By Tom Shanklin

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 18:18-20, KJV).

God, you, and one other person is a power-partnership, capable of world-changing results. By learning and cooperating with this principle, we can obtain miraculous results for God. By rejecting this principle, we consign ourselves to small insignificant progress in the the quest for success in the Christian life.

Whether it is the matter of the family, the church, business, government, or on the job, we must unite with people to have power-filled results. Jesus said, “If you shall agree. . . it shall be done.”

No wonder the enemy of our souls fights with great ferociousness against relationships. If we learn to unite, he will be quickly defeated. But if we fall into strife and bickering, our strength will quickly be abated.

God uses partnerships for his glory. Divine connections are his means of producing power in the earth. Together we have much power and potential. Alone, we have little. Even the strongest individuals with the greatest ideas must find others to connect with in their quest for success.

This applies equally to the spiritual as well as to the natural realms—

• In the business world,
• In the arena of sports,
• In government,
• In family, and
• In the church.

In the 2004 NBA finals, we saw the power of partnership at work as the Detroit Pistons took on the mighty LA Lakers.

The Lakers were called “The Greatest Team Ever,” with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Karl Malone. No one gave the Pistons a chance to overcome this great lineup of stars. Talent-wise, the Lakers far outstripped the Pistons. In fact, many thought that the Lakers would sweep the series.

But then the power of partnership took over. The Pistons played like a team. No one cared who got the credit. They just wanted to WIN. And win they did. They won the best of seven series 4-1, winning by an average of 13 points per game. David slew Goliath. And the great dynasty of Shaq, Kobe, and Coach Phil Jackson was broken up that year.

Praise God for partnership! It has great potential.

In the Word of God, we see partnerships being used for both good and evil. The tower of Babel was to be a tribute to the united effort of a community of people working together.

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. (Genesis 11:6, KJV).

The Lord saw the unity of the people and they were all speaking the same thing, and He knew that they could accomplish anything that they set their minds to do. . . even to build a tower into heaven. In order to stop this prodigious project, the Lord had to confound their languages, so that they could not understand one another.

It’s interesting that even today, “misunderstanding” keeps us from accomplishing great things.

For the men of Shinar, building the tower was all about making a name for themselves, rather than to bring glory of God. But think about how much more powerful the results would be if we in the body of Christ would unite for the greatest cause in the universe—reaching this world for the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE BLESSINGS OF RELATIONSHIPS

Did you ever think about it? Almost every blessing that comes into our lives comes as the result of a relationship. It may be through our employer, clients, our spouse or children, through a minister, a doctor, a teacher, or someone of significant influence in our lives, but God uses people to bless our lives.

It shouldn’t be surprising then, that Satan wars so ferociously against relationships. With the divorce rate up above 50 percent in the United States, it’s evident that he’s finding success in his quest to kill, steal and destroy relationships. In our churches, on the job, in the business world, too, relationships continue to be one of our greatest struggles.

Maintaining relationships takes work, prayer and commitment. Susan and I have learned through 36 years of marriage that having a successful relationship takes commitment. A strong commitment enables our relationships to thrive and bring blessing into our lives. When the storms of life come, you better know you have a commitment. This goes both for your relationship with the Lord Himself and with the people who you are close to in your life.

The Apostle Paul tells us that the Body of Christ, is edified and built up by “that which every joint supplies according to the effectual working of every part.” In other words, God supernaturally supplies things which we need through “joints” (connecting points or relationships) in the body of Christ.

If we in the church are ever going to win this world for Jesus Christ, we are going to have to learn to work together. In fact, Jesus said that the world would know that the Father has sent Him because we have love one toward another. Love is the supernatural evidence of the new birth. It demonstrates that God is in our lives. The ability to love unselfishly and with a pure heart is a gift from God.

Pride and selfishness are the great enemies of relationships. The scriptures tell us that “only by pride comes contention.” And the reason many marriages don’t work is (plain and simple) selfishness. Everyone wants it their own way.

The Bible says, “Look not every man on his own things only, but also on the things of others.” In other words, “think about the other guy.” In the Christian life, we are truly successful when we take up our cross and follow Jesus. . . following His example of giving of ourselves for the other person’s benefit.

All too often pride comes in and says, “I’m getting the short end of the stick.” But we can train ourselves to take up the mind of Christ and to walk in humility, patience and forgiveness.

