Australia’s Largest Christian News Site

by Ps Kamal Weerakoon, 2018-19 Moderator, NSW Presbyterian Church

Intention
In the midst of anti-Christian pressure, the unconquerable rule of the risen Lord Jesus gives us peace and confidence to pray for our political leaders and seek the common good.

Scripture
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”
—Psalm 46:1-2

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
—Psalm 46:10-11

Reflection
Being a Christian can feel very lonely in post-Christian Australia. It can feel like everyone—the lawmakers, the media, the courts—are against us. We need to remember that according to the Bible, this is actually normal.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were nomadic herdsmen. They were not mighty and powerful; they were under the power of local kings. The people of Israel were a minority within Egypt; that’s why Pharaoh could oppress and enslave them. The only time the nation of Israel enjoyed godly rule was under King Solomon—and even then, all the wealth and power corrupted him so that after him, the nation fell into idolatry. The prophets, and those who followed the prophets, were a persecuted minority in a once-godly nation.

Australia is not the new Israel. God does not have one holy nation anymore. The international, multi-ethnic church—the people of every tribe and nation—we are God’s people. We are defined not by national boundaries or ethnic loyalties, but by the precious blood of Christ, the lamb without defect, and by God’s Holy Spirit.

Therefore, as God’s holy people, we live in this great nation of Australia, looking first of all to God as our strength and refuge. He is always there to help and protect us.

And He is always with us as the risen Lord Jesus. One of Jesus’ last recorded statements is the famous Matthew 28:20: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age”. Our friends can mock us for following Jesus, but it won’t take Jesus off the throne. Our employers can sack us Christians from our jobs, but it won’t take Jesus off the throne. The lawmakers can punish us for speaking Jesus’ name—need I mention Israel Folau?—but it won’t take Jesus off the throne.

Christ is risen. He is almighty. He is with us. We. Fear. Nothing.

And precisely because we have this unconquerable confidence, we can be peacemakers who, in these vicious and conflicted times, sow a harvest of peace. We want our lawmakers to craft laws that make everyone who calls Australia home feel safe and welcome. We want our politicians to fashion policies that permit everyone to seek truth and goodness and wholeness. And we want a culture where all people can reach out and find the one true God, incarnate in Jesus—even though He is not far from each of us.

Watch: Victory – Hillsong College

Prayer
Thank you, Father God, for this wide brown land of Australia. Thank you for its golden soil and wealth for toil. Thank you for its history of peace and harmony which has been founded in the Christian worldview and morality. Thank you for its variety of people, from all parts of the globe. Thank you for the privilege and the responsibilities of democracy—a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Thank you for the safeguards against tyranny which democracy in general, and the Australian political system in particular, has built into it. Please guide the hearts and minds of Australian voters, so that the elected government will seek the peace and well-being of all people—including we who bear the name of your risen Son. Please protect our freedom of speech, assembly, and conscience—the freedoms which underpin and express freedom of religion. And through all this, may the name of your Son be honoured. For dominion belongs to you, O Lord, and you rule over the nations. Amen.

Election Prayer Points
1. Pray that God would rule over this election – that righteous leaders would be elected to govern this nation in truth and justice because, “When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice”. Proverbs 29:2
2. Pray God’s blessing upon all our current parliamentarians and leaders, including their families and all the candidates of all the parties standing for this federal election. 1 Timothy 2:1-3
3. Pray for a multiplication of prayer and unity across the Body of Christ in Australia that people will wake up to the dangers facing our nation and respond in prayer. Ephesians 5:14
4. Pray for a Spiritual Awakening for Australia, Revival and Transformation for our nation and the proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:16

Register to receive Daily Devotions at:
www.canberradeclaration.org.au/prayer/election-2019

To comment and read past devotions:
www.canberradeclaration.org.au/prayer/daily-devotions/election-prayer-2019

Join the Daily Zoom Video 1-hour National Prayer Call every night from 28 April – 18 May at 8PM AEST.
Use this Zoom Link: URL: https://zoom.us/j/776881184
ZOOM MEETING ID: 776881184

Election Prayer Daily Devotions are brought to you by the Canberra Declaration.

___

DEVOTIONAL 19 Author, 16 May
We Pray With Unconquerable Confidence
Rev Kamal Weerakoon

Kamal was born in Sri Lanka, grew up in Australia and is currently the NSW Moderator of the Presbyterian Church.

Kamal’s past ministry experience includes a church in Sydney’s outer west, reaching people of lower socio-economic background; a church in inner-city Sydney, seeking to reach hip young professionals and churches ministering specifically to people of Arabic, Indian, and Sri Lankan background.