Update 370

On Saturday, November 29, 2008, Norbert Link will give the sermon, titled, “When the Sons of God Saw the Daughters of Men…”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

We are living in a world that can be very discouraging and depressing, and a word of encouragement can be very uplifting. One lady sends in her tithes every week together with a note of encouragement, often along the lines of, “You are always in my prayers for the great work you are doing. God bless each and every one of you as you go about His great work. May God bless you all greatly and guide and inspire you. You are all doing a fantastic job.” Encouraging words indeed!

In Acts 4:36 we read that “Joses who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement)…”   This is the first time in the Bible that he is mentioned. It shows his outstanding example of generosity when he sold a field that he owned and then took the money to the apostles to distribute to those in need (verse 37).

In Acts 9:26-27, Barnabas is seen encouraging the apostle Paul. He even took him to the apostles in Jerusalem for an introduction.   Two chapters later he encouraged new believers in Antioch (compare Acts 11:22-24). 

It has been said that encouragement is the greatest tool available to adults to boost children’s self-esteem. The psychologist Rudolph Dreikers once said, “Like a plant needs water children need encouragement.” It is through encouragement that we lead others to achieve greater things than they thought possible.

Do we encourage others? Is this part of our Christian way of life? It certainly should be! Hebrews 10:24 states, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” In a world of doom and gloom, a word of encouragement can work wonders. As the saying goes: “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.”

We kept the autumnal Feast days not too long ago. This should have been a time of great encouragement for all of God’s people and a time when, hopefully, we encouraged each other. These autumnal Holy Days picture Christ’s return, Satan being banished for a 1,000 years and the institution of God’s Kingdom on earth. What a future God’s people have to look forward to and a time when encouragement, not doom and gloom, will be the order of the day! 

Will the US Fall for Russia’s Blackmail Attempts?

Deutsche Welle reported on November 24:

“Russia is prepared to make plans to deploy missiles in its Kaliningrad exclave ‘disappear’ if the US drops plans to base part of its missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic, Russia’s prime minister says.

“If the new administration of US president-elect Barack Obama drops deployment plans for a missile shield in what Russia considers to be within its sphere of influence, then ‘questions of our retaliatory measures will disappear by themselves,’ Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told journalists at a forum in St Petersburg on Monday, Nov. 24. Putin is considered by many to have the last say on Russian foreign policy.”

The Russian Bear Is Marching Again…

AFP reported on November 24:

“Russian warships approached Venezuela Monday for upcoming joint maneuvers — Moscow’s first military presence in the region since the Cold War — as Washington closely monitored the situation. Venezuelan defense officials said the ships, including the nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great and destroyer Admiral Chabankenko, would arrive on Tuesday. The joint exercises were to coincide with a two-day visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to Venezuela, the strongest US critic in the region. Medvedev was due to arrive Wednesday and meet fiercely anti-liberal President Hugo Chavez on Thursday, before heading to communist Cuba.

“Analysts see Medvedev as bringing a defiant message to Washington’s doorstep, in the wake of Russian outrage at US plans to install a strategic missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, and support for the brief Georgia war in August. The maneuvers will start on Wednesday in port and take place at sea on December 1…”

… While U.S. Influence in the Region Declines…

The Associated Press reported on November 27:

“Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to help start a nuclear energy program in Venezuela and said Moscow is willing to participate in a socialist trade bloc in Latin America led by President Hugo Chavez.

“Medvedev used his visit to Venezuela—the first by a Russian president—to extend Moscow’s reach into Latin America and deepen trade and military ties. Chavez denied trying to provoke the United States, but he welcomed Russia’s growing presence in Latin America as a reflection of declining U.S. influence.”

Americans and British Targeted in India’s Terror Attack

The Los Angeles Times wrote on November 27:

“The sophistication of Wednesday’s assault in Mumbai and the targeting of U.S. and British citizens are the hallmarks of groups affiliated with Al Qaeda, but an array of other organizations have launched attacks in India and may also have played a role, officials and counter-terrorism experts said.

