Exercising Your Authority in Prayer

“Many in the church today are being held captive spiritually, not because of the enemy’s power, but because we do not clearly understand our authority and calling in Christ...  As we begin to understand the hope of His calling, we will begin to walk in an abundant life of freedom and power.” Angie Weaver  
 
Most Christians do not realize or exercise the tremendous authority they have in Christ.  God has called us to make a difference on earth.  He wants us to rule it. He can enforce His will, but He limits His dealings on earth by working through His people.  He does not want us to passively stand by and watch the earth fall into decay (Psalm 8:4-6, 115:16).  But if we were to evaluate the situation, isn’t this what many Christians are doing?  How many of us exercise our authority?  This needs to change.

      
God has given us authority on earth to rule.  It may not feel like it, but it’s true.  He does nothing on earth unless he does it through a person.  He always intended to rule the earth but through His delegated authority in mankind (Genesis 1:26).  We were to carry out the government of the earth, but Adam and Eve gave it away through disobedience.  You know the story.  Adam transferred authority over the earth to Satan (Luke 4:4, 2 Corinthians 4:4).  All of mankind was then under his dominion.  God did not give Satan authority over the earth, Adam did.
 
We needed someone to stand between us, and Satan, in order to break that dominion.  Jesus was the only one who could.  He came as a man completely fulfilling God’s will and became our intercessor - the one who could join us to God again and break Satan’s headship over us (Isaiah 53:12).  Jesus purchased us with his blood (Revelation 5:9, 1 Timothy 2:5) - and not only restored us to God - He became the way that God could again have dominion over the earth (1 Corinthians 15, Matthew 28:19-20).  Jesus could now rule in the affairs of earth.

He has given us authority to rule - and through prayer - we exercise this authority in Christ.  

We are called to pray and seek justice on the earth on behalf of others.  Not only can we break the personal strongholds in our lives through prayer, but we can impact our cities and nations.  The world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19).  Look around and you see this everywhere.  Drugs - pornography - murder, evil, etc.  But we can make a difference.  Jesus has authority in heaven and on earth but since He is no longer on the earth, he rules through his Church.  He changes things on earth through us!  We must learn to exercise our authority right in the middle of Satan’s territory.  We read in Psalm 144:1, “Praise be to the Lord, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” Exodus 15:3 says, “The Lord is a mighty warrior; the Lord is his name.” As we use our authority, we can actually subdue powers and principalities (Ephesians 3:10).  Wow!
 
But how can we walk in authority in the midst of personal, and sometimes unrelenting, spiritual warfare?  What are some ways we can stand strong?


Ways to Stand Strong in Your Authority in Prayer

• Abide in Christ - As you abide, you are able to pray the things on God’s heart.

• Practice fasting on a regular basis - Fasting gives you spiritual power and strength to stand against the enemy.

• Be ready for battle and steadfast in prayer - Know that you are in enemy territory, and you are here to fight for God’s Kingdom.  Watch for those fiery darts.  Hold up your shield of faith and do not waver in prayer.  Put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6).

• Stand upon the promises of God - Stand on God’s promises and do not listen to the enemy.  Speak God’s promises over your family, neighborhood, city, and nation.

• Know and Pray God’s Word - Try using Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9:3-19 in prayer.  The Bible is filled with Scripture you can pray.  Declarative prayer is a key way to exercise your authority in prayer.  We’ll look at this in the next chapter.  

• Focus on God during times of warfare - The enemy will try to discourage you as to your authority.  Focus on God instead of the things you see happening in the world.  Remember, you have authority in Christ.

• Mix praise and prayer together - Worship is the atmosphere where truth dwells.  There is power released in worship warfare.  God is greater than all enemy attacks.

• Let God’s peace rule in your heart - Come in the opposite spirit of the world system. An attitude of peace and joy in the midst of darkness is powerful (Colossians 3:15).    

