Prayer Guidelines For Interceding For People In Authority

Prayer Guidelines for Interceding for People in Authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2:6)

Illustration: I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, but especially for those who in authority. --1 Timothy 2:1

Over the centuries since Jesus died for our sins and rose victorious from the grave, many methods have been used to spread the gospel. From Peter’s first sermon, when 3,000 were saved, to great preaching campaigns of men like Charles Spurgeon and Billy Sunday, to friendship evangelism, many ways of influencing others to accept Jesus’ free gift have been tried.

In a major city in the midwest, another method has been launched: prayer evangelism. In the campaign to reach the populace of this city, organizers have set out to pray for every individual. They have divided the city into sections, and all cooperating churches have been assigned the names of the people in those sections.

Of course, it will also take other kinds of contacts, such as literature or face-to-face visits, but prayer is the major component. In 1 Timothy, Paul explained that God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2:4). And the method suggested for beginning the work of evangelization is "supplications, prayers, intercessions . . . for all men" (v.1).

What about your neighborhood and mine? Let’s begin right now to do some prayer evangelism. (Our Daily Bread)

Talk to God about people before you talk to people about God.

I. The Holy Spirit helps you pray for your authorities in the following areas:

1. The Spirit urges you to make all requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving for all those in authority. As we pray in the power of the Spirit for our authorities, we will experience numerous spin off benefits in the way the Lord blesses those who are over us. (I Timothy 2:1,2)

2. The Spirit teaches you how to ask God to grant your authorities ALL spiritual wisdom and insight so that they can walk in a way that pleases the Lord in all respects and bears fruit in every good work while they increase in the knowledge of God. Pray that they will be strengthened with all power according to HIS glorious might for the obtaining of all steadfastness and patience with joy. (Col. 1:9-11)

3. The Holy Spirit reminds you to ask the Lord to supply the following specific needs for your authorities:

A. Balance in all of their decisions, actions, perspectives

B. Cooperation from their people, peers and superiors in the church, government & community

C. Assistance in areas of weakness

D. Humility to remain teachable, available and faithful to the word of God in all circumstances

E. Focus on Jesus Christ as the author and perfecter of our faith

F. Discipline for the purpose of Godliness

G. Health, emotional, physical & mental well being

H. Protection, safety, security and safe keeping

I. Provisions, supplies, materials and resources

J. Successfully fight the good fight of faith

K. Taking up the full armor of God

L. Consistently praying in the Spirit

M. Courage to accomplish all that God desires

N. Favorable relationships with other wise leaders who they can learn, sharpen and benefit from

O. Sensitivity to the needs of their people

P. A servant’s heart, mind and lifestyle

Q. Willingness to learn from correction and change

R. Wisdom in choosing Biblically qualified advisers who can help complement their gifts and abilities

S. A healthy fear of the Lord

T. Willingness to trust and obey God in all ways

U. Vision, goals, and purposes that come from God

V. Endurance, perseverance & steadfastness

W. Willingness to let God work through suffering

X. Consistently be filled with Spirit so as to demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control

Z. Willingness to put away all traces of anger, wrath, slander, malice, bitterness, brawling, rage, immorality, impurity, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and ungodliness

AA. Clear priorities that are Biblically based

BB. Growth in social, mental, emotional, cultural, physical, political, moral, behavioral, educational, interpersonal, financial, and spiritual areas of life

CC. Articulative ability to speak the truth in love while growing up in all areas in Christ

DD. Clear communicational & persuasive skills

EE. Seeking the glory of God above all things

FF. Loving the Lord with all their heart, soul, strength and mind and their neighbor as themselves

GG. Consistently looking to the fields that are ripe for harvesting through evangelism, outreach ministries and planting and growing churches

HH. Ability to manage, organize and administrate

II. Ability to maintain the necessary services to keep the organization running smoothly in God’s will

JJ. Ability to trust in the Lord with all their heart so that they do not rely on their own insights