We're in a kind of series. Last Sunday I preached on the topic on what do answers to prayer depend.

And I'm going to pick that up again next Sunday and try to answer the question how much faith do you have

to have in order to get an answer to prayer. Today the topic is Pray for Kings and all in high positions. Now the Apostle Paul has a word

for us people that we should hear all the time but it's especially fitting for us

to hear the Sunday before a presidential inauguration I think and the word comes

from 1st Timothy chapter 2 verses 1 to 4 and I think if you have a Bible you will want to follow along as we look at this text throughout the message.

1st Timothy chapter 2 we'll read verses 1 to four that's our focus

first of all then I urge that

supplications and prayers and

intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men

for kings, and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a life, a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good and it is acceptable

in sight of God, our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Now the main point of those verses very simply is you ought to pray for people. And then there are three things about

this command to pray for other people that Paul does here that we'll look at.

First he says it is of paramount importance.

First of all, then, I command you or I urge you to pray. Second, he mentions the widest of its scope, pray for all men, especially

kings and people in high positions. And third, he mentions what the content of that prayer should

be, among other things, there should be thanksgivings for them and we should pray that our lives can be spent in peace and tranquility.

I believe to the end that men might be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Let's bow for a moment of prayer.

Lord let there not be anyone whose heart is so hard that the word does not sink in today and establish itself

and change our lives, especially our prayer life.

Grant, I pray that we have a heart to sense the paramount importance of prayer for other people and grant that our hearts be wide enough to

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