“Experts cautioned that it was too early to fix responsibility for the coordinated attacks that killed [hundreds] of people [and injured more than 300] at a pair of luxury hotels, two hospitals, a train station and an upscale restaurant. They said the group that claimed responsibility, the Deccan Mujahedin, was unknown…

“Instead of the bombings that are the trademark of Al Qaeda, the attackers Wednesday appeared to use mostly automatic weapons and grenades, and they reportedly took hostages. But they showed sophistication and ambition by storming five-star hotels during the peak of the tourist season in a clear attempt to target Westerners… The choice of India for such an assault could reflect the fact that increased security has made Western countries more difficult to hit, while India’s increasingly close alliance with the U.S. makes it a more desirable target… The attackers reportedly inquired specifically about the whereabouts of British and American citizens…

“Al Qaeda has urged its followers to launch attacks in India in recent years, especially as the government established closer ties with the United States. And Washington has accused some members of Pakistan’s spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence, of playing a role in this year’s attack on the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan, where India is increasingly active.”

US Prepared to “Lend” More Than $7.4 TRILLION

Bloomberg reported on November 24:

“The U.S. government is prepared to lend more than $7.4 trillion on behalf of American taxpayers, or half the value of everything produced in the nation last year, to rescue the financial system since the credit markets seized up 15 months ago. The unprecedented pledge of funds includes $2.8 trillion already tapped by financial institutions in the biggest response to an economic emergency since [President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s  New Deal of the 1930s, when almost 10,000 banks failed and there was no mechanism to bolster them with cash]…

“The worst financial crisis in two generations has erased $23 trillion, or 38 percent, of the value of the world’s companies and brought down three of the biggest Wall Street firms… The money that’s been pledged is equivalent to $24,000 for every man, woman and child in the country. It’s nine times what the U.S. has spent so far on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan…”

Citigroup “Rescue” for $326 Billion–and People Don’t Like It

AFP wrote on November 24:

“The US government vowed Monday to safeguard the ailing economy, after stepping in to guarantee over 300 billion dollars in potential losses at Citigroup and pump 20 billion more into the financial giant…

“Citigroup, which last month reported a third-quarter loss of 2.8 billion dollars its fourth straight quarter in the red, will issue seven billion dollars in preferred stock to the US Treasury and the FDIC as payment for the 306 billion dollar guarantee.”

Reuters reported on November 26:

“The bailout of Citigroup has made people in New York angrier than they were about any of the other government rescues of financial institutions this year…

“‘They were bailed out before, this is the second bailout, so what’s going on? Are they going to ask for another bailout soon?’ asked Cheril Nichols, a 50-year-old nurse from New Jersey. ‘It is wasteful, very wasteful,’ said retiree William Dwyer, 70… ‘This is not the right thing to do. They (the U.S. government) should help the people, not the big companies,’ said Renu Malconi, 38, from New Jersey… ‘It’s ridiculous. If I did as poorly as they did in my job, I would be out of the job, so why are they not accountable?’ said Mike Delibero, an IT salesman.

“The frustration on the streets of New York was echoed by two of New York’s major daily newspapers, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post, which slammed the board of Citigroup on Tuesday with calls for all or many of its directors to quit or be removed. The Post on Wednesday ran a series of letters from readers, all of them harshly criticizing the bailout and Citigroup’s former and current executives and board members.

“High salaries, seven-figure bonuses and an agreement for the bank to pay $400 million to name the New York Mets baseball team’s new stadium Citi Field haven’t helped sentiment.”

… And Another $800 Billion for Bad Mortgage and Securities Purchases…

AFP reported on November 25:

“US authorities launched fresh efforts Tuesday to unfreeze credit and limit the economic downturn with programs to buy up to 800 billion dollars in mortgage- and asset-backed securities. The initiatives call for up to 600 billion dollars in Federal Reserve purchases of mortgage securities, and a separate 200 billion dollars for asset-backed securities to help get credit to consumers…

“The US central bank said it would launch purchases of up to 100 billion dollars of obligations of housing-related government-sponsored enterprises including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the next week, and buy another 500 billion dollars in a process started by the end of this year. Separately, the Fed said it would launch a program to buy up to 200 billion dollars in asset-backed securities — backed by student loans, auto loans, credit card loans, and other loans — in a further effort to unclog frozen credit markets.”

Still Not Enough!… Recovery Package for Another $700 Billion in the Making…

The Associated Press reported on November 25:

“President-elect Barack Obama wants to project fiscal restraint even as his economic team assembles a massive recovery package… Economists from across the political spectrum… have put the size of an economic recovery package as high as $700 billion over two years… Obama is already starting in the red. The federal government reported a record deficit of $237.2 billion in October, which reflected only a portion of the $700 billion Congress approved last month to rescue the financial markets.”

