God, Governments And Nations - Ps Ashish Raichur

BANGALORE, India - Feb. 6, 2014 - PRLog -- How can a nation experience more of God (or less of Him) in response to the prayers of God's people? How should we pray for leaders?

As a nation we are in another election year. In a few months people across our nation will go to the polling booths to elect the next government and a new prime minister.

We'd like to establish a Biblical perspective on God, Governments and Nations. We understand that God determines the rise and fall of nations, leaders and governments. What is God's influence in the course of things in a nation? How can a nation experience more of God (or less of Him) in response to the prayers of God's people?

God Rules Over Nations

God is involved in the life of nations, in setting their boundaries and the appointed times for those nations.

Act 17:26
And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

God rules over the nations

Psalm 22:28
28 For the kingdom is the LORD's, And He rules over the nations.

Psalm 66:7
7 He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

Psalm 103:19
19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

Isaiah 40:15,17
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.
17 All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.

So when we look over our nation we must remind ourselves that our God is absolute authority over this nation. Our confidence is in this truth.

God And Governments

We understand two important truths here:

#1 God appoints leaders
God is involved in who comes into power over a nation.
By leaders we mean prime ministers, presidents, chief ministers, those in governmental authority.

Joseph realized that he came to power in Egypt because God sent him there (Genesis 45:8)
David acknowledged that it was God who made him ruler (2 Samuel 6:21)

King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream in which he heard this:
Daniel 4:17
'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.'

Remember, when Jesus stood before Pilate, Jesus told him that you could have no power unless it had been given to you from above.

John 19:10,11

[NOTE: "..the one who delivered Me to you.." would likely refer to Judas Iscariot or Caiaphas the high priest. Essentially, stating that Pilate was in the place of authority because that was given to him from God. But, Pilate is not responsible for what was happening/about to happen to Jesus, since Jesus was brought to this place because of betrayal by Judas and false accusations from the Jews]

Romans 13:1

So, on one hand we know that God appoints those in authority.

Yet on the other hand leaders appointed by God may not always walk in the ways of God.

A, There are demonic powers that influence leaders and a nation

satan weakens and ruins (Isaiah 14:12) and deceives nations (Revelation 20:3).
satan also provokes leaders into evil, even godly leaders (1 Chronicles 21:1)

1 Chronicles 21:1  Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

Daniel ch 10 gives us a vivid picture of what happens in the spiritual realm over nations.

Daniel 10:13  & 20

we see the angel referring to spiritual beings with terms such as the "prince of Persia", to Michael the "chief prince" of Israel, and to "kings of Persia", "prince of Greece".

Answers to Daniel's prayers were being hindered because of demonic powers that were obstructing the angel from reaching Daniel.

B, Sin brings disgrace

Proverbs 14:34  Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.

Leaders and the people in a nation may choose to go on in doing wrong things.
Sin brings disgrace to any nation.

#2 God can influence and move upon the heart of a leader

Proverbs 21:1

One of the most amazing records of God moving on the heart of a leader is seen in Cyrus, King of Persia, who announced the return of the people back to Jerusalem at the end of the seventy year captivity in Babylon.

Ezra 1:1-4

So when we pray, we invite God to move His sovereign hand to appoint for us a godly leader.
We also pray that God will move upon the heart of our leader to release His purpose in this nation.

Prayer And The Destiny Of A Nation

How does our praying affect our nation? What should we pray for?

We Must Pray for Our Land And Our Leaders

2 Chronicles 7:14

Psalm 2:7,8

1Timothy 2:1,2

Praying for Leaders
Proverbs 29:2
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

We need to pray for godly people as higher officials
Ecclesiastes 5:8
If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.

What is on top, trickles down.

We need to pray that wicked people will be removed from influencing leaders
Proverb 25:5  Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness.

Pray for God to move on our leaders to execute righteousness and justice

Proverbs 29:4  The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

Exercise authority binding demonic powers from affecting leaders
* We need to pray protection from the influence of demonic powers.
* We must bind the influence of demonic powers from releasing their agendas in our nation that is designed ultimately to keep people in darkness.

If we as God's people pray - we will see results.
If we fail to pray - we will not have influence on outcomes.
Jesus is King of all Kings. Let's pray His Kingdom Come. His Will be done in our land.

https://vimeo.com/85141565