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Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

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.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Matthew 18: 18-20

What is the Prayer of Agreement?

Jesus taught and practiced the Prayer of Agreement.

The POA is a prayer request voiced by more than one person at the same time for the same thing. It is a group petition.

The POA is extremely powerful because the unseen presence of Jesus manifests itself.

Agree-comes from the Greek word sumphoneo which means to be harmonious; to agree together; to agree with. It forms the English words symphony and concert. This is where we get the term, Concert of Prayer.

1. The prayer of agreement is a style of prayer frequently used by Jesus.
2. Before Jesus was arrested He invited Peter, James, and John to pray with Him.

Matt. 26:36-38-”Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”’

Jesus prayed: ”My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me, Yet not as I will, but as you will.” [Matt. 26:39]

 The POA brought encouragement, comfort, unity, and power, as Jesus lifted His petition before God.

Note: Ask the audience: ”Have you ever had a heavy heart because of a personal problem and you wanted to ask God for help but didn’t know how to get started? The beauty of the POA is there are people in your life that can help you connect with God.

How Do We Practice the Prayer of Agreement?

[Acts 12:1-5]

ALIGN the request with God (Acts 12:5).

A) ALIGN the request with God’s character and will.

Note: God’s will is known by God’s character, nature, and the word.

God answers prayers that are in keeping with His will.

1 John 5:14-15-”This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him.”

He is a God of justice.

Psalm 9:7-8-”The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment [justice]. He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.”

Will the answer to prayer bring glory to God or to you? God doesn’t share His glory with anyone; not even you.

Martin Luther said: ”For truly the church on earth has no greater power or work than such united prayer against everything that may strike her.”

Illustration: The salvation of your spouse or child. Is it for you to have an easier life or to bring glory to God? What’s your motivation?

ATTACH the request to a Scripture.

[Acts 12:6-12]

Note: Although the Early Church had only the OT Scriptures at this time, it was a well-known fact that God is a God of Justice. Their prayers focused on promises such as:

Psalm 37:6-”He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Psalm 37:28-”For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever….”

 A) The request should be ATTACHED to a Scripture.

Heb. 4:12-”For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

1. The prayer leader selects a verse of Scripture that is applicable to the situation. The prayer request is shared using the verse as a launching pad.
2. The reading of the verse(s) shows you God’s will.
3. The reading of the verse shows you how God was at work in the lives of others in different periods of history.
4. The reading of the verse unites the hearts and minds of the people.
5. The reading of the verse establishes a singular focus and gives you a solid language to use in prayer.
6. The verse being shared gives us confidence to boldly approach God’s throne with our need.

Fact: Within the past week SIX families in our church lost loved ones. To help them journey through the grieving process, our POA is based on 2 Cor. 1:3-4.

2 Cor. 1:3-4-”Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

AGREE with One Another.

[Acts 12:5, 12-17]

 To be in agreement is to be in unity. It is to stand as one.

1. To be in agreement is to speak and champion the same vision.
2. Agreement is synergy. Exponential and synergistic power is unleashed through the Prayer of Agreement.
3. Synergy is caused by the power of many.
4. Agreement synergy is the working together of two or more things to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual parts.

Deut. 32:30-”How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them.”

ASK in Faith.

[Acts 12:5 and 12]

1. The bleakness of Peter’s imprisonment did not deter the church from praying.
2. They stayed missionally focused despite the threat and uncertainty of
   Peter’s release from prison.
3. They kept praying BOLD prayers-faith-based prayers.
4.  They remembered how God answered past Prayers of Agreement. One such occasion was when Peter and John were threatened to never preach about Jesus.

Acts 4:29-30-”Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

1. A victorious perspective produces FAITH.
2. Even though James was recently put to death by King Herod-the same king who was threatening to kill Peter-the church gathered for prayer.

The church believed in prayer and they lived on the strength of the Prayer of Agreement.

God REWARDS the CHURCH that uses the Prayer of Agreement!

Heb. 11:6-”He rewards those who earnestly seek him.”