Recently we got new inter-net access because of our constant work on our computers.  A man came and installed it outside.  While we were at church one Sunday, someone cut the wires. We were unable to communicate with anyone! We knew that it was an unreasonable next-door neighbor because he had done bad things to us in the past.  In this and other difficulties, we’ve learned to walk in God’s peace and take our authority in prayer by practicing these points.  Perhaps you can identify with some form of spiritual warfare where you live or work.  Practice taking your authority in prayer, look to Jesus, and realize that God has called you to live on earth for such a time as this.  
 
It’s time for the Church of Jesus Christ to arise in battle and aggressively take back land stolen by the enemy. Are you and I going to let the devil control our cities when Jesus died for the entire world?  The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalm 24:1).  Let’s not forget that.  This will be our finest hour if we learn to wield the weapons of warfare and stand in our God-given authority.  It’s time to arise and realize the victory we have in Christ.  It’s time to arise in prayer.

“Dear Lord, I thank You for giving Your people authority to rule on earth.  Help me to understand the hope of my calling.  Teach me to exercise this authority in my life, my city, and my nation.  Thank You for becoming my intercessor and breaking Satan’s headship over my life (Isaiah 53:12).  Help me to pray and seek justice on the earth on behalf of others.  I thank You for giving your people authority to actually subdue powers and principalities (Ephesians 3:10).  I choose to reign with You and walk in Your authority.  ‘The Lord is a mighty warrior; the Lord is his name’ (Exodus 15:3).  I am called to declare Your authority and rule the earth with You (Revelation 1:6).  Through authoritative prayer, I can enforce Your victory on earth (Romans 16:20, Colossians 2:13-15) and fight for the nations (Psalm 2:7).  ‘Praise be to the Lord, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle’ (Psalm 144:1). In Jesus’ name, amen.”
 
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:10-13).

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Standing Firm in Persistent Prayer

 

“God is in the process of redemption for the long haul.  My persistent praying says, ‘Count me in.  I won’t cut and run when the answers are slow in coming. Instead of drumming impatient fingers, I’m going to use that hand to knock firmly on heaven’s door - again and again!  Together, God and I share the ongoing fellowship of intercession.”  Sandy Mayle

 

Jesus was persistent in prayer.  He practiced persistence in His prayer life, and He taught it to His disciples.  He was passionate about not giving up in prayer because He wanted His disciples to learn to stand firm in persistent prayer.  Look at His life.  He spent whole nights in prayer.  That takes perseverance and incredible persistence.  At the end of His life, he was so intensely praying that he sweat great drops of blood.  Jesus knew how to stand firm in persistent prayer.  He wanted us to learn to keep asking, to keep seeking, and to keep knocking.  He said in Luke 11:9-10:      

 

“So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you.  For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened” (Amplified).

Prayer doesn’t seem so attractive when you don’t see quick results.  We think that maybe we are doing something wrong or God doesn’t hear us.  We may even question His goodness.  But we are so wrong when we think in this way.  God hears every prayer and He does answer, but it’s in His way and in His timing.  We are so quick to give up.  In Luke 18:1-5 (NIV) Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow who never gave up: 

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.  And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'  For some time he refused.  But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming.'"

The word “persist” in Webster’s dictionary means “to stand or be fixed, to continue steadfastly and firmly in the pursuit of any cause, to pursue, not receding from the purpose, not to give up or abandon.”  That persistent widow wanted justice and didn’t waver in her pursuit.  She stood firmly and didn’t give up in her asking.  Finally the judge answered her request.  

Persistence is Reality

 

Most people like to live and serve God when everything is exciting.  As I have mentioned many times, I lived on an exciting mission’s ship as a young person.  We went from country to country and city to city.  The first three months in this exciting ministry was absolutely glorious!  Young people would come to live on board and though the ship was old - worn and full of little cockroaches - the ministry opportunities were fantastic.  It was like a little bit of heaven.  Everything was absolutely thrilling initially - living with people from 40+ nations, sharing in a different church meeting every Sunday, and eating new food and fruits in countries you never even heard of!  

