It is a typical day in your life. You’ve just heard another sad story of one of your colleagues who was jailed for sharing the gospel at his workplace yesterday. Some of your friends have already been executed by the government for their boldness in preaching Christ. Somehow, you have been spared, although you have suffered in various ways and been jailed once already because of your evangelistic work. Today you’ve been inspired to write some words of encouragement to a young leader to help him and the church he oversaw cope with this growing antagonism. What will you say? What advice can you give? How do you truly feel about it all?

This was the reality Paul faced as he wrote to his young disciple Timothy, who was leading the church in the city of Ephesus. The Roman government of Paul’s day was rife with corruption and antagonism. Rome was ruled by the shameless and murderous emperor Nero. He actually burned Rome just to create antagonism toward Christians, whom he falsely blamed for the destruction. Under his rule, the most virtuous citizens of Rome were put to death and countless Christians were martyred. It was also during his reign that a war broke out between the Jews and Romans, which eventually resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Nero was the emperor before whom Paul appeared during his first imprisonment at Rome. His determination to exterminate Christians eventually resulted in the death of Paul, Peter, and countless other church leaders.

Praying in the Shadow of Corruption and Antagonism

Paul wrote to his young disciple Timothy after his first imprisonment, just a few years before the seasoned leader would be martyred in Rome. Timothy was seeking to establish the church in Ephesus, a city filled with idolatry and magic. Paul’s last visit to that community resulted in a riot after he confronted the false religions of the city.

The young churches of the New Testament were facing constant conspiracy and attack from a pagan culture, a corrupt government, and the devil himself. Yet the power of the gospel was on the march. Congregations were being established. Paul clearly understood the struggle of living under the cruel rule of Rome, but he was more convinced of the power of the gospel, the privilege of prayer, and the promise of peace.

The young churches of the New Testament were facing constant conspiracy and attack from a pagan culture, a corrupt government, and the devil himself. Yet the power of the gospel was on the march.

With this conviction in mind, he penned these words to Timothy:

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 (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

The Big Question

Clearly, prayer was the first resolve of the early church. Sadly, it is often the last resort of the contemporary church. But the query that seems obvious to me is, “Why were these Christians, under such miserable circumstances and pagan rulers, supposed to pray for their political leaders?” Was it to change these Roman emperors? Was it to see the government overthrown? One thing is clear in this passage. The purpose of the prayers of the early Christians was clearly stated: “…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (v. 2).

Clearly, prayer was the first resolve of the early church. Sadly, it is often the last resort of the contemporary church.

In my book, Transforming Prayer, I invest much effort to unpack the life-changing purpose of prayer. I propose that the main goal Paul had in mind in this passage is that Christians would be changed as they prayed. Through their intimacy with Him, Christ followers are empowered to respond to oppressive circumstances in a powerful fashion – with quiet, peaceable, godly, and reverent attitudes and lives. In this way they become agents of Christ’s agenda that souls would be saved, just as Paul was embracing his call as a preacher of the good news (vv. 5-7). He wanted the life-changing power of these prayers to be so authentic that he went on to write, “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (v. 8).

Through their intimacy with Him, Christ followers are empowered to respond to oppressive circumstances in a powerful fashion – with quiet, peaceable, godly, and reverent attitudes and lives.

Transformed to Live as Light

The problem in our world is not the pervasiveness of the darkness, but the failure of the light. Rather than praying against the darkness we are wise to instead seek a greater experience of the life and light of Jesus Christ. Light always decimates darkness. As prayer changes us, we become more radiant and powerful agents of the light of the gospel.

The problem in our world is not the pervasiveness of the darkness, but the failure of the light. Rather than praying against the darkness we are wise to instead seek a greater experience of the life and light of Jesus Christ. Light always decimates darkness.

Sadly, we have often become so focused on our requests for God to change things around us that we have become unresponsive to His power to effect change within us – then through us. In the end, too many things remain unchanged – in fact, they get worse – in the culture around us as we miss the point of the power of intimate communion with the living Christ through prayer.

Sadly, we have often become so focused on our requests for God to change things around us that we have become unresponsive to His power to effect change within us – then through us.

Prayers of the Oppressed

In a similar vein, I am reminded of what Jesus said: “Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Why should we do this? Jesus gives the clear purpose: “…that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:45). Again, the focus is the change that needs to occur in us.

Two incredible examples stand out. Jesus, as He hung on a cross suffering unspeakable injustice and torment, prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). Similarly, Stephen, as his body was being crushed by massive, pain-inflicting stones, looked to His Christ in heaven and prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” then cried out, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:59-60). The conspirators of both of these death scenes saw light penetrating darkness through divinely-inspired prayers of a godly life.

The Power of Transforming Prayer

I am convinced that our prayers are misfiring and our testimonies are underperforming. We need to rediscover prayer as more than a therapeutic outlet but instead as a transforming intimacy that changes the way we think, feel, act, and react. I do not think our primary problem is the world around us but the weakness within us. I pray today that the Holy Spirit will teach me, and us, in a fresh way that the power of prayer can truly release “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ…that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7).

I am convinced that our prayers are misfiring and our testimonies are underperforming. We need to rediscover prayer as more than a therapeutic outlet but instead as a transforming intimacy that changes the way we think, feel, act, and react.

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If you are inspired to experience the transforming power of prayer, check out our small group series that just might inspire a powerful and permanent reset of your prayers as the Covid-19 restrictions begin to lift. Learn more BY CLICKING HERE.

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