 God is asking His people to reposition their prayer altars. He is calling His Church to fully realize their position in Christ, not only as a theological truth, but as a position of authority from which to pray.
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Our global civilization is in an epoch change cycle. This cycle of change will test everything we know. God is birthing something new in His Church to prepare us to minister supernaturally in a world that is exhausted from dead religion and dead political promises. A refreshing wind of God's presence is blowing across creation.
God is asking His people to reposition their prayer altars. He is calling His Church to fully realize their position in Christ, not only as a theological truth, but as a position of authority from which to pray. We are being asked to take our prayer altars to the Throne of God and, there, begin to pray the will of God into existence upon the earth.
Paul defined this position of the Church in Ephesians 1:19-23:
"I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else--not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the Church. And the Church is His Body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with Himself."
The resurrection power of God caused Jesus to be seated far above the turmoil and change that is taking place on the earth. When we gain this perspective we will see into the invisible realm with the eyes of faith and then begin to pray into existence what seemed impossible in the natural realm.
Paul went on to tell us what the positioning of Jesus means for us. In Ephesians 2:6 Paul said,
"For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus."
We cannot pray with power, confidence and authority if our line-of-sight is only what we see taking place around us. Our prayers must be created and released from the perspective of Heaven. It is from our position in Christ, seated at the right hand of God, that we gain a perspective of prayer that is infused with a boldness that comes from seeing this life from God's perspective. Jesus said that He only did what He saw the Father doing. The same applies to us. To pray the will of God means that I must first understand His will.
What Does Prayer from the Throne of God Look Like?
Let's study the above Scripture from Ephesians, Chapters 1 and 2: to see what prayer looks like:
This kind of prayer prays with resurrection authority: "This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead" (Ephesians 1:19-20). Death tried to hold Jesus back, but the prison door of death was kicked in by the power of Christ's resurrection. When you see death trying to raise its false authority over your situation, run to your position in Christ and declare your victory in prayer from the Throne of God. As that kind of prayer is released, the kingdoms of earth will be shaken with resurrection power.
This kind of prayer feels the touch of the Father's hand: "And seated Him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 1:20). Also, you and I are also at the Father's right hand because we are in Christ. Again, Ephesians 2:6 declares, "For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus."
As Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, and as you and I are there together in Christ, we are in that position to experience an intimacy with God that will drive the release of the prayer of faith. Prayers of faith are birthed from people who know and experience intimacy with God. You are not distant from Him! Ever! Pray with confidence as one who is forever united with your Redeemer.
This kind of prayer is birthed in a place far above the turmoil: "Far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else" (Ephesians 1:21). The social, political and economic strains taking place on the earth do not affect this kind of prayer. Prayer from above is not affected by the conditions down below.
As you pray from the Throne of God you are praying as a child of God. To a religious spirit you will appear headstrong, maybe even precocious. Don't worry about how other people feel. You are a child of God who has access to the Father 24/7. We are positioned with the One Who is far above it all. That should breed confidence in God's kids.
This kind of prayer flows from headship: "God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things" (Ephesians 1:22). Praying from the throne of God towards earth will speak to areas in the world system that are living independent of God. Headship brings order. Prayer from the Throne of God will declare headship over the disorder and rebellion that is robbing the earth of God's joy. Rebellion will be subdued, wars will be averted, national leaders will yield to the word of the Lord when the Church prays.
There are social and political transitions about to take place, which will someday be traced back to prayers from someone praying from their position in Christ, at the right hand of the Father. These prayers will not struggle up in human effort in some attempt to convince God to move, but rather they will flow down with anointing and set in motion supernatural change. Authority flows down from the Head--so should the prayers of His saints. Strongholds that many Christians have thought were too far gone for change will suddenly change. God is about to change what appears to be unchangeable.
We Have Dual Citizenship
God is talking to His Church in this moment of human history--to not only realize who we are in Christ, but to understand where we are in Christ. We are dual-citizens of both earth and of Heaven.
Ask God to take you to the Throne and ask Him how He wants you to pray in this time of epoch change. As you survey the earth from His perspective--it will forever change how you pray, because you are seeing the world from Heaven's perspective.
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Garris Elkins serves as Lead Pastor of the Living Waters Church in Medford, Oregon. His ministry, both nationally and internationally, is to strengthen and encourage the Church through teaching and prophetic ministry. Prior to coming to Oregon, Garris was based in Berlin, Germany, where he helped nurture and develop Eastern European church leaders. Garris has been married to his wife, Jan, for 34 years and they have two grown children.
Used by permission of ElijahList Publications 310 2nd Ave SE, Albany, OR 97321 www.elijahlist.com
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