In One Accord
WRITTEN BY KATHRYN GUILD
How often have we let the words “I’ll pray for you” fall from our lips, only to walk away from a conversation and forget to pray for the person to whom we promised intercession?
If we’re being totally honest, this type of occurence probably happens multiple times a day — and even more often within our own Christian circles.
Recently, while reading through Acts chapter one, I was confronted with a very challenging image found in verses 12-14.
Immediately following the final conversation between Jesus and the apostles, when Jesus was lifted into heaven, leaving his ministry to be continued by those left on earth, we are faced with a picture of the first believers trying to navigate the great commission without Jesus.
One of their first decisions was to select a new apostle to join their group and help them in this mission. In Acts 1:12-14 we are shown the means by which the apostles made this weighty decision.
“Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Acts 1:12-14
As humans who live in a world of logic, reason and pressure for time, it would have been very easy for the apostles to do the “logical” thing; Divide and conquer. But that could not be further from what they chose to do.
If we take a closer look, we are faced with an example of how we should respond to difficult decisions and situations in the body of Christ.
“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Acts 1:14
Rather than dividing to do a quick scan of the Holy Land to find the individual with the most credentials to join their mission, the apostles and other believers joined together to pray in one accord.
This act of praying as one serves as a perfect example of what it looks like to fruitfully live and grow in the Body of Christ. Often, however, we forget the power that is found in praying with other believers in unity and opt for empty promises of intercession.
While this may feel more comfortable to pray on our own for our fellow believers, it goes against the way we are told to engage with other Christ Followers — especially in times of hardship.
In Matthew 18:19-20 Jesus gives us an explicit promise about what happens when we join in one accord to pray.
“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:19-20
Christ promises that His Spirit will be present in the prayers and communion of His believers.
Again we are confronted with the importance of community in Ecclesiastes chapter four. In his reflections on life, King Solomon tells us that, “Again I saw something meaningless under the sun; There was a man all alone.”
He goes to explain, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Just as we are weaker when we fight our physical battles alone, we are also at a disadvantage when we choose to fight our spiritual battles on our own.
If we truly want to live together and thrive together, we must come together in one accord; praying in unity.
When we choose to fight our spiritual battles together in prayer, we open the door to all of the power, defense, discernment and peace promised to us through the Holy Spirit. Next time you are faced with the option to comfortably walk away and pray this prayer later, ask the Holy Spirit for the confidence to pray together right then. Stand arm in arm with one another, emboldened by the Holy Spirit and the promises of God.