Empowered Authority: Manifesting Heaven Through Prayer

 

Summary

When Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, He took His place at the right hand of the Father, a position of ultimate spiritual authority. As believers, we are invited to join Him in this heavenly realm, seated with Him in spiritual authority. This means we have access to the power and authority of the risen Christ, which we can activate and manifest in the physical world through our prayers. Our prayers become a conduit through which we can draw down help from heaven into our personal histories, family situations, and the realities of our environment.

Authority is defined as the legitimate use of power. Just as a policeman with a badge has legitimate authority compared to a criminal with a gun, we, as followers of Christ, have been given a spiritual badge. This badge grants us legitimate access to God through Christ, authorizing us to bring God's will and presence into our circumstances. We have the right to exercise heaven's authority in our lives, transforming history by aligning it with God's purposes. When we pray, we should do so with the confidence that we are authorized to bring spiritual realities into the physical world, knowing that we are seated alongside Jesus Christ, the ultimate authority.

Key Takeaways:

1. Seated with Christ in Authority: As believers, we are spiritually seated with Christ in heavenly places, granting us access to His authority. This position empowers us to influence the physical realm through our prayers, drawing on the power of the risen Christ to impact our lives and the world around us. [00:23]

2. Legitimate Use of Power: Authority is the legitimate use of power, and as Christians, we have been given a spiritual badge by Jesus Christ. This badge authorizes us to access God's power and bring His will into our circumstances, distinguishing us from those who misuse power. [01:13]

3. Transforming History through Prayer: Our prayers are not just words; they are powerful tools that can transform history. By exercising our spiritual authority, we can bring God's presence into our personal and communal histories, aligning them with His divine purposes. [01:41]

4. Authorized to Manifest Heaven on Earth: We have been authorized to exercise heaven's authority in the physical realm. This means we can bring spiritual realities into our everyday lives, transforming situations and circumstances by aligning them with God's will. [01:55]

5. Confidence in Prayer: Knowing that we are seated with Christ and have been given authority should fill us with confidence when we pray. We are not just speaking into the void; we are engaging with the spiritual realm, drawing down help and power from heaven to impact our world. [02:08]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:23] - Seated with Christ in Authority
[00:35] - Access to Risen Christ's Power
[00:50] - Drawing Help from Heaven
[01:00] - Authority in Personal Histories
[01:13] - Legitimate Use of Power
[01:25] - Spiritual Badge of Authority
[01:41] - Bringing God's Will into Circumstances
[01:55] - Exercising Heaven's Authority
[02:08] - Confidence in Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 2:6 - "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."
2. Matthew 28:18 - "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'"
3. James 5:16 - "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does it mean to be "seated with Christ in heavenly places" according to the sermon? [00:23]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between legitimate and illegitimate use of power? [01:13]
3. What role do our prayers play in transforming our personal and communal histories, as mentioned in the sermon? [01:41]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How might being "seated with Christ" influence a believer's perspective on their daily challenges? [00:23]
2. In what ways does the concept of having a "spiritual badge" change how Christians might approach prayer and spiritual authority? [01:25]
3. How can believers discern when they are effectively bringing God's will into their circumstances through prayer? [01:41]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a situation in your life where you need to exercise spiritual authority. How can you approach this with the confidence that you are seated with Christ? [02:08]
2. Consider a time when you felt powerless. How might understanding your legitimate spiritual authority change your response in similar situations in the future? [01:13]
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you want to see transformation. How can you use prayer as a tool to align this area with God's purposes? [01:41]
4. Think about a recent prayer you made. How did you approach it, and how might you pray differently knowing you have the authority to draw help from heaven? [00:50]
5. What are some practical steps you can take to remind yourself of your spiritual authority in Christ during your daily routine? [01:55]
6. How can you encourage others in your community to recognize and exercise their spiritual authority in Christ? [01:25]
7. Reflect on a personal or family history that needs God's intervention. How can you actively pray to bring God's presence into that situation? [01:00]

Devotional

Day 1: Seated with Christ in Spiritual Authority
As believers, we are invited to join Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm, seated with Him in spiritual authority. This position is not just a symbolic gesture but a profound reality that empowers us to influence the physical realm through our prayers. By being seated with Christ, we have access to the power and authority of the risen Christ, which we can activate and manifest in the physical world. Our prayers become a conduit through which we can draw down help from heaven into our personal histories, family situations, and the realities of our environment. This spiritual authority is a gift that allows us to impact our lives and the world around us, aligning them with God's divine purposes. [00:23]

Ephesians 2:6-7 (ESV): "And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to exercise the spiritual authority given to you by being seated with Christ? How can you begin to pray with this authority today?


