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First of All… Pray for Our Freedoms

Each January, after we smile and wish ourselves another “Happy New Year!,” many of us look about pensively and view the “free-world” of the West in rapid decline.

Consequently, each January, we would do well to remind ourselves of our year-long first-of-all calling to protect those freedoms.

Especially in America, “the last bastion of freedom,” our freedoms are fleeting. Every seam that unites us as "one nation under God" appears to be coming undone. History teaches us, that once a country forsakes its sense of national identity, a nation-wide unraveling is often not far behind.

Morally, economically, spiritually—our country is losing its way. And tragically, most good men and women who could provide leadership are either confused on the underlying issues, bound up in their own affairs, or simply afraid of becoming a political target. Our common enemy, on the other hand, is focused, well funded and well staffed.

Who can come to our aid in these troubled times? 

When governments threaten the believers’ freedoms, Scripture tells us this: we are the men and women called to arise. We are to respond by prayer in the spirit.

II Timothy informs us that all believers share one, basic, vital responsibility to their country. And that is to intercede for their freedoms, so the Word can continue to be reach out.

II Timothy 2: I-3:  [emphasis added]

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.  

Under the grindstone of Big Government, the lowly citizen feels powerless to affect change.  Yet—as a Son of God with Power—we have Christ’s authority to engage in the fight for freedom. 

In truth, our spiritual influence over Satan's kingdom is so impactful, so significant, that the Apostle Paul exhorts us: make prayer the absolute "first of all" thing we do.

Certainly, there are countless things God would have you do in life. Yet, as He reveals here, there is no greater priority than prayer.

Why?  Because, when we pray in the spirit, trusting God, His power is released to do precisely what He needs it to do.  Prayer can be even more influential than running for political office and ‘setting the world on fire,’ as influential as that could be. But instead, by prayer, God’s fire is ignited!

Let’s examine this verse further.

For whom are we to pray?

"For kings, and for all that are in authority". 

Why are we to pray for these governmental authorities?

"That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

It’s not enough to pray for the candidate we favor to win the election.

Of greater importance, we are to pray to restrain our governments from hindering God’s work, and us.  This is Paul’s main thrust. Or, to put it bluntly—we pray that our governments will stay out of our lives—and our children’s lives—leaving us free on this earth. I say, “our children’s lives,” because if our children do not pray, we should pray in their stead. That’s something we can do for them and the other believing saints today.

Ephesians 6:18:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

We and our loved ones are just passing through Satan's kingdom.  Yet, we are to consider ourselves ‘protected property’—God’s property! Specially set apart and sanctified, we are in this world but not of this world.  As God's people, we are promised the Father's protection and prosperity.  That is His Word’s guarantee.

Nevertheless, praying without faith, God’s promises can only sporadically come to pass. Lowering one’s shield of faith invites Satan’s attacks (Ephesians 6).

Prayer is the weapon we wield. It stands to reason, if God tells us His priority is our vigilance in prayer, then God’s priority must be to answer those prayers!

James 5:14, 15:

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Unsurprisingly, our greatest tool to protect our countries, our peoples, our families—is “the prayer of faith”! Of course, not a “beggars’ prayer” with weak-willed words, but with faith-filled boldness – standing on our Christ-bought authority with great expectation. As Jesus prescribes in Mark 11:23, speak to the problem.

We have the authority as men and women of God to command the protection and success for God's servants in today’s world.  If we don’t do it, it won’t get done.

In the eyes of the watchmen, freedom stands at a crossroads in history, while America drifts listlessly toward the rocky crags. Freedoms hard-fought for are easily lost, and even more difficult to regain.

In these critical times, each of us shoulder a burden of responsibility. Our first-of-all responsibility to unborn generations is to pray—with believing confidence—for God to keep His promise: that God's people and their children “may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.”

-- Steve Sann

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