USE YOUR AUTHORITY FOR HEAVEN'S WILL ON EARTH (4)

TYPES OF AUTHORITY OF BELIEVERSOur authority in prayer manifests in various forms, each enforcing the kingdom differently:- Authority of Declaration: Speaking God’s will into a situation, proclaiming His truth and promises.- Authority of Binding and Loosing: Restricting evil and releasing God's goodness, as we've discussed.- Prayer of Intercession: Standing in the gap for unbelievers, pleading their case before God.- Prayer of Supplication: Pleading our own case or the case for believers, often with understanding and in unknown tongues.- Prayer of Faith: Asking the Father in Jesus’ name, believing you will receive what you have prayed for.- Prayer of Consecration: Submitting your will to the Father’s will, declaring, "Not my will, but Yours be done."- Prayer of Agreement: The powerful unity of two or more believers agreeing on the outcome of a prayer, as promised in Matthew 18:19.- United Prayer: The collective power of the church in corporate prayer, moving mountains together.- Prayer of Commitment: Releasing your cares and concerns to the Father, and entering into His rest, trusting Him with the outcome.- Prayer in Unknown Tongues: As Jesus said in Mark 16:17, "...In My name...they will speak with new tongues;" This is a direct, Spirit-given utterance communication with God.- Prayer of Worship: Worship and praise are powerful forms of prayer because they exalt God, shifting our focus from problems to His majesty and power.Each of these types of authority enforces the kingdom differently, providing us with a rich arsenal for spiritual warfare and kingdom advancement.PERSISTENCE AND PERSEVERANCE IN YOUR AUTHORITYOur authority is not a one-time declaration; it requires persistence and perseverance. Jesus Himself taught persistence in Luke 18:1 (NLT): "One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up." This isn't about convincing an unwilling God; it's about steadfastly enforcing His will until it manifests.James 4:7 instructs us: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Our resistance is an act of authority. Paul, in Ephesians 6:18, exhorts us to be "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." This is a call to continuous, vigilant prayer.Jesus says in His Name, demons must obey. Our persistence is not repeating in doubt. It's not about nagging God because we don't believe He heard us the first time.Instead, persistence is:- Standing in faith: Holding firm to God's promises.- Refusing to give up: Maintaining our position of authority.- Holding your ground: Not yielding to the enemy's pressure.Remember that spiritual authority is not passive. It is active, authoritative, and strategic. Through the exercise of our spiritual authority, heavenly blessings are realised on earth, God's will is established, and every believer stands as a co-labourer with Christ in enforcing the kingdom.You are not powerless. You are:- Authorised by Christ Himself.- Positioned in heavenly places with Him.- Empowered by the Holy Spirit.Therefore, let us declare together:- I pray with authority in the name of Jesus!- I enforce God’s will on earth!- I bind what is not of God!- I loose what is of God!- I am led by the Holy Spirit in prayer!- I walk in Issachar understanding!May we all step into the fullness of the authority Christ has given us, bringing heaven to earth for His glory.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

USE YOUR AUTHORITY FOR HEAVEN'S WILL ON EARTH (3)

