Author Archives: Rev. Dr. David Bissett

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About Rev. Dr. David Bissett

I pastor a church in upstate NY. I'm happily married and the father of seven kids. It's fun, really! Leave me some feedback...

Combined strength in prayer

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Manton Monday — Insights from Puritan Thomas Manton

“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:19-20 esv

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The promises of God’s word are precious, especially those related to prayer. One promise found here in Matthew 18 leads us to believe that there is a greater ‘impact’ (for lack of a better word) when groups of believers pray together. Listen to the commentary of Thomas Manton on this Scripture (written while discussing another verse about praying in private).

“When they shall agree in one public prayer, it seems to have a greater efficacy put upon it — when more are interested in the same prayer — when, with a combined force, they do as it were besiege the God of heaven, and will not let Him go unless He leaves a blessing. Look, as the [civil or legal] petition of a shire and county to an authority is more than a private man’s supplication, so when we meet as a church to pray, as as a family, there is combined strength. And in this sense, that saying of the schoolmen is orthodox enough — viz., that prayer made in the church has a more easy audience with God. Why? Because of the concurrence of many which are met there to worship God.”

[Works, Volume 1, page 8; emphasis added]

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God’s Powerful Word

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MANTON MONDAYS – Insights & quotes from Puritan Thomas Mantonmanton2

God has owned the Word by associating the operation of His grace and powerful Spirit with it… Things of a powerful operation do evidence themselves, as fire by heat, the wind by its noise and strength, salt by its savor, the sun by light and heat, and the like. …Let us see how the case stands with the scripture. It is called (Romans 1:16), “the power of God unto salvation,” and the “preaching of the cross is to them with are being saved the power of God,” (1 Cor. 1:18); and (1 Cor. 2:4) “My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power;” and (1 Thess. 1:5), “Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.” It gives a persuasion of itself by its being the power of God, and the rod of His strength.

[Works of Thomas Manton, Vol. X.446]

Elsewhere, Manton reminds us how even a single verse of the Word of God has brought about the conversion of men — as recorded in Scripture itself, and throughout church history. In Acts 8 we are told of the Ethiopian Official reading the scroll of Isaiah (53:7) and his conversion as Philip explains the text to him. The great theologian Augustine was converted from reading Romans 13:11.

Behold the amazing power of God’s Word!
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