This does not mean that we are to be everyone’s door mat, nor are we to go through life never stating an opinion, never making waves. No, we see through Jesus’ example that sometimes love involves confronting problems and speaking the truth in love. But Paul says that we are to endeavor (be eager and strive earnestly, Amplified version) to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. In other words, work at it. We must make it our great quest. Often I think about how hard people labor for temporal things, such as a sports championship, or business success or some personal achievement. Are we really willing to strive earnestly in the same way to have successful and blessed relationships? It does take work, and a good measure of the love of God.

When we pay the price to maintain successful relationships, however, we can enjoy the fruits of successful relationships and the joy that comes with walking in the supernatural love of God. This also will enable us to function more successfully on the job, in the home, and in the church.

Jesus paid the price to have successful relationships. He died that we might be restored to fellowship with the Father and enjoy the fruits of eternal life. He laid down His life for the joy that was set before Him. . . seeing us coming into restored fellowship and joy in the kingdom of God.

I believe that it will be this same Christ-like attitude that will enable His church, the body of Christ, to function in our true anointing in these last days. As we really get serious about laying our lives down for others, taking up our cross and following Jesus, we will see the greatest revival ever to hit the face of this earth. The resulting camaraderie, unselfish teamwork and synergistic power will become the catalyst to the greatest worldwide harvest of souls in the history of the world. We will see it, because God always finishes what He starts. He started a good work 2,000 years ago, and He will complete it in these last days through you and me.

THE POWER OF “LET US!”

The men of Shinar had said, “Go to, let us build us a city and a tower. . .” and the Word of God tells us that they would have been able to accomplish their goal if the Lord Himself would not have intervened.

Likewise, Nehemiah used those words to encourage His Jewish countrymen to build a wall around the city of Jerusalem.

Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. (Nehemiah 2:17, KJV).

“Let us” are words of leadership and influence. They are words for pastors, coaches, CEOs and family leaders to speak. They are words for Christian’s in the marketplace, who need to bring a godly influence into their place of employment. They are powerful words that define purpose and call for a reaction. The people responded to Nehemiah’s leadership, saying: “Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.” (Nehemiah 2:18, KJV).

If we can just get in agreement, something powerful is going to happen!

To me, a great example of leadership in the body of Christ is William Carry, an impoverished rural pastor from England. Carey was the “Let us!” man of the modern missionary movement.

On May 31, 1792, Carey preached a message to his fellow ministers at Nottingham, England. His vision was for the evangelization of the world. In his message, Carey dramatically proved the criminality of allowing the unsaved of this world to go to their grave and into a Christ-less eternity without hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He said that the church must immediately take action to promote the Gospel among the heathen masses of the world.

Although the sermon had a powerful effect on the listeners, none had the courage or faith to act upon the challenge contained in message. As the meeting was about to break up, Carey turned to his friend and fellow-minister, Andrew Fuller, and cried out  with great emotion, “Is there nothing again going to be done, sir?”

Fuller then throw his weight into the argument and a resolution was passed by the ministers to form the “Baptist Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Heathens.” Four months later 12 men committed themselves as the first members of the society. They contributed the then large amount of 13 British pounds to the cause, which was collected in a snuff box. Thus began the modern missionary movement.

As a result of this movement which began in Northwestern Europe, millions have come into the kingdom of God throughout the earth. Christianity, which in the eighteenth century was largely a western religion, has spread throughout the globe. When Carey preached his sermon in 1792, only 7 of every 1000 Protestants in the world were Asian or African, but by 1992, just 200 years later, 580 of every 1000 Protestant Christians were Asian or African. Now, that’s results!

You see, someone has to lead, and someone needs to follow. And no one needs to be concerned about who gets the credit. Then, we can operate in the power of agreement and see great results for the Lord in this earth.

THE BATTLE FOR RELATIONSHIPS

In Ephesians 4 in the Amplified Bible, we are exhorted to “Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of (produced by) the Spirit in the binding power of peace.”

The words “be eager and strive earnestly” remind me of the tremendous effort which people are willing to expend in order to win a championship, climb a mountain or sustain a successful business. The incredible potential of the human spirit is seen every day in the various endeavors of life, leading to tremendous success of many fronts.

The question I have is this. Are we likewise willing to expend this kind of energy to have successful relationships? We live in a society of throw-away children and throw-away relationships. Too often, when the going gets tough, the tough get going—down the road.

