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Agreeing in Prayer
Where in the Scripture does it say that we're to agree in prayer? Is this taken from Matthew where it says if any two are gathered in My Name, I'm in the midst? Is this really speaking of prayer or is it taken out of context? Is it not as powerful if only 1 is gathered in His Name? Is the prayer of a righteous man not as powerful as many who pray?
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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There are some who believe that the more people you have praying the more you will get out of God. They do not word it that way, but in practice it is what they believe. God is not empowered by many or weakened by the few ... God is God and He is unchanging. We also know that God does not change His mind like humans, and thus prayer does not move God or the arm of God. What we do find in Scripture that is interesting is that due to a lack of faith God will restrict His work. This is not because He cannot, but will not operate in response to a lack of faith. This is substantiated by the fact that at times for His purposes God acts where no faith at all existed.
Thus, the only limitation on God (if we want to call it that) is when He by His on sovereign will will chooses to operate in a certain way, which often is outlined in His Word.
Back to the basic question. One million people praying in unison is no more powerful than one righteous person, for the power rest in God, not man and not in prayer. There are many positive benefits to people praying in unison or harmony, but increase in God's power is not one of them, Nor is one the moving of God by the multitude.
Two of the most important aspects of prayer are 1) Communion with God. 2) Being drawn into alignment with Him. This second one is key. Rather than God doing our bidding (again no one wants to word it that way, but it is the essence of the people praying in unison expecting God to answer yes to their prayer) we are drawn by God into alignment with Him and thus we can then truly say "not my will, but your will be done."
This is brief response. We can go into a lot more depth and definitely breadth on this topic.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on
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So, do you feel Matthew 18:20 is speaking of bringing a brother before the church that sins against you instead of speaking of prayer?
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I believe that the discipline outlined in Matthew 18 is speaking literally and not figuratively.
When we get to verse 19 it cannot mean simply if two cognitively agree on something God has to do it. Too many other verse clearly put it all under His authority and will. I believe the agreeing is of value when we are brought into alignment with God. I believe God uses prayer for communication, but also as a tool by which He works through us. This specific type of working through us happens as we align with Him. Here is a poor illustration, but one that will make a point. Think of the waterwheel used in old mills. A trough is built that carries the water and there is a wheel that requires the water in order to spin, but this wheel will only spin when the trough is placed at the right spot for the wheel to catch the water and begin to move. If one were to move the wheel away from the water it will stop turning.
Verse 20 gives a perfect picture ...gathered in His name He is with them. Again, since God is omnipresent we know He is always everywhere. So what makes this verse different? It brings a communion aspect, a special manifestation of His presence that is unique to the children of God only ... gather in His name and He is there with them, with us.
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So, it's your belief that it is speaking of prayer & not talking about the previous verses about bringing someone before the church?
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I believe there is a blending here and not an either or. When we view prayer as communication with God and not simply the formal act often associated with it today we find that any activity we do has prayer attached. When Paul says to pray without ceasing it is not the formal act, but a lifestyle lived out that he speaks of. Thus, if the church is applying Biblical discipline the church must be in connection to the head and listening to the head as it prepares to act. This in of itself is prayer. Where two or three gather together in His name they are communing with Him and each other. This too is an act of prayer because we are communicating with the Lord
I don't know if that helped or not, but walking in the Spirit is a life of prayer. This life will include formal (for a lack of better terms) and continual prayer. To illustrate this a bit think about when you and your husband travel somewhere. I assume that there are times of silence, yet you are still in one another's presence. While the Holy Spirit lives in us we are in constant connection with Jesus ... the phone never hangs up or gets disconnected. It is an open line, though we often live our lives as if the line were muted or disconnected.
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