Vitally Important Prayer Meetings
Matthew 18:18-20
”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.”
The power of the local church is not location, programs, or leadership, although all of these are very important; but its power is in prayer–groups praying together in the name of Christ. But the one condition that is demanded is unity “in my name.” “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” (v. 19). This gathering is for the purpose of praying, or “touching anything that they shall ask...in my name” (vs. 19-20).
This is not an open meeting to discuss what ever we want, then agree to ask God for it. This meeting is a gathering, in the name of Christ (for his purposes, to do his will, to act in His behalf). The meeting is first and foremost, to discern the will of Christ, then in faith, agree on what to ask God to do. Because Christ is very present in such meetings in His Name, then asking for what He wants us to ask for is an act of faith. There is no Scripture example of two or three (or more) agreeing together to ask of God in prayer, in the name of Christ, that did not receive what they had asked for. However, there are instances where prayers of single individuals who prayed alone and did not receive what they asked for. There are many reasons for that described in Scripture, but the emphasis described in this passage is the need for group prayers and church prayer meetings, seeking God’s will in a matter and then in faith asking God for it.
Such a promise that “there am I in the midst of them” illustrates how important praying together is, in the mind of God. Perhaps we have lost the power of prayer because we seem only to pray for the healing of sick or injured people. As one has said, we seem to be more interested in keeping people out of Heaven (that the sick don’t die) than getting people into Heaven (eternally saved). We should also be concerned about discerning God’s will concerning the lost in our families and communities, as well as those unreached people groups around the world. For His command is for us to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19).
We should especially be interested in discerning God’s will concerning His direction for our Church; programs, ministries, outreach and witness. Seeking a permanent pastor should be such a prayer meeting for the purpose of discerning God’s choice and then as an act of faith, trust Christ and call the man and his family to serve Christ with us in Hillsdale Baptist Church. Our Pastor Search Committee is certainly trying to lead us in doing exactly that.
It is totally awesome, to be in the presence of Christ, with the desire to do His Will (in His name) and thus be involved with Him in the binding and loosing of souls. The tense of the language is “shall have been bound, or loosed in Heaven.” It is not our power, but cooperating with Him in the doing of His will concerning binding and loosing of souls..