Scripture Matthew
18:18-19
18 "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about
anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I
with them."
v18 does v 18
sound familiar? (whatever you bind on earth will
be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.)
Matthew 16:16-19 Simon Peter
answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of
Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and
on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome
it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will
be loosed in heaven."
When Jesus is
recorded in Matthew 18 saying the exact same words he said in Matthew 16 – the
circumstances are vastly difference but the principle is the same. Who is at
the ‘top’ doesn’t matter – what matters is praying in agreement within God’s will which we are often taught.
What does it say in the Lord’s prayer? “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
ON EARTH as it is IN HEAVEN?
The
context of this passage – Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? A child – meaning
someone humble who simply believes (ie the church) then how is discipline
carried out when there has been an offense? By the two people but ultimately,
if needed by the one with authority (ie the church). Who is greatest, and who
has authority? The church. Who is the church? When 2 or 3 come together in
Jesus name. That doesn’t mean 2 or 3 people can act with authority for anything
they want because they use the name Jesus. Matt 7:21 "Not everyone
who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who
does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Authority
for something done on earth as it is in heaven comes from the church – that is
2 or more people agreeing, in the will of God and in the name of
Jesus.
What
does it mean to pray in God’s will? How do we know? What is the best example?
Jesus said Luke 22:42 "Father, if you are
willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
Prayer is like a father and a son simply talking. The son does not always know
what is best and so he asks the father for something but in the end trusts the
father for what is best. When you pray
for someone’s salvation – that is 100% God’s will. There are general things we
know are God’s will for all people – salvation. But specific situations are for
individuals are different and we can know God’s will only by knowing Jesus more
and even then, we can still be misguided by our earthly understanding where God
sees everything form a heavenly perspective, so we pray for His will to be done.
v19 the word
“agree” = The word used here in the original is “sum-pho-na-o,” from which
comes our term symphony. It literally means “to agree in sound’ or “to be in
harmony,” as may be heard in a symphony orchestra. Harmonic sound of two
instruments is more beautiful than the sound of one, though more difficult to
obtain. And the harmony, as well as the difficulty in achieving it, becomes
greater as more instruments are added.
v20 For where two or three come together in my
name, there am I with them."
The oft quoted
verse of promise. It is based on the conditions of the previous verses.
1) know that what you are doing on earth is finding its authority in heaven, 2)
we must pray together 3) when praying we must agree in harmony like the instruments
of an orchestra.
This flies smack
in the face of “individual Christianity”. “I don’t need the church!, I can pray
on my own?” True, but that assumes what you are praying for is in God’s will –
you can be much more certain of praying in God’s will when you are finding
agreement from others who have devoted themselves to Christ AND His church.
Someone can play a cello solo and it has a certain beauty but put it with a
violin, a bass, a piano and a flute and now the sound has taken on a richer,
stronger quality – so too with our prayers.
This is why we offer prayer at the end of nearly every worship service.
Some people love
being with other people. Some people would prefer to just be left alone. God
created us to be in community. I am now part of a small group of pastors who
meet monthly. I can say the best times of prayer in my life have been when I
have been part of a small group of people who prayed – from self-led youth
bible studies, to Wednesday evening prayer meetings, to various pastor’s
groups, to times when I have prayed regularly with a single prayer partner. I
can picture specific times of prayer with others at Hillcrest Baptist, at West
High school, at Church camp, at Greenlake, at Judson College. There is
something so special about praying with someone. It creates accountability to
pray, it confirms your prayer, and God’s word has blessed prayer when people
come together in Jesus name. Let’s look
at God’s desire for us to be together in unity.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better
than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him
up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie
down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one
may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not
quickly broken.
Mark 6:6-13
Then Jesus
went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he
sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. These were
his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey
except a staff — no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not
an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that
town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust
off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them." They
went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and
anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”
Luke 10:1-3, 16-17
After this
the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to
every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the
Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go!
I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 16 He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you
rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me. The
seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to
us in your name."
If
Jesus were sending you to someone you know whom either needs Jesus for
salvation, and or needs to be in church (particularly this church) who would
that be? What one ‘thing’ would you like prayer for right now that you hope is
in God’s will? That you be healed? That you get clarity or wisdom? That you
find your life partner? That you serve in a new way? That you become more
generous? That you become a kinder person? That you become less anxious? That you
speak only positive words to others? / What is one thing you could pray for in
agreement with the church – with one or two other people?
CONCLUSION
Gather in groups
of 2 or 3-5
Share what a praise from the past
week. Share who the person for salvation/church is and something you would like
prayed for. Out loud or quietly, pray for each member of your group. Pray for
the spiritual and numeric growth of Ashland Church. Pray for what your part
will be in the spiritual and numeric growth of Ashland Church. Make sure you
pray, not our will but yours be done, in Jesus name.
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