Prayer Warriors engage in the prayer of agreement

¹⁹ “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done  ²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20 NIV

Principle: Prayer Warriors engage in the prayer of agreement.

My son, Jonathan has many spiritual gifts, one of which is the gift of faith.  It is not just an optimistic outlook on life, although he has that too.  It is a spiritual disposition that easy believes the God of heaven will interact into our earthly situation.  Although we grow and mature in using our giftings, they are fully operational at the moment Holy Spirit apportions them to us.  It was very common for Jonathan to exercise this gift of faith even as a young child.

Jonathan would hear Pam and I talking about a need that we had for our family.  Needs were present as we had 5 children while I was in full time Seminary and working part time.  Pam carried most of the weight managing the household and the children.  Our bedtime routine involved reading of books or me telling a story followed by prayer.  I can still remember this one night when Jonathan prayed.  He was on the top bunk when his prayer shifted into another gear.  He prayed for God to meet a financial need that was present in our family.  He prayed with the simplicity of a child, but a trust that shook Pam and I to the core.  We came into agreement with his prayer recognizing the faith he was expressing.  I remember thinking, I don’t believe near as much as how I just heard Jonathan pray, but “God, I come into agreement with his prayer.”  Within a few days, God moved in that situation.

Regardless of the need that you have, God likes His children coming into agreement.  Just the fact that two people are in agreement is already the beginning of a miracle.  The Bible says that if one can put a thousand to flight, two can put 10,000 to flight.  Agreement is not just addition where 1+1=2, but it has a multiplying factor. 

Did you ever wonder while it is so hard for couples to pray together?  Most know that it is important to pray with one another, but it just doesn’t happen.  Perhaps one is an early riser and is ready to pray even before the sun wakes up.  The other spouse may just be ready to shift into high gear when it is time for bed.  So the couple struggles to find the time to be mentally present together.  Then, there is the issue of deciding what to pray for, how long to pray, or who should lead.  The rhythm is hard to find, so most couples quit or at least postpone it to a future time in which they think it will be easier.  All of the excuses for not praying together come from the enemy and not just a lack of self-will.  Satan knows how the power of agreement impacts his evil ways.  He is aware that he has less power to control the outcome when 2 people begin to agree together.  He will fight in every way to keep couples who love each other from finding the time and energy to go to God in prayer.  BTW, some couples have found it helpful to use a couples prayer devotional.  James Dobson wrote a couple of these books.  The devotional solves the issue of where to start each night, and helps keep the conversation focused.

Another, kink in the road of agreement prayer, is Jesus instruction on praying in secret.  We wrongly conclude that the best and perhaps only way to pray is when we pray by ourselves.  Then our Father who sees us praying in secret will reward us later.  To be sure, Jesus expects private prayers to happen often.   But the point of his example was to combat the showy pride of the Pharisees.  They wanted people to see their sacrifice they were making when they prayed.  So, they would put on different clothes and walk in the streets so that others would give them honor for their sacrifice.  So, Jesus instructed his followers to find a prayer closet and impress God.  He lived that example by frequently going off to a secluded place, even when it was still dark to pray.

However, on the night of his greatest need while He was in the garden of Gethsemane, he asked 3 of his disciples if they could pray with him.  Fatigue over took them and they were unable to pray with him for even 1 hour.  We can almost feel his disappointment of their lack of agreement in praying with him, when Jesus came back 3 times to find them still asleep.

Some suggestions about praying in agreement

1.      Just telling another friend about your need is not praying.  You may ask them to pray for you, in which they agree they will remember your prayer at a later date.  That is not praying in agreement.  It would involve hearing a need and then asking the person if you could stop right then and begin to pray with them.

2.     Make sure the request lines up with the word of God.  Agreement with God’s word adds a third strand in the strength of your request.  Two people believing God for the salvation of a family member or friend has great power, but that power is multiplied even more when there is Biblical agreement.  For the Bible says that God’s heart desires for all men to be saved and come into a relationship with Jesus.  This is why couples have great authority when praying for the salvation of their children. 

3.     Let each person’s faith encourage you as you pray.  The prayer of agreement does not mean that you have to be at the same level of thinking before you start to pray.  Rather, we are encouraged by one another’s faith regarding the request.  Change and rise up to how the other person is praying.  Admit that you might not believe in the same way, but you will agree that God can do what and how your friend is praying.  As you align yourself with how they are praying you will see your faith level rise.  This type of praying is learned over time.  But you can really sense the presence of Jesus when two friends begin believing God to move in each of the other’s life.

4.     One word of caution, except with your spouse, DO NOT seek a prayer partner of the opposite sex.  God has designed us to grow closer spiritually to one another when we pray.  This also naturally leads us to grow closer physically.  When we are sharing our needs with another person, we also begin to connect at an emotional level.  All of these put together have caused much pain in men and women ending up in compromising situations.  This is true for single or married couples.  Engaged couples be careful, because good prayer times bring you much closer than you may want to be before you say “I do”.

Father, thank you for the principles of prayer that show us in your word.  Father, we confess that we have not prayed in the power of agreement enough with those we love.  We have made too many excuses for not pursuing prayer together.  We ask you to help us begin today to engage with a prayer partner.  We ask that you help us establish a healthy spiritual routine of regularly praying with our spouse or another person.  Father, may we see the results of answered prayers as we trust you to move in our cares and concerns.  In Jesus name, Amen.