By Thetus Tenney

The Word records in II Samuel 19 and 20 an important moment in David’s life-a time when the king was coming back to his throne in Jerusalem. This occasion should have been a most joyous one for God’s people. However, it was marred by disagreement, broken fellowship, discord, and rebellion. Jealousy had been the bud of rebellion. Seeking preeminence caused rebellion to bloom. Open rebellion brought division and bloodshed. The rebellion ended with the death of David’s son, Absalom, and now it was time to restore the kingdom to David and unity in the nation. But Sheba, a Benjamite, led a new rebellion of men from the ten northern tribes against David and Judah. War erupted anew, and Joab led David’s army against Sheba and surrounded Sheba and his forces in the city of Abel.

A wise woman dared to speak to Joab for peace and faithfulness and brought an end to rebellion in the kingdom. When the people cut off the head of Sheba, the voice of discord, murmuring, and rebellion was silenced.

We need to understand the treachery of the enemy in discord as well as the power of God in agreement. When we do, we can bring peace and joy to the kingdom of God as we prepare for the return of King Jesus. We marvel at the power of the infant church in the pages of the Book of Acts. With little church structure, no written job description, no written doctrinal statements, no well-planned programs, they exploded with growth as they simply preached Jesus, performed miracles, signs, and wonders in His name, baptized converts, and fellowshipped together. To the about 120 original disciples in Acts 1:15 were added three thousand in Acts 2:41. In Acts 4:4, the number of men alone reached five thousand (not counting women and children) and beyond this the count is lost in the words “multitudes” and “multiplied” (Acts 5:14; 6:1).

In the church, many “signs and wonders wrought among the people” (Acts 5:12), and “there came also a multitude … bringing sick folks … and they were healed every one” (Acts 5:16).

What was their secret? In the church existed both prayer and accord:
– “These all continued with one accord in prayer” (Acts 1:14).
– “Continuing daily with one accord” (Acts 2:46).
– “They lifted up their voice to God with one accord” (Acts 4:24).
– “They were all with one accord” (Acts 5:12).
– “And the people with one accord gave heed” (Acts 8:6).

One accord was a predominant trait in the early church.

The word accord comes from two root words which mean “the same mind.” Romans 15:6 gives a beautiful definition of one accord: “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God.” One mind and one mouth are from the same root word and could have simply been translated “one accord.”

Romans 15:6 is a continuation of the thought began in verse 5 which reads: “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus.” So we conclude that to duplicate the early church we must be in one accord with not only God but also each other; not only in doctrine but also in what we say and think. In this manner, we will glorify God.

I Corinthians 1:10 makes an even more emphatic statement: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” There is great power in one accord! If the early church experienced it, why not us?

Power in One Accord

One accord accompanied the mighty outpouring of the Spirit in the upper room in Acts 2.

One accord in Acts 4 is the climate of such a manifestation of God’s power that the place in which they prayed was actually shaken. One accord in Acts 5 is mentioned with the signs, wonders, and healing to all who came. One accord was reason for the growth of the church.

One accord allows God’s power to be manifested in immeasurable proportions! God is able and ready to duplicate His power evidenced in the early church, and even in a greater measure in these latter days. Could it be that our only hindrance is a lack of “one accord”?

An interesting thing emerges in the study of “one accord” in the Book of Acts. Only once after the eighth chapter is “one accord” used in reference to the early church. However, the forces of evil and those motivated by the kingdom of darkness seem to begin uniting in “one accord” against those involved in the spiritual kingdom.

In Acts 7:57, the people spoke loudly and stopped their ears so that they would not hear the words of Stephen, and then they rushed in “one accord” upon him and stoned him to death.

In Acts 12:20-22, the people of Tyre and Sidon came with “one accord” and proclaimed with a loud voice that Herod, who had vexed the church (Acts 12:1), spoke with the voice of a god.

In Acts 18:12, following the founding of the Gentile church in Corinth by Paul, the people came with “one accord” to speak against Paul and to bring him to civil judgment.

In Acts 19:29-32, the people caught two of Paul’s companions and rushed with “one accord” into the theatre and began crying out with great confusion. This happened after the power of God had been greatly manifested in Ephesus and the name of Jesus was magnified (Acts 19:11-17).

Jesus said in Luke 16:8: “The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” The phenomenal growth of the early church recorded in the first five chapters of Acts from about 120 to multitudes in a few days, weeks, and months occurred in a spiritual environment of one accord.

It is interesting to note that the forces of opposition seem to pick up on the “one accord” power manifested in the early church, and the opposing forces use it viciously against the church as recorded in the latter part of the Book of Acts.

There is another interesting observation about the effects of discord. The gospel was to go to the Jews first, so Paul went to the Jews in Antioch, but because of envy the Jews spoke against Paul and rejected his message. As a consequence, the gospel was preached to the Gentiles.In Acts 18:6, the Corinthians opposed themselves discord and Paul turned to the Gentiles with “much people” promised by the Lord.

The Roman Jews, in Acts 28:15-31, could not agree among themselves, so Paul declared that salvation would be sent to the Gentiles, who would hear it. Discord among the Jews seems to be a deciding factor in the movement of the Spirit to the Gentiles.

Agreement-one accord-is a powerful force. It is extremely effective in accomplishment. It is a deciding factor in coming into God’s favor. It is a principle which can be used by the kingdom of light or the kingdom of darkness. But one accord in the kingdom of light will always defeat the kingdom of darkness, regardless.

THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD, MAY 2002, PAGES 13, 14 THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.