FRIDAY, JUNE 21
Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1,2, James 5:16,17

In 1 Timothy 2:1,2, supplications are the first order of prayer that are to be made for leaders. If we had looked up the Greek word translated, “supplications,” we would have found it is deh-ay-sis. Now if deh-ay-sis is used in a Kingly, Judicial context, that dictates we have a choice in application. Deh-ay-sis can be a judicial supplication, “God, remove them, cut them off, take them out…” or it can be a Priestly application, “Lord, bless them, give them wisdom and understanding….” We have assumed that deh-ay-sis is always used in a Priestly fashion. But that deception can only be made if we refuse to look at James 5:16,17. In James 5:16,17 we are told, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer/deh-ay-sis of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.” The “effective, fervent prayer…” is a deh-ay-sis. And look at the example: “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain…” Is praying that it would not rain on an agricultural economy a Priestly prayer or a Kingly, Judicial prayer? It effectively crippled the economy for three and one half years. And as a result of a fervent deh-ay-sis, God’s Judicial Hand came on the economy of Israel, and the false prophets were removed. It is obvious that deh-ay-sis has a Judicial application and therefore, one we have to consider. It is much more in line with the context of 1 Timothy 1:18-20. That means we have to look at our leaders to see if they have accepted the path of Christ or rejected the path of Christ to determine how the Holy Spirit wants us to pray for them. If we pray judicially against the wicked it shortens their life. If we mistakenly pray Priestly, we extend their life. We have extended a whole lot of wickedness that God would have visited and dealt with.