“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).
When two people agree on a matter, that’s half the battle. Once agreement is present, then you can go beyond the limits. Matthew 18:20 is a powerful fact. The literal Greek translation says it this way: “There am I in the midst of them to make good that which they agree on.” Jesus said He’d be there to make good what the two or three are agreeing on.
Two person authority is exceptional, especially in marriage. It’s no wonder that Satan wants to do everything he can to break up that bond. When there are a husband and a wife who has the same name, aim, purpose, thought, and direction, and they both act on the word of God, they’ll have more than their own household on their mind.
They’ll have the world on their mind. They are thinking about protecting their neighborhood. They are thinking about extending that authority beyond the walls of their own beautiful house.
The goal of Satan, however, is to break up your house so that you can’t be effective in reaching out to your community. His purpose is to get you fighting one another in your home so that you won’t even begin to focus on the needs of anyone else. For example, if the special forces of the United States Armed Forces only spent their time in training fighting one another, they wouldn’t be any good for the nations.
The first thing they’d do is pick up their weapons and point them at each other. In the same way, Satan wants you fighting in your house, in your church, and fighting other believers so that you won’t use your authority on him, thereby abandoning the Great Commission to reach the world with the gospel.
It is about time that you wake up to that and tell your spouse, “No, this is the devil instigating this argument, but we are not going to cooperate with him any more. I am forgiving you, and you can forgive me, and lets just go on and extend our authority to our neighborhood.”
But it requires a decision. You must decide today that you are going to put aside anything that would hinder you from walking in God’s best. Decide today that your mission is to do the will of the Father, not to fall for the traps of the enemy.
When you have made up your mind that you are going to walk in the love of God and focus on reaching the lost, there is no stopping you. You will overcome every hurdle that comes your way.
Scripture references: Psalm 143:10; Hebrews 10:7-9
Keith Butler Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).