To pray with greater authority, we must first change the way we live

Jesus taught His disciples in John 14:13-14 that if they pray about anything in His name, He will do it. Jesus said,

“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so 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)

When Peter said to the lame beggar, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazarene, walk!” (Acts 3:6). Immediately, the beggar was made well. The Spirit uses Peter’s tongue in prayer as an instrument to do His miraculous works. As the crowds gathered, Peter explained,

Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? … it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know. (Acts 3:12,16) 

What does it mean by praying in Jesus’ name? It means standing in proxy of Jesus and exercising His authority on His behalf. If you nominate someone as your proxy, you have given him the authority to act on your behalf in specific matters. Countries nominate proxies or ambassadors as their official representation in foreign territories. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul and Timothy addressed themselves as ambassadors of Christ making an appeal for all to be reconciled to God. In John 14:13-14, Jesus nominated His disciples as His ambassadors and gave them authority over all things on the earth. The disciples were nominated as ambassadors because they were fully committed to the mission of Christ. It is common wisdom that we would only nominate those whom we can trust to act on our behalf. Hence, the more we love God and obey Him, the more authority we have; the more we become like God in His mindset and attributes, and the more effective our prayers will be. The effectiveness of a prayer is not found in frequency so much as in the believer’s faithfulness towards God.

To be an ambassador for God the believer must yield himself to God in all areas of life, and allow the Spirit to do God’s works through him. Hence, by praying in Jesus’ name, the believer serves as a trustworthy ambassador, an instrument for the work of Christ.

Those who do not love God, do not possess the authority to pray in Jesus’ name. The sons of Sceva in Acts 19:13-16 tried to imitate Paul by invoking the name of Jesus. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15). The evil spirit did not recognize them because the Spirit of Christ was not in them and they were instead overpowered by the evil spirits. James 5:16-19 says that effectual prayers of believers demonstrate the presence of Christ within and through their exemplary and righteous lifestyle turn sinners back to the truth. James 5:16 says,

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (James 5:16)

This explains why certain believers pray with greater effectiveness and power. Believers who love God and who are faithful in God’s work are in fact more effective in their prayers.

Therefore, faith in Jesus’ name is demonstrated through a lifestyle of obedience and power in His Spirit. In a nutshell: In all that we do, it is Jesus who is doing it in and through us! When I speak, I speak as Jesus, full of grace and truth. When I pray for someone, I imagine my hand as Jesus’ hand touching the broken and healing the sick. I imagine myself as Jesus preaching and giving hope and wisdom to hearers. Wherever I go, as His ambassador, I walk in the light of holiness and dignity. And where Jesus is, there the authority of God is present to do His work.

Understanding the will of God and praying according to it. Having understood the authority that is invested in us through the presence of the Spirit, we must also know His will and His timing. The secret to effective prayer is to first know the will of God, then pray according to it. Hence, before we pray, we must seek to know His plans. 1 John 5:14 says,

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14)

Our confidence and faith come from the knowledge of His will. Many carried away by their ignorance asked God to answer their prayers according to their own carnal plans. However, Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus prayed, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me… so that they may believe that You sent Me.” (John 11:41-42). Jesus worked miracles without fail because He always knew and walked in the Father’s will; in everything He did, His one purpose was to reveal the Father’s love, and wisdom and power to the world. Hence, a believer’s effectiveness in prayer is an indication of his ability to yield his mind to God and to understand His will. Yet the ability to understand God’s will stems from his willingness to obey God in areas of his life which are shielded from the public eye. This ability is not found in technique but in posture of heart. For a believer who agrees with God in his private life, God reveals all things to him. Jesus said to the disciples, “He (the Holy Spirit) will disclose to you what is to come. … for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.” (John 16:13-14). Jesus knows all things and will freely disclose to us all things when we obey Him in all areas of our life.

There was a lady who was in her 50’s, who attended church for many years. She was knowledgeable in the things of God and was considered a seasoned Christian by those around her. She also worked as a missionary for a couple of years before returning to Singapore. However, she was frequently unsure of God’s plans for her life and constantly asked for “confirmation” and signs from God. Signs which caught her eye like a rainbow or an eagle became her auguries of things to come. Because she was always unsure of what she heard from God, she often relied on prophecies for guidance. Yet the Romans 8:14 says, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” The sons of God will be led by the Spirit who dwells within them. Isaiah 30:21 says, “Your ears will hear a word behind you. This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” The Spirit who dwells within will give you an inner assurance of peace in the ways of God. Perhaps the answer for her was not to seek for direction, but for the presence and mindset of God. Jesus said,

“I am the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)

Understanding the will of God is the prerequisite to  praying with authority. As we seek God, He dwells within us and we will begin to reason and discern with the mindset of God.