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND PRAYERThe Holy Spirit is our divine enabler in prayer, empowering us to pray effectively and strategically. Acts 2:4 (NKJV) describes the early church: "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." The 120 disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (baptised) in the upper room and spoke in unknown tongues. Similarly, when we speak in unknown tongues, the Holy Spirit plays a multifaceted role:- He gives us the unknown language to speak directly to the Father, bypassing our natural understanding.- He directs our prayer through the flow of the Spirit, leading us into Spirit-led prayers.- He anoints us to pray, empowering our words with divine unction.- He fills us up and strengthens us again, refreshing our inner man.- He releases His power through our prayer, bringing about supernatural results.- He gives us the interpretation (understanding) of what we’re praying, if needed.He takes hold together with us against spiritual forces and situations. Romans 8:26 says, "The Spirit helps in our weaknesses ..." He takes hold with us to supplicate or intercede with groanings which cannot be uttered.He leads us to pray for God's plan and purpose. Romans 8:27 states, “... He makes supplication for the saints according to the will of God." The Holy Spirit ensures our prayers are always aligned with God's perfect will.THE ISSACHAR DIMENSION IN PRAYEREffective prayer requires more than just passion; it requires discernment. 1 Chronicles 12:32 speaks of the sons of Issachar: “... of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;" The sons of Issachar possessed two critical qualities that every praying believer must cultivate through the Holy Spirit:Understanding of the times: This involves spiritual sensitivity to discern God's kairos moments. (Kairos means “a set time, an opportune time, an opportunity, a due season, a fixed or special occasion, the right time,” Representing moments when heaven and earth converge at an opportune time, and when a kairos moment comes, everything changes. It is the right time, the set time of God’s favour, indicating being in the right place at the right time for God-appointed results. [Jane Hamon and Chuck D. Pierce, Discernment: The Essential Guide to Hearing the Voice of God])The Holy Spirit helps us know:- Is it time to pray open a door?- Is it time to wait patiently?- Is it time to worship and praise?- Is it time to pray due to a change of season coming?- Is it time to move or to do something specific?Know what to pray for: This ensures our prayers are strategic and aligned with God's character and Word. We cannot:- Ask for whatever the Word forbids.- Ask for what belongs to others.- Ask for what is not in God’s plan for you.- Ask against His purpose.Instead, we ask God to shut doors that are not His will, and we pray for the unfolding of His plan, for the right person, the right place, and the right thing. This Issachar dimension guides us to pray the right type of prayer at the right time.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

USE YOUR AUTHORITY FOR HEAVEN'S WILL ON EARTH (2)

THE AUTHORITY OF KEYSOne of the most significant revelations of our authority comes from Jesus Himself in Matthew 16:19, where He declares to Peter (and by extension, to all believers): "I will give you the keys of the kingdom …" Keys are powerful symbols. They represent:- Authority: The right to command and control.- Access: The ability to enter where others cannot.- Control: The power to manage and direct.When you have keys, you can:- Open what was closed.- Close what was open.- Permit what was forbidden.- Restrict what was allowed.Jesus has given believers the keys to have access to the Father’s grace through prayer for everything. This is not a limited authority; it is comprehensive. Believers have keys to bind demonic spirits and to loose others from demonic powers. We even have keys to send angels on assignment. These keys are not decorative; they are functional instruments of authority, access, and control. Jesus has given these keys to every believer to use in faith.BINDING AND LOOSINGJesus continued in Matthew 16:19: "...whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." This is the practical application of our authority. To bind means:- To restrict.- To forbid.- To stop. To loose means:- To release.- To permit.- To allow.The believer has the authority to bind what is not of God - anything that opposes His will, His peace, His righteousness. And we have the authority to loose what is of God - His blessings, His healing, His freedom, His purposes. We can even send or loose angels to go forth and execute God's will. This is the literal exercise of kingdom authority in the spiritual realm. Every believer is empowered to bind what is not of God and loose what is of God, bringing heavenly realities into earthly manifestation.The believer has the authority to bind what is not of God - anything that opposes His will, His peace, His righteousness. And we have the authority to loose what is of God - His blessings, His healing, His freedom, His purposes. We can even send or loose angels to go forth and execute God's will. This is the literal exercise of kingdom authority in the spiritual realm. Every believer is empowered to bind what is not of God and loose what is of God, bringing heavenly realities into earthly manifestation.AUTHORITY IS WITH THE NAME OF JESUSThe name of Jesus is not merely a word; it is the embodiment of all authority in heaven and on earth. John 16:23 (NKJV) states: "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." Praying in His name means much more than simply adding "in Jesus' name" at the end of a prayer. It means:- Representing Him: We come before the Father as His authorised representatives.- Acting in His authority: We are operating under His delegated power.- Standing in His position: We are praying from a place of victory and sonship.- Asking the Father: Our requests are directed to the Father through the Son.The name of Jesus gives your prayer legal authority in the spiritual realm. John 14:13 further confirms: "Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do…" This authority extends to:- Authority Over Demons: We can demand that the devil take his hands off situations, binding him and forbidding him to operate and manoeuvre against us.- Authority Over Angels: We can command the angels to go on our behalf, dispatching them to fulfil God's purposes as we pray.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

