Making Agreements
Whatever we make agreement with, makes us!
Acts 12:20-23 (NLT)
Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!” Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.
Luke 19: 1-10 (NLT)
Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man[a] came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Proverbs 23:7 (NASB)
For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
1. Practice dwelling on God’s power and truths instead of doubts and unbelief
Romans 4:19 (Msg)
Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, "It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said.
Psalm 94:19 (NLT)
When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
Monitor in our thoughts what we have made agreements with, such as fear and doubt, and exchange them with the promises of God
Hebrews 3:12 (CEV)
My friends, watch out! Don't let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God.
2. Exercise proactive faith towards God’s promises by preparing for their arrival
James 2:14, 17 (NLT)
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?… So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
Act on the truth convictions that we have made an agreement with
3. Make agreements by praying through the impressions that God whispers and deposits into our spirit
James 2:19 (NIV)
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
1 Tim. 2:1
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
Job 16:20 (NIV)
My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;
Acts 12:5-7 (NLT)
But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.