Matthew 18:20 (NKJV)
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them
Why the emphasis on “I am there”? Isn’t the Spirit of Jesus already resident in the individual believer? Yes, but two is the beginning of the vision of the Body of Christ on earth, its members’ mutual functioning, by way of God’s anointing, to the benefit of both. And a third person? The bond of the Spirit is augmented further.
And Jesus is in their midst! The implications that His presence has on their prayer are immense.
Reviewing the Transfiguration on the Mount (Matthew 17:1-27), Jesus was with Elijah and Moses. Jesus led by example: the original “two or three”, gathered in the Name of the Father. And, oh the glory that shone about!
Now, post-Resurrection, there are wonderful experiences available to followers of Jesus by way of “microprayer”, that is, In a small gathering of two or three. Among these few, the warmth and zeal stemming from fellowshipping with Christ in such a tight-knit group abounds. Once joined in this kind of prayer, the result can be a shockwave speeding to manifestations of God’s goodness and grace.
When it comes down to it, doesn’t “two or three” make more sense than saying “twenty or thirty” when we consider our everyday interactions? Even if we labeled ourselves “congregationalists”, our lifestyle (at least the 99.5 percent of us) would not be congregational.
This realization should make us take heart and inspire. Just think of the opportunities we have in a week’s time to rub shoulders and pray with/for at least one fellow believer, if not yet another at the same time!
This is one case wherein we can think small, in order to witness a much greater effect. That stated, why not then extrapolate to the incredible potential that awaits an entire congregation yielded to such “smallness” of heart?
How beneficial are two or three who pray or prophesy in a congregational context?* 1 Corinthians 14 gives us some insight. The following limits that Paul placed to maintain church order could also be seen from the standpoint of just how much is sufficient to edify those gathered:
1 Corinthians 14:27 (NKJV)
If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn
1 Corinthians 14:29 (NKJV)
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge
1 Corinthians 14:31 (NKJV)
For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
"Where two or three"--sufficient to help a congregation enjoy the presence of the Lord, in spirit and in the truth.
___________
* If the reader is a cessationist, i.e., believes that sign gifts such as tongues and prophecy stopped during the apostolic era, please consider reading down to the last Scripture citation as though you were in that timeframe. I think you can still draw some edifying conclusions from the remainder. As for the present, why not then substitute solo-out loud prayer in our known tongues in place of speaking in tongues and prophecy? Whichever way this post is read, we end up with same Lord-same power and...One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Ephesians 4:5-6 NKJV)
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them
Why the emphasis on “I am there”? Isn’t the Spirit of Jesus already resident in the individual believer? Yes, but two is the beginning of the vision of the Body of Christ on earth, its members’ mutual functioning, by way of God’s anointing, to the benefit of both. And a third person? The bond of the Spirit is augmented further.
And Jesus is in their midst! The implications that His presence has on their prayer are immense.
Reviewing the Transfiguration on the Mount (Matthew 17:1-27), Jesus was with Elijah and Moses. Jesus led by example: the original “two or three”, gathered in the Name of the Father. And, oh the glory that shone about!
Now, post-Resurrection, there are wonderful experiences available to followers of Jesus by way of “microprayer”, that is, In a small gathering of two or three. Among these few, the warmth and zeal stemming from fellowshipping with Christ in such a tight-knit group abounds. Once joined in this kind of prayer, the result can be a shockwave speeding to manifestations of God’s goodness and grace.
When it comes down to it, doesn’t “two or three” make more sense than saying “twenty or thirty” when we consider our everyday interactions? Even if we labeled ourselves “congregationalists”, our lifestyle (at least the 99.5 percent of us) would not be congregational.
This realization should make us take heart and inspire. Just think of the opportunities we have in a week’s time to rub shoulders and pray with/for at least one fellow believer, if not yet another at the same time!
This is one case wherein we can think small, in order to witness a much greater effect. That stated, why not then extrapolate to the incredible potential that awaits an entire congregation yielded to such “smallness” of heart?
How beneficial are two or three who pray or prophesy in a congregational context?* 1 Corinthians 14 gives us some insight. The following limits that Paul placed to maintain church order could also be seen from the standpoint of just how much is sufficient to edify those gathered:
1 Corinthians 14:27 (NKJV)
If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn
1 Corinthians 14:29 (NKJV)
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge
1 Corinthians 14:31 (NKJV)
For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
"Where two or three"--sufficient to help a congregation enjoy the presence of the Lord, in spirit and in the truth.
___________
* If the reader is a cessationist, i.e., believes that sign gifts such as tongues and prophecy stopped during the apostolic era, please consider reading down to the last Scripture citation as though you were in that timeframe. I think you can still draw some edifying conclusions from the remainder. As for the present, why not then substitute solo-out loud prayer in our known tongues in place of speaking in tongues and prophecy? Whichever way this post is read, we end up with same Lord-same power and...One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Ephesians 4:5-6 NKJV)