USE YOUR AUTHORITY FOR HEAVEN'S WILL ON EARTH (1)

AUTHORITY IN PRAYERWe have been given the authority in Christ to pray the Father’s will on earth. It's a fundamental truth that reshapes our perspective on communication with God. For many believers, prayer is often reduced to:- Asking God for help: A natural and necessary part of our relationship with Him.- Presenting needs: Bringing our concerns and desires before our loving Father.- Seeking intervention: Asking God to step into difficult situations.While these aspects are undoubtedly part of prayer, they do not encompass the full picture. In the context of a believer’s authority, prayer transcends mere petition. It becomes the primary means by which heaven’s will is enforced on earth. Prayer is not only communication; it is participation in God’s government. We pray for God to govern on earth and enforce His will, aligning our spirits and voices with His eternal decrees.AUTHORITY TO ENFORCEThe good news is that every spiritual blessing already exists in the heavenly realms. The victory has already been won by Jesus Christ. Through His death, resurrection, and ascension, Christ secured for us an inheritance of immeasurable riches and power. Our role, as believers, is to enforce and appropriate what Christ has already secured for us.Consider Ephesians 1:3 (NLT): "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." This verse is a powerful declaration. It doesn't say God will bless us; it says He has blessed us. These blessings are not future promises but present realities, stored in the heavenly realms. We use our authority to appropriate these spiritual blessings, bringing them from the unseen heavenly realms into tangible realities in our lives, our families, our churches, and our communities.THE KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE OF PRAYERJesus Himself revealed a new, revolutionary dimension of prayer. In Matthew 6:10, He taught us to pray: "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." This isn't a passive request; it's a powerful declaration of kingdom enforcement. It implies several profound truths:- Heaven has a will: God has a perfect, divine plan and purpose for all creation.- Earth must align with it: The current state of affairs on Earth is not always in line with God's perfect will.- Believers are involved in that alignment: We are the instruments through whom this alignment takes place.When we pray and enforce heaven's will, we are declaring a divine mandate. We are actively participating in bringing God's perfect order into our imperfect world. This perspective elevates prayer from a personal wish list to a powerful act of co-labouring with God.PRAYER AS PARTNERSHIP WITH GODIt's a profound mystery, yet a glorious truth: since God gave the earth to the dominion of man, He could not act apart from us for His purposes on earth. He works through His people. This means our prayers are not just heard; they are integral to the unfolding of His plan. As a church, our prayer life should be characterised by:- Praying for God’s plan to be executed in the world: Seeking His will for global events, nations, and communities.- Praying the part of His plan for our church: Focusing on the specific vision and mission God has given us, not trying to fulfil other churches’ plans.- Praying for His ways of pursuing His plan: Asking for divine strategies and methods.- Praying for the alignment with God’s timing: Recognising that God's plans unfold according to His perfect schedule.Isaiah 46:10 (NCV) reminds us: "...When I plan something, it happens. What I want to do, I will do." As a church, we are not trying to convince God to act; rather, we are aligning with what He has already determined. Our prayers become the earthly 'yes' to God's heavenly 'amen.'Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

FAITH AND AUTHORITY (PART 3)

