Praying With Authority

by Karen Braun

Praying with Authority

 “A revival of real praying would produce a spiritual revolution.”  E.M. Bounds

Breakthrough is a trumpet call to walk and talk with God in obedience and live in his provision.  It is a spiritual movement that inquires of God for real needs of real people. It is important to recognize and discover that our struggles are not against people. As followers of Christ we are positioned as warriors in a spiritual battle and are engaged in a fight with the kingdom of darkness and we need to understand that the battle has already been won in Christ.  “Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”  2 Corinthians 10:3-4.

We have an enemy who does not want us to understand, trust in and walk in this truth.  We need TRUTH to train and equip us because the enemy of our soul is threatened when we pray.

• “If you continue in My Word, you are truly my disciples; you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31,32. RSV
• “I have given you authority…to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke 10:19
• “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  Matthew 16:19

On the cross Jesus announced, “It is finished!” referring to His finished work in redeeming mankind.  He immediately descended into the home of the enemy returning with the keys of death and Hades.  Satan no longer has rightful ownership of even that which he is prince over.  The battle is won!  Victory is secured!

• “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. Stand firm then… 
• With the belt of truth buckled around your waist
• With the breastplate of righteousness in place
• With your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace
• Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
• Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is THE WORD OF GOD.
•  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”  Ephesians 6:10-17

Armed with these truths we are faced with an incredible faith adventure as “we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  2 Corinthians 10:5

Fixing our eyes on Jesus and His provision, we can confidently face the darkness that comes against us and those we care about.  We have the privilege and responsibility of speaking God’s life-giving Words of truth into the face of Satan’s lies and deceptions that have influenced those we care about.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.”  1 John 5:14-15

As an army of prayer warriors who take our position in Christ, for the sake of freedom, let us keep in mind:

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him…”Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:27-29, 31

It is His battle.    “The Lord commands victories for His people.”