Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its crops [as usual] ~James 5:17-18 AMP
Prayers have the power to affect the spiritual realm, as well as, the physical. It is beyond human logic and understanding how prayers offered unto God by faith affects the earthly realm. But we see through the model of prayer that Jesus taught his disciples in Matt 6:10 how possible it is through prayer to impose our Father’s will here on earth as it is in heaven. Elijah did when he made prayers that affected nature causing the sky and earth to respond to his petition unto God.
But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion]. ~ Luke 5:16 AMP
Jesus often spent time in seclusion making prayers during his time here on earth. He prayed for his disciples, the sick, for the unity of the believers according to the will of God. At the garden of Gethesemane, Jesus prayed before he faced the cross untill his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. lf our Lord Jesus Christ lived a life of prayer as a man, how much more should we who profess our faith in God pray?
God has given us dominion over all things, and it is through prayer that we make petition, supplication, intercession and decrees and take authority in the spiritual realm concerning matters here on earth. The bible commands us to pray; pray for the sick, pray for the will of God to be done on earth, pray for deliverance from evil, pray for leaders in authority, pray for those who preach the gospel and pray for open doors for the gospel among others. This is because prayer is a powerful weapon that demolishes strongholds manned by the forces hell. And it is in praying that we enforce God’s authority and rulership here on earth.
Authority: Submission
Jesus was the Son of God, but he still suffered, and through his sufferings he learned to obey whatever God says ~ Hebrews 5:8 ERV
Jesus was in total submission to the Father’s will concerning Him and His plan for Humanity. Through submission, He laid out a pattern and modelled obidence unto God for believers today. We cannot walk in Kingdom authority if we don’t learn to submit to God or the authorities that God has placed over us. The bible commands wives are to submit to their husbands, Children are to obey their parents, Servants their masters and believers are to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephe 5:21). This principle cuts across every person.
Failure to submit, makes one rebellious to man and unto God. We see this in Numbers 16 when Korah, Dathan and Abiram rebelled against the leadership Moses and Aaron. God had divinely appointed Moses to lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt into the promised land by his Mighty hand. Yet these three leaders chosen by people complained against Moses and Aaron, telling the people that Egypt was better because they had milk and honey. Moses petitioned God, and He intervened. The next day the earth opened up and swallowed these men and their families alive for rebelling against His divinely established leadership.
Well, it must have been a terrifying sight but it was God’s plan to deliver Israel out of Egypt, just like He had revealed to His friend Abraham many years before Israel became a nation. So when Dathan, Korah and Abiram rebelled against Moses and Aaron telling the people that slavery in Egypt was way better because of milk and honey, they were rebelling against God’s plan. Rebellion against leaders, Including spiritual leaders that God has placed over us, could translate to rebellion against God
Walking with God requires that we walk in submission and full surrender to His will, plan and purposes. We miss out on God’s plans and purpose for our lives when we fail to disobey or surrender our will to him. The more we submit to God, His Word and His commands, the more we resist the enemy and the more our influence and authority will grow in Christ
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you ~James 4:7 ESV
Authority grows with submission
Saul said, “Who are you, Lord?” The voice answered, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting…..But the Lord Jesus said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen Saul for an important work. I want him to tell other nations, their rulers, and the people of Israel about me. But Saul became more and more powerful in proving that Jesus is the Messiah. His proofs were so strong that the Jews who lived in Damascus could not argue with him.
Jesus and apostle Paul moved with great authority in the Spiritual realm, so much so, that at some point demons acknowledge their authority….And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”(Acts 19:15)
Paul raised a young man to life, healed the sick with aprons and handkerchief he had touched and travelled extensively to preach the gospel. It always amazes me how Paul took quite some years to begin his ministry assignment to the gentiles after conversion. Yet Paul, was already a scholar well versed with the law, having trained under one of the best lecturer of his day, Gamaliel. During his conversion encounter, God only gave him instructions on where to go, sent him to a man who then prayed for him, restored his sight and outlined his calling as commanded by God. Paul obeyed the command, and so did Ananias who prayed for Him! After restoration, Paul goes to the desert of Arabia for 3years where he re-learn about christianity directly from God (Gal 1:16-17). Thereafter, he visits the Apostles in Jerusalem to inform them of his conversion,and continues teaching about Christ back in Damascus, Syria and Cilicia.
And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and men ~ Luke 2:52 AMP
Jesus as man began his ministry at the age of 30. Meanwhile, he was increasing in wisdom awaiting for the appointed time of the Father, yet he could challenge the teachers of the law at the age of 12 years. When the time was right, God unveiled Him with a voice from heaven and the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove. On the other hand, Paul spent 3years alone with God in the desert of Arabia learning about the risen Christ. Scholars tell us that thereafter, there is a period of approximately 10-12 years before he started his missionary journey to the gentiles, which was his major assignment as affirmed by God during his conversion. When the time had come for Paul to begin his calling to the gentile, The Holy Spirit affirmed it, and together with the church leaders, sent him with Barnabas on his first missionary journey.
In the church at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers. They were Barnabas, Simeon (also called Niger), Lucius (from the city of Cyrene), Manaen (who had grown up with King Herod), and Saul. These men were all serving the Lord and fasting when the Holy Spirit said to them, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul to do a special work for me. They are the ones I have chosen to do it.” So the church fasted and prayed. They laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them out ~ Acts 13:1-3 ERV
We see from the life of Jesus and Paul,that authority does not increase overnight or instantly. God may have outlined your calling before birth like Jeremiah or a new believer may have come into faith instantly, but our spiritual authority increases progressively as we pursue our purpose and calling in God! However, it demands consencration and continuous fellowship with God who leads us by the Holy Spirit.
Walking in greater authority requires take we walk in righteousness, obedience and in submission to the will of God. The will of God for us is revealed every time we obey his leading. And when all obidience is fulfilled, we level up and operate in greater power and authority than before. Like Jesus, we will be able to confront powers, authorities and strongholds without fear.
Authority: Walking in the supernatural
Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places ~ Ephesians 6:12 ERV
The enemy we are up against is not physical but spiritual. Though he may take the form of opposition and difficulties we go though in the physical, we counter these attacks with our spiritual weapons. Whenever we pray over matters or speak the Word of God by faith, schemes of darkness give way, plots of men and opposition bows and stronghold of darkness collapse giving way for the children of God to experience joy and victory. God has called us to operate and walk in the supernatural as we exercise our spiritual authority in Christ.