Day 2: Legitimate Use of Spiritual Power
Authority is defined as the legitimate use of power, and as Christians, we have been given a spiritual badge by Jesus Christ. This badge grants us legitimate access to God through Christ, authorizing us to bring God's will and presence into our circumstances. Just as a policeman with a badge has legitimate authority compared to a criminal with a gun, we, as followers of Christ, have the right to exercise heaven's authority in our lives. This authority distinguishes us from those who misuse power, allowing us to transform history by aligning it with God's purposes. When we pray, we should do so with the confidence that we are authorized to bring spiritual realities into the physical world. [01:13]

Luke 10:19 (ESV): "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you."

Reflection: How can you use your spiritual authority to bring God's will into a specific situation you are facing right now? What steps can you take to ensure you are using this power legitimately and in alignment with God's purposes?


Day 3: Transforming History through Prayer
Our prayers are not just words; they are powerful tools that can transform history. By exercising our spiritual authority, we can bring God's presence into our personal and communal histories, aligning them with His divine purposes. This means that our prayers have the potential to change the course of events, impacting not only our lives but also the lives of those around us. When we pray with the understanding that we are seated with Christ, we can confidently draw down help and power from heaven to impact our world. This transformative power of prayer is a gift that allows us to participate in God's work on earth. [01:41]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Think of a situation in your life or community that needs transformation. How can you use your prayers to bring about change in this situation? What specific prayers can you offer to align this situation with God's purposes?


Day 4: Authorized to Manifest Heaven on Earth
We have been authorized to exercise heaven's authority in the physical realm. This means we can bring spiritual realities into our everyday lives, transforming situations and circumstances by aligning them with God's will. As believers, we are not just passive observers but active participants in God's work on earth. By exercising our spiritual authority, we can manifest heaven on earth, bringing God's presence and power into our daily lives. This authority is a gift that allows us to impact the world around us, transforming it in accordance with God's divine purposes. [01:55]

Matthew 16:19 (ESV): "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to manifest heaven on earth? How can you use your spiritual authority to bring about transformation in this area today?


Day 5: Confidence in Prayer
Knowing that we are seated with Christ and have been given authority should fill us with confidence when we pray. We are not just speaking into the void; we are engaging with the spiritual realm, drawing down help and power from heaven to impact our world. This confidence in prayer is a gift that allows us to approach God with boldness, knowing that our prayers have the power to change the course of events. By praying with confidence, we can participate in God's work on earth, bringing His presence and power into our lives and the lives of those around us. [02:08]

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV): "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a greater sense of confidence in your prayers? What specific steps can you take to approach God with boldness and trust in His power to impact your world?

Quotes

when jesus christ rose from the dead and he ascended up to heaven and set on the right hand side of his father he now sits in a position of spiritual authority and he has invited us his people to join him there the scripture says that we are seated with him in heavenly places believers have access to the risen christ and the authority that he wields in the spiritual realm for us to activate utilize and make manifest in the physical realm [00:11:50]

we're now able through our prayers to draw down from heaven for help in our histories personal histories family histories and our environmental realities authority is the legitimate use of power people can use power illegitimately you have a policeman that has a a gun you have a criminal that has a gun both have fire power but only one has a badge well when it comes to spiritual authority jesus christ has given his people a badge [00:46:43]

so we have legitimate access to god legitimate access through christ and that means we have the ability to be authorized to bring god's will god's presence into our circumstances we can bring spiritual reality into a physical reality so when you pray know that you have the right and you have been authorized to exercise heaven's authority in history so that history can be transformed because we're seated alongside of the authoritative one jesus christ [00:86:48]

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Transcript
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