The Principle of Agreeing in Prayer
By David McFadden
“I (Jesus) also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, My Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:19-20 NLT
Often at church or in a Bible group meeting, there is a time of prayer among those gathered. Prayer requests are given and the group takes the needs to God in prayer. Of course, this type of prayer can take place anywhere two or more believers gather. Agreeing in prayer is an ultimate expression of unity in the body of Christ. Whether in a small circle of believers or a congregation united by a common desire to see God move, the principle of agreeing in prayer is powerful. Unified under the common purpose of a specific prayer need, selfishness and self-interest are given up.
The principle of “Praying in Agreement” comes from Jewish law which states that if two people agree when having witnessed something, their testimony is accepted as fact. In the following Scripture verses, Jesus claims that His testimony (given to the Pharisees) about Himself is true, based upon the second witness, His Heavenly Father.
“The Pharisees therefore said to Him, ‘You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.’”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” John 8:13-18 NKJV
When two or more believers pray together, “agreeing here on earth concerning anything you ask,” the Hebraic law concerning “the testimony of two” comes into full effect.
Why is this true? In the Matthew 18:19-20 reference above, Jesus explains to His followers, that when two or three agree in His name, He is there to bear witness. In other words, Jesus is there to agree with and make intercession with the Father on our behalf (Romans 8:34-35)—the agreement between the Father and the Son makes our testimony true. “I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”
Agreeing in Prayer Brings Unity
The idea of unity comes from the Father’s heart. Unified prayer creates a powerful bond that unites us one to another. And just as important, the unity of the two believers paves the way for the two to become more united with God. It is no longer “my Father” but “our Father.” The important takeaway is that the Holy Spirit can uniquely manifest His power when the body of believers are unified in fellowship and give themselves to agreeing in prayer. —Jesus agrees with and makes intercession with the Father on our behalf. Just as the one-hundred-and-twenty gathered in one place together, and continued praying with one accord, the Spirit came to baptize them with power from on high (Acts 2:1,15). This unifying event birthed the church age and changed the world forever.
God’s Spirit will draw us to His desires through unity as we agree with other believers “concerning anything you ask.” Agreeing in prayer draws us nearer to each other, both spiritually and in the commonality of our relationship. Through this closeness, we grow in love for one another, which is the object of God’s desire for His body. Please note that the principle of praying in agreement is for gathered believers who pray aloud. In other words, I can't agree with your prayer unless I hear it.
Agreeing with God’s Word
When two or more believers pray, confessing His Word in agreement, the power and provision resident in His Word is released. This is because God tells us that He watches over His Word. According to this principle, because we are in Christ, His Spirit in us bears witness to the testimony of His Word in our prayers. Therefore, the testimony of gathered believers is true because the Spirit of His Living Word bears witness to its truth—"If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, My Father in heaven will do it for you.”
Let’s unpack this. John 1:1-5 tells us that Jesus is the Word that has come in the flesh—He is the Word incarnate. This means that when we “pray the Word,” we are praying in agreement with the resurrected Jesus—the Living Word. His Word is Living and powerful so when we pray (invoke) His Word, in His name, our testimony concerning His promises and provisions are made manifest—“…My Father in heaven will do it for you.” Our spoken prayers bear witness to (agrees with) the resurrection power of His Living Word, and because Jesus is in our midst, He bears witness to our petitions.
Lastly, by agreeing with God’s Word, we activate the power resident in it. The Bible also tells us in Isaiah 55:11 “It is the same with My Word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” NLT
God’s Word is “sent” through our confessions of agreement where it produces fruit and accomplishes all that God wanted, prospering everywhere He sends it.
Excerpted and adapted from, “Prayer by the Book” - Available on Amazon.com by clicking here: Prayer by the Book
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