Most believers in Christ are aware of the amazing promises related to prayer that our Lord has given to us in his Word. However, at the same time as we know them to be true, we have little idea just how very much has been placed within our grasp. Perhaps a story would make the point.

In 1986 a jeweller by the name of Roy Whetstine went to a gem show in Tucson, Arizona. His two sons had each given him $5.00 hoping their dad might find them something for their rock collections at home. On a whim, Whetstine went into an area in which amateur dealers were selling their wares.

He saw a display box with attractive stones marked $15.00 each. Inside the box was an egg-shaped brown/black stone about the size of a small potato. Whetstine picked up the stone, examined it and said, "You want $15.00 for this?"

Immediately the dealer cut the price to $10.00.

Whetstine went home with his purchase and had the stone appraised. The brown/black rock was in fact a 1,905 carat Star Sapphire worth $2.28 million US (in 1984 dollars).

I suspect the fellow who sold him the stone regretted his failure to appreciate all that he had in his hands!

Move this into the spiritual realm and we discover our path is strewn with precious stones whose value is beyond measure.

We would be hard pressed to find a more powerful promise, based on the unlimited treasures found in the phrase 'anything they ask'. This promise is vast beyond human imagining. We need to take this promise of Christ and claim it for ourselves.

Let's be clear. It is imperative that we pray together. Praying apart in the hidden place was something Jesus practiced in his ministry and asked for us to do. However, praying together is something he requires us to do in order to see the unlimited power of God released, and to open earth to heaven's influence.

There are conditions in this expansive prayer. Most of God's promises work this way. He initiates, but we must respond.

The first condition is that there be a minimum of two believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who have taken the decision to ensure their lives belong completely to the Lordship of their Saviour. This is what it means to pray into the 'name'. The name of Jesus is not just a string of syllables uttered like a magic charm. The name is the character, nature, personality and the presence of God himself.

Within God's character lies the key to God's power. It must be made clear here then that to 'gather in his name' is to do far more than merely meet in a room with some ideas about what might be helpful. Rather, it is to enter into the character of Jesus Christ himself, and to do this together.

Sin issues must be dealt with, confessed and surrendered. Nagging troubles and doubts must be taken to the cross of Christ and left there. Sharing life together around the things of God must take centre stage. Once it is clear that both (or all) believers are 'in Christ' singly, and 'in Christ' together as far as they are aware, the second condition must be met.

They must be agreed!

All must be utterly convinced God wants something done, and this is not merely something a couple of people think would be useful. Jesus' power doesn't flow around what is merely 'nice.' Jesus' presence, power and promises are manifestly present to a mutually submitted gathering of focused believers who make God's glory their only agenda. This is what it means to 'gather in his name.'

Jesus' power is released through profound unity between the pray-ers. Without this kind of agreement, we have no power in our praying together. The best this can do is to kindle the faint hope that perhaps our single prayers might be effective when we say them aloud with someone else in the room.

Our asking and agreeing together must not merely be an asking after some need. Rather our asking must be an urgent appeal to the Lord of the universe that God himself must intervene around an agreed issue for the Lord's glory. It is filled with urgency, a demand that this prayer must be answered? for the name and the reputation of God himself is at stake.

Those who utter this prayer together must be prepared to do anything or sacrifice anything in their power to be a part of the answer - and if it is beyond their resources, to surrender anything that God asks of them to see it done.

This is the prayer of agreement: Mutual submission around the Word of God, in the presence of the Spirit through the name of Christ the Lord.

Without this kind of agreement, the Star Sapphire is merely a $10.00 rock.

There is a profound truth that merits reflection as we pray during the World Week of Prayer. God has ceded his very own glory to us! What happens to God's people then has a direct bearing on God's own reputation. Our corporate walk as believers together reflects upon how the world perceives the power and the glory of God.