Lesson 8 (Prayer Partners): How To Agree

Prayer Partner Series

By

Elmer Towns

Lesson 8: How To Agree

A. THE COMMAND TO AGREE

"Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 18:19).

B. WHY IS AGREEMENT IMPORTANT?

1. Because the Father and Son agree. "What thing He (the Father) do, these also doeth the Son likewise" (John 5:19). "That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father" (John 5:23).

2. Because the Son prayed that we agree. "I pray for those who believe on Me that they may be one as You Father are in Me and I in You, that they may be one as We are" (John 17:20-21, ELT).

3. Because we fulfill Scripture. "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3).

4. Because disunity harms ministry. "I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord" (Phil. 4:2).

5. Because disunity harms our prayers. "When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any . . . if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses" (Mark 11:25-26).

6. Because disunity destroys our character. "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:19-21).

7. Because unity with others is a fruit of the Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law" (Gal. 5:22-23).

C. WHY IS AGREEMENT WITH OTHERS NECESSARY FOR PRAYER?

1. We do not know everything, but another may know. "Now we are not smart enough to know everything, so our sufficiency is in God" (II Cor. 3:5, ELT).

2. We are blinded to spiritual things, that another may see. "The god of this world hath blinded the minds; lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine unto them" (II Cor. 4:4).

3. We are influenced by our old nature, but another may not be. "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lust" (James 4:3).

4. We may not have faith, but another may have it. "All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matt. 21:22).

5. For some reason we do not pray, but another reminds us. "We have not because we ask not" (James 4:2).

6. Another person makes us more honest. "Ye husbands live with your wife as you know you are supposed to . . . that your prayers be not hindered" (I Peter 3:7, ELT).

7. We have to say what we want to another person in agreement. "Whosoever shall say to this mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea . . ." (Mark 11:23).

8. Our words may build up the faith of another. "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:23-24).

D. TEN PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR AGREEMENT

1. Agreement stimulates faith-asking. When you agree and pray together, you are more bold in faith. "In Christ we have boldness and access" (Eph. 3:20 ELT). "Let us come boldly to the throne of grace" (Heb. 4:16).

2. Agree on paper. Write out your prayer request so both can read and agree.

3. Agree in goals. "When two people agree on the same spiritual things, they should pray together."

4. Talk out your prayer requests. "These all continued with one accord in prayer with supplication . . ." (Acts 1:14). "They were all with one accord in one place" (Acts 2:1).

5. Go together to a prayer place. This may be the church altar, a prayer chapel, your private "closet," a church retreat or prayer mountain.

6. Agree on a time to pray together. "On the Sabbath we went out of the city, by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made" (Acts 16:13).

7. Ask a person, "How can I pray for you?" Rather than just praying generally, i.e., "Bless them." Pray for a specific need that God would give them a specific answer.