D
When the church prays with authority, it rules over Hades—Matt. 16:18:
１
The church has the authority to rule over every satanic thing.
２
The church should subdue all the activities of the evil spirits by means of prayer and should exercise dominion through prayer—Luke 10:17-19; Matt. 18:18.
E
If we would pray the prayer of authority, we must first submit to God's authority ourselves; unless we submit to God's authority with respect to His position and submit to His authority in our daily living and in all practical matters, we cannot pray with authority—Isa. 45:11; 1 Pet. 5:6; Rev. 22:1.
F
The prayer of authority has heaven as its starting point and earth as its destination—S. S. 4:8; 6:10; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:6; 6:18:
１
A prayer with authority is prayed from heaven to earth; it begins from a heavenly position and goes downward from heaven to earth—2:6.
２
To pray downward is to stand in the position that Christ has given us in the heavenlies, to command Satan with authority and reject all his works, and to proclaim with authority that all of God's commands should be accomplished—Matt. 6:9-10.
G
The position of prayer is ascension, and the authority of prayer is also ascension; all prayers in ascension are prayers of authority—Eph. 2:6; 1:22-23:
１
The prayer of authority is the prayer by one who is able to give out commands by standing in the position of ascension—Isa. 45:11.
２
If we are in the position of ascension, our prayer will be equal to God's administration; it will be the executing of His commands—Rev. 8:3-5.
H
When we come to the point where we have the heavenly position and the heavenly authority and are thus able to utter forth authoritative prayers, we are on the throne, reigning with the Lord—Eph. 2:5-6; Rev. 3:21; cf. Ezek. 1:26:
１
At this time, our prayer is not only an authoritative prayer but also a reigning prayer, and our prayer becomes God's administration, the execution of God's rule—Rom. 5:17, 21; Matt. 18:18; Rev. 8:3-5.
２
If we are willing to learn, we will arrive at a place where we can utter such prayers for the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose—Eph. 1:10-11; 3:9-11.
Morning Nourishment
Eph. 1:22-23 And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church, which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.2:6 And raised us up together with Him and seated us together with Him in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.
The church can rule over Hades when it prays with authority. Since Christ has transcended over everything and He is the Head of the church, the church can rule over the demons and everything that belongs to Satan. If the church did not have the authority to rule over the demons and if the Lord had not given this authority to the church, the church could not even survive on earth. The church is able to survive on earth because it has the authority to rule over every satanic thing…We can cast out demons in the name of the Lord, and we can restrain the secret activities of the evil spirits. (CWWN, vol. 22, “The Prayer Ministry of the Church,” p. 199)
Today’s Reading
We must submit ourselves to God’s authority. If we do not submit to God’s authority, we cannot pray with authority. Not only must we submit to God’s authority with respect to His position, but we also must submit to His authority in our daily living and in all practical matters.Ordinary prayer is directed from earth to heaven…A prayer with authority has heaven as its starting point and the earth as its destination. In other words, a prayer with authority is prayed from heaven to earth…If a man has never learned the prayer that prays downward, he has never learned to pray with authority. In the spiritual warfare, the kind of prayer that prays downward is very important…It is to stand in the position that Christ has given us in the heavenlies, to command Satan with authority and reject all his works, and to proclaim with authority that all God’s commands should be accomplished. If we pray for a realization of God’s will and a decision concerning it,…we should say, “God, You have to do this. You have to accomplish this. No matter what happens, You must fulfill this work.” (CWWN, vol. 22, “The Prayer Ministry of the Church,” pp. 203, 194)
The position of prayer is the position of ascension…Whenever you leave the heavenly realm, you lose the position of prayer. You may pray, but that prayer does not count before God. As the position of prayer is ascension, the authority of prayer is also ascension. With the position of prayer there is the authority of prayer. Whatever a Christian does is not only a matter of power but, even more, a matter of authority…[Some] not only have power but also authority, for they are in the heavenly position.
In Isaiah 45:11, God says, “Command Me.” Sometimes this commanding is a direct command to God, and sometimes it is an indirect command to the environment. Examples are: Moses standing on the shore of the Red Sea commanding the water to be divided, the Lord Jesus in the boat commanding the wind and the sea to be still, and the Lord commanding sickness to leave men…If you have touched the heavenly position with its authority, you can even say, “I command the poverty to depart from me.”
When you come to the point where you have the heavenly position and the heavenly authority and are thus able to utter forth authoritative prayers, you are one who is on the throne, standing in the ruling position together with the Lord. Just as He reigns at the right hand of God, so you also reign together with Him in the heavenly realm. At this time your prayer is not only an authoritative prayer but also a reigning prayer. Your prayer is to rule with authority, executing God’s orders. So at this time all your prayers become God’s administration, the execution of God’s rule…If we are willing to learn, we will arrive at a place where we can utter such prayers. (CWWL, 1959, vol. 4, “Lessons on Prayer,” pp. 182, 185-188)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1959, vol. 4, “Lessons on Prayer,” ch. 17