The Power of Agreement

“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.” - Matthew 18:19 KJV

There is power in agreement. When people come together in unity, great things can be accomplished.

Our scripture reference says, 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 key here is agreement. In order for anything to happen, in order for GOD to move, there must be agreement. This tells us of the power there is in agreement. I’m sure that this has been a proven fact in our lives. The question is. ‘Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" – Amos 3:3 KJV

Let’s look at Acts 16:25-26. Paul and Silas were thrown in prison. The bible does not say they were crying, worried or upset with GOD. Scripture tells us Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to GOD. Let’s suppose, Paul said to Silas, ‘let’s pray and worship GOD’ and Silas said, ‘no, why should we; look what GOD allowed to happen to us. Would they have experience GOD in such a mighty and powerful way? No, they would not! They were in agreement and GOD moved. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. Now that’s a great demonstration of the power of agreement! Also, read Acts 2:1-4. Genesis 11:1-6.

I want you to visualize this mighty act of GOD. Imagine it! Paul and Silas praying and singing praises to GOD. Then the place started shaking violently. So much so, that the very foundations of the prison shook, doors flung open and chains loosed. My GOD! For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them – Matthew 18:20 KJV. Even in a prison cell, GOD showed up! GOD is not limited to people, places or things. What HE requires is agreement!

In ending, our scripture reference begins with the words spoken by YESHUA, ‘Again, I say unto you’. YESHUA repeated what HE said. I believe GOD wants us to fully comprehend that when we are in agreement in HIS Name, mighty things eill happen!

Pray Earnestly

But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. - Acts 12:5 NLT

Very often we talk about prayer. People make statements like, prayer changes things, or one may say to another I’ll pray for you. Saying those words has become like a religious cliche at times. It sounds nice saying, “I’ll pray for you”, but do we really believe that when we pray things will change?

In the book of Acts 12, the church faced persecution, and the believers gathered to pray for Peter because he was thrown into prison. Not just thrown in prison, but there was no humanly possible way for Peter to escape. The bible describes the situation like this, Then he (King Herod) imprisoned him (Peter), placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each (16 soldiers), fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. (Acts 12:4,6 NLT) I’m sure Peter thought that he too would be killed like James was.

The church at that time turned to prayer, because they knew that was their only hope. So they gathered together and prayed. The scripture tells us that they prayed earnestly. The dictionary describes earnestly as a serious and intent mental state or an intense and serious state of mind. When the believers gathered to pray for Peter, they took the matter seriously, with the state of mind that something must happen when they pray. They were intentional and focus about the matter. Their state of mind was, something must happen when they pray; and something did happen. A miracle took place.

How many of us believe that something will happen when we pray? They prayed earnestly and yet when their prayer was answered they did not believe. Does this sound like some of us? Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists – Acts 12:7 NLT. The believers’ prayer was answered in a powerful way. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results – James 5:16b NLT.

I hope by reading this devotion, that it will change or strengthen the way you see prayer. We are to take prayer seriously and have the state of mind, the belief, have faith that when we the righteous pray, something will happen. Not just because of our prayer, but because of who we are praying to YAHOVAH.

Always Look for the Fruit

“Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!” – Luke 13:7 HCSB

To discern the true nature of a person, a spiritual teacher, or the spiritual state of one's own life, we should be looking for the fruit. The metaphor of a tree and its fruit shows that an individual's words, actions, and character are the natural product of what is in their heart.

“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matt. 7:15–20.)

Even the Father is looking for fruit in order to bless us. Yeshua said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, SO that whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He may give it to you” (John 15:16). We cannot bear fruit unless we’re connected to the Vine, to remain healthy branches the Spirit can flow through. “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1). Yahweh knows which are good to prune and which are bad to cut off/take away.

Fruit is produced by the inner working of the Holy Spirit, by the Word of God we put in. Bearing fruit signifies maturity and reveals what fruit is being produced that season. It’s amazing how one tree can produce all these different fruits: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). These qualities reflect God's character and the behavior of those living according to God's Spirit.

There must be change or transformation to produce the fruit God is looking for. This is why He says, "...unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24). Our ultimate purpose is to be transformed into the image of God’s Son, Yeshua.  We cannot say we belong to Yahweh and there’s no resemblance.

Many say they are Christians and rightly so. Yet, there’s no evidence of being born again of the Spirit (And I don’t mean speaking in tongues) with fruits of the Kingdom being revealed. Resist the urge to be fake and awaken the desire to be genuine, bearing fruit of the Spirit that remain. People are hungry and searching the trees looking for fruit, genuine fruit. The Word of God says, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples” (John 13:35). Let's start with the first fruit of the Spirit...Love Remember the fig tree! (Luke 13:7) You still have time to show yourself fruitful!