Is the US Heading for Collapse?

The Drudge Report stated on November 25:

“A leading Russian political analyst has said the economic turmoil in the United States has confirmed his long-held view that the country is heading for collapse… Professor Igor Panarin said… ‘The dollar is not secured by anything. The country’s foreign debt has grown like an avalanche, even though in the early 1980s there was no debt. By 1998… it had exceeded $2 trillion. Now it is more than 11 trillion. This is a pyramid that can only collapse’…

“When asked when the U.S. economy would collapse, Panarin said: ‘It is already collapsing. Due to the financial crisis, three of the largest and oldest five banks on Wall Street have already ceased to exist, and two are barely surviving. Their losses are the biggest in history. Now what we will see is a change in the regulatory system on a global financial scale: America will no longer be the world’s financial regulator’…”

Chief Rabbis Call for Mass Prayer Because of Financial Crisis

The Jerusalem Post reported on November 25:

“The country’s chief rabbis are calling for a mass prayer rally Thursday [Thursday will be celebrated in the USA as Thanksgiving Day] in the hope that heavenly intervention will stem the global financial crisis. With Jewish philanthropists reeling and Israeli businesses preparing to make major layoffs, Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger and Chief Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar have decided that this Thursday, the first day of the Jewish month of Kislev, will be a special day of prayer.

“‘Education and Torah institutions are failing to make ends meet, and many are in danger of closure,’ wrote the two rabbis in a statement. ‘Factories and businesses are firing workers, and many household heads are no longer able to support their families. Therefore, we call on the public to pray one hour before mincha [the afternoon prayer] on Thursday in synagogues across the nation.’

“Religious institutions have been among the hardest hit by the economic downturn. Many are totally dependent on foreign donations. In recent weeks, the heads of some of the largest kollels have complained that they have returned empty-handed from fundraising campaigns in the US and Europe, saying philanthropists hurt by the financial crisis are no longer willing to make contributions.”

Grim Economic Outlook for Europe in 2009

Deutsche Welle reported on November 23:

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned of a grim 2009 economic outlook as Europe’s largest economy slips into recession. Merkel said in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that her grand coalition government was divided over the right medicine for the country.

“Merkel rejected calls by business leaders to slash taxes, saying they would remain off the table until after the September 2009 general election. But Merkel’s economics minister, Michael Glos, said a stimulus package put together earlier this month was only the beginning, if Germany wished to protect itself against global financial turmoil.”

“Merkel Criticises US Over Crisis”

The Financial Times wrote on November 26:

“Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, turned the tables on her international critics on Wednesday by accusing the US and other governments of making ‘cheap money’ a central tool of their economic management, thus planting the seeds of a similar crisis in five years.

“’Excessively cheap money in the US was a driver of today’s crisis,’ she told the German parliament. ‘I am deeply concerned about whether we are now reinforcing this trend through measures being adopted in the US and elsewhere and whether we could find ourselves in five years facing the exact same crisis.’

“There have been calls from outside Germany for it to beef up fiscal support, but Ms Merkel has been wary of raising public borrowing to stimulate demand, fearing that the extra income could boost Germans’ savings rate, which is already high.”

“As Financial Crisis Grows, EU Emerges Stronger”

Der Spiegel Online wrote on November 27:

“The global financial crisis creates new losers each day. So far, though, the EU is looking like a winner. For many countries along the continent’s northern edge, euro-skepticism is a luxury they can no longer afford. Will 2008 be remembered as the year that killed the euro-skeptics?…  Now, from Iceland to the Czech Republic, previously wary populations are warming to the EU, heaping praise on the very Brussels-based behemoth they had spent so many years deriding…

“The most obvious way the financial crisis has strengthened the image of the EU among the less-than-faithful is by making the euro look like a safehaven. Denmark, one of the few countries that deliberately opted out of the euro, may now be regretting its decision…

“Of all the countries on Europe’s periphery, perhaps none has experienced as pronounced a shift in EU sentiment as Iceland, a nation which, not coincidentally, also serves as Ground Zero for the financial crisis. Since January, Iceland’s currency has lost nearly half its value against the euro, plunging the country’s economy into chaos… the surge in EU support suggests that Icelanders have lost faith in their own government…

“By rejecting the Lisbon treaty in a referendum in June, the people of Ireland brought the EU to its knees. Now, after a bruising ride on the financial crisis roller coaster, they might be the ones that get the EU back on its feet…

“The EU might not be out of the woods yet, but it is in a considerably stronger position heading into 2009 than many feared would be the case six months ago… Europe’s dream of ever-closer union might be happen sooner than we think.”

