Year of Realization - Day 32: There is power in agreement.

“Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We would quote this scripture every service without fail as I was growing up in my father’s church:

““Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

My father was a great believer in the power of agreement, the power of people binding together in prayer with a common purpose, allowing the Holy Spirit to make from many, one.

Now, whereas I understand that the beginning of this passage is referencing that the decision of the church (concerning an altercation of one of the members) would be respected by heaven, we also see that the Lord is acknowledging that He is present when there is agreement of two or three. Additionally, He says that that kind of agreement, brings answers to prayer.

Sadly, a lot of people feel that they need to go it alone; or worse, they prefer to go it alone thinking they don’t need any type of agreement from anybody else. But, the importance of having someone with you is a concept seen throughout the Bible.

The Ecclesiastical writer puts it this way:

“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Think of it, Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs. Not only that, He also had an inner circle on whom He depended for support.

“Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭40‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Sadly, His support group failed Him. However, the whole story of the spreading of the Gospel began with Jesus calling on His disciples to agree with Him by telling others the Good News concerning what He had done!

Looking again at the passage of scripture we considered yesterday we see that—not only is Esther going to prepare herself spiritually with fasting and prayer—she is calling on Mordecai to make sure that all the Jews in Susa will be doing the same. She was going to do something very risky and needed to know that she was backed up by the spiritual agreement of others.

Now, it’s probably not a good idea to tell everybody who will listen what is concerning you. However, as we are facing some very difficult days we should make a practice of being a part of a body of believers, and within that context, have those with whom we can trust our concerns in order to have agreement in prayer. Believe me, it makes a difference!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#yearofrealization