How to Pray With Authority

Authority is power. Take a look at a police enforcer versus an eighteen-wheeler on the road. When the police officer starts to wave his hand at an upcoming over speeding truck, the driver has no choice but to stop and obey the police; that is what authority can do. Spiritually, God has given us a similar kind of power and authority, just like the policeman. Jesus Christ said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19). This means that God has given us power over the works of the enemy in our lives, be it sicknesses, chaos, division, poverty, lack, deception, witchcraft, occultism, and so many more. We are like a policeman who can stop an eighteen-wheeler truck of Satan attempting to ruin our lives because our badge bears the name of Jesus Christ, the most powerful name of all. If we execute authority without Christ, it won’t work. We are powerful because of Christ alone, and all authority comes from Him.

How do we pray with authority? If you are or if you know someone who is sick, you can use your authority in Christ in this manner:

In Jesus’ name, I command this sickness to leave, right now! You have no right to stay in that body! Be gone in the name of Jesus!

If you are experiencing attacks from the enemy in your marriage or within your family, you can pray with authority in this manner:

I command you, Satan, to leave me and my house alone! Jesus Christ is the Lord of this house! You are not welcome here. Leave in the name of Jesus!

There are many more circumstances in life where you can practice your authority in Christ Jesus. As you partner with the Holy Spirit in your daily life, He will reveal things and show you the areas where you need to pray and exercise your authority in Christ. To learn more about this, you can check out the article, “How to Pray Silently,” which discusses some techniques for how you can pray with authority.

God would not have given us authority if it wasn’t needed in our daily lives. He knows that the moment we receive Jesus Christ and become a part of His Kingdom of Light, it isn’t as though Satan and his minions will simply let us off easily. He will fight even harder to take you back by causing you to stumble as many times as possible. We face daily spiritual warfare, which is why it’s so important to know your authority and true identity in Christ Jesus, so that you can stand firm against the works of the enemy.

What does it mean to walk in authority?

To walk in your authority in Christ Jesus means to exercise the will of God in your life. When you practice your authority by healing the sick, casting out demons, eliminating their works in people’s lives, raising the dead, and commanding the will of God, you are walking in your authority in Christ Jesus. Knowing your identity in Christ is closely related to how you will walk according to your God-given authority. If you don’t know who you are in Christ, what Jesus Christ has paid for you on the cross, nor the promises of God through His Word, it can be difficult to exercise authority because you have no knowledge or understanding of it. 

To walk in Christ’s authority in your life means being grounded and knowledgeable in God’s Word and being consistent and disciplined in your relationship and calling with God. You must spend time reading the Word of God each day if you desire to be effective in your authority against the works of the enemy. After all, the heavenly angels of God only move according to the Word of God that you speak, command, and declare, because it is God’s will. Moreover, you must also be disciplined, consistently seek God, and hunger for heavenly things. The more you feed your spirit, the stronger you will be to face the enemy’s attacks and his works effectively by faith, in Christ Jesus.

Let’s take a look at the life of the Apostle Peter. It was far from perfect. Satan came to sift his life, but Jesus interceded (see Luke 22:31); he also stumbled when he denied the Lord three times (see Matthew 26:69-75). However, he didn’t remain stuck in that state. When Jesus Christ was resurrected, and the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles, Peter began walking in a huge amount of authority. He healed the disabled beggar, a paralytic man, raised a woman from the dead, received visions from the Lord, supernaturally escaped prison, and so many more, all of which can be read about in the book of Acts. Peter had so much faith in Christ Jesus. After all, he was with Him while Jesus was still in the flesh. He learned so much from the Lord and went on to apply everything he had learned to advance the Kingdom of God. Today, in our generation, we still look up to Peter and are taught how he lived a life of deep faith in Christ, and how he walked in so much authority and power in the name of Jesus.

This power and authority are in you too—the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11). Whatever you or your loved ones may be going through, you have the authority to command Satan and fight against the works of darkness.