THE ROLE OF PRAYER IN POLITICS

 



1 Timothy 2:1-4

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. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

 



This scripture tells us that all our supplications and intercessions for all men, for kings in authority, are acceptable in the eyes of God. HE (God) desires those whom we pray for to come to know God and have knowledge of the truth.



 

The government of any country is a divine institution by God. In history, we read about how the Babylonians came and invaded Jerusalem. The Jews had to be carried away into exile. Wise men filled with God’s wisdom and strength were all taken captives. Daniel was one of them.



 

What did Daniel think after he was taken away to Babylon? He didn’t have a choice. He had to serve as a slave in Babylon. However, as children of God, we continue to be humbled before God, and in due time, HE will deliver us. Daniel was humbled before God. The bible said that Daniel prayed three times a day before God. This is why God sent the angel Michael to carry His Word of redemption to him.

 



Daniel 10:12

Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

 



God is the one who decides who rules over the nations. HE decides who to remove and who to raise. Whatever HE decides, no one can change it. Even for a country's election, people may have commented that they do not consider them as president or prime minister. But the fact is, the government is God’s ordained and appointed authority for a country. If we reject them, we are denying God’s authority over our lives.



WHATEVER HE DECIDES, NO ONE CAN CHANGE IT

 


Look at how Jesus replied to the people who would soon persecute him.

 



John 19:10-11

10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You (Jesus)?” 11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

 



Jesus, who became human, had to submit to authority. He knew that they could do anything to him because the higher authority (GOD) had bestowed upon them the power of a king.

 



The very first thing for Christians to do concerning our relationship with our country’s authority is to recognize that God has instituted them as rulers through HIS sovereign will. However, we know that God reigns over all government institutions. As 1 Timothy 2:1 says, we are to give thanks for all men, for kings and all who are in authority. This will bring about a quiet and peaceable life for all people.

 



1 Timothy 2:1-4

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.

 



There are four (4) types of prayers

 

1)    Supplication

2)    Prayer

3)    Intercession

4)    Give Thanks

 



Pray for the needs of the political leaders, their roles, and their duties.


Pray all kinds of prayers.


Come before God to make petitions not for ourselves but for others


Give thanks to God for all things. Show gratitude and gratefulness to God for who HE is. Thank God for others, an integral part of our prayer life.

 


Firstly



Prayer that leads to a quiet and peaceable life

 


When we can’t talk to our political leaders, we can talk to God about them. For example,  if we have heard any news that is of concern, we can pray about it. We can pray for wisdom for them. Be grateful to God for them, for they have done much, such as giving subsidies, CDC vouchers, helping the lower-income households and seniors, and good housing policies that benefit all citizens. Always give thanks for the leaders and those in authority. Especially those exalted in position need our prayers so that they can discharge their responsibilities and appointments.

 



We cannot pray that God takes them away, but we can pray for their good and well-being. But what about the ungodly leaders? How to pray for them? 


Daniel is a practical example to follow.

 



When Paul wrote the letter to the Christians in 1 Timothy 2, Nero was reigning during that era. He was a villain and a wicked ruler. It is believed that Nero was the one who persecuted the believers. Many persecutions happened during Nero’s rule. 

 



Despite all these persecutions, Paul continued to encourage the believers to pray for the political leaders and to make supplications for the wicked leaders. Regardless of their evil acts, God desires that we respect all men (all men and women) and respect what God has instituted.

 



Paul persuaded the Christians and contemporaries to pray for the emperor, not to pray to the emperor. This is a mandate (decree, order). Whether we agree or not, we are to pray for them and be submissive to their governance.

 



Romans 13:1-4

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

 



The above Scriptures tell us that all authorities are appointed by God (V1). In this case, we should not have issues praying for leaders even if they are not of the same faith or have moral and ethical issues.

 



The Scriptures also warned that if we resist authority, we are resisting God’s ordinances, therefore, bringing judgment upon ourselves.


IF WE RESIST AUTHORITY, WE ARE RESISTING GOD'S ORDINANCES


 

Even if the leaders are not doing the right thing, or have done things not beneficial for the nation, we are still required to lift them in prayer.

 



Verse 4 also mentions that God’s minister is instituted for our good. That we may live a quiet and peaceable life.

 



Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.



 

The above verse is a formula from God to us as to how we can have ‘peace’. This is also what Daniel did to have peace. After he heard the king agreeing to the satraps’ (ministers') proposal that all men should bow to the golden statue, he went home to pray.

 



Daniel 6:10

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

 



It is hard to believe that a person is still able to give thanks to God after hearing bad news. But Daniel was found doing it. Hence, whatever the news, good or bad, we are also to give thanks to God first and commit it in prayer. Daniel knelt and prayed three times a day. That’s why Daniel has peace in his heart.

 


dANIEL KNELT AND PRAYED THREE TIMES A DAY



The Jews were in captivity not for one year, but 70 years. They would be enslaved and subject to different Babylonian kings as prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah.

 



Jeremiah 27:7

7 So all nations shall serve him (Babylonian king) and his son and his son’s son, until the time of his land comes; and then many nations and great kings shall make him serve them.

 



While in captivity and under discipline, we can still be a blessing. We can pray to God for peace amid our trouble; there is still peace that surpasses all understanding. To have peace and live in peace in our country, we should pray for our country's governing authority. We have the responsibility to exercise our godly mandate. Daniel was sent to Babylon to be a leader in a pagan government office. He, too, had to obey the mandate from above.

 



Similarly, Paul had to obey the mandate from above and admonished the fellow believers to pray for the country’s authority. Even though he and the believers had prayed for the good of the authority, they continued to be persecuted.

 



When we thought of how our country, Singapore, continues to enjoy peace, stability, and prosperity, we are grateful that many Christians have been interceding. There are also Christian politicians positioned in government offices to pray and intercede for the country.

 



Many had asked if God is using Donald Trump in this troubled season in the Middle East. Yes. Whether he is a good leader or not? We don’t know. God knows who to raise and who to put down. A quiet and peaceful life is not achieved by good and generous government, by policies that please the people. It is achieved when the churches rise to pray for the country and the national leaders.

 

 

Secondly


Prayer that is good and acceptable in the sight of God

 



Good and acceptable emphasize that something is intrinsically good on its own. The prayer may not bring a positive outcome, but prayer is good. Therefore, we ought to pray according to God’s will, or else, we are praying selfishly.

 



1 John 5:14-15

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

 



According to the above Scripture, we can be sure that God will hear some of our prayers. This means prayer must be according to God’s will. If we are praying for the ministers and governing authority, we know that God has heard us. We know that this is according to God’s will. Whenever we pray, we know God will hear us.

 


prayer must be according to god's will



What is God’s will for praying for the governing authority? Refer to :


 

1 Timothy 2:4

who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 


Even if the governing authorities are not yet in God’s salvation plan, not having the same beliefs, yet it is God’s desire for us to pray for them, hoping that one day they will be saved. Whether we like it or not, we have a mandate from God to pray for the national leaders. This is a holy calling of God.

 



2 Timothy 1:9

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

 


As long as we obey God’s Word, we know God will see us through.



Summarised Article

 

Notes taken during a Sunday Service, thanks to the pastor.

03.08.2025