FOUR STEPS TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH Step 2 Topic 8

PRAYER OF AGREEMENT

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:18-20

For us to understand the above portion of Scripture and apply it in our prayer life, we need to refer to the preceding verses of the above verses first. Often times we pick up verses from their setting and run with them without understanding fully what it means when applied in its proper context.

Jesus was speaking to His disciples about discipline in the church. He says if your brother offends you, you should go and settle it with him alone. If he sees his fault and apologize, you would have saved his life. But if he refuses to acknowledge his mistakes, take with you one or two brothers with you to help resolve the issue. Jesus quoted the Old Testament rule used to settle disputes between two parties. We find this in Deuteronomy 17:6. “Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.”  

And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen. Jesus is talking about believers in the church. There are those people in the church who would not submit to any authority. First, they refuse to live in harmony with others. When their actions are questioned they refuse to listen. When, according to scripture; one or two witnesses are called to arbitrate, they remain adamant. Even when the matter is brought to the church leadership they still remain defiant. This is a spirit of rebellion in manifest.

Jesus says if the matter reaches that level; take a decision and heaven will back it up. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” One translation says; “I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free.” God’s Word Translation. Without tempering with the verse, maybe we should read it this way; “Whoever you imprison, God will imprison. And whoever you set free, God will set free”

God respects the decision of the church. He has given the church authority to use in dealing with matters of administration and discipline in the local congregation. The church must not be timid and hesitate to take decisions if it is in accordance with the word of God. Jesus, who is the head of the church, commissions the church to permit certain things to be done in the church if they are in agreement with the word of God. He also allows the church to forbid those that in their opinion are not in accordance with the word of God.

The authority to make such decisions is not only limited to the church. Believers too, are given this authority. The guideline is laid down as quoted from Deuteronomy 17:6. “Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.” We are only allowed to exercise this authority when there are witnesses – two, three or more.

This biblical truth is not only applicable in matters pertaining to discipline when there are disputes to resolve. Listen as Jesus takes it to another dimension; “if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” Jesus is saying, the same principle can still be used in prayer. This is the prayer of agreement.

This kind of prayer can also be used to ask for something from God. The same way that two or three people come together and agree to permit or forbid something; they can also come together and agree for a need to be met. God honors agreements; especially when they harmonize with His word. The starting point of the agreement must of course be the word of God. The two who will be standing to agree for something or for a need to be met, must first agree with the word of God. To agree with the word of God is to believe what God says in His word.

Once this foundation is laid, the two must move to the next level of agreement. They must agree together that what God says in His word will come to pass. Jesus says two people must agree to agree on what God said. Once this happens, they can now approach God in prayer. Unless they agree, their prayer will be futile. “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” Amos 3:3. How can they get the answer to their prayer when they don’t agree in prayer? How can they get the answer when they stand there in conflict? Throughout the bible we see that God moved on people’s behalf when they are in one accord. To be in one accord is to agree – i.e. to be in harmony.

Wherefore, Christians can come together and agree on a particular need in prayer and God will grant them their petition. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven”