We are seated together with Christ at the right hand of God. We rule from heaven. The words: “from heaven” appear 65 times in the New Testament!
We are to understand our position, our place and our purpose from heaven’s vantage point!
Many people in the church are yet to know their authority partly because they don’t use it. God has so many levels of authority to release over us and in us!
IF ONLY WE WOULD TAKE UP THE MANTEL OF INTERCESSION
I once had a vision whilst on New Year’s Eve in Sydney. I saw in the Spirit all the people came under the anointing and then I saw all the people move in apostolic authority and pray in the Spirit and what a SHIFT took place. In fact I saw in the Spirit all over the nation what would happen if we all did this at the one time!
I saw the absolute shift from corporate revelry to corporate breakthrough!
In the Kingdom our authority is given and is positional! It’s ours for the taking like a wealth sitting in our bank accounts.
HOWEVER THE PROBLEM OF LEAVING OUR AUTHORITY IS IF YOU DON’T USE IT- YOU LOSE IT!
Somebody in this room is going to take hold of this and change the course of human history through prayer!
Let’s look at the different mantles and levels of our authority and how they are seen in the biblical text! let’s start with the most important area:
WE ARE HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS
“Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.” (Luke 9:1 NKJV)
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19 NKJV)
He gave them this when they were broken. We were unlearned and immature. He left 11 guys to do the work he did, but they were not proficient. How amazing is that! He left young and inexperienced people to rule!
HE DOESN’T TAKE ALL OUR ENEMIES AWAY BUT INSTEAD LEADS US THROUGH MUCH TURMOIL INTO FREEDOM
Psalm 23. He lay a table in the midst of our enemies.
The function of all believers is to operate as kings and priests.
“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.” (Revelation 1:6)
JESUS IS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST, AND PRIESTS STAND IN A MEDIATORIAL ROLE BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH
Most believers don’t understand their priestly function.
A priest represents God to the people and represents the people to God.
“Therefore, since we have a Great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Christ did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 4:1:5,6)
“The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The Lord will extend your mighty sceptre from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:1-4)
The Messiah rules as a High Priest with an iron sceptre. The iron sceptre is a symbol of the absolute rule of a King. It is the equivalent symbol of a royal crown or a throne.
“But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Hebrews 1:8)
As Kings and Priests in Christ we have been absorbed into this cosmic drama and we must exercise our authority!
The ‘church’ is a royal priestly company because we are in Christ: our Great High Priest.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal [basileios = kingly] priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)
The ecclesia is called to rule and reign on earth.
Governmental authority has been handed to the church.
The ecclesia that Jesus builds is a governing and legislative body.
In Jesus day ecclesia was a civil or secular term to describe a company of leaders who would sit in the gates of the city and exercise authority in determining what a society would look like and how it would function.
God has now placed His sceptre of righteousness in our hands.
He has ordained us to rule in the midst of our enemies.
1Prayer is the means by which the church rules and reigns as a company of kings and priests!
We exercise our reign by coming together to pray in the Spirit.
“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.” (Isaiah 9:7 NIV)
Christ Rules as the King of Righteousness
“See, a King will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.” (Isaiah 32:1 NIV)
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch and He will reign as King and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.” (Jeremiah 23:5 NASB)
Christ is a King and Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.” (Genesis 14:18)
“For this Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “King of Righteousness.” (Hebrews 7:1,2)
The priesthood of the order of Melchizedek rules in the earth through the scepter of righteousness by establishing God’s justice and His righteous reign in the prayer room.
“But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Hebrews 1:8)
The High Priest has handed His scepter to His people and now restricts His rule and reign to the actions of His people.
Kingly priests issue righteous decrees.
“If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; if you remove unrighteousness far from your tent… then the Almighty will be your gold and choice silver to you. For then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. You will pray to Him and He will hear you. You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you and light will shine on your ways.” (Job 22:23-28)
A large part of prayer is the issuing of royal decrees as we proclaim the will and purpose of God into a situation.
“To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations: that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter” — just as I have received authority from My Father.” (Revelation 2:26,27)
“But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8)
“Those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17)
You have become the righteousness of God in Christ and you have authority to release the kingdom, the power and the glory on earth through prayer.
“Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!”
“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be that which has already been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be that which has already been loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:18-20)
“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” (James 5:16,17 NIV)
Prayer advances righteousness and justice in the earth. Therefore pray for justice and righteousness to prevail.
We have been assigned the task of functioning as a house of prayer for all nations.
We are a kingly priesthood whether we are standing in our authority or not.
Whether you step into your destiny or not, you are a king and priest.Jesus calls His church the “House of Prayer for all nations.”
Are we engaging in our priestly function or are we asleep in the midst of crisis.
The nations are in increasing turmoil and conflict.New wars are breaking out all over the planet.
It’s time to step it up and pray with conviction and fire that the Lordship of Christ prevails in this hour! Let’s pray 2015 is a year of great joy and fulfilment!
