Aligning with Spiritual Authority for Effective Prayer

Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound concept of spiritual authority and its critical role in answered prayer. The key to unlocking the power of prayer lies in understanding and aligning ourselves with spiritual authority. We began by reflecting on the story of the centurion in Luke 7, who demonstrated remarkable faith and understanding of authority. Despite his high status, he recognized Jesus' supreme authority and believed that Jesus could heal his servant with just a word. This centurion's faith amazed Jesus, highlighting the importance of recognizing and submitting to divine authority.

We delved into the idea that many of our prayers go unanswered because we are out of alignment with God's authority. Jesus, though co-equal with God, submitted to the Father's authority, setting an example for us. He operated under the Father's will, and this alignment granted Him the power to perform miracles. Similarly, our lives must be aligned with God's will to experience the fullness of His blessings.

We also discussed the broader implications of authority in various aspects of life, including family, work, and church. In the family, mutual submission between husbands and wives, and proper alignment of children to parents, creates a harmonious environment that pleases God. In the workplace, employees should work sincerely as if serving the Lord, and employers must treat their employees justly, recognizing their accountability to God.

The sermon emphasized that true freedom and potential are realized when we live under God's authority. Just as a train runs smoothly on its tracks, our lives will flourish when we stay within the boundaries set by God. Misalignment leads to chaos and missed blessings, much like a misaligned car veers off course. Therefore, we must strive to align every aspect of our lives with God's authority, ensuring that our prayers are powerful and effective.

### Key Takeaways

1. Understanding Spiritual Authority: The centurion's faith in Luke 7 exemplifies the power of recognizing and submitting to spiritual authority. His belief that Jesus could heal his servant with just a word demonstrates the importance of acknowledging Jesus' supreme authority in our lives. This alignment with divine authority is crucial for our prayers to be answered. [29:37]

2. Alignment with God's Will: Jesus' life is a model of perfect alignment with the Father's will. Despite His divine status, He submitted to the Father's authority, which empowered Him to perform miracles. Our prayers and lives must similarly align with God's will to experience His blessings fully. Misalignment cuts off the flow of divine power and hinders our spiritual growth. [48:53]

3. Authority in Family and Work: Proper alignment in family and work relationships is essential. Wives and husbands should mutually submit to each other, children should obey their parents, and employees should work sincerely as if serving the Lord. Employers must treat their employees justly, recognizing their accountability to God. This alignment creates harmony and pleases God. [25:04]

4. Freedom through Submission: True freedom and potential are realized when we live under God's authority. Just as a train runs smoothly on its tracks, our lives will flourish when we stay within the boundaries set by God. Misalignment leads to chaos and missed blessings, much like a misaligned car veers off course. [40:58]

5. Practical Application of Authority: To experience the fullness of God's blessings, we must align every aspect of our lives with His authority. This includes our prayers, relationships, and daily actions. By doing so, we ensure that our lives are in the groove, allowing us to run with full power and potential, and receive the blessings God has in store for us. [12:37]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[26:48] - Introduction to Spiritual Authority
[28:07] - The Key to Answered Prayer
[29:37] - The Centurion's Faith
[31:02] - Jesus' Authority in Capernaum
[32:21] - The Centurion's Humility
[33:44] - Misalignment and Its Consequences
[35:09] - Freedom from Satan's Control
[36:34] - Living Free in Christ
[38:07] - The Importance of Alignment
[40:58] - Freedom through Submission
[42:18] - Jesus' Model of Submission
[43:33] - The Pike Fish Experiment
[46:00] - Living Under Kingdom Authority
[48:53] - Jesus' Submission to the Father
[50:07] - Colossians 1:16-19
[52:48] - By Whose Authority Do You Operate?
[54:07] - Legitimate Authority
[55:24] - Jesus' Example of Submission
[56:48] - Philippians 2:5-8
[58:10] - The Power of Kingdom Authority
[01:00:47] - The Centurion's Understanding of Authority
[01:02:12] - Recognizing Jesus' Authority
[01:05:15] - Speak the Word Only
[01:09:04] - Jesus' Alignment with the Father
[01:12:37] - The Importance of Proper Alignment
[01:17:04] - Jesus' Commission to the Disciples
[01:18:50] - Authority Over Spiritual and Physical Realms
[01:20:46] - Commitment vs. Surrender
[01:24:34] - Practical Application of Authority
[01:25:04] - Authority in Family and Work
[01:36:54] - Conclusion and Prayer
[01:38:25] - Invitation to Christ

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1. Luke 7:1-10: The story of the centurion's faith and understanding of authority.
2. Philippians 2:5-8: Jesus' example of submission to the Father's authority.
3. Colossians 1:16-19: The supremacy of Christ and His submission to the Father.

