First of All: We PRAY

We've been having a series in the church for weeks now about prayer. Prayer seems to be a subject that doesn't run out of the Bible. It comes natural to followers of Jesus since Prayer for us is like breathing in our spiritual body; the moment we cease to pray, we also stop breathing. As Paul puts it in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing."

We've been going through the "Lord's Prayer" and studied the first part (Matthew 6:9) where Jesus says, “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,". Here, God tells us to approach Him in a personal way, our faith reflective and similar to a child approaching his or her Father (I'll be posting the sermon series in a few days for this topic). So this post calls out to the Sons and Daughters of God.

Why am I writing this? This election season just closed and as i have observed, this has been one of the most hyped up and anticipated elections the last time I voted (last 2013).

Yes, we have not just chosen our candidates; we even campaigned and even persuaded many in our family and friends for our candidates. Finally, we casted our votes and as they are tallied (some still 'partial and unofficial'- parang relasyon natin kay Lord paminsan)

But as Christians, is that all that we can do? Because we can be so vocal in social media and with our opinions on the 'who's who' in politics, yet forgotten our first role where our voices should be louder: Prayer.

In the first letter of Paul to Timothy, in the 2nd chapter, verses 1 to 7, Paul instructs Timothy about Prayer and Worship:

"I urge you, FIRST OF ALL, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time."

"First of all". That was Paul's urging. (In tagalog- "Una sa Lahat".) 

It should be our first priority as people of God especially this time when our nation requires wisdom as we elect new leaders of our nation. 

Who should we Pray for?

As you read more it says, 

"Pray for all people."

Not just your family. Not just your friends. Not just those who are good to you; Or the ones who'll be voting/voted the same candidate as yours. But even those who oppose them- Easy? I don't think so.

When i was reading this part in the Bible, I researched some commentaries why Paul asked this of Timothy. We have to put ourselves in the time of Timothy- young Pastor of one of the largest churches located in Ephesus which by the way is one of the most populated and sought out place. It’s because at one time, Ephesus was the Mediterranean's main commercial center and a place for worship for Greek/Roman pagan gods/goddesses. 

Paul was urging a prayer for all people to promote when we pray- there are no prejudices, no sects and no exceptions. Why did Paul do that? Again, in the time of Paul there was such discrimination and separation because of the stigma between Jews and Gentiles (those of not Jewish descent). 

This election calls for us Christians to pray for all people for though the voting of the candidates may be a personal decision, the results will affect us collectively. It doesn't mean that you didn't vote for a particular candidate, you won't be affected when they sit in office. We will all be. Speaking of candidates during the election, Paul also specified who to vote;

"Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority"

Kings in Timothy's day were some of the Christian Church's worst persecutors just to gain public popularity and support. We are blessed to even experience such democracy unlike in Timothy's time, the word of the King was law. 

Now we must pray for those who are in authority because the truth is we were the one who gave them that authority. 

Before God changes the person in our prayers, He first changes us who prays. Paul gave those instructions so that as they pray for their kings and those in authority, a change will flow through the Body of Christ. 

Why are we praying for them?

In verses 2 to 6 it answers the question and the purpose why we should pray for all people and specifically for ‘kings and all who are in authority’.

“We can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.”

A person will not bring peace and order or godliness and dignity in our nation- only Jesus can. But He can enable someone; use that person in authority in which the person will use their authority to do that. We must intercede for them so they will use the authority given to them.

“This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”

            It’s simply because God is delighted if we pray for them. Why? Because when we pray for others especially for their salvation, it is at the very heart of Our Father- the reconciliation of His children from separation because of sin.

“For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.”

Here is the main reason- Jesus is the only Mediator, bridge that could reconcile God and broken humanity and that’s Jesus. Our nation is in need of a Savior. We can elect whoever we choose but it’s up to us who are called children of God to come and stand at the gap and also mediate through Jesus for this nation.

“Philippines is for Jesus!"

"This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time."

When we pray, we are sending a different message in this time of elections. Praying will be a message of peace rather than of opposition.

We can still oppose but instead of forceful opposition with use of opinions, we use weapons of prayer and intercession. 

May our message especially the Body of Christ is to promote unity  and healing in our nation, as we do what we must ‘First of all’ called to do and that is to Pray.