It’s time to ride together in harmony!

By Tom Shanklin

“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.” Matthew 18:19, KJV.

There is tremendous power in agreement. If we can agree on anything, Jesus said, It shall be done of my Father.

If a group of Christians can just come into harmony, the possibilities are limitless. But all too often, strife and division spoils the work of God and the thwarts the great work that He wants to do through His body. As Jesus said, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:21, KJV.

This message will stir you and encourage you to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit. It will give you some practical keys to overcome offense and to walk in harmony in your home, your business, and in the church. Let this message speak to your  heart today. It’s a very important issue, and one the greatest causes of the short circuiting on the power of God today!

Here’s the teaching notes…

THE POWER OF AGREEMENT

“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 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 18:15-20, KJV.

Main Thought: If you can get a bunch of Christian believers to agree, you will have a mighty force for God. Psalm 133, Acts 2:1-4, The role of unity in revival.

AMP 19 Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.

Not just agree about a specific prayer request; but basically to live in harmony.

Sumophonos—agree together in harmony; make the same sound. Symphony.

Praying together helps us to “tune up” with the conductor.

-Flow of thought in Matthew 18, conversions, humility, don’t offend littles ones, go after the 99, relationships, forgiveness.

Forgiveness is the essence of the Gospel; Un-forgiveness and strife are contrary to the Gospel.

“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” Proverbs 10:12, KJV.

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:21, KJV.

“Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” Luke 6:28, KJV.

Dealing with conflict…

Unity is so important that Jesus gave a prescription to deal with offenses in the church. He said if someone trespasses against you, go to him alone, not gossip to all your friends and cause disunity in the church body. Most of the time, this will correct the problem. The goal here is reconciliation and healing and preserving the unity of the saints.

WE ARE CALLED TO SPEAK THE SAME THING

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10, KJV.

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” Hebrews 10:23, KJV.

Profess—to say the same thing.

“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.” Genesis 11:1-8, KJV.

The power of unity in human beings. How much more in Spirit-filled believers. God had to confuse the language. The devil is a copy cat. He’s working overtime to destroy relationships. How many homes, businesses, and churches are destroyed because people cannot get into harmony, love one another, speak the same thing, and work together for the glory of God

WE NEED TO GUARD OUR TONGUES

James 3….

The problem: we’ve had a move of the Spirit, but disunity came in and destroyed the work of God. We have to discipline our tongues. . . deadly poison.

When we are about to speak evil of our brother, we need to say, “The fruit of the spirit is self control. Thank you Lord, set a guard at my mouth. And then remind each other and help each other to have a sanctified tongue.

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” James 3:13-18, KJV.

“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” Proverbs 13:10, KJV.

GET INTO UNITY, PURSUE PEACE TO RECEIVE GOD’S BLESSING

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 1 Peter 3:7-12, KJV.

11 Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]

CONCLUSION: Let’s pursue peace, speak the same thing, and unite to reach the world!

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