Blog 14 - Prayer That Gets Things Done: Co-Laboring with Jesus

Everything we do as believers flows from our calling to co-labor with Jesus. From fulfilling the Great Commission to destroying works of the enemy to transforming our spheres of influence, Jesus invites us into partnership with Him. Understanding how to pray with His authority is key to this beautiful collaboration.

I have just returned from ten days in Bogota, Colombia, where we saw God's power flow as His people stepped into their authority in Christ. Working alongside global revivalists Paul and Angelica Rapley, we witnessed over 1,800 healings, 342 salvations, and 161 discipling Bible studies initiated for new believers.

We saw lumps and masses disappear, paralysis healed, blind eyes opened, metal vanish from bodies, and many other demonstrations of God's power - including what some might call "ordinary" healings like restored knees. This is the God we serve! If the Great Commission is for today, and it is, then so is the empowerment that enables it.

In this episode, I want to share something beautiful that Holy Spirit revealed to me about co-laboring with Jesus through prayer. In his book Moving Mountains: Praying with Passion, Confidence, and Authority, John Eldredge emphasizes that effective prayer aligns with certain principles, stating, "There is a way things work." He suggests that understanding these principles is crucial for a fruitful prayer life. I agree - and what I'm about to share will help you know how to pray with the authority Jesus has entrusted to you.

Understanding Prayer Coverage in Leadership

For over fifteen years, I've served with Apostolic Intercessors Network (AIN), an organization that creates confidential, vetted prayer teams for generals in God's Kingdom. And when I say generals, I don't mean military officers - I mean functional generals in ministry, arts and entertainment, business, government, education, and media. These are Christians who understand their Kingdom mandate to bring Christ-honoring transformation to their spheres of influence.

An honest evaluation reveals just how few Christian leaders have the prayer coverage they need to fulfill what God has entrusted to them. Tommi Femrite, founder of AIN, taught me a profound lesson about this. She could discern when she needed to expand her prayer coverage by assessing how much warfare she was experiencing—harassment, things going wrong, loss of favor, inadequate funding, strife, and division. She noticed that these challenges proportionally decreased when she increased her prayer coverage.

This platform exists to help transformational leaders establish effective prayer coverage for their work. Whether you build your own prayer shield or partner with organizations like AIN, what matters is having people who consistently hold your needs before the Father. No one can delegate their personal prayer life, but you can—and should—have others cover you in prayer.

Interdependence requires humility, and God exalts the humble!

The Beauty of Co-Laboring with Jesus

God has called us all to co-labor with Him—and it's one of the most beautiful privileges we have! In John 20:21, we see a powerful scene after Jesus' resurrection. He passes right through a closed door to address His disciples. (My first thought: Wow, to Jesus, there is no such thing as a closed nation!) Among other vital statements, Jesus declares, "As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you."

This statement establishes our lifelong assignment to co-labor with Jesus. To work effectively with Him, we need to understand His mission. The Bible makes it clear:

"The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, to give His life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)

Our parallel assignment is found in 1 John 3:16: "By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."

Jesus came to destroy the works of the enemy (1 John 3:8), to bring Light into the world (John 12:46), to do the Father's will (John 6:38), to bring abundant life (John 10:10), and to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). When we co-labor with Him, we participate in all these aspects of His mission, including:

• Walking in the Great Commission
• Destroying works of the enemy
• Transforming our spheres of influence
• Leading people to Jesus
• Being light in dark places
• Laying down our lives for others
• Appropriating God's goodness in our spheres

But here's something vital to understand: Jesus didn't stop working after His resurrection. Hebrews 7:25 tells us, "He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf." As we co-labor with Jesus, we join Him in this ministry of intercession - but not just any kind of prayer.

Have you ever wondered how Jesus prays? I don't think He focuses on problems, saying things like, "Father, have You seen the economy? How is John supposed to sign that contract in the face of such uncertainties? And Pastor Bill, his flock is such a mess!"

Instead, Jesus declares the promises and provision of God over situations. This understanding transforms not just how we pray but how we partner with Him in advancing His Kingdom through prayer that carries His authority.

In Episode 12, we explored what it means to co-labor with Jesus in divine healing. To do so, we move away from a weak petitioning prayer model and command healing in Jesus’ name. I invite you to check it out.

Different Ways We Express Our Walk with God

Now, let’s explore how the different ways we relate to God shape our prayers. Each expression of our relationship with Him serves a unique and beautiful purpose in our walk with Him.

The Precious Role of a Child

We are children of God - this is a precious aspect of our relationship with Him. We figuratively crawl into His lap and pour out our hearts, and He absolutely loves it!

Philippians 4:6-7 tells us: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

As His child, we petition, asking for what we need. We cry, receive His tenderness, and find comfort and peace in His arms. Crisis intercession flows naturally from this relationship - looking backward at what has happened, bringing our problems to Him, and receiving His comfort and peace.

This intimate connection with our Father is vital and precious. However, while this childlike relationship is essential for intimacy with God, it's not the role from which we see the greatest breakthroughs in prayer. Children don't typically get important things done.

The Joy of Friendship

Another beautiful way we relate to God is as His friend. Like Adam and Eve walking with God in the garden, we enjoy simply being with Him, sharing life's moments, and experiencing His presence in the everyday.

