gabriel as an answer to Daniel’s prayer.

Our prayer must include confessing the sins of our nation as follows:-

a) Confessing our sins

b) Confessing the sins of our forefathers

c) Confessing the sins of our nation

Over the years, Christian leaders from America have visited Vietnam to ask for forgiveness for the sins of their fore fathers in the Vietnam war. Approximately 3 million Vietnamese people died, many of whom are civilians, compared with 60000 American soldiers who died in the war. The confession of sin is necessary before complete healing can take place.

Today, we must confess the sins of our nation eg. Abortion ? Cloning ? Homo sexualizm ? Excessive genetic engineering ? If there is no confession of sins, there will be no healing.

When we pray and confess the sins of our nation, God will reveal Himself to us in a new way.

“SIN IS LIKE RUBBISH THAT BLOCKS THE PIPE AND STOPS THE FLOW OF WATER”

4. GOD’S JUGDEMENT IS DELAYED OR WITH-HELD

Num 16 : 47-48 Then Aaron took it (the censer) and ran into the midst of the congregation; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped.

The incense speaks of prayer.

Because of the sin of Israel, the judgement of God started. The plague broke out and the people were dropping dead. Moses’ quick instruction to Aaron to bring the incense into the congregation stopped the plague.