The Prayer of Agreement
Mt. 18:19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (NIV)
2 Chron. 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NIV)
1. Prayer is an awesome force. [God answers prayer!!!!]
2. The Prayer of Agreement has the greatest potential in our world.
3. No wonder Satan fights against it so hard!
4. There are needs that the whole church ought to be praying in unison about
1- Persecuted Christians.
2- The Lost.
3- Missionary endeavors. etc...
4- The Suffering
5. Example. (Acts. 12:5) [God can still send angels!!!!]
I don’t want to concern myself so much with examples and illustration as with the necessary Elements are in order to prayer the Prayer of Unlimited Power: The Prayer of Agreement....
Mt. 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 ¶ "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. 10 "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 11 12 "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
15 ¶ "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that `every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (NIV)
1- The First Element is Conversion. (Mt. 18:1-3, 2 Chron. 7:14)
1. In order to pray this prayer you must be born-again! (Jn. 3:3, 7)
2. "Conversion" means the change of the direction of life. (2 Cor. 5:17-21)
3. Does this describe you? [The direction of your life matters!]
2- The Second Element is Humility. (Mt. 18:4, 2 Chron. 7:14)
1. Expressed..
(1) By receiving God’s children. (v. 5-6) [Not those in willful sin 1 Cor. 5:10-11]
(2) By not offending God’s children. (vv. 7-14)
2. These are requirements and not optional equipment!!!
3- The Third Element is Reconciliation. (Mt. 18:15-18, 2 Chron. 7:14)
1. This is one of the most misguided areas of Christian life.
2. Scripture tells us what to do! (vv. 15-18) [Expound]
3. God’s people MUST learn this lesson.
4. It must break the heart of God.
5. It closes the windows of Heaven against us!!!
Only when these elements are found together can the Prayer of Agreement be made with power. (v. 19)
1. Jesus said when I find these things in fellowship "I will be there." (v. 20) [Not # but principal]
2. "Agree together" = Gr. is the word we get symphony from.
3. To have a symphony you must have.
(1) A Score = Word.
(2) A Conductor = The Holy Spirit.
(3) Musicians/ those who play the music = You and Me!!! [This REQUIRES UNITY!!!!!!]
