What is authoritative prayer?

Simply explained, it is the type of prayer mentioned in Mark 11. In order to see the truth clearly let us read verses 23 and 24 carefully. Verse 24 begins with “therefore”—a connective term. So that the words in verse 24 are joined to those in verse 23. Since verse 24 speaks about prayer, verse 23 must also refer to prayer. What appears strange here is that in verse 23 it does not seem like an ordinary prayer. It does not say to God: “O God, please take up this mountain and cast it into the sea.” What instead does it actually say? It reads there: “Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea.”

What would the type of prayer be which is so often formed in our mind? We think in praying to God that it should always be: “O God, will You please take up this mountain and cast it into the sea?” But the Lord is talking about something quite different. He does not exhort us to speak to God, He instructs us to speak to the mountain. Not a speaking to God, but a speaking directly to the mountain—“Be thou taken up and cast into the sea.” Lest we might not consider this as prayer, the Lord immediately explains in verse 24 that this is indeed prayer. Here is a word which is not directed to God, and yet it too is prayer. To speak to the mountain and command it to be cast into the sea is unquestionably a prayer. And this is authoritative in nature. For authoritative prayer is not asking God to do something but using God’s authority to deal directly with problems, to get rid of all that needs to be eliminated. Such prayer needs to be learned by each and every overcomer. All who overcome must learn to speak to the mountain. . . .

The church is able to control hell by using authoritative prayer. Since Christ is far above all and the Head of the church, the church is well able to control evil spirits and all who belong to Satan. How could she ever exist on earth if she were not given the authority to control evil spirits—if the Lord has not given such authority to her? She lives because she has the authority over all Satanic forces. Those who are spiritual know we may use authoritative prayer against evil spirits. We may cast out demons in the name of the Lord; we may contain the secret activities of the evil spirits by prayer. . . .

Finally, a serious thing is in order here; which is, that we must ourselves be subject to the authority of God. Except we are in subjection to God’s authority we cannot exercise authoritative prayer. We should be subject not only to God’s authority positionally but also in our daily life and practices; otherwise we will not have authoritative prayer.