 

But time went on and all the glamour quickly wore off.  

 

All of a sudden your own home country seemed like a beautiful dream.  Roommates started to get irritating, sea voyages were no longer enchanting, seasickness was a hard endurance, and many wondered if they made a huge mistake by joining for two long years.  But it was a good training for young people in the area of reality, because persistence is reality.  During the testimony times when people were leaving the ship, they often told how long they had been on board.  For example, “My name is Mary.  I’ve been on board one year, eleven and ½ months.”  Then they would tell what they learned during their time on board.  I am surprised someone hasn’t yet told how many hours and minutes he/she has lived on board!  But just to press the point, ship life had a lot of persistence and endurance for a young person.  

 

There is no getting around it for any of us - old or young.  No matter who we are or what job we have, if we are going to reach the world for Christ we will have to persist.  Intercessors have to persist - It’s part of their calling - Persistence is reality.  The real world is not always exciting.  It may have exciting moments but in between those mountaintop experiences, there is a lot of persistence.  If we all stop and think about it, life is not easy for anyone.  Every job includes endurance and persistence.  Prayer takes persistence.  There are wilderness and dry times when you think you are the only one praying.  There are times when you feel as if you’ve prayed a thousand times without an answer.  Real purposeful ministry takes time and persistence as it develops.  Everything good takes endurance.  Rick Joyner, a wise prophetic leader, author and founder of the Morning Star ministry, says:

 

“Many will come at first because a new work is always exciting.  However, they will not have the stability or endurance to stay through the wilderness and dry times, which we must always go through to get to the place where we receive the promises of God and the Promised land, to the fulfillment of the promises.  In fact, we can see in both Scripture and history that the quicker and easier the promises are fulfilled, the less significant the purpose.” 

 

When we are praying for something big, we need great patience.  It takes both faith and patience to inherit the promise.  We read in Hebrews 6:11-12, “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.  We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”  The greater the purpose, the greater the faith and patience are required.  

 

Persistent Prayer Does Not Give Up

 

“Persistent praying never faints or grows weary.  It is never discouraged.  It never yields to cowardice, but is lifted up and sustained by a hope that knows no despair and a faith that will not let go.  Persistent praying has patience to wait and strength to continue.  It never prepares itself to quit praying, and it refuses to get up from its knees until an answer is received.”  E. M. Bounds

 

Not to give up means not to faint or lose heart.  It is steady prayer.  It’s long-term and not for the faint-hearted.  It stands firm.  It displays a trust in God that says, “I am going to believe you for the answer in your way and your timing.”  When we persist in prayer, we cover every aspect of the need from a variety of perspectives.  We see it from the big perspective and from the tiniest aspect.  We don’t forget the prayer because we carry it with us, and it’s in our routine.  We knock and knock at heaven’s door.  We are passionate about it.  

 

There is not one of us who doesn’t have to be persistent in prayer.  We all do.  It’s part of our training for reigning.  We have to learn to wait no matter how hard it is.  Patience is not one of our favorite words, at least not one of mine.  It’s so exciting to run around and do things but to wait and pray is hard work.  And to keep from getting discouraged is another story.  Many of us live in cultures where waiting is not considered a virtue.  But God sees things differently than we do.  Waiting is often the best use of our time.  I’ve written about it often because I feel it is the important DNA of an intercessor.  We have to patiently wait and persist in prayer.  We have to stand firm without wavering and then we have to wait some more. 

 

The Apostle Paul was a fast-moving individual but he learned the secret of persistent prayer.  He said to the Church in Thessalonica, “Night and day we pray more earnestly that we may see you again (1 Thessalonians 3:10).  To the Church in Colosse he said, “We have not stopped praying for you….” (Colossians 1:9).  To the Church in Ephesus he said, “I keep asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ…. may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Ephesians 1:17).

