If Two (Or More) Agree
In Matthew eighteen, there is much instruction given by our Lord Jesus Christ about the behavior, conduct, and work within the fellowship of the Church. In verses eighteen through twenty His Words enlighten us as to the power of corporate, united prayer.
"I solemnly tell you that whatever you as a Church bind on earth will in Heaven be held as bound, and whatever you loose on earth will in Heaven be held to be loosed. I also solemnly tell you that if two of you here on earth agree together concerning anything whatever that they shall ask, the boon will come to them from My Father Who is in heaven. For where there are two or three assembled in My Name, there Am I in the midst of them" (Weymouth New Testament).
Jesus is saying:
"That if two (or more) agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, (concerning the Kingdom of God, this is understood in the text) it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered ... (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My Name," (The Name of Christ that is above all names is the Name which when used, should represent the very essence and character of Christ; and it is this Name which authenticates the Will of God; and we should not use His Name except it be in line with God's will.) There I am. (The I AM, Who appeared to Moses, the eternal God, the Living Word who appeared to Daniel, the Alpha and the Omega - Christ, Who appeared to John, the resurrected Lord of Glory who appeared to Paul, HE WHO IS = continuance in time present; HE WHO WAS = continuance in time past; HE WHO IS TO COME = continuance forever.) There I AM in the midst of (you) them." ("Among you," intermingled in close, intimate union with you).
Truly this is fellowship in the Spirit of prayer!
"Yet I have Left Me Seven Thousand"
In the Word of God, one of the greatest examples of corporate prayer can be found when Elijah took his stand on Mount Carmel; however, in 1 Kings 19:18, the Lord said to Elijah:
"Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him."
Let us remember that God spoke these words to Elijah when he was very discouraged and felt that he was the only one left who was serving God. The Lord was saying: "Elijah, when you stood on Mount Carmel, you did not stand alone"; and in Romans 11:4 and 5, the Lord is repeating this same Word and saying to us today:
"I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal." And then the Holy Spirit adds this, "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."
Note the statement, "at this present time." It is God's grace, the action of His love, that in every age He always has those who will not "bend their knees" to the gods of this age - those who "having done all, to stand. Stand therefore."
Here the number 7,000 is used figuratively and signifies the perfection of Divine Order. It is made up of the number seven and the multiple of ten times itself. "Seven" denotes spiritual perfection, and "ten" signifies the perfection of Divine Order ( the completeness of order), and implies nothing is wanting; it marks the entire round of anything. However this does not mean that the remnant, the 7,000, are perfect and are always moving in God's Divine Order. The number seven thousand here is significant of those who stand for the perfection of God's Divine Order, as it is expressed through Jesus Christ in each and every age. They stand, seen or unseen, named or unnamed, they stand age after age after age ... they stand for God's Eternal Purpose and Will in Christ Jesus. Behind every move of God to increase His Son, there are those who are His faithful bondservants standing together in "one spirit" in prayer.
Beloved, as Elijah triumphed on Mount Carmel, the 7,000 stood. When Elijah was discouraged, they stood! and down through the ages, they stand! Yes, they stand for the perfection of God's Divine Order! And when we come to Rome many years after Elijah, we find they are still standing! The ruler of this world broke loose in hatred upon the early Church when Rome, the seat of satan, unleashed its fury upon the called of God. At that time, Paul wrote to the Roman Christians: "We are (not I am) more than conquerors through Him That loved us" (Romans 8:37).
God is saying, "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of God's grace." Oh, brethren, beloved of God, let us join the ranks of the seven thousand and be "among" those who corporately stand in effectual prayer, and thereby produce the Lord's intended results in the ages.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 16 - "For Ever, O Lord, Thy Word Is Settled in Heaven")
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