Authority in Prayer... principle #6

A sixth principle regarding our level of authority in prayer is the decisions of others. When I am praying about the situations of other individuals, their actions can determine the authority level I possess to accomplish a breakthrough. For example, sin in that person's life or an unresolved issue between him and God may affect how much authority I have to lay hold of a biblical promise for him.
Others' actions can even at times affect an answer to prayer for us personally. (Second Samuel 21) tells of King David and national Israel undergoing judgment. When David sought the Lord as to why this was happening, he was told it was because of the sins of his predecessor, Saul. This sin had to be repented of and atoned for in order for the judgment to be stopped. Though David had great authority with God where Israel was concerned, he did not have the authority to accomplish a breakthrough for them until Saul's sin had been dealt with.
Another example of this can be seen in the life of Moses. In (Numbers 14), Moses interceded for Israel after they had sinned against God, and the Lord essentially responded, "I have pardoned then according to your request, Moses." In that situation, God forgave them because of Moses' intercession. But on another occasion when Moses asked God to forgive Israel, God said He would not do it: ( Exodus 32:32-35) "Yet now, if You will forgive their sin--and if not, blot me , I pray You , out of Your book which You have written! But the Lord said to Moses, Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him { not you } out of My book. But now go, lead the peoples to the place of which I have told you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I punish I will visit their sin upon them! And the Lord sent a plague upon the people, because they made the calf which Aaron fashioned for them."
Awesomely strong words. Whereas before God had told Moses He would forgive the people just because he had asked Him to, this time God basically said "I am not going to do it, and I don't want to hear any more about it." There are times when the sins or actions of others limit the authority God is willing to give us to accomplish something in prayer.

I pray you are blessed by this, as I am.
Grace and peace
Stephen