Matthew 18:19-20
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.
I´ve heard that this passage is one of the top verses often taken out of context. So I´ve read some articles and it´s still not clear to me. I would be able to accept that these verses are contected with the passage about forgiveness and about what to do when somebody does something wrong, but if it is so, why the words "any thing that they shall ask" are there?
What are your thoughts on this passage and what do you think is the right context of these two verses?
There is more to two people being in the same geographical location and speaking the same words in this passage .
For people can be speaking the same words but their minds and hearts be speaking very different things .
So also can two or more people be in the same location but be very far apart .
I would argue that though we can go boldly into the presence of God and into that most Holy place. There still can be only one who can go in.
It is in these days very hard to have two or more people in such an agreement with each other in mind and spirit (it need not be geographical) and with words you can say in Jesus name .But not in reality .
If we took the tabernacle made with hands as an example .
ALL believers come in by the one door or curtain and in THAT we are one . For they that are joined to the Lord are of one Spirit .
Yet here we see and understand by our natural sight . For it is open to the sun and the moon.
But we are called to be priests and kings unto God and the same pattern of the first curtain is of the same order as the one before us into the Holy place . But before we can enter we must put off the old man or outer garments and put on Christ and the priestly robes as it were and wash our hands and feet before we do so .
Not as in the carnal way of some . But to eb washed by the Word as to our WALK AND OUR WORKS .
For he that shall ascend the hill of the Lord must be of a clean heart(towards God) and clean hands towards man .
If we pass into the holy place .There is no natural light at all . There is though , the light of the 7 branched lamp on the left and the bread on the right as we enter. Speaking of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
In the outer court we walk by sight and may think God serves us in that he provides all of our needs .
In the Holy place we can only and must walk by faith in the true light of the Word of God and the Sprit of God and prayerfully at that as signified by the alter of incense . Here we come to understand we serve God first the people second and ourselves somewhat further back and last .Trusting God to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory .
Now we know that that the next curtain has gone and we can go into the presence of God where we once could not before .Only the high priest once a year .
But now "we come to the blood that speaks of better things than the blood of Abel" etc
Let us not suppose that we come a lone as it were.
For when Jesus taught us to pray he did not say MY father ,.But OUR father.
We needs must develop and appreciate the fact that we are indeed part of a body and that in our prayers it is to the FATHER of us all who are His as well as to and for the sake of others.
It is then THY kingdom come which is the first priority .
When you climb a hill .You see far more than you did before you started climbing.
If your climbing the hill of the Lord then you will by the Holy Spirit begin to see more from Gods perspective than your own.
and will in turn know not what to pray for as you ought but He who knows the deep things of God and the mind of God will in you make intercessions with groanings that cannot be uttered.
Here you pray also according to o what you 'see' as it were and thus pray according to the will of God and in Jesus name .
and here you will find and know as you keep praying that at some point you will know that God hears you .
To pray in Jesus name is to ask with the glory of God in mind and for the kingdom of God to be manifested .Not only in the world but in the lives of all you pray for and by that you pray for them what you would desire in your heart for yourself .
in Christ
gerald