What Is the Powerful Principle of One Accord?
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Have you heard of the powerful principle of one accord? Understanding it and putting it into practice can greatly benefit and enhance our lives individually, and especially as we gather together corporately. What does it mean to be in one accord?
The phrase “one accord” is taken from the Kings James Version of the Bible, and means, “of the same mind or spirit.” The New Kings James Study Bible explains it this way:
“This phrase…is made up of two words that mean, ‘same’ and ‘mind.’ The phrase speaks of people sharing the same mind or thinking like-mindedly. It does not refer to people who all think and feel the same way about everything, but to people who set aside personal feelings and commit themselves to one task…”
And from The New Spirit Filled Life Study Bible:
“The disciples had an intellectual unanimity, an emotional rapport, and volitional agreement in the newly founded church. In each of its occurrences, the phrase shows a harmony leading to action.”
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What Does It Mean to Be of One Accord?
When I think of being in one accord, I think of being on the same page, or being in alignment with the present will of the Lord. As the church gathers together, there should a oneness; a spiritual unity and binding that Satan cannot tear apart. Each time the church doors open, we should be ready to hear from the Lord.
Entering in with our own agenda, and our own purposes “religionizes” our time together, and does not allow the Lord the freedom to move as He pleases. Not that there shouldn’t be some sort of program, or even an order of service, for God is not a God of confusion, but we must be willing to step aside, and let Him move as He pleases.
Many of our services are so devoted to the clock, that they have become robotic, routine, and run of the mill. Should our services be open-ended? No. Should there be a level of spontaneity under the divine auspices of the Spirit of God? Yes. The Holy Ghost has time to move. Do we have time to be moved by Him?
Before we even enter into the house of the Lord, the Enemy is already at work trying to bring frustration, so that by the time we enter into His gates, we are of no use to the Lord. We are told to cast all of our cares upon Him, but if all we can do while in God’s house is focus on our situation, and fail to praise and worship Him from our spirit, we effectively prevent Him from working as He desires; we must not allow our baggage to block the door to His blessing.
Satan would have us all show up to God’s house and focus on our trials rather than our Mediator. Being in one accord greatly confounds the Enemy, and allows us to bask in the freedom the Spirit gives.
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What Are the Benefits of Being of One Accord?
What are the further benefits for God’s people in having the powerful principle of one accord in place? We can find all we need in the book of Acts.
“And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (Acts 1:13-14).
Here we see the stage being set for a mighty move of the Spirit. It says that they all continued. This word in context means that they persevered, and that they were constantly diligent. They remained devoted to what they were there for: to pray and supplicate before the Lord. This action of continuing carries with it the element of waiting. This indicatively means: pray until something happens.
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).
As they all prayed and waited in one accord, Luke also gives us great insight as to how they went into prayer and how they remained throughout.
“And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen” (Luke 24:51-53).
They were able to maintain an attitude of great joy and praise. Why? It was because they had just seen the Lord ascend into heaven after being told that He would always be with them (Matthew 28:20). Don’t we also serve the same God who is still on the throne and has promised us that He will never leave us, nor forsake us? Imagine what God could do in and through us, if we all approached Him corporately, fully believing this.
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Powerful Results
When next we meet this group and the many others who had joined them, it’s not quite clear whether they are still in the temple or in an upper room. But we find them ten days later, still in one accord. And then it happened—a mighty outpouring of His Spirit that gave birth to the Church!
What can we say? Simply that one accord prayer brings powerful results. There is no doubt that praying in one accord led to a greater joy, a greater peace, and even a greater faith.
What was the effect of the powerful one accord principle on those outside of the newly founded Church? Continuing in Acts, we read:
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the LORD added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:42, 46-47).
Look at what happened when they remained in one accord, not just in God’s house, but outside also. As they carried out their evangelical ministry, God gave them favor as they continued to praise the Lord. There was unity, there was fresh joy and the power of the Spirit was still radiant within them.
Because of this, the most important thing happened: the Lord added to the church daily—people were being saved! Imagine if we were all in one accord as they were! I know the conditions are different; but Jesus remains the same. While we are here, we should be making a difference in the hearts of people. That can only be done by giving them Jesus.
Because today’s church is so splintered and fractured, we have in many respects, lost sight of our true purpose in this world. From Acts:
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18).
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Of One Heart and Soul
Here we see Jesus’ words to the soon to be apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. Isn’t this a powerful expansion of the Lord’s Great Commission to the Church? Being in one accord should bring us back in line corporately, to God’s will for us evangelically.
“And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, LORD, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is” (Acts 4:23-24).
Once again, we are face to face with the powerful results of united praise and prayer. After being let out of prison and threatened not to speak in the name of Jesus again, they immediately go to their own company. These were people of like passion and like faith. They all then lift up their voices to the Lord. The results of this powerful and passionate praise and prayer break was multi-layered:
“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all” (Acts 4:31-33).
They were all of one heart and one soul; if that isn’t being in one accord, then nothing is.
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Living Out This Power
Renewed boldness, great power and great grace – qualities every child of God should desire. The powerful principle of one accord was definitely in effect on that day!
As Christians, we should strive to be the people of one accord and not allow petty differences to come between us. Let us also not be ignorant of Satan’s tactics as he seeks to bring a halt to our praise.
“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6).
Do you want to experience the matchless power and grace of the Lord in your life? Spread the message and practice the powerful principle of one accord and watch the Lord transform His Church into the organism He intends for it to be.
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