CSPAR

Authority
to Pray

A prayer warrior’s authority over evil comes from knowing, loving, and serving the
Lord. A good example of our authority in Christ comes from Luke 9:1–2 when Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

The power and authority that Jesus gave to the apostles can be
compared to the power given to the priesthood. According to the Catechism in
section 1548, every priest receives power to drive out demons, cure the sick,
and preach the Good News through the laying on of hands at his ordination.

We also seein the Gospel of Luke 10:17–19 that Jesus sent forth seventy more disciples
with the same mission. When this group returned from their first missionary assignment, they proclaimed with great joy, “Lord,in your name even the demons submit to us!” He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given youauthority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy;and nothing will hurt you.”

The power to take authority over evil has already been given to the Lord’s disciples. It
was first given to the twelve apostles when they were sent forth in Luke 9:1–2,
and then it was given to the rest of the Lord’s followers in Luke 10:17–19
when the seventy were sent forth. This power comes from the Holy Spirit, who is
imparted to each believer at Baptism and Confirmation.

Once the power of the Holy Spirit dwells within a person’s heart, all that individual
needs to do is start putting that power into action. When a demonic spirit
tempts you with vengeful or lustful thoughts, you can take those thoughts
captive by invoking the name of Jesus. Once you learn how to take authority over
your own thoughts and behaviors, the Holy Spirit will show you how to use the
same power to drive evil out of your home, environment, and workplace.

When a demonic spirit of infirmity attacks your health, it will be necessary to take
authority over that spirit by using a two-part prayer. In the first part of the
prayer, you can ask Jesus to set you free the same way the apostles did after
they brought a sick boy to him for healing.

 In Matthew 17:18, Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly.

In the second part of the prayer, you will need to pray like Saint Paul. In Acts 16:16–18,
Paul and his companions met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination that brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

Saint Paul had been praying to the Lord for several days, but the demon left the girl only
when he took authority over the situation by saying, “I order you in the
name of Jesus Christ.” There’s a difference between asking God to
make a demon go away, and commanding it to leave in the name, power, and
authority of Christ.

In order to move with the same power as Saint Paul, it will be necessary to start using both forms of prayer. After you ask God for his assistance, start using the power and
authority that have been given to all disciples. Speak the words out loud,

“I command you demonic spirits of infirmity to get out of my body. I break all agreements with you in the name of Jesus.”