Pray For All Men

# 54 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 2:1,2,3 “ Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (1 Tim 2:2,3) Prayer is a vital part of “oratory chapel” (worship services) for Christians. The prayers are to include these different facets that we have discussed previously, but how in the world are we to expend those prayers for “all men?” Best answer? We are not to pray only for the members of our congregation who are present, but our prayers should be for people outside our church walls as well. We ought to trust the Holy Spirit to bring these “all men” to our remembrance as we pray. He knows better than we who needs prayer. Listen to the Apostle Paul as he addressed this matter in his letter to the Phillipians. Php 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,” What was he saying? Every time the Holy Spirit brought these Philippians to mind...he prayed for them. He thanked God for them, and made Spirit-led requests for them as he prayed! This “trusting of the Spirit to bring to remembrance” in order to pray for others, ought to be part of free flowing congregational prayer. Who will your local body of believers be led to pray for? I don't know. Why not quiet down, settle down, and let the Holy Spirit lead? Don't be surprised if someone breaks out in prayer on behalf of the enemies of the church, for Jesus said in Mt 5:44 that we should pray for them! "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” And of course as Paul adds here, our time of congregational prayer ought also to include praying for those who are in position of authority, again as the Spirit leads, for there are many civil authorities in our sphere of influence, and in the sphere of influence of churches around the world! These authorities have much impact on the quiet and peaceable existence of the church, and instead of railing against them, why not petition the one who put them in place? Which course of action is more likely to produce the desired results? Railing against them or praying for them?