Authority in Prayer
How is your prayer life? Do you feel like you pray with authority and power? Weak and listless prayer is not how we are to pray. We need to tap into the power of prayer and pray with authority. The Bible gives us strong guidance on how we can do this!
There are four biblical principles that guide us into powerful prayer – having authority in prayer.
In Jesus’ name
This is a common refrain: ‘In Jesus’ name. Amen.’ But what does it really mean?
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:13–14 (ESV)
Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. John 16:23 (ESV)
This was Jesus’ instruction to the disciples – and to us. But to ask in Jesus’ name means more than repeating those words. When we ask in his name, it means we agree with him on what we ask. So, we seek the things he wants and ask him about the things we want.
Here is a simple analogy. When a child goes to his mother and says: “Dad said we could have ice cream before supper,” he is asking in his father’s name. But did his father really say that?
When we ask in Jesus’ name, are we sure that Jesus said it was okay or are we just trying to get our own way? Not every time we use those words are we truly asking in his name and using those words is not absolutely required – particularly when we know it is his will!
Abiding
This takes us to the second principle: abiding in him.
By abiding in Christ, we are better able to discern his will. And being able to discern his will gives us confidence to ask in his name!
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7 (ESV)
We are to enter into a co-habitation relationship with Jesus; we live in him and he lives in us. We do this through much time in the word and deep conversations with him, asking him to reveal his will and then we promptly follow every word he reveals. This is a continual way of spiritual life. This abiding opens our eyes to the things we can pray for.
Confidence
Prayer that is anything but confident is not going to amount to much. Confidence is a product of faith. When we have faith, we are confident. Authority in prayer is built on confidence and faith.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
This passage in Hebrews reflects the reality that Jesus continues as our High Priest interceding for us. He is the perfect sacrifice for our sins and he is continually working for our salvation and spiritual growth. So we can pray with confidence. Christ is on our side! He stands with us in prayer.
We must decide to have faith and be confident. This is done based on the merits of Jesus – not our own. We have faith and confidence because of the truth of God’s word and his many promises to us. Because we have been redeemed and live a new life in him, we can pray this way. God is good and he hears us. Prayers made with confidence reflect our faith in the mercy, grace and goodness of God.
Binding
Twice Jesus repeated a principle involving binding and loosing. Here is the passage from Matthew 18.
“Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:18–20 (ESV)
No scripture can be taken in isolation. And that is certainly true in this case. What is it to bind and loose? Here is an example. If there is a spirit of criticism in the church, you can pray that the spirit of criticism be bound. If there are financial needs in the church, you can pray for the spirit of generosity to be loosed. Both prayers are consistent with scripture.
As in all prayer, when we pray based on our selfish desires, we cannot reasonably expect a favorable answer. Searching the scriptures allows us to see things that should be bound and loosed. And those things are items of prayer, particularly as they pertain to the circumstances you find yourself in.
Your turn
God has given us great freedom and power in prayer. As we discover his will, we will see many things to pray for and many answers to those prayers. We cannot neglect to do our part, though. If we ask God for a harvest of souls for the kingdom, it means that we must do our part to share the gospel with those around us.
What will you do? How will your prayer life change? This is an opportunity to exercise authority in prayer. Practice it and continue to grow in the knowledge of God’s will and you will reap a reward!