24 Dec IHOP (International House of Prayer) Dining for Two Part 4
Over the last number of weeks, we have been discussing “Six Aspects of Agreement”:
Aspect #1: Agreement in marriage (I Pet. 3:7).
Aspect #2: Agreement in church (I Cor. 1:10).
Aspect #3: Agreement multiplies your power (Deut. 32:30).
Aspect #4: Agreement produces great reward (Eccl. 4:9-12).
This week, let’s continue…
Aspect #5: Agreement defeats a common enemy (Eccl. 4:9-12).
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
As you can see, two can more easily defeat a common enemy than one. When we were growing up, my brother and I would fight like cats and dogs. I remember one time we were on the golf course and began to argue over the spot of a golf ball. It escalated to the point where we dropped our clubs and went at it right there on the green. We tore up that green so bad our swim coach who was with us didn’t even want to break us up for fear of being hurt in the fight! However, if someone else even came at me or my brother, now you’d have both of the Frease boys to contend with! What do you say we get into agreement and gang up on the devil!
Aspect #6: Agreement in Prayer (Matt. 18:19-20).
In the aforementioned verse in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Solomon is talking about two then all of a sudden refers to three (“a three-fold cord is not easily broken”). Here in Matthew 18:19-20 the Bible tells us, “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. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
In Matthew you can clearly see the same principle. When two come together in agreement in prayer, Jesus is so pleased with the unity He steps in and puts His seal of approval on it!
Please allow me to share with you one common misconception about “Agreeing in prayer”: Both parties praying simultaneously.
I’ve seen it where two or more people pray at the same time. It’s impossible for both to pray and agree at the same time…if you’re not listening to the other party you can’t agree! I heard a true story about Franklin Delano Roosevelt who got fed up with people not listening to him. So one evening he decided to experiment at a formal party he was hosting. He went to 12 different guests and told them all the same thing, “I killed my mother-in-law last night.” All 12 guests didn’t pay a lick of attention and simply walked on. FDR repeated this same statement to the 13th individual, “I killed my mother-in-law last night.” Finally the 13th person replied “Well, I’m sure she had it coming!”
When you pray the prayer of agreement, first clearly discuss what it is you are agreeing on so you can come into prayerful harmony. Then one prays and the other listens and then can say, “Father I agree with that in Jesus’ name.” True Bible agreement works and brings tremendous results! Let’s have dinner and prayer for two!