Lawrence DeMetrius

Lyrics

Promise Of Divine Presence
by Lawrence Demetrius

Jesus Christ promised to be present in the midst of His disciples whenever two or three of them gather in His NAME.

*name Gk #3686 onoma (on-om-ah) which signifies one's identity, authority and character

Jesus Christ said,

For where two or three are gathered in My NAME, there I am in the midst of them.
[Mt 18:20]

In this passage, Christ mentions why His disciples are to gather in His NAME and why His presence is invoked when they do. While general socializing has its place among Christian brethren, it is when they intentionally gather in His NAME to bind, loose, and agree in prayer His presence is entreated. He said,

Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: <Why? Because they do so according to His FATHER'S will.> and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. <Why? Because they do so according to His FATHER'S will.>
[Mt 18:18]

Again, I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My FATHER which is in heaven. < Why? Because they do so according to His FATHER'S will.>
[Mt 18:19]

The most important element of prayer is rarely expounded upon or celebrated. It is that the request must be compliant to the HEAVENLY FATHER'S WILL.



This is likely why it is an element of the prayer formula taught by Christ, namely the part where He instructs His disciples to say to Yahweh,

THY kingdom come, THY will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
[Mt. 6:10]

Apostle John reiterates this element writing,

And this is the confidence that we have in HIM, that, if we ask anything according to HIS will, HE heareth us:
And if we know that HE hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we HAVE the petitions that we desired of HIM.
[I Jn 5:14, 15]

Often times, prayers of God's Elect are not compliant to HIS will. Graciously, in strengthening, stablishing, and settling them, Yahweh works in them to will and do according to HIS good pleasure. [Phil. 2:13; I Pet.5:10] As HE intends the best for those who love HIM, THE LORD is most inclined to grant requests that are compliant to HIS will for their lives. It is a divine command that Christian disciples assemble for fellowship. Apostle Paul writes

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
[Heb. 10:24, 25]

As stated by Christ, it only requires two or three Christian disciples to create this fellowship and fulfill this divine command. When it is obeyed, Christ steps into their midst as strongly as He did when entering the room where His disciples were gathered after His resurrection. Per His dialogue with Thomas, Christ decreed a blessing upon all those who believe in His promised presence, even though they do not see Him with their natural vision. He said to doubting Thomas,

Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
[Jn 20:29]
So then, it is clear that Christ anticipates the intentional gathering of His disciples in His name, to loose, bind and pray according to His FATHER'S will. This is what excites and moves Him to be unusually present in their midst when they do. Apostle Paul writes,

Now faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things NOT seen.
[Heb 11:1]

This includes the promised presence of Christ, when two or three of His disciples intentionally gather in His Name to bind, loose, and pray according to His FATHER'S WILL.

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