Prayer is Your Place of Safety (Part 10):

The Prayer of Agreement and United Praying

4.26.2020

Review

Since the first of the year, I have been teaching a series on prayer.

I took a few Sundays to address the Corona crisis, since we have been unable to meet together.

March 22 – I talked about 7 things we should remind ourselves of during hard times.

March 29 – I talked about getting our “ducks in a row.” Things we need to do personally to prepare for Jesus’ return.

April 5 – I talked about the fact that spiritually, believers live in the land of Goshen. Goshen is a place where Israel lived during tough times in Egypt. They were protected by God in Goshen during the 10 plagues. We likewise live in Goshen spiritually, and God will protect and care for us during times of hardship and challenge.

April 12 – Easter – Heaven’s view of Jesus’ death and resurrection. 7 things to know about what Jesus did for us when He died and rose again.

Now, I am going to resume the series on prayer.

You never live past your prayer life…

In this series, we are addressing the importance of prayer in 2020, and how your prayer life can become the most important part of your day.

Week 1, we saw that Jesus lived out of His prayer life, and that He spent a lot of time praying before ministry.

We talked about the importance of our praying about everything, and how prayer can prepare us for the things that are in our future.

Weeks 2 through 4, we talked about why we must pray.

God cannot legally do anything unless He gets cooperation through His people. God must go through the church before He does anything on earth today!

Then, we looked at 8 different kinds of prayer

Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

1. The prayer of faith – (primarily a prayer for yourself)

2. The prayer of consecration (relinquishing personal control)

3. The prayer of supplication (prayer for others)

4. The prayer of intercession (taking another’s place)

5. The prayer of agreement (when your faith needs a boost)

6. The prayer of worship (focusing on God)

7. United praying (tremendous power)

8. Praying in the spirit (beyond your own knowledge)

Follow the rules for each kind of prayer!!

Last time I spoke on prayer was (March 15): The Prayer of Intercession –

1. Intercession is taking another person’s place.

2. Jesus is interceding for us right now.

3. The Holy Spirit helps us make intercession.

4. There is intercession for those without Christ.

5. There is also intercession for new Christians.

Today: The Prayer of Agreement – 5 points

1. Jesus promised that God would answer a request where two agree together in prayer.

Matthew 18:19-20 (NKJV)

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. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:19-20 (MSG)

When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. (20) And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.

Matthew 18:19-20 (NLT)

I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. (20) For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.

Agree

Greek – sumphoneo

From: Sum – together, and Phoneo – to sound

To sound together, be in accord, be in harmony (symphony).

2. The prayer of agreement is used when you need a faith “boost.”

If you are dealing with a 100 lb problem, and you have 50 lb faith, you may need some help praying. You need an extra push of faith when praying and believing for something.

Look for a person you can trust, who will believe with you and will not talk doubt!

This is a person who can stand with you until the answer comes. They will apply their faith with yours until the answer comes.

Example – Believing for the financing of this building. Hurdles, so to speak, to overcome with our new building…

3. Two agreeing in prayer creates exponential power.

There is tremendous power in unity.

Genesis 11:1-6 (NLT)

The Tower of Babel

1 At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. 2 As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. 3 They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) 4 Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”

Genesis 11:5-6 (NLT)

But the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. 6 “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!

Two can pull a bigger faith load than one!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT)

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. (10) If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. (11) Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? (12) A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

4. The prayer of agreement can help us deal with personal pride.

The American tendency is to be too independent of others, and this helps us counteract this tendency.

One thing I think we are learning from the current crisis is that we need each other! We were not made to live in isolation.

Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Romans 15:7 (TPT)

You will bring God glory when you accept and welcome one another as partners, just as the Anointed One has fully accepted you and received you as his partner.

1 Corinthians 12:21-26 (NLT)

The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” (22) In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. (23) And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, (24) while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. (25) This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. (26) If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

5. The prayer of agreement counteracts the discord that is so prevalent today!

Challenges can bring us together!

