From Pastor Phil...

In Matthew 18, Jesus tells us some dynamic things. In verses 19-20, Jesus tells us that wherever two or three are gathered together, He is in the midst of them. This is a remarkable promise for us today as believers. Jesus promises to be among us. We take heart knowing that this promise is understood and experienced regularly as well. The marks of the church is that the Gospel is properly proclaimed and the Sacraments rightly administered. As we dwell within this reality, Jesus comes to us in Word and Sacrament. When we join together in prayer, with Jesus in our midst, He comes to us and hears us.

As Jesus tells us this, and promises to be with us, He makes a bigger promise. That when we gather together, with Jesus in our midst, Heaven hears our prayer. As Heaven hears our prayers, there is a remarkable promise that gets made… the Father will hear our prayer and not only will our prayer be heard, these things will be done in His name. They will carry the weight of Heaven. As the weight of Heaven is seen things begin to change the world. Jesus makes the radical promise to us that when we come to the Father united, together, our prayers will be heard, and Heaven will answer us.

Finally, as we move up through the passage, the promise of heaven and earth are given to us. As we come together in faith, praying in the name of the Father, the desires and commands of Heaven become seen here on Earth. Jesus tells us whatever is loosed on earth will be loosed in Heaven, and whatever is loosed in Heaven will be loosed on Earth. The joyous reality of this is seen as our cries to the Father result in changes in heaven and on earth. God works for His people as we unite around each other through Jesus Christ empowered by His Holy Spirit.

This is where it becomes significant. When we come together in worship, God is present and He hears our prayers. Jesus is present in Word and Sacrament and we rejoice knowing that this is reality. As we go into the world around us, we go forward as the children of God united with each other in mission, and as we pray together, the Kingdom of Heaven moves to our petitions as God hears our prayers. As we walk in faith, God is present among us, His people, and we rejoice knowing that He hears our prayers.

As we join together this summer, we rejoice knowing that Jesus is here with us. It doesn't matter where you go. You can stay home, you can go far away. Maybe you are going to Mars with Elon Musk. It does not matter. When brothers and sisters in the faith join together in prayer, heaven moves. I would ask you this small request. Pray for Zion daily. Pray that God would bless our teachers and staff. That He would be present in worship. Pray that God would use us to the forwarding of His name. When you join me in these prayers, two faithful children of God have gathered together, in His name, and Heaven hears. It'll be amazing to see God respond.

Pastor Phil