I've discovered this friendship aspect of prayer in delightful ways. As an avid hiker and photographer in Colorado, I've found God to be quite playful and even funny in our interactions. Unlike most women, I love photographing insects, and God has become my photography partner! He often highlights little wonders that no one else would notice.

One day, after hiking for over an hour without spotting anything interesting to photograph, I playfully said to Jesus, "This is not like You! I've been walking forever, and You haven't shown me a single interesting thing to capture!" Suddenly, I felt His presence right behind my left shoulder. I turned quickly, half expecting to see Him! Instead, there it was - a large flower head with an insect sitting perfectly on top, and behind it, a rainbow fragment decorated the clear sky as a backdrop. I laughed and got my shot.

These friendship moments with Jesus are precious and vital to our relationship with Him. But like our identity as children, friendship alone isn't how we partner with Him in getting Kingdom work done.

The Authority of the Bride

Now, we come to something powerful—our role as the Bride of Christ, the Bride of our great eternal King. Think of Queen Esther from the Old Testament. When her people faced destruction, she didn't just plead with King Xerxes as a supplicant. Instead, she exercised her authority as queen, issuing decrees in his name that saved her people. She operated not just from relationship but from a place of delegated authority.

As the Bride of Christ, we, too, can pray with authority, looking ahead rather than just reacting to circumstances. We exercise the authority of our King to establish His will on earth. This isn't about demanding what we want; it's about partnering with Jesus to see His purposes fulfilled.

Understanding Authority in Prayer

Let me use a simple example to help you understand how authority works. Imagine a mother who gets caught up on the phone and leaves her five young children unattended in the main room. (When I share this in other nations, I joke that maybe this only happens with American children—but you'll agree it's universal!)

When she returns, chaos has erupted—balls flying indoors, a lamp shattered on the floor, kids jumping on furniture, and a curtain hanging off its rod. But watch what happens when she puts on a stern face and declares, "I am the mother here! Stop! Sit down!" Instantly, the children lock eyes with her and obey, waiting for her next instruction.

Here's the profound truth: She was their mother the whole time. She didn't suddenly become their mother when she re-entered the room. What changed? She stepped into her authority, and everything shifted. Chaos gave way to order through the simple exercise of existing authority.

If our precious children can create such chaos in the absence of exercised authority, how much more do we face unnecessary challenges instigated by the demonic realm when we fail to exercise our authority in prayer? The enemy will interfere with your God-given assignment as much as you allow through a lack of exercised authority! We need to enforce truth, declare God's promises and provisions, and shut down attacks meant to hinder God's call on your life.

This kind of prayer flows from our understanding that we are co-laborers with Christ. We're not just praying—we're joining Jesus in His ongoing ministry of intercession. Like Jesus, we put a stop to the works of the enemy. When we understand this, our prayers shift from desperate pleas to authoritative declarations aligned with His purposes.

Let me show you how this looks practically. Say you're facing a financial crisis. It’s natural to feel upset! Of course, you'll spend precious time in Jesus' lap as His child, sharing the details of the emergency, asking for help, and receiving His comfort and peace.

But then you arise into your position of authority in Christ. From there, you enforce truth through declaration:

• "In the name of Jesus, I declare all my needs will be supplied!” (Philippians 4:19)
• "Father, as I seek first Your Kingdom and righteousness, I declare everything my family needs will be added to us!” (Matthew 6:31-33)
• "Your Word declares those who seek You lack no good thing. Financial provision is a good thing! I enforce this promise over my life now, in Jesus' name!” (Psalm 34:10)
• "You are my Shepherd! Therefore, I declare I shall not want. You are faithful and true to Your Word!” (Psalm 23:1)

Stepping Into Your Authority

Here's a practical way to develop this kind of authoritative prayer life. In your daily Bible reading, create two columns in your journal:

1. In the first column, record what each passage reveals about God's character. These revelations become fuel for worship - and since God inhabits the praises of His people, this creates an atmosphere for breakthrough.

2. In the second column, note the universal truths and promises that apply to God's people. These become the basis for your declarative prayers - not wishes or hopes, but enforcing established truth from your position of authority in Christ.

This simple practice will transform your prayer life from reactive petitioning to proactive partnership with God.

The impact we witnessed in Colombia wasn't just about healing. It was about believers stepping into their God-given authority in Christ. That same authority is available to you, not just for healing prayer, but for every aspect of advancing God's Kingdom in your sphere of influence. For more resources to deepen your understanding of praying with authority, I encourage you to:

• Start your journaling practice today - watch how it transforms your prayer life.
• If you haven't already, read Episode 12, "Authority in Action: Healing Prayer for Kingdom Leaders," about effectively praying for healing in Jesus' name.
• Download our free Declaration Guide: Praying with Confidence and Authority when you subscribe for free to Strategic Intercession. This guide will jumpstart your journey of praying with Kingdom authority.

Remember—Jesus lives forever to make intercession, and He’s invited us to join Him in this ministry. As His Bride, we have been given authority to pray in partnership with Him, seeing His Kingdom come and His will be done.

As we close, reflect on your prayer life: When you want to pray in a way that gets things done, are you relying on a petitioning model of prayer, or are you stepping into the full authority of your identity in Christ? The Bride of Christ has been given authority—it’s time to use it!