Tuesday, December 5, 2017
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As the Hutchcraft kids were growing up, we had an interesting system of government in our house. I had one big vote, and theoretically, my one could count more than the other. Well, theoretically that is. In reality, that didn't happen too often. One technique our children mastered in our family decision process was very skillful lobbying. For example, the kids (let's say) got wind of the fact that Mom was planning to have casserole for dinner. But they wanted pizza. So they would send our youngest as the sacrificial lamb to ask me about pizza instead. Overruled! Right. Pretty soon, I had two sons in my study asking, with their big sister, of course, managing this campaign behind the scenes down the hall. Again, "Nope! No pizza. Casserole it is." But then they would all three come together, telling me how much all of them wanted pizza. After consulting with Mom, I'll bet you know. We got pizza.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Your Father Listens When the Kids Agree."
To me as a father, there was power in our children asking together. Apparently, God feels the same way.
Our word for today from the Word of God talks about it in Matthew 18:19-20. God gives us an important secret of spiritual power: praying together. Jesus said, "I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in My name, there I am with them." Now, look, I don't know what's different in heaven between one of us asking alone and us asking together, but somehow it does make a difference.
Now, our Heavenly Father, of course, is infinitely greater than any earthly father, but maybe we can learn something about His ways from the times our children come to us in agreement. Look, like I say, I can honestly tell you it did something in my heart. It can affect the outcome. God likes it when His kids come to Him together for something.
Frankly, we Christians do far too little praying together, especially outside of formal prayer meetings. But shouldn't it be a natural way of life for believers, for Christian families, to stop and just go to God together about an issue they care about? We can do it on the phone. We can do it in person. We can text a prayer. We don't need a prayer meeting to do it. We're so private, we're so self-conscious about saying something wrong, but God puts a premium on united prayer. Notice, the Lord's Prayer is "Our Father" not just "my Father." It's "our daily bread" and it's "deliver us from evil."
So what should you be doing when someone else is praying out loud? Sleeping? Planning ahead what you'll say when it's your turn? No, you "agree" with them in your heart. Enter into their requests, "Me too, Lord! I'm believing you for what my sister is asking." Learn the power of prayer triplets, where three believers pray together once a week for three lost people each. And join the growing movement of household prayer meetings where people are coming together in living rooms just to pray for their families and their neighborhood and there schools.
How many people are in a prayer triplet, by the way? Let's do a little Bible math here. You say three? Wrong. Four! Yeah, Jesus promised He's there in the middle with you. He inhabits His children coming to the Father together. So, do it. Come to the Father together. Even get with some folks from another church, another denomination. What? Yes, and begin to come together as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Dad, take the lead to have a praying family, praying together. Don't be afraid to stop in the middle of a conversation about someone's need and say, "Just a second. Let's pray right now." Do it as a married couple, as a family, as a group of Christian employees, as friends. And be prepared to see mountains moved, hearts changed, answers revealed, and lives transformed. Because something special happens in our Father's heart when His kids all agree!