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

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-7
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying— a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
”‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭2:1-7‬ ‭NKJV‬
‬https://www.bible.com/114/1ti.2.1-7.nkj

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There has never been such a time as this; we have seen nation rise against nation, extreme weather conditions, lawlessness, corruption, sexual immorality, terrorism, man made pestilence, and all kinds of unreasonable mandates rules, and regulations.
What is disturbing is that much sin in today’s world is seen as righteousness, including same sex marriage, abortion, and even joining in marriage with animals.
Surely my beloved, this is not right!
This world is full of traps designed to take you to eternal torment.
Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
The thief, the devil himself, is never far away, therefore, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
‭‭I Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ NKJV
The devil comes at us in many ways, through our sin, our past hurts, our loved ones, friends, and family, and deceives many through fake religions and false teachers and prophets. He uses both godly and ungodly people to do his dirty deeds and feed us with his lies, just as Christ uses both ungodly and godly people to lead us in all truth to an outcome of life, and that we may have it more abundantly.
Jesus said, “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭4‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬
I believe the “beginning of sorrows” has passed and our world is on a slippery slope down hill to its coming outcome of eternal judgement.
However, we believers are blessed because our all powerful God has chosen to help us through the troubles of today into eternal life through our prayers and sacrificial fasting.
How this works is a mystery to us because of our limited understanding. But Paul based his instruction about prayer for everyone on his conviction that God's invitation for salvation extends to all people regardless of their sinful past, their place of birth, and even their sexual orientation, comes from His unfailing love.
The world that God loves includes every single person; He loves us as individuals whom He knows intimately (PSALM 139:13-18).
The truth is, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
‭‭II Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬
Paul urges us to pray for all people, for our earnest prayer will have powerful results (JAMES 5:16).
We should pray for all those in authority around the world so that their societies will be conducive to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Paul's command to pray for kings is a remarkable consideration that Nero, a notorious cruel ruler, was emperor at this time (AD 54-68).
When Paul wrote this letter, the persecution of Christians and corruption just like in our world today, was more than a growing threat.
Later, when Nero needed a scapegoat for the great fire that destroyed much of Rome in AD 64, he blamed the Roman Christians so as to take the focus away from himself.
Persecution erupted throughout the Roman Empire.
Not only were Christians denied certain privileges in society, some were publicly butchered or burned.
Persecution of Christians is very real today and is growing even in the Uk which is supposed to be a Christian country.
But despite the corruption, both Peter and Paul said that God wants everyone to be saved, that doesn't mean everybody will be, because the bible makes it clear that many will reject Christ (MATHEW 25:31-46, JOHN 12:44-50, HEBREWS 10:26-29).
Jesus has been given the task of deciding the ultimate outcome of all people, there eternal future.
He clearly wants all to come to repentance and be saved, for He Himself is the one and only mediator between God and man, and He is pleading your case.
But while God is merciful, and we are all saved by grace, justice must be served.
The consequence of not knowing and believing on Christ are eternal and unforgiving. Surely it makes sense to know Him well.
Neither one’s money or status can save him, nor any other god, angel, or person. Jesus Christ is the only way to our Father in heaven (JOHN 14:6).
No one can be saved by their works or good deeds, it is too late for that, for all have sinned.
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.””
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭8‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.