On July 17, 180 A.D., the Roman proconsul of Africa in Carthage had the duty of interrogating seven men and five women accused of the capital offense of “living by the Christian rite (worship and practice).” Punishment under Emperor Trajan was death by beheading. Christians who renounced Christ and proved it “by praying to our gods” could be granted “pardon for their repentance.” Proconsul Saturninus told the Christians, “You can gain the indulgence of our lord the emperor if you come back to your senses.” All the twelve companions had to do was to swear an oath by the emperor’s personal divinity and pray for his wellbeing. During the proceedings, Speratus, spokesman for the group, replied to each indictment saying, “I am a Christian.” The other eleven would add their assent. Saturninus passed his sentence and the twelve were summarily beheaded.

In his Apology for Christians, church father Tertullian wrote at length on defense of Christians amidst the persecutions by the emperor and the emperor cult. “He is the weakest of princes who can feel himself a man, and would be flattered as Almighty; and he the Caesar truly great, that will bear the truth that is designed to keep him within the bounds of mortality.” In his Apology he says, “The God we pray to for the life of emperors is the eternal God, the true God, the God of life, … by whom they reign as kings and live as men… consequently that the powers they have must be from God. He made him an emperor who made him a man; the author of his life is the author of his power. To this Almighty Maker and Disposer of all Things it is that we Christians offer up our prayers, with eyes lifted up to heaven, unfolded hands in token of our simplicity, and with uncovered heads, because we  have nothing to blush for in our devotion; For a Christian upon his knees to his God is in a posture of defense against all the evils you can crowd upon him. Consider this, O you impartial judges, and go on with your justice, and while our soul is pouring out herself to God in the behalf of the emperor, do you be letting out her blood.”

God created man to govern the world as God’s imager. He meant to embody the world by embodying His image bearer by delegating His authority. All power to rule originates with Him. The bible presents a worldview that between heaven and earth there exists a realm occupied by spiritual powers malevolent and benevolent, some in opposition to God and his purpose in man on earth and others in service to God and His purpose in man on earth. Into this battleground comes the God-Man Incarnate, Jesus Christ. In a cosmic mystery, His exchange of His proper supreme power, He subjugated Himself to mortality and went to the cross where He would confront and defeat all opposing spiritual authorities. Having defeated them in His death, He ascended to rule until “all things are put under His feet.” We see Him going forth beginning at Pentecost, pouring out His Spirit to empower and guide the church as His image bearers in the earth extending His reign by His delegated power. Here we find ourselves, believers in every age, engaged in the mission and prayer of the church.

Our focus tonight, and in the coming weeks, is to recognize the chaos of the world and in our respective nations is influenced and often directed by malevolent powers from which ruling persons on earth derive inspiration and agency. We enter in prayers.

1 Timothy 1:18-2:1-6 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck… 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. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Romans 8:20-21; 26-28 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God… the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[b] have been called according to his purpose.

Psalm 149:5-9 Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment—
this honor have all His saints.

We ask the Holy Spirit to fall on us as we gather and give us His living words of insight, proclamation, and intercession, and worship.