 

Lately my husband, Norm, and I have walked around a lake for exercise in the evenings.  During the last two weeks a carnival set up their rides and food stands right near that area.  We’ve walked past it as well as through it several times on our brisk walk around the lake.  Many people think traveling with a carnival must be exciting and fun.  Children think it must be the most exciting life one could have!  Lots of rides, hot dogs, and cotton candy all the time!  We watched those carnival workers closely as we walked.  They looked tired, bored, worn out, and hopeless.  The weather was humid and it rained a lot, so that you had to tiptoe through the mud puddles.  Often the rides had only a couple of riders.  Where was all the excitement?  There wasn’t any.  It was hard work and persistence.  

 

We, who represent Jesus, must be persistent, patient, and persevering in our prayers.  We must be the ones who stand the strongest in persistent prayer and in every occupation in life.  It’s easy to give up, but we are representing a King and living for a Kingdom that will never end.  Next time you feel like quitting, look up the following verses:  Luke 11:5-10, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Luke 18:1-5, 1 Thessalonians 3:10, Col. 1:9, and Genesis 32:26.  This is not the time to give up but to stand firm.  We are laying hold of God’s strength as we pray.  Keep on knocking on heaven’s door.  It will pay off dramatically in the end, because God not only hears but He answers persistent prayer.    

 

“Persistence has various elements - the main ones are perseverance, determination, and intensity.  It begins with a refusal to readily accept denial.  This develops into a determination to persevere, to spare no time or trouble until the answer comes.  This grows in intensity until the whole being is given to God in supplication. Boldness comes to lay hold of God’s strength.  At one time, it is quiet; at another, bold.  At one point, it waits in patience, but at another, it claims at once what it desires.  In whatever different shape, persistence always means and knows that God hears prayer: I must be heard.”  Andrew Murray 

 

By Debbie Przybylski

Intercessors Arise

deb@intercessorsarise.org

http:// www.intercessorsarise.org

 

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Ruling with Christ through Prayer

“It is our responsibility to exercise the authority that is ours through His name, and in the face of all the forces of evil to demonstrate that Christ is already “King of kings and Lord of lords.”  Derek Prince

Dear Intercessors,

Do you realize that you are royalty? When we were in Asia, we were able to host the princess of Thailand on our ship. It was a grand occasion. We had to learn carefully the proper way to entertain such a royal guest. As she walked passed us, we had to bow and curtsy at just the right moment. Our fingers were held together in a prayer position at just the right location on our face. Too high or too low would be offensive. Her visit was important, and we didn’t want to make any mistakes with such royalty in the room.

The reality is that Christians are the true royalty on the earth. Often we walk downtrodden and discouraged, letting the devil defeat us as we listen to his lies. Enemy lies are shouting at us from every direction - the media, magazines, newspapers, the television - the world system is everywhere. Who are we going to listen to? Let us not get disheartened at the trials that we face. They are only to develop us in spirit and in truth, bringing forth the character of Christ in us. We are sons and daughters of the King of kings, called to co-labor with our heavenly Lord. We are to help establish God’s Kingdom on earth through prayer. If we want to see breakthroughs, we must understand the authority that we have in Christ. I am excited about a new book I am writing called Heaven Touching Earth: Cultivating a Kingdom Prayer Life. It is so important for us as God’s people to know that we can see heaven touch earth through our prayers.

We need to learn how to cultivate a Kingdom prayer life because we rule with Christ in our prayers.

Imagine if you had never driven a car in your life. You would have to walk everywhere! One day someone tells you that you are going to receive something that will take you everywhere you need to go. You are given a brand new car but you don’t know the features on the car. You get in and begin to drive it but you have the emergency break on! Because nobody tells you to take the break off, you drive no faster than 20 miles per hour. Nonetheless, you are excited! At least you don’t have to walk everywhere. You don’t realize that you have lights or any other features on the car. You just know that for the rest of your life you can drive anywhere at 20 mph during the day.

