Christ's Kingdom Commission

The stretegic importance of evangelism to "kings and all authority"

David J. Andersen

• Publisher: Publicaciones Faro de Gracia
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781629460147
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Teologia e religione
• Subtopic: Ministro del culto cristiano

How should the Church respond to an increasingly antagonistic government? What should be our biblical responsibility? Weapon number one in the apostolic arsenal against evil government policies was prayer-not sabotage, lobbying, boycotts, protests, or other forms of political agitation. Furthermore, what Paul sought from God was not the destruction of Nero and his government, but his well-being, and specifically his salvation. Paul made such prayer a mandate for the whole church: "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 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" (1 Timothy 2: 1-4). This book skillfully unpacks and carefully examines that mandate and its implications. "After several decades of failed evangelical attempts to influence culture by political means, here is a better way. It is the biblical answer to the question of what the church's duty is with respect to hostile governments and anti-Christian rulers. I'm thankful for the painstaking work David Andersen has done on this project. I know you will be challenged, blessed, and encouraged as you read." - John MacArthur

In the context of Christ’s kingdom commission and the relationship of the Church to the government, prayer takes a “first of all” priority for the Church and for the believer.

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1

First of All

Prayer: A First Priority

Imagine that you lived in the days of the early Apostles, and you had been given the commission of Christ to evangelize all the nations for the dominion of His kingdom, where would you begin? There was no mass media, no Internet communication, no real postal system, no iPads, cell phones, or computers, not even electricity available. And what if there were no modern forms of transportation, no airplanes, no cars, no trains, no propeller driven boats, not even an engine or gasoline? What if there were no Nooks, publications or printed books?

And what if the world was under the scourge of merciless dictators who ruled with little concern for the welfare of the populace? If you and your church were required to win that world to Christ in a lifetime, how would you do it? What would your strategy look like? And what if you knew that you and your church would suffer intense persecution, and many would be killed while trying to fulfill this one essential task, would it change your strategy? This was the commission given to the Apostles. Yet without all our modern means of communication, transportation, publication, or political freedoms, they powerfully fulfilled the Great Commission in their own lifetime. Albert Barns tells us:

“Within the space of thirty years after the death of Christ, the gospel had been carried to all the parts of the civilized, and to no small portion, of the uncivilized world. Its progress and its triumphs were not concealed. Its great transactions were not “done in a corner”. It had been preached in the most splendid, powerful, and enlightened cities; churches were already founded in Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, and at Rome. The gospel had spread in Arabia, Asia Minor, Greece, Macedon, Italy, and Africa. It had assailed the most mighty existing institutions; it had made its way over the formidable barriers; it had encountered the most deadly and most malignant; it had traveled to the capital, and had secured such a hold even in the imperial city as to make it certain that it would finally overturn the established religion and seat itself on the ruins of paganism. Within thirty years it had settled the point that it would overturn every bloody altar, close every pagan temple, bring under its influence men of office, rank, and power and that ‘the banners of the faith would soon stream from the palaces of the Caesars.’”5

So how did they accomplish this amazing feat? They followed the priority found in this divine commission: “First of All”.

In the context of Christ’s kingdom commission and the relationship of the Church to the government, prayer takes a “first of all” priority for the Church and for the believer. Considering all that the Church is presently doing to influence our government, and its lack of fruit in those endeavors, here God provides for us the better way.

Paul, in the passage of our present study, recognizing the tsunami of persecution approaching the Church of his day, passes on his commission received from Christ Himself. Here he provides the divine means to overcome through a fourfold emphasis on prayer as a first priority: “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” (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NKJV). This text provides what may be one of the clearest passages in Scripture on the priority of prayer.6

“Therefore” (oun) specifically points back to the theme of the previous chapter emphasizing a sincere love: “the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5). It also points back to Paul’s transformation from a life of hatred and persecution as “formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious” (1 Timothy 1:13, NKJV) to a passionate, world-evangelizing Apostle. Additionally Paul has just “handed over to Satan” Hymenaeus and Alexander because they were diverting the church from the necessary demonstration of love through their foolish and unnecessary conflicts over trivialities (1 Timothy 1:4, 6). Paul concludes chapter one with the charge to Timothy to resist those who through petty contention and conflict disrupt the love and harmony of the church. Thus, this priority of prayer is given as a clear fulfillment of the primary goal of his instruction: love. Love is the foundation for his important exhortation to prayer.

Consider carefully the strength of His first expression in the original text, “I exhort:” Paul does not use parainew, meaning “to tell of, speak of, recommend,” hence “to advise, exhort, warn.”7 Neither does he use protrepw, meaning, “to turn forward, propel (pro-before, trepw-to turn), thus, “to impel morally, to urge forward, encourage.”8 Instead, God uses the strongest yet the most intimate and loving verb available as an exhortation: parakalew, meaning “to call a person” (para-to the side, kalew-to call) “to call on, entreat; to admonish, exhort, to urge.”9 It is the word primarily used to describe the Holy Spirit as the Paraclete, in His loving authority in the heart of the believer. This exhortation reflects the love and authority of God Himself.

Most importantly, this exhortation to prayer is given first priority, “first of all” (protoV pantwn). This word not only relates to time (do it first), but especially to its immense weight of importance. Jesus best defined this word in Matthew 22:37-38, when he said, “This is the great and first commandment.” The Pharisees had only asked for the “great” commandment but He answered, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”

The first word describing prayer, “supplications,” presents a great privilege. This verb had evolved from its initial meaning, “to chance upon,” to later signify the tremendous opportunity, “to have an audience with a king.” Long after Paul’s day, the word became a regular term for a petition to a superior, and in the papyri it was constantly used of any writing addressed to the king.10

The word “prayers” goes beyond supplications to signify the greatest privilege possible, and is only used of petitioning the King of the Universe. Although earthly kings can grant requests involving their sphere of control, only our great God controls the entire universe with unlimited power. And although this word is sometimes used of private prayers, its primary context is public prayers. And these prayers are especially to be made for government officials. The first use of this word in the New Testament is the passage where Jesus specifically commands His disciples to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44, see also Luke 6:28).

“Intercessions” are similar to “supplications” in petitioning the King,11 but this word includes the implication of love and interested concern by interceding on behalf of someone else.

“Thanksgiving” may require an attitude adjustment, and is the only word of the four that speaks of the content of our prayer and the spirit with which we approach God, especially for those in authority over us. Colossians 4:2 tells us: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” T...