The reason that we must stive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace is that Satan is working overtime to destroy marriages and other relationships which are so important to our well being.

I recently read a newsletter from a minister whose relationship was restored with his wife after 14 years of separation and divorce. I think I was reading the words of the happiest man alive. He was so excited about what God had done in his life, restoring his bride and his family.

The devil had used several strategies to wreck havoc in this man’s marriage. He even used his zeal for God and the ministry against him. As he extended himself to reach the world, he lost touch with the emotional needs of his wife. Then, as she began to withdraw, the devil even used the words of well-meaning but deceived Christians, who told him that she had abandoned her faith and her marriage and that he should take a hard line with her.

Then, the resulting estrangement opened the door for deception in her life. She came under the influence of a false prophet, who told that if she ever returned to her husband, she would die. The false prophet had supernatural (but demonic) revelations, which made his lies seem that much more believable.

But thank God, through the mighty hand of God, deliverance came, and this minister was able to see the error of his way, to repent. As he began to pray for his wife, she was first restored to fellowship with her parents and then to her husband. Glory to God!

We understand that witches are praying and fasting against the marriages of leaders in the Christian church. . . releasing demonic attack against us. . . that our marriages might fall apart and bring a reproach to the Gospel. No doubt they are also praying for division in our churches and amongst the relationships between various ministers of the Gospel. No wonder we must “be eager and strive earnestly.” It’s a battle!

The Bible says that we fight not against flesh and blood,  but against principalities and powers, but Satan does everything he can to get our eyes off of him as the culprit and on to our neighbor. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor.” The Apostle Paul said, “Love your wives, as Christ loved the church.” But Satan does everything he can to work against us, because he knows becaue of our relationship with Almighty God, he can’t defeat us. We have the name of Jesus, the name above every name. His only hope is to get us fighting with one another.

THE ORCHESTRA BEGAN TO PLAY

An  orchestra makes beautiful music by coming into harmony. By striving earnestly contending, a great variety of sounds and diverse instruments because as one. The results are awesome and powerful.

Such harmony in our relationships has the power to bring heaven into earth, in our homes, in our churches, even in the business world. If we could just learn to harmonize, we could literally shake the world.

In the word of God, there were times when God’s people came together in oneness, providing a catalyst for tremendous spiritual power. One such time was during the dedication of Solomon’s temple. In 2 Chronicles, we read:

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: Also the Levies which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. (2 Chronicles 5:11-14, KJV).

Solomon’s temple was filled with a cloud, a visible manifestation of the living God. The atmosphere of heaven came down because the priests and Levies were in one accord. They united to make one sound in praising and thanking the Lord.

The Bible says, “How good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity. It’s like the ointment upon Aaron’s beard. . .” The anointing flows in an atmosphere like that. It allows the supernatural power of God to flow like a river and bring healing, deliverance and restoration.

Similarly, in the early church, we see God manifesting himself in the midst of the unity of His people.

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4, KJV).

As we get in “one accord in one place.” We too will see great manifestations of his power. The disciple’s prayer meeting in the upper room cracked open the heavens for a mighty river of blessings. All of what follows in the book of Acts, thousands coming into the kingdom of God, and mighty signs in the name of Jesus, where all a result of this cataclysmic spiritual event. Hallelujah!

We also see the early church coming together in times of trouble for prayer and mutual comfort and strength. We pick up the story in the 4th chapter of the book of Acts, where the apostles were persecuted for preaching the Gospel and being let go “they returned to their own company.”

Thank God for our “own company.” Thank God for people who are looking out for our interests. . . who care about us. This is what the church of Jesus Christ is to be. . . a community of saints. . . living out the Christian experience in the love of God. . . together.

The people of God then began  to pray together. It says “THEY lifted up THEIR voice together in one accord. They had united prayer. The orchestra began to play. Harmony and melody began to flow. Heaven was touched. Power was released in the earth.

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:29-33, KJV).

What it going to take to break through all the lethargy in the church today? What’s it going to take to see the hearts of men and women changed in this world, families healed and children restored. It’s going to take earthshaking, Holy Ghost prayer, birthed out of harmony and unity produced by the Spirit in the bond of peace. This will bring an avalanche of miracles, and we will see a powerful witness that Jesus is alive, by mighty signs and wonders in the name of Jesus.