Jesus said in these times, “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved” (see Matthew 24:12-13). We must recognize that the lawlessness is the enemy, not the authority people are rebelling against. We must also know how to stand in these times so as to be “saved.”

       There has only been one perfect authority on the earth, the King of kings. There will be no perfect authority here again until He returns. To hold almost any position of authority in these times when lawlessness is so prevalent is perhaps the greatest challenge we can have. Is this not why we’re told to pray for all who are in authority, not just Christians or the ones with whom we agree (see 1 Timothy 2:2)? If we are wise, we will pray even more for those we disagree with, or those whose nature and demeanor are not what we think they should be.

       As we are warned in Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” We can only expect God to give us grace when in positions of authority if we have given grace to others. We will reap what we have sown. So, our default should be to first pray for and seek God’s grace for those in authority. If we pray for those we disagree with to have His grace, perhaps that would help them to see things differently. But even if it doesn’t, we are building the balances in our grace accounts as we pray for them.

       We don’t war against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers. So, we should never war against people but what has them in darkness or bondage.

       Is there anything more valuable than God’s grace? Have we considered how we disqualify ourselves from having it when we instead criticize and seek to tear down others? Knowing that we’re going to reap what we’ve sown, have we considered how this will reduce the grace we could have? It’s not an “in kind” sowing and reaping either. We could be criticizing a government leader, and it could cost us grace as a pastor, a supervisor, a teacher, or a Little League coach.

       King David obviously recognized this when he was subject to the worst kind of persecution from his king, Saul, whom he had served so faithfully. But David refused to lift his hand against Saul because “he is the Lord’s anointed.” David’s reward for having such grace, even for his worst enemy, was that he was allowed to establish a throne that Jesus, the King of kings, would be seated upon forever.

       Once we have established this resolve in our own hearts to sow grace, we need to look at what causes the worst aberrations in those who are in authority so we can pray for them, not prey on them. We should do this first looking at ourselves and whether we may have the same problem. Then, let us pray for any we see who have such issues, while always guarding against criticizing them.

       An authority that is intolerant and overreacts to challenges is almost certainly carrying unhealed wounds. If we are given the grace to see this, we should first ask how we can help them get healed. Prayer for them should be first, then speaking the things that could bring peace to them—especially getting more of God’s people to pray for them.

       If we receive a “word of knowledge” from the Lord about the cause of a problem, we should then seek Him for a “word of wisdom” about what we do with this knowledge. The last thing we should consider doing about a public figure is to go public with this knowledge. Rather than seeking to exalt ourselves by being the first to disclose such knowledge, we should consider how such knowledge can best be used for the person. The Lord’s purposes seem to always begin with healing, and His work results in redemption, restoration, and then reconciliation.

       A main thing that can disqualify us from receiving such words of knowledge or wisdom from God is first thinking of how we can use such information rather than patiently waiting for God to disclose how He wants to use it. His primary will for the world at this time is healing it and saving it, so we should always consider first how these are working in what we are doing.

© 2026 Rick Joyner. All Rights Reserved.