AFReG Call to Prayer
The African Forum on Religion and Government (AFReG) calls on all Christians to increase our prayers in this era of rising racial and ethnic tensions around the world. This week, Tuesday, August 18th, 2020, our theme is ‘Jesus’ Model of Power and Privilege’.
POWER BELONGS TO GOD
First of all, ALL Power belongs to God. (Psalm 62:11) All good and perfect gifts come from God our Father who is above. (James 1:17; 1 Corinthians 4:7)
THE FATHER GAVE ALL AUTHORITY TO THE SON
It pleased the Father to give ALL authority in heaven and on earth to His Son, even Jesus the Christ. (Matthew 28:18)
WHAT DOES JESUS DO WITH ALL THAT AUTHORITY?
He uses it to save and serve humanity.
For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11)
The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:8)
HOW DOES JESUS GO ABOUT SAVING AND SERVING HUMANITY?
Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. (John 5:19)
Jesus observed the Father to see what He is doing in every situation, and then participates in the same under His authority and empowerment. He says what the Father is already saying. He does what the Father is already doing. He is not out to promote or enrich Himself.
HOW SHOULD WE AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS USE AUTHORITY AND PRIVILEGES
First, we also should use the authorities and privileges given us by God to bring lost people into the Family of God.
Second, we should use our authority, power and privileges to serve the needs of humanity. We should always ask ourselves, “What is God doing now in my world to save the lost and serve humanity?” When we discern what God is doing in our spheres of involvement and responsibility, we should seek ways to participate as partners with the Holy Spirit. We follow the wisdom of God through the Word of God, the example of Jesus Christ, the example of the disciples, the examples of the saints who have gone before us, and other true followers of Jesus. We partner with God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Privileges we are not entitled to. When we have privileges and advantages, they are meant to serve others. The best service to any people is to empower them; increasing their capacity for self-help, under God.
PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, we pray for all leaders of influence, especially government leaders in Africa, that they will seek to serve those in their realms of responsibility and involvement.
We pray for empowering leadership on the part of governments in Mali, Mozambique, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Libya and other conflict-ridden nations in Africa.
Father, we pray that the African Common Free Trade Agreement will become an instrument of promoting good stewardship, governance, prosperity and total wellbeing for all peoples in Africa and beyond.