"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
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. 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.
Realizing that we are 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 deeper prayer life need to comprehend the
unlimited power that is in Him, power that is
available to us. 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.
"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." (I Peter 2:9)
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 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
you, your life will be dramatically changed forever.
May we understand 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."
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.
Pray that we would know our position and authority
in Christ, and that we would use it wisely.
"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)
- Praise
God for the authority He has given us -
"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)
- 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 an 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 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."
(I 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." (I Peter 25)
- 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)
Realize
that 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 declaration that we administer
in the authority that is ours in the name of Jesus.
As believers' eyes are open, and as they 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
Training
Links
|
