04/28/2024
THE POWER OF AGREEMENT
Dr. Mike L. Dease
There are many teachings on the power and procedure of prayer, volumes have been written on what, how, when, and why of prayer, but how does it really work?
As a pastor for over 40 years, I have spent many hours practicing the discipline of prayer. I have witnessed some prayers that were answered almost immediately, while other prayers had no response or effectiveness.
THE PRICIPLE OF AGREEMENT: Matthew 18:19 - 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. Agreement: The state of having come to the same opinion or having made the same decision as somebody else, or an expression of this state. Consider the process of tuning a musical instrument, each cord on the guitar has a certain number of vibrations per second to obtain a certain note, once it has been tuned to those vibrations it is then in agreement. The same principle can be applied to prayer, when we are in perfect harmony with the will of God and heaven and earth agree then are prayers are effective. The meaning of that word “agree” is to be in accord, a state in which things are in harmony with each other. In Matthew 18:19 the original Greek word is “symphoneo” and is where we get the English words symphonic and symphony. Imagine a huge orchestra, attempting to play complex classical arrangements they had never heard without any sheet music or instruction. Although gifted and articulate musicians they would have no point of agreement to be in harmony with each other. Our hearts and minds must harmonize with God’s will to manifest our desires and purposes; we cannot be double minded by wavering between positive and negative mindsets. James 1:8 - A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
ACCORDING TO HIS WILL1 John 5:14, 15 – “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions (an appeal or request to a higher authority or being) that we desired of him.” Here is where we must exercise true discernment between our soul’s desires and the will of God. It is easy to allow our emotions to direct our decisions, instead of taking the time to wait on the Holy Spirit to lead us. This is where many believers fall into confusion because they assume that what they want is always what God wants. We must remember that God has created us for His pleasure and purpose; therefore, we must trust that all things work together for our good. The book of James tells us that we have not because we ask not, but when we ask, we ask amiss that it might be consumed upon our lusts. The first prerequisite for effective prayer is to be convinced that what you are praying for is in harmony and agreement with God’s will for you not the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes or the pride of life.
THE LAW OF ATTRACTION – According to scripture.
It has been said that what you think about is what you bring about. This is because our thoughts affect our emotions; our emotions affect our attitude; our attitude affects our actions, and our actions affect our consequences. This principle is what has been called the law of attraction which is the name given to the belief that "like attracts like" and that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring about positive or negative results. This belief is based upon the idea that people and their thoughts are both made from pure energy, and the belief that like energy attracts like energy. Thomas Troward, claimed that thought precedes physical form and "the action of Mind plants that nucleus which, if allowed to grow undisturbed, will eventually attract to itself all the conditions necessary for its manifestation in outward visible form.” All that has been invented and eventually created began with a single thought. The computer that I am typing this article on began with a thought, as well as the couch that I am sitting on and the house that I am living in, they all started their manifestations with a thought. The definition of a thought is an idea, plan, conception, or opinion produced by mental activity. What does the bible have to say about this principle of attraction? The first scripture that comes to mind is Proverbs 23:7 - For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: I like to interpret that as we are, then we become. Many of the great achievers of history such as athletes, entrepreneurs, inventors, politicians all started their journey to greatness and success by the thought that they could accomplish their purpose. Take a young boy who lives in a poverty-stricken ghetto, does not allow his surroundings to define him, but instead of coming into agreement with his current circumstances, he holds on to his dream of playing basketball in the NBA. He thinks about it every day, constantly talks about it to his friends, even sleeps with a basketball in his arms. You find him every free moment that he has practicing his technique and imagining himself in an arena before thousands of adoring fans. This is an example of the law of attraction, once again, our thoughts affect our emotions; our emotions affect our attitude, our attitude affects our actions, and our actions affect our consequences. I have always taught the principle of mind, mouth, heart, hands; we think it, we speak it, we believe it and then we do it. The process of attraction begins with our heart coming into agreement with our thoughts, the apostle Paul stated in Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
We must generate positive thoughts that reflect the desires of our hearts until our hearts come into agreement. Matthew 18:19 - Again, I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. The meaning of that word “agree” is to be in accord, a state in which things are in harmony with each other. In Matthew 18:19 the original Greek word is “symphoneo” and is where we get the English words symphonic and symphony. Imagine a huge orchestra, attempting to play complex classical arrangements they had never heard without any sheet music or instruction. Although gifted and articulate musicians they would have no point of agreement to be in harmony with each other. Our hearts and minds must harmonize to manifest our desires and purposes; we cannot be double minded by wavering between positive and negative mindsets. James 1:8 - A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Our intent must be to fasten our minds on the thoughts that will produce the faith that will create the results. I know that this sounds simplistic so why is practicing the law of agreement so difficult? The reason is what James 1:8 says, it is being double minded. One day our thoughts and our hearts are in harmony with each other, then we receive a negative or contrary report and immediately we break agreement. What happened? What caused us to become double minded? It came because of the negative evidence being stronger than the positive evidence and therefore created a shift in your thinking that resulted in unbelief. The solution to this reverse of faith is to collect as much reinforcing evidence as possible to overcome all negative attacks. Fill your mind with scripture, testimonies, articles, pictures, events that will produce the thought that will strengthen your faith. Just as important guard your mind from any thoughts that will create negative evidence that will produce unbelief. The scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; all our imaginations and thoughts must be submitted to the will and word of God, anything contrary to God’s word cannot be true for us!
The word tells us that God will give us the desires of our hearts if we delight ourselves in Him. Begin to make a list of all the desires of your heart, pray over them and allow the Holy Spirit to filter them in the light of God’s will and word for you. Once you have completed and filtered the list meditate on your desire’s day and night as well and confess them aloud in your times of prayer. The bible says faith comes by hearing, so let yourself hear your proclamations by calling out those things that are not as though they were. Let the weak say “I am strong and let the poor say I am rich.” Because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, so fill your mind with the right thoughts, so that your heart will believe the right things, your mouth then will speak the right things and your hands will receive the right desires.
Remember, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. - MLD