Jesus came to earth in order to penetrate the kingdom of darkness with healing, joy, and purpose. He wants us to pray that things on earth would be like they are in heaven. He didn’t just come to give us a ticket to heaven like a car that only drives 20 mph during the daytime! He came to bring the Kingdom of God on earth. We are on earth to bring the Kingdom of God into our neighborhoods, workplaces, and nations. There is so much more than we have experienced. He wants His will done on earth as it is in heaven. We must find out the features that our King has provided and learn to drive this heavenly car with speed and expertise. Many of us are living in the mentality of driving a car that only goes 20 mph. There is so much more that God has for us!

Realizing that we are in God’s family and that He is preparing us to rule and reign eternally with Him should make our lives different from those in the world around us. All who want to enter into a Kingdom prayer life of spiritual breakthrough need to comprehend the unlimited power that is in Christ; power that is available to us every day. We have authority in intercession! We are seated in heavenly places in Jesus Christ - who is the King of kings and Lord of lords - before Whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess His Lordship over all. Look at our royal status in 1 Peter 2:9:

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

We are kings and priests who rule with Christ and share in his ministry of prayer and intercession. In light of this incredible reality, it is time to shake off the defeat of the enemy and rise up in victory wherever He places us. Let us not lose perspective of Whom we are representing as priests. Let our focus be on Him - King and Ruler over all - and not on the temporary situations on earth. What is any trial in light of eternity? It is a mere breath. To be a believer in Christ is to claim a high place as co-ruler with Christ! Understand the spiritual truth that as Christ reigns supreme, He intercedes, and you and I reign with Him as we intercede. When that truth is real to us, our lives will be dramatically changed forever.

Grasp the reality of the power of intercession in Psalm 2:8, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” We need the eyes of our heart enlightened to understand this incredible reality. We need God’s power to teach us how to pray with authority as His royal priests.


How to Pray with Authority as Royal Priests

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power, and dominion and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come" (Ephesians 1:18-21).

Praise God for the authority He has given us - Through the ministry of intercession, we may determine the destinies of nations and governments and see many come to know Christ. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Praise God that we are citizens of His heavenly kingdom - God’s kingdom is supreme over all other kingdoms and over all other forces that work on earth. We are made alive, raised up and enthroned in the heavenly kingdom. It has already been accomplished! “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

Pray that we would know our position and authority in Christ - Pray that we would use it wisely and set our hearts on things above. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).

Pray that we would understand God’s Kingdom - Head knowledge isn’t enough, but by the Spirit, our hearts need to grab hold of the magnitude of God’s plans and provisions for us. Pray Ephesians 2:4-6 for the Church worldwide. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6).

Thank God that this wisdom is revealed to us by His Spirit - Cry out to God for this illumination and wisdom by the Holy Spirit. “But as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him’ God has revealed to us through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

Pray that believers around the world would realize their holy priesthood - Pray for an increase in Holy Spirit inspired prayer in every nation. “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

Praise God that as King He rules and as Priest, He intercedes - Because He lives, we also share in this priestly ministry of intercession. “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

Every day God is preparing us for His Kingdom. He is making us ready to take responsibility and authority with Him when He comes. It is through prayer, intercession, and declaring His Word that we administer the authority that is ours in the name of Jesus. As our eyes are opened, and as we pray the authority of God is manifested upon the earth. We have expectation of a multitude of people laying hold of this truth. When this happens, the church will begin taking the place God has designed for her.

“Prayer is God’s settled and singular condition to move ahead His Son’s kingdom. Therefore, the believer who is the most highly skilled in prayer will do the most for God. Men are to pray - to pray for the advance of God’s cause. The one who can wield the power of prayer is the strong one, the holy one, in Christ’s kingdom. He is one of God’s heroes, God’s saints, God’s servants, God’s agents. ‘Ask, and it shall be give you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you’ (Matthew 7:7). The strongest one in Christ’s kingdom is he who can knock the best, and the secret of success in Christ’s kingdom is the ability to pray.”  E. M. Bounds

Written by Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
deb@intercessorsarise.org
www.intercessorsarise.org

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