Authority in Prayer

Our prayer is energized when we demonstrate our authority in Christ

Often what we need is not more data but more insight into the data we already have available. This insight is given only by the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 1:17–19)

Wayne Grudem

Introduction:

Bishop has talked about a far reaching prayer. He spoke of a prayer that is rooted in obedience.

He said our prayer this week should be Lord I will be obedient. We talked about how to renounce the hidden works of dishonesty in our lives and submit to God’s authority.

Last night we learned that whatsoever we ask of God he said he would do it. This is powerful for us to understand the possibility of prayer

After we have become submitted under God’s authority, we have then gained an advantage over the enemy because we have taken away all legal ground he has to operate freely in our lives

Aim: Our message tonight teaches us how to leverage the authority that we have submitted to and yield it as a weapon against the enemy

Scripture Text: Colossians 2:10–15 (KJV 1900)

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

We have been filled in him. We are furnished with everything we need for life and Godliness. We lack nothing. But we must say Lord open my eyes. Enlighten my eyes to see the glory of God.

Jesus is above all forms of authority and rulership. There are various ruling authorities in the world in the natural and spiritual realm but Jesus in his victory on the cross has elevated above all. This has major implications for us in prayer. First we can come with confidence and authority.

We not only pray to him that is in the heavenly realm but the Bible says we are seated with him. When we pray in the spirit, we take our rightful place with him in the heavenly realm.

This purpose of this year of prayer and fasting is to cause us to take our position. Too long we have taken a position of inferiority. We have been deduced to servants and slaves to our circumstance.

But a victory for Jesus is a victory for us. His experience is ours. We have been baptized into death with him

We have been raised with him. We have been crucified with Christ. Jesus has ascended above all rulers, and when we unite with him in prayer we share in his position of authority and power.

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Our Baptism with him of water and spirit is a type of spiritual circumcision in which we put off the old man and put on the new

Christ rose from the dead and so have we.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

We come to him bogged down. We come stressed about the past.

We come literally thinking that we will not be partakers of God’s love, grace and mercy because of our former sins

But when we come in prayer we come in confidence after we have confessed to God and renounced our sin, we can come with joy believing that we have full access. He has forgiven our sins.

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Jesus literally cancelled the record of debt as one translation puts it.

There were legal demands according to the law that we could not meet. But Jesus took these things out of our way by nailing it to his cross

We come to God in prayer with a spirit of bondage and law as if we cannot get to God yet God is right here. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Let us not place any ordinance on ourselves that Jesus has already removed but let us pray in the authority of his finished work. This is what he has done. We must take advantage of this opportunity.

Church is a constant celebration when we live in the reality of these truths.

We have given too much power to all of these enemies. They don’t think we know the truth of Jesus

We must declare the truth of what Jesus did out of our mouths in prayer.

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Through his death and resurrection, Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities that used those same ordinances or laws against us.

He did not do it in secret but he did it openly. He went into the lower parts of the earth and preached peace to those in bondage. He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men.

Even the saints of old got out of their graves and walked around Jersualem to testify of this great victory.

Our prayer should be energized by the truth of the gospel

Declarations and Decrees

I take these facts to my knees when I pray

I declare them against all negative thoughts and satanic attacks

I declare the truth in the face of lies

I believe the report of the Lord

I walk in the spirit of these truths

I pray with authority in the name of Jesus in word and in deed.

I pray with the same authority that Jesus won for me at Calvary

My prayer goes beyond the cosmic principalities in the heavenly realm and reaches the King of Kings

My prayer goes to the mover and shaker of the universe

I have a direct line

I can come boldly

There is nothing holding me back

There is nothing hindering me

I am forgiven

I am healed

I am delivered

I have be risen with Christ

My children are free

Joy shall come like a river

God is going to renew his people

The power is in the truth of the gospel

Its not bad like the enemy been telling you

He that shall come will come and will not tarry