Acts 2:42-47 (NLT)

The Believers Form a Community

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. (43) A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. (44) And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. (45) They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. (46) They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – (47) all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

The way we treat others is the way we treat Jesus.

Acts 9:1-5 (NLT)

Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. (2) He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. (3) As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. (4) He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” (5) “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!”

The way we treat others is the way we treat Jesus.

Matthew 25:40 (NLT)

And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

United Praying

1. There is a greater power available when we pray together!

Acts 1:14 (NLT)

They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

Acts 1:13-14 (TPT)

Arriving there, they went into a large second-floor room to pray. Those present were Peter, John, Jacob, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, Jacob (the son of Alpheus), Simon (the zealot), Judas (the son of Jacob), and a number of women, including Mary, Jesus’ mother. His brothers were there as well. All of them were united in prayer, gripped with one passion, interceding night and day.

Acts 2:42 (TPT)

Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer.

Acts 4:23-36 (TPT)

As soon as they were released from custody, Peter and John went to the other believers and explained all that had happened with the high priest and the elders. (24) When the believers heard their report, they raised their voices in unity and prayed, “Lord Yahweh, you are the Lord of all! You created the universe—the earth, the sky, the sea, and everything that is in them. (25) And you spoke by the Holy Spirit through your servant David, our forefather, saying: ‘How dare the nations plan a rebellion, ranting and raging against the Lord Most High?

Their foolish plots are futile! (26) Look at how the kings of the earth take their stand, with the rulers scheming and conspiring together against God and his anointed Messiah!’ (27) In fact, Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with Jews and non-Jews, met together to take their stand against your holy servant, Jesus the Messiah. (28) They did to him all that your purpose and will had determined, according to the destiny you had marked out for him. (29) So now, Lord, listen to their threats to harm us. Empower us, as your servants, to speak the word of God freely and courageously. (30) Stretch out your hand of power through us to heal, and to move in signs and wonders by the name of your holy Son, Jesus!” (31) At that moment the earth shook beneath them, causing the building they were in to tremble. Each one of them was filled with the Holy Spirit, and they proclaimed the word of God with unrestrained boldness. (32) All the believers were one in mind and heart. Selfishness was not a part of their community, for they shared everything they had with one another. (33) The apostles gave powerful testimonies about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great measures of grace rested upon them all. (34–35) Some who owned houses or land sold them and brought the proceeds before the apostles to distribute to those without. Not a single person among them was needy. (36–37) For example, there was a Levite from Cyprus named Joseph, who sold his farmland and placed the proceeds at the feet of the apostles. They nicknamed him Barnabas (or “Encourager”).

2. Prayer is like water.

I was minding my own business and praying one day in 2001. As I was praying I kept hearing – prayer is like water, prayer is like water. I didn’t understand what the Lord was saying.

I had a book entitled The Weapon of Prayer by E.M. Bounds with me, along with other books. I stopped praying and for some reason picked up this book and turned to page 139. And here is what I read. It astounded me…

That the true apostolic preacher must have the prayer of others – good people – to give his ministry its full quota of success, Paul is the preeminent example. He asked, he coveted, he pleaded in an impassioned way for the help of all God’s saints. He knew that in the spiritual realm as elsewhere, in union there is strength; that the consecration and aggregation of faith, desire and prayer increased the volume of spiritual force until it became overwhelming in its power. Units of prayer combined, like drops of water, make an ocean that defies resistance.

Underground caverns have stalactites and stalagmites formed on the ceiling and floor from mineral deposits created by water drops over a long period of time.

The weight of water is eight pounds per gallon. One drop of water creates little effect unless it’s over a long period of time. But when drops of water are combined, tremendous power is unleashed, moving large objects, and cutting furrows into the ground.

1984 – Tulsa flood. My car was almost washed off the road!

United praying creates a tremendous spiritual momentum!

Get together and pray!

Action Points:

1. Do you have someone in your life as a prayer partner who can agree with you in prayer?

2. What can you do to become actively involved in praying with others?