“Is Britain Going Bankrupt?”

The British paper, The Telegraph, wrote on November 24:

“There is now a palpable fear that global investors may start to shun British debt as the budget deficit rockets to £118bn… The cost of insuring against the bankruptcy of the British state has broken out – upwards – over the last month…

“Alistair Darling has had to admit that the British economy faces the most sudden economic collapse since World War Two, and the worst budget deficit of any major country in the world… Should we be worried? Yes… Britain will have to borrow £450bn over the next five years. This is an utter fiasco…”

How Much Longer Will Britain Stay in the EU?

On November 20, The Daily Mail reported the following:

“The European Union is costing Britain a staggering £106,000 a minute, a think-tank has revealed. As the UK teeters on the brink of what experts predict will be the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression, the Government has surrendered £55.8 billion to Brussels this year. That is equivalent to paying a whopping £900 for every man, woman and child in the country.”

Controversial Leader Next European President

The New York Times wrote on November 25:

“Mr. Klaus, the 67-year-old president of the Czech Republic… blamed what he calls the misguided fight against global warming for contributing to the international financial crisis, branded Al Gore an ‘apostle of arrogance’ for his role in that fight, and accused the European Union of acting like a Communist state. Now the Czech Republic is about to assume the rotating presidency of the European Union…

“To supporters, Mr. Klaus is a brave, lone crusader, a defender of liberty, the only European leader in the mold of the formidable Margaret Thatcher… To his many critics, he is a cynical populist, a hardheaded pragmatist… As a former finance minister and prime minister, he is credited with presiding over the peaceful 1993 split of Czechoslovakia into two states and helping to transform the Czech Republic into one of the former Soviet bloc’s most successful economies…

“While even many of the world’s most ardent free marketeers acknowledged the need for the recent coordinated bailout of European banks, Mr. Klaus lambasted it as irresponsible protectionism… A fervent critic of the environmental movement, he has called global warming a dangerous ‘myth’… he is a vocal opponent of the Lisbon Treaty, which aims to help Europe become more of an international player, but which he argues will strip countries of sovereignty…

“And while other European leaders have criticized a newly assertive Russia, Mr. Klaus has forged close ties with Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin and recently distanced himself from the Czech government’s criticism of Russia over the war with Georgia in August.”

Major Earthquake Expected in Southern and Midwestern US

Reuters reported on November 20:

“People in a vast seismic zone in the southern and midwestern United States would face catastrophic damage if a major earthquake struck there… The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)… predicted a large earthquake would cause ‘widespread and catastrophic physical damage’ across Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee — home to some 44 million people. Tennessee is likely to be hardest hit… In Tennessee alone, it forecast hundreds of collapsed bridges, tens of thousands of severely damaged buildings and a half a million households without water…

“The zone, named for the town of New Madrid in Missouri’s southeast corner, is subject to frequent mild earthquakes. Experts have long tried to predict the likelihood of a major quake like those that struck in 1811 and 1812. These shifted the course of the Mississippi River and rang church bells on the East Coast but caused few deaths amid a sparse population. ‘People who live in these areas and the people who build in these areas certainly need to take into better account that at some time there is … expected to be a catastrophic earthquake in that area, and they’d better be prepared for it,’ said FEMA spokesperson Mary Margaret Walker.”

The Commercialism of Christmas

The Daily Mail wrote on November 24:

“Now the Church of England has joined the chorus of those who want to revolutionise Christmas with a call for people to send fewer cards… [It] launched a campaign for people to celebrate the season this year by cutting up their credit cards…

“Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams is among the leading clerics who – while they are strongly in favour of preserving the importance of Christmas as a Christian festival – are deeply anxious at the commercialism and high spending that goes with the holiday…

“In a new book, Do Nothing: Christmas is Coming, Dr Cottrell said: ‘It might be the season of goodwill, but it feels like the last straw on an already over-burdened camel’… The bishop also suggested that families should give up the ‘monstrous burden’ of giving presents they cannot afford.”