### Observation Questions
1. What did the centurion in Luke 7 recognize about Jesus' authority that amazed Jesus? [29:37]
2. How does Philippians 2:5-8 describe Jesus' attitude towards authority and submission?
3. According to Colossians 1:16-19, what is the relationship between Jesus and all creation?
4. In the sermon, what analogy was used to describe the importance of staying within the boundaries set by God? [40:58]

### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is the centurion's understanding of authority significant for our own faith and prayer life? [29:37]
2. How does Jesus' submission to the Father in Philippians 2:5-8 serve as a model for our own lives? [56:48]
3. What does it mean for our prayers and actions to be aligned with God's will, as discussed in the sermon? [48:53]
4. How can the concept of spiritual authority impact our relationships in family and work settings? [25:04]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt your prayers were not being answered. Could it have been due to a misalignment with God's authority? How can you realign yourself with His will? [28:07]
2. Jesus submitted to the Father's authority despite being co-equal with Him. In what areas of your life do you struggle with submission, and how can you follow Jesus' example? [56:48]
3. The sermon mentioned the importance of mutual submission in family relationships. How can you practice mutual submission in your family this week? [25:04]
4. Think about your workplace. Are there ways you can better align your work ethic with serving the Lord? How can you treat your colleagues and subordinates justly? [25:04]
5. The analogy of a train running smoothly on its tracks was used to describe living within God's boundaries. What are some "tracks" or boundaries you need to stay on to ensure your life runs smoothly? [40:58]
6. The centurion believed Jesus could heal his servant with just a word. How can you cultivate such faith in Jesus' authority in your own life? [29:37]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to surrender more fully to God's authority. What practical steps can you take this week to make that surrender? [20:46]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing Divine Authority
Understanding and submitting to spiritual authority is crucial for effective prayer. The centurion in Luke 7 exemplifies this by acknowledging Jesus' supreme authority, believing that Jesus could heal his servant with just a word. This act of faith amazed Jesus and underscores the importance of recognizing and aligning ourselves with divine authority. When we acknowledge Jesus' authority in our lives, we open the door for our prayers to be answered and for God's power to work through us. [29:37]

Luke 7:6-7 (ESV): "And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, 'Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to recognize and submit to Jesus' authority? How can you begin to acknowledge His supreme authority in those areas today?

Day 2: Aligning with God's Will
Jesus' life is a model of perfect alignment with the Father's will. Despite His divine status, He submitted to the Father's authority, which empowered Him to perform miracles. Our prayers and lives must similarly align with God's will to experience His blessings fully. Misalignment cuts off the flow of divine power and hinders our spiritual growth. By aligning ourselves with God's will, we ensure that our prayers are powerful and effective. [48:53]

John 5:19 (ESV): "So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.'"

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you feel out of alignment with God's will? What steps can you take today to realign yourself with His purpose?

Day 3: Authority in Family and Work
Proper alignment in family and work relationships is essential. Wives and husbands should mutually submit to each other, children should obey their parents, and employees should work sincerely as if serving the Lord. Employers must treat their employees justly, recognizing their accountability to God. This alignment creates harmony and pleases God. When we align our relationships according to God's design, we create environments where His blessings can flow freely. [25:04]

Ephesians 6:1-4 (ESV): "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise), 'that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.' Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Reflection: How can you improve your alignment with God's authority in your family or workplace relationships today? What practical steps can you take to foster mutual respect and submission?

Day 4: Freedom through Submission
True freedom and potential are realized when we live under God's authority. Just as a train runs smoothly on its tracks, our lives will flourish when we stay within the boundaries set by God. Misalignment leads to chaos and missed blessings, much like a misaligned car veers off course. By submitting to God's authority, we experience the freedom and fullness of life that He intends for us. [40:58]

James 4:7-8 (ESV): "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel restricted or chaotic? How can submitting to God's authority bring freedom and order to that area?

Day 5: Practical Application of Authority
To experience the fullness of God's blessings, we must align every aspect of our lives with His authority. This includes our prayers, relationships, and daily actions. By doing so, we ensure that our lives are in the groove, allowing us to run with full power and potential, and receive the blessings God has in store for us. Practical application of this principle involves daily surrender and intentional alignment with God's will. [12:37]

Colossians 3:17 (ESV): "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to align a specific area of your life with God's authority? How can you make this a daily habit to ensure ongoing alignment with His will?

