Make Intercessions for Ukraine
By Matt Watson
As most of you are acutely aware, Russia has invaded Ukraine and has the capital city Kyiv under siege. A region called Crimea was “annexed” (in this situation that is but a polite word for theft) back in 2014, and the two countries have been at a low simmering war ever since. In the past two months, there has been much speculation on when and if Russia’s President Putin would actually launch an attack and invade, which he did on Thursday, February 24th. Now what was a low simmer is boiling over. As we enter into the second week of the conflict, all signs point to a lengthy and devastating battle in Ukraine. While the shock may fade, God’s people must persist in prayer for the people of Ukraine (and those in Russia).
For younger millennials and Gen Zers, this European war is sudden and unexpected. After all, we just came out of a 20 year Global War On Terror (GWOT) in the Middle East that has lasted for most of our lives, and which removed us by decades from the end of the Cold War. However, older millennials, Gen Xers, and boomers still remember a time when the Cold War was a very real threat, where walls both literally and metaphorically stood between Russia and a European invasion. For those that remember, we now sit on the edge of our seats to see if World War III will kick off or not, while also recovering from war fatigue and the end of the GWOT.
Americans reading this will do so safely with continents and oceans separating us from any real threat. This war is happening “over there somewhere.” But here is the thing that we must remember with any conflict, between any nation or people group and another: people die and will meet their Creator. Real people have already died, including civilian casualties, not just soldiers. If they are unbelievers, they will never again have the opportunity to repent from their sins and follow the Lord Jesus and will spend an eternity in hell. If they are believers, then they have gained the great privilege of seeing our Lord in glory and being with him forever. Let this reality mobilize our hearts to prayer.
In 1 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy and the church at Ephesus, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:1-4, emphasis added). We should be taking our prayers of thanksgiving, requests, and intercessions for others to the feet of Jesus for the sake of all people, including tyrants. Paul says the reason we do this is 1) so that the church “may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way,” and 2) because doing so is “good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.”
Putin needs our prayers just as much as the average Ukrainian. The families of those that have died already need our prayers. Not only do those being invaded, the men, women, and children now taking cover, evacuating, or resisting need our prayers, but so do the occupiers, the invading soldiers, their officers and commanders, and their governmental decision-makers.
Paul says in Ephesians 6 to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:11-12). A piece of that armor, and one of the only offensive measures we have, is prayer. He says in addition to taking up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” that we should also be “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (6:17-18).
Paul lists two categories of kit in this passage. The defensive gear is a shield, helmet, belt, and breastplate. The offensive gear is the shoes of sharing the gospel, wielding Scripture, and prayer. We need the full armor in a war, for those who just wear body armor, bunkered up and hiding, cannot engage the world. Yet those who have just taken up arms may be swift and passionate in sharing the gospel, but they are also vulnerable to deadly attack from the enemy and will not last.
Not only do Ukrainian and Russian nationals need our prayers in general, for their souls are at stake, and peace is threatened by tyranny and violence, but specifically the church in Ukraine needs them. This is a moment for the people of God to show the world who really rules the nations (Psalm 2). Those Christians on the frontlines in Ukraine, as well as behind the lines back in Russia, need our prayers for peace and for the powerful proclamation of the gospel of Jesus to go out among them before it is too late for people to respond.
One pastor named Vasyl Ostryi and his family of six have stayed at their posts despite the violence. They explain why in this article at The Gospel Coalition, saying, “I’m convinced that if the church is not relevant at a time of crisis, then it is not relevant in a time of peace.” He outlines different ways his 1000 member church is becoming a bastion of defense for the people in their community, including first aid training, being a site for a field hospital, and providing a heating station (forecasts for Kyiv this week have temperatures just barely hovering above freezing during the day).
Ostryi says, “We have decided to stay, both as a family and as a church. When this is over, the citizens of Kyiv will remember how Christians have responded in their time of need. And while the church may not fight like the nation, we still believe we have a role to play in this struggle. We will shelter the weak, serve the suffering, and mend the broken. And as we do, we offer the unshakable hope of Christ and his gospel.”
This is a model for churches around the world facing conflict of all sorts, for we serve the God of shalom, the Prince of Peace. Let our hearts not be as cold as a Russian winter towards those that need Christ, whether here or abroad. Let us instead be mobilized to pray and give intercessions for all peoples and national leaders, for their eternal souls are at stake, as well as their earthly lives.