Reuters reported on November 24:

“Germans are trying to shut out the financial crisis by taking comfort in traditional festivities, and there is an acute shortage of Santas to entertain children at shopping centers, Christmas markets and private parties.

“‘Being Santa is not an easy job,’ Jens Wittenberger, in charge of Santa Claus recruitment at the Jobcafe Munich, told Reuters Monday. ‘To be honest, not many people have what it takes to be a good Father Christmas… You can’t have your Santa drive up in a car,’ said Wittenberger. ‘Every child knows that Santa travels in a sleigh pulled by reindeer so we don’t want to disappoint anybody.’ Santas are told to park their car a few streets away and walk… ‘Santas can make up to 60 euros ($75) an hour,’ he said.”

Yoga Blasphemous?

Die Welt Online reported on November 22:

“A top Islamic council in mostly Muslim Malaysia told Muslims on Saturday to avoid yoga because it uses Hindu prayers and encourages a union with God that is blasphemous. ‘There are other ways to get exercise and a peace of mind,’ council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin told reporters… ‘You can go cycling, swimming and eat less fatty food.’

“‘For us, yoga can destroy a Muslim’s faith. But this is not a matter for the non-Muslims to be concerned about because it’s not imposed on them. We are looking out for the Muslim community,’ he said, noting Egypt and Singapore had issued similar rulings.”

Increased Belief in Paranormal Concepts

LifeScience.com reported on November 24:

“More people believe in aliens and ghosts than in God, a new survey finds, according to a British newspaper. The survey, however, was done by a marketing firm in conjunction with the release of an X-Files DVD, and details of how the poll was conducted were not reported in the Daily Mail. Survey questions, depending on how they are written, can greatly skew results, along with how subjects are sampled.

“That said, the poll of 3,000 people found that 58 percent believe in the supernatural, including paranormal encounters, while 54 percent believe God exists. Women were more likely than men to believe in the supernatural and were also more likely to visit a medium…

“A survey of U.S. college students done in 2006 found 23 percent of freshmen had a general belief in paranormal concepts – from astrology to communicating with the dead. Interestingly, the number jumped to 31 percent among seniors and 34 percent among graduate students.”

To properly understand what Paul is saying–and what he is not saying–let us read the entire passage of 1 Timothy 2:1-7, in context:

“(1) 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 come to the knowledge of the truth, (5) For there is ONE God and ONE Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (6) who gave Himself a ransom FOR ALL, to be testified in due time, (7) 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.”

As this passage clearly shows, we are to pray for governmental leaders, regardless of whether they behave and rule righteously or unrighteously. But how, exactly, are we to pray for them?

The Life Application Bible explains:

“Paul’s command to pray for kings was remarkable considering that Nero, a notoriously cruel ruler, was emperor at this time (A.D. 54-68). When Paul wrote this letter, persecution was a growing threat to believers. Later, when Nero needed a scapegoat for the great fire that destroyed much of Rome in A.D. 64, he blamed the Roman Christians so as to take the focus off himself. Then persecution erupted throughout the Roman empire. Not only were Christians denied certain privileges in society, some were even publicly butchered, burned, or fed to animals…

“When our lives are going along peacefully and quietly, it is difficult to remember to pray for those in authority, because we often take good government for granted. It’s easier to remember to pray when we experience problems. But we should pray for those in authority around the world so that their societies will be conducive to the spread of the gospel.”

This is a correct statement. True Christians ARE to pray that God would influence leaders, especially in societies hostile to Christianity, to allow the unhindered and unrestricted preaching of the true gospel (compare 2 Thessalonians 3:1). Paul is not telling us here that we are to necessarily pray for the conversion of these leaders–God will convert people in His due time–but that they be motivated to make decisions allowing us to lead peaceful and quiet lives. We are not asked to pray that God would reward evil leaders for and in their sins.

We are to pray even for our enemies (compare Matthew 5:44)–not, that they will be blessed in their sins, but that they perhaps come to the understanding of the truth and change their way of life (compare Romans 12:20). The king of Nineveh and the entire city-state repented of their evil deeds, when they heard Jonah’s warning–and as a consequence, they were spared from destruction. Jonah should have prayed for such a change in the minds of the people–but he did not. This should be a lesson for us today, not to act and think as Jonah did at that time.

There are occasions, of course, when we are not to pray for the benefit and welfare of a particular governmental leader. After God rejected King Saul, He told Samuel to cease mourning for the king (compare 1 Samuel 16:1).

At the same time, we are asked to pray with thanksgiving. This may be easy to do when we are living in peace. It is more difficult to do so when we are encountering persecution. But still, we need to include in our supplications and intercessions the giving of thanks in and even for those circumstances. We know that nothing just happens in our lives of which God is unaware. Whatever God allows to happen in our lives is for a reason. We read that God will see to it that even our enemies make peace with us when our ways are pleasing to God (compare Proverbs 16:7). If our enemies don’t make peace with us, then, perhaps, our ways are not as pleasing to God as we may think. Also, we are asked to be joyful in persecution, as we know that our reward will be great in heaven (Matthew 5:10-12). There are many reasons why we can be thankful even in adverse circumstances. For more information, please read our free booklets, “Teach Us to Pray” and “Human Suffering–Why and How Much Longer?”

The following commentaries explain quite succinctly how to pray for governmental leaders–and WHY. As we will see, Paul emphasizes the outcome of our prayers–to be able to lead quiet and peaceful lives in furtherance of the preaching of the gospel and walking the way of God.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible states that Paul is asking Christians to pray for “supreme governors, as the emperor of Rome, and kings of particular nations; and for all sub-governors, or inferior magistrates, as procurators or governors of provinces, and proconsuls, and the like; all that were in high places, and acted under the authority of those that were supreme.”

The commentary continues to explain the phrase, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty,” in the following way:

“… which does not merely design the end [or goal, purpose, aim] of civil government by kings and magistrates, which is to preserve the peace and quiet of the commonwealth; to protect the persons and properties of men, that they may possess their own undisturbed; and to secure to them their civil and religious rights and liberties… nor does this clause only point out the duty of saints to live peaceably under the government they are, and not disturb it… but also expresses the thing to be prayed for; and the sense is, that since the hearts of kings are in the hands of the Lord, and he can turn them as he pleases, prayer should be made to him for them [kings, etc.], that he [God] would… bring them [kings] to the knowledge of the truth, [which] they now persecuted; or at least so dispose their hearts and minds, that they might stop the persecution, and so saints might live peaceably under them…”

Vincent’s Word Studies adds that we are to pray for governmental leaders that we may lead a “quiet and peaceable life,” by explaining that “quiet” arises “from the absence of outward disturbance,” while “peaceable” or “with tranquility” arises “from within.”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible points out:

“The design of the Christian religion is to promote prayer; and the disciples of Christ must be praying people. Pray always with all prayer [Ephesians 6:18]. There must be prayers for ourselves in the first place; this is implied here. We must also pray for all men, for the world of mankind in general, for particular persons who need or desire our prayers…

“Pray for kings…; though the kings at this time were heathens, enemies to Christianity, and persecutors of Christians, yet they must pray for them, because it is for the public good that there should be civil government, and proper persons entrusted with the administration of it, for whom therefore we ought to pray, yea, though we ourselves suffer under them… [We] must not plot against them… and give thanks for them and for the benefit we have under their government…

“Here we see what we must desire for kings, that God will so turn their hearts, and direct them and make use of them, that we under them may lead a quiet and peaceable life… Here we have our duty as Christians summed up in two words: godliness, that is, the right worshipping of God; and honesty, that is, a good conduct towards all men…

“The Jews at Babylon were commanded to seek the peace of the city whither the Lord had caused them to be carried captives, and to pray to the Lord for it; for in the peace thereof they should have peace [Jeremiah 29:7]…

“As a reason why we should in our prayers concern ourselves for all men, he [Paul] shows God’s love to mankind in general… God will have all men to be saved; he desires not the death and destruction of any [Ezekiel 33:11], but the welfare and salvation of all. Not that he has decreed the salvation of all, for then all men would be saved; but he has a good will to the salvation of all, and none perish but by their own fault… There is one Mediator, and that mediator gave himself a ransom for all.”

Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible states:

“… As it is a positive maxim of Christianity to pray for all secular governors, so it has ever been the practice of Christians… Indeed they prayed even for those by whom they were persecuted. If the state be not in safety, the individual cannot be secure; self-preservation, therefore, should lead men to pray for the government under which they live. Rebellions and insurrections seldom terminate even in political good; and even where the government is radically bad, revolutions themselves are most precarious and hazardous. They who wish such commotions would not be quiet under the most mild and benevolent government…

“Good rulers have power to do much good; we pray that their authority may be ever preserved and well directed. Bad rulers have power to do much evil; we pray that they may be prevented from thus using their power. So that, whether the rulers be good or bad, prayer for them is the positive duty of all Christians; and the answer to their prayers, in either [case], will be the means of their being enabled to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible writes:

“… while all people should be the subjects of prayer, those should be particularly remembered before the throne of grace who are in authority. The reason is, that so much depends on their character and plans; that the security of life, liberty, and property, depends so much on them. God has power to influence their hearts, and to incline them to [do] what is just and equal; and hence we should pray that a divine influence may descend upon them. The salvation of a king is of itself of no more importance than that of a peasant or a slave; but the welfare of thousands may depend on him, and hence he should be made the special subject of prayer.”

The commentary continues that we ought to pray for governmental leaders so “That their hearts may be so inclined to what is right that they may protect us in the enjoyment of religion, and that we may not be opposed or harassed by persecution.”

The Broadman Bible Commentary explains:

“Prayer for the emperor contrasted with worship of him. The practice reflected Christian fidelity to established institutions and the belief that power for orderly government came from God…”

For more information on this vital issue–how and in what way power for orderly government is derived from God–please read our Q&A on Romans 13:3.

The Broadman Bible Commentary continues:

“The aim of the prayer would be not the conversion of the emperor but the welfare of the state, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.”

In conclusion, we are instructed to include governmental leaders in our prayers so that we may be able to lead quiet and peaceable lives, enabling us to preach the gospel of the peaceful Kingdom of God in all the world as a witness. We are not asked to pray for the conversion of our leaders, but rather, that they may be motivated not to persecute us or to cease from their persecution. Instead of praying for a violent overthrow of our government, we are to pray that God will influence our leaders to do good and refrain from evil. Anarchy, insurrections and revolutions don’t establish peace, but they are, by their very nature, hazardous and violent. Our prayers for governmental leaders with the goal of leading peaceful lives would also include praying that, subject to God’s Will, our leaders do not decide to go to war, and that they are motivated to end whatever wars their nations might be engaged in.

We are to pray always and without ceasing, including on behalf of our leaders and even our enemies, so that we may be allowed to lead peaceful lives. In this world of hatred, violence and war, such kinds of prayers are necessary and very pleasing to God.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

A new member letter was written for December. In the letter, Dave Harris discusses several prophecies dealing with the future of the USA and Britain, as well as the endtime Church of God, and concludes with a challenging warning for God’s people.

The following new sermon was posted on Google Video and on our Website:

Norbert Link, “Bible Study–Stubbornness, a Sure Way to Destruction,” November 15, 2008

Set forth below are recent comments from our readers and StandingWatch viewers:

I have watched the standingwatch.org website. It’s really a great blessing for us as we could understand about the prophecies in the Bible. I just want to have a copy of The Gospel of the Kingdom of God. And if you can send some more booklets which may be helpful to us, please do send us, so that we can spread the word. (Viewer from England)

Circuit City is closing hundreds of their stores. When that happens. people will lose their jobs. When people lose their jobs, they have no money to spend. When they don’t have money to spend, companies will have to go bankrupt or just close down their businesses (Viewer from the USA)

Thank you for your lovely teaching about the word of God, more especially the teachings of holy days of God. I have been a member of… conference church but I have never heard this wonderful teaching [as explained on] your web site [church of the eternal God]. Friends, because of this truth which I have found on your web and I believe that even if I can take this teaching to the church…, I know they will reject the message, but the coming Sabbath I will give it a trial to see if they will accept your message, and I will let you know next week. Be continually blessed in the Christ, and I request you to send to me the literature of [Mr. Herbert W.] Armstrong to help me to understand more of the truth (“Elder” from Kenya)

I want to thank you for all the strength you give me in my knowing [for] sure that Jesus Christ is my only savior (Reader from Holland)