Power of Agreement – Pastor Greg Hendricks

“Remember all that the Lord has done for us,” declared Josh Munoz. He cited Deuteronomy 8 where Moses reminded the Israelites to remember God’s leading them through the desert for forty years. The Lord tested them and provided for them. Josh reminded us to remember the Lord and thank Him, for He is worthy. Amen and Amen!

Then Pastor Greg Hendricks emphasized how the Lord was moving in this church, outside the church, in the NFL and in universities. Hallelujah! He stated that this was a gathering around the Word, and when we gather around the Word, the Lord is there. The Bible is the only book that when we read it, the Author is present. What a gift!

The title of the sermon was “The Power of Agreement.” We are free to come into agreement with Christ Jesus everyday. We can say “Yes” to Jesus daily, and we are free to stand for Him in our words and actions; thus you are always on assignment for Jesus. The power of agreement with Jesus puts you in alignment with Him. Pastor Greg read from Mark about the paralyzed man whose four friends carried him to the Lord. These men evaluated the situation, decided the area was too crowded, so they climbed on the roof while carrying their friend. They opened the roof and “lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ’Son, your sins are forgiven.’” Mark 2:4b-5 “Jesus saw their faith, and He was moved by it.

Agreement turns weakness into witness and struggle into strength. The four men were in agreement that their friend needed healing, that Jesus could heal him, and that they could carry him. Pastor Greg posed two pertinent questions for us to ponder. The first one was “Who are you carrying towards Jesus right now?” The second was “When was the last time you let someone carry you?”

Several verses discussed the power of two or more. “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.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV) In the New Testament it says “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (NIV) Also Paul wrote, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.” Romans 15:1 (NIV) We live in community, and when we do, we get to help each other. Agreement is the bridge between brokenness and breakthrough.

Back to the healing of the paralyzed man, some religious leaders “were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ’Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” Mark 2:6 Instead of viewing the healing of the previously paralyzed man with compassion, the teachers of the law were critical of Jesus and were unable to see God’s miracles. 

These leaders were like the ten scouts who surveyed the Promised Land with Caleb and Joshua in Numbers. Ten of them only saw the giants inhabiting the land and did not see or acknowledge the Almighty God that gave them the land, His presence and the power to take the land. And they were similar to David’s critics as he saw huge Goliath; the Israelites shook with fear yet denigrated David the lowly shepherd boy who glorified the Lord. David defeated Goliath because he was in proper alignment with Jehovah Jireh.

Godly agreement lifts up what hell tries to put down. The four faithful friends who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus were in agreement in carrying the man up to the roof, tearing a hole in the roof, and lowering the man to the feet of the Healer. Agreement turns “can’t move” into “watch God move.” Jesus moved because those four friends moved toward Jesus. Why would they go to all that trouble if they did not believe in the “Way, the Truth, and the Life.” 

Secondly, Godly agreement turns resistance into release, and obstacles into openings.

The crowd resisted but that did not stop the four friends. The roof became an opening though it was an obstacle. Hallelujah. Another instance of resistance to release was in Joshua when God told His army to walk around the walls of Jericho for six days. On the seventh day, “When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.” Joshua 6:20 (NIV) The men were in agreement with the Lord, and He honored their obedience. His instructions were irrational to the human mind, but the Mighty God of the Universe had a plan, and the men followed His instructions. 

Another example of Godly agreement turning obstacles into openings was in Micah 2. “The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head.”  Micah 2:13 (NIV) Agreement doesn’t shrink at resistance-it rises with persistence.

Agreement turns resistance into revelation and opposition into opportunity. Pastor Greg admonished us to “get in the Word yourself.” When you are in the Word, you get time with the Holy Spirit. You get to see what He has for you. When you treasure the word in your heart so that you do not sin against the Lord, you do not accept demonic denial. You dig for divine destiny. When Adam and Eve were first in the garden, they were in agreement with the Lord, their Creator. Then satan made a demonic suggestion which they took and rebelled against the Lord. Adam and Eve saw that they were naked and hid from the Lord. Pastor Greg warned us,”Don’t let a demonic season become a demonic cycle.” Let us stay focused on the Lord and read His Word to let our roots grow deeper in His love. 

It is important to let our minds be set on the Lord and His goodness. Two questions Pastor Greg asked were “What barriers in your life get in the way?” The other was “Do you stop at obstacles or press on with faith with others?” 

Pastor Greg’s third point was Godly agreement releases heaven’s power into earth’s problems. In other words, when we are in agreement with the Lord, His Almighty power invades our daily situations. The power does not just remain in the heavens. “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”  2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV) Another verse that indicates heaven’s power was released on to the earth because of Godly agreement is 

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together 

in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent 

wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where 

they were sitting.”  Acts 2:1-2 (NIV)

Agreement is the sound that summons the Spirit. The Spirit shows up, and things happen. Agreement brings the suddenly into the schedule of man. Don’t you love it when because you are in Godly agreement, you see Him in your life, words, actions, relationships, and activities. Finally, agreement pulls tomorrow’s miracle into today’s moment.  I am so grateful when He shows up in my life. I just need to surrender my will to His.

Pastor Greg stated that he wrote these sticky note sayings for us.

“The power of agreement starts with the right alignment. 

The right alignment unlocks the right assignment.

The right assignment attracts heaven’s agreement.

Heaven’s agreement activates kingdom advancement.

Kingdom’s advancement releases supernatural achievement by God.

Because when hearts are synced with Jesus, and faith is linked with family,

walls fall; chains break; miracles move; that’s the power of agreement-

no ego, no envy, no excuses—just unity, just faith, just Jesus!”

May we come in heavenly agreement and be salt and light in this dark world.

Calendar:

10/11-Women’s Walk 9-10

10/12-Pastor’s Appreciation Day

10/12 Harvestfest 12-1pm

10/17-LB potluck, worship, speaker

10/24-Jesus Rally and Midnight Hour 8-midnight

11/24-LB sponsored lunch for FC, FA, FCLA staffs (notice the date change)

Blessings,

Larry and Annette Linthicum