Quotes

1. "The key to answer prayer is the understanding of spiritual authority. Amen. It's a principle that I learned some time ago, a man that I try to operate in and I know many of you all do as well but it's not something we hear about enough to understand why our prayers may not be answered. There may be reasons that I believe there are reasons and I believe a biblical reason that we do not have our prayers answered. It's an alignment issue. Amen. It's an alignment issue." [28:07] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Sadly, many of us are not ruling our world. Instead, our world is ruling us. Amen. We're not seeing the demonstrations of what God has promised and provided for us the way that he has directed us to be able to access those things of the kingdom because we are misusing and abusing what I call kingdom authority. We've been legally set free. The death of Christ, and more importantly, the resurrection of Christ has counseled the right of Satan to rule your world." [33:44] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "It's possible, my brothers and sisters, to be free legally, but not live free. And many of you all are still, amen, not living free. I went on a cruise ship some years ago, and somebody was on the ship, and they brought Beefaroni, Chef Braudy. Come on, amen. They had sandwiches. They had all kind of stuff, amen. They were going through the security. They go through the security piece. It wasn't one of the people. It was just somebody. I didn't know them. They were going through the security piece. And they said, why you got all this food and all this stuff? They had canned this and sandwiches and all this other stuff, you know? And they said, well, I may get hungry on the cruise. They said, don't you know that when you bought the ticket, all the food on board except... Those reservation places, it's all free." [35:09] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The authority of the kingdom that God wants us to have is not one for bondage, it's one for freedom. Let me illustrate it this way. It allows you to feel the freedom of your potential, to feel the freedom of your power, that when you live under the authority of God, you are now free to be what he has created you to be, to do what he's created you to do. In its fullness, do you hear me? It's like a train that runs on a track. It can go fast. The engine can rev. It can move. Why? Because it's on the track. It's staying within the boundary lines of what it was created to be." [40:58] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus himself shows us this, even in the prayer that most everybody in here can pray. We first say that prayer when we start doing what we call the Lord's Prayer. Amen. We say what? Our Father, which art in heaven. Jesus, in his prayer, demonstrates that there is one who is greater than him, even though, we're going to talk about this in a moment, even though he is co-equal with God, he is willing, if you would, in the sense of his power to subordinate to the Father. Amen. And even get instruction from the Father to not do anything in his own, if you would, without the Father authorizing it." [42:18] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Have you ever thought that you may be asking God for what you already have? That you could be asking God, could, did you ever thought that you're asking for things that God has already provide? He's already got it for you. And when you come up under kingdom authority and you trust him, amen, he'll open those things for you. He will, or he'll even change the desire that you, that, that for the thing that you thought you wanted. That what you thought you want, the kingdom of authority, you don't even want it anymore." [47:25] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Jesus was able to do what he did. He had the power to do it on his own. He had the power. He's equal with God, but he submitted, if you would, to the authority of the father. Even though, amen, one God, three persons, he surrendered and submitted to God. In fact, I'm going to read something to you. I didn't give the notes to y'all on this. It's Colossians chapter one, Colossians chapter one, and I'm going to look at verse 16 through 17. Colossians chapter one, and I'm going to look at verse 16 through 17. I love this." [48:53] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "We will not have legitimate authority over what or who is under our authority until we demonstrate submitted authority towards who is over you or of us. Did you get that? Let me say it again. We will not have legitimate authority over what or who, nobody, your family, your money, your family, your family, your finances, your everything, will not have legitimate authority over what or who is under our authority, right? People and things under you until we demonstrate submitted authority towards who is over us." [54:07] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The key to answer prayer is by whose authority do you operate your life? This is the key to prayer. It is. By whose authority are you operating? By whose authority? When we pray, we pray in what? In whose name? Jesus. You don't pray in your name. I am Tyrone Barnett, and I need you, Lord. God be like, who? But I pray in the name of Christ, who the Father has submitted all things under his hand. Amen? And if I'm under the authority of Christ, all of a sudden, my prayers take on wings. They have a different, if you would, authority, because it's not just in my name." [52:48] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "You and I will not have legitimate authority over what or who is under our authority until we demonstrate submitted authority over who is, over us. If we're out of alignment with who is legitimately over us, amen, we cannot expect to receive any good thing of the Lord the way he intends for us to receive it. You can't have authority over until you have submitted authority under. Many of our prayers are not being answered because we are out of alignment. We are not properly under, so we cannot have authority over the way God intends for us to be." [01:11:09] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?