THE ISSACHAR DIMENSION OF FAITH"Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…" — 1 Chronicles 12:32Issachar was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob’s ninth son through Leah. During the 1 Chronicles era, the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms - the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. King Saul was the king of the Kingdom of Israel, and he had just died in battle alongside his two sons. Issachar was a tribe of the kingdom of Israel. David was the king of the Kingdom of Judah. After King Saul died, the leaders of the ten tribes in the Kingdom of Israel decided to join King David. The leaders of the tribe of Issachar were men who understood the times and knew they ought to lead their men to join King David. Hence, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah merged into one kingdom under David as king, fulfilling God’s plan.Faith Acts: Believing and declaring what God has spoken.Issachar Directs: The Holy Spirit reveals timing, direction, and strategy.Together: Not just believing — but knowing when and how to move in faith.Faith alone is powerful. But when faith is combined with Issachar's understanding, it becomes precise. The tribe of Issachar knew that David would be king — they had the word of God. But more than that, they discerned it was the moment to act on that word, and they led the entire tribe to join David.FAITH VS FEELINGSOne of the greatest obstacles to walking in authority is the pull of feelings. You may feel weak, afraid, or unqualified — and those feelings will argue loudly against what God has said. But faith does not follow feelings; faith follows truth.The Believer's Declaration:"What I feel is not my authority — what God has spoken is my authority.” Feelings are real, but they are not final. Truth is both real and final.What Faith Feels Like:When your spirit hears from the Spirit of God, there is no hype. There is calm. Peace. Settled assurance. The information rises from your spirit into your mind, governed by divine joy and rest. There may be deep gladness — but never emotional hype. Hype is a feeling. Faith is a foundation.Hype is an emotional feeling. When we hear from God, there is no hype, there is calm, and peace in our souls. It is our spirit that hears from God, and the information will float into our minds. There won’t be any hype.Even when your spirit hears from the Spirit of God, and information comes to your mind, there may be divine joy and peace that govern your soul; there is still no hype in your emotions.A believer who walks in faith speaks with confidence, acts with boldness, and stands without fear. He does not wait for perfect conditions or perfect feelings. He lives from spiritual reality — the unchanging truths established by Christ.You must know what the spiritual divine realities are:- What Jesus Has Done for Us on the Cross- Who We Are In Christ- What We Have In Christ- What We Can Do Through Jesus ChristFaith is what activates authority, releases power, and sustains victory. Without faith, truth remains inactive. With faith, truth becomes a living experience. Step into what God has already given — and walk in it!Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

FAITH AND AUTHORITY (PART 2)

AUTHORITY IS VOICE-ACTIVATEDJesus spoke to storms. He spoke to sickness. He spoke to demons. And they responded.How Jesus Operated:Every expression of authority in the ministry of Jesus was verbal. He did not silently wish things to change — He commanded. The storms obeyed. The sick were healed. Demons fled. His words carried the full weight of heavenly authority.How Believers Must Operate:Speak from authority — not from fear. Speak from position — not from circumstance. Speak from faith — not from doubt. Not begging. Not hoping. Declaring."With the heart one believes… and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." — Romans 10:10Believing is a verb — a doing word. You make a deliberate decision with your will to believe. Your mind influences that decision, and together your mind and will activate your mouth to speak your authority. Faith is not passive — it is a sequence of intentional, Spirit-led choices.DOUBT: THE ENEMY OF AUTHORITYJames 1:6–7 "…he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." Doubt does not simply slow down faith — it actively dismantles the expression of authority. Doubt produces hesitation, fear, and instability — causing believers to withdraw, remain passive, and avoid exercising the authority they already have.- Meditate on the Word: Return to the specific word God spoke that gave you faith. Meditation renews and strengthens wavering faith.- Stand Your Ground: Continue to believe after your first act of belief. Perseverance in faith is not weakness — it is authority maintained.- Speak Your Authority: Do not go silent when doubt rises. This is precisely the moment to declare what God has said over your life.FAITH AND ACTIONFaith is not only released through words — it is also released through action. When Peter stepped out of the boat, he did not simply think about Jesus' word — he acted on it. True faith follows a sequence: you receive the word, you decide to believe, you speak, and then you act.God speaks: A word comes through Scripture, the Spirit, or prophetic insight.You Decide: You make a deliberate choice of will to believe what God has said.You Speak: Your mouth declares what your heart has received and accepted.You Act: Like Peter, you step out — moving in alignment with the word of God.GROWING IN FAITHFaith is not static — it is a living, growing force. Romans 10:17 establishes the principle: "Faith comes by hearing." How Faith Grows:The more you consistently hear, meditate on, and act from the truth, the more natural and robust your faith becomes.What you meditate on shapes what you believe. What you believe determines how you live. A steady diet of God's Word concerning your identity, authority, and position in Christ builds a faith that does not waver under pressure.What to Meditate On:- Your identity in Christ- Your authority over the enemy= Your seated position with Christ- Whatever the Father has spoken to youThe stronger your foundation in the Word, the stronger your faith — and the more precisely and boldly you will exercise authority.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less