The Power of Agreement: God's Secret to Your Successful Relationships with Friends, Family, and at Work

By Ron Phillips, DMin and Ronnie Phillips

When we work together in meaningful relationships and friendships, God’s power works through us to bring His Kingdom to earth.

Jesus came to bring reconciliation. In the Sermon on the Mount, he declares that our offerings will not bring a harvest until we “reconcile with our brothers.” The word he often uses to describe our relationships is agreement--in Greek, sumphoneo. It is the word we get the English “symphony” from. Every instrument in an orchestra is different but when they are led by a capable conductor the music is miraculous. This is the kind of harmony that is sweet to the ears of God. This kind of relationship makes miracles possible. God loves this kind of unity!



The Power of Agreement shows you how to have this kind of unity in all of your relationships. The kind God desires for each of us. The kind He uses to change our lives so that we have a lasting impact in the lives of people around us. The truth is, we need each other. And if we want to change the world. If we want God’s will to truly be done on earth, we need to know how to come into agreement with people and build healthy, strong relationships.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charisma House
• Release date: May 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781621365433

Book preview

There has never been a more critical time for individual Christians and the body of Christ to understand the necessity of agreement. The Greek word agree means to sound or say the same thing. We derive our word symphony from the Greek word. The adversary has yet to see God’s end-time army united as one. It is for this reason that Dr. Ron Phillips and his son Ronnie Phillips Jr. have put their minds together to present to you this book, The Power of Agreement. Don’t just read this book; put it into practice and watch the level of your spiritual authority grow.

—PERRY STONE JR.

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, VOICE OF EVANGELISM HOST, MANNA-FEST TV PROGRAM

We don’t just need God—we need to be in agreement with Him. This may seem so obvious that it shouldn’t even be necessary to point out, but the facts tell us a different story. Plans are unrealized, hopes and dreams are unfulfilled, and purposes are frustrated because believers fall short of achieving agreement with God. But this is only half of the problem.

The other part of the equation is that we need to be in agreement with one another. And in our fast-paced, tech-savvy, me-centered culture, agreement with those around us can be difficult to accomplish.

In their book The Power of Agreement, the father-and-son team of Ron Phillips and Ronnie Phillips Jr. addresses these concerns with honesty and clarity. They present the concepts of agreement with God and others concisely and persuasively as a fundamental key to experiencing a life of maximum effectiveness and influence.

—ROD PARSLEY

PASTOR, WORLD HARVEST CHURCH

HOST, BREAKTHROUGH

NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, CULTURALLY

INCORRECT

The Power of Agreement is a book that will bless you and make your life richer. Being in agreement with God and His Word, families and friends, your church and leaders, will help your life to be more satisfying and blessed. I salute Pastors Ron and Ron Jr. for their efforts to help the body of Christ.

—DODIE OSTEEN

COFOUNDER, LAKEWOOD CHURCH

HOUSTON, TEXAS

In 2012 Ronnie Phillips Jr. heard a word from the Lord that ended up saving the life of his father, Dr. Ron Phillips. Walking in the power of agreement is necessary to hearing the voice of the Lord and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and it is evident that the Phillips family not only teaches on this principle but also lives by these principles as a family and a ministry. Agreement is the bridge to the supernatural!

—RABBI CURT LANDRY

CURT LANDRY MINISTRIES

As I read through Dr. Ron Phillips and Ronnie Phillips Jr.’s book, The Power of Agreement, I realized they speak about one of the most necessary eternal truths in the world—the power of agreement for yourself and your family!

This book fully teaches how to destroy the satanic weapon of disagreement that works against you! The Phillips’s journey through trials vs. triumphs, challenges vs. victory, loss vs. gain, separation vs. unity, and disagreement vs. agreement will teach you how to cause Satan’s number one weapon to never prosper against you! This is a book that I will use for myself.

—WALTER HALLAM

PRESIDENT AND SENIOR PASTOR

ABUNDANT LIFE CHRISTIAN CENTER OF LAMARQUE INC.

ABUNDANT LIFE CHRISTIAN CENTER—ALICE

CHAMPIONS LIFE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF DALLAS INC.

Most CHARISMA HOUSE BOOK GROUP products are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchase for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, and educational needs. For details, write Charisma House Book Group, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, or telephone [phone].

THE POWER OF AGREEMENT by Ron Phillips and Ronnie Phillips Jr.

Published by Charisma House

Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group

600 Rinehart Road

Lake Mary, Florida 32746

www.charismahouse.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NAS are from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NJB are from The New Jerusalem Bible. Copyright © 1985 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.

Copyright © 2014 by Ron Phillips and Ronnie Phillips Jr.

All rights reserved

Cover design by Justin Evans

Design Director: Bill Johnson

Visit the author’s website at www.abbashouse.com.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

An application to register this book for cataloging has been submitted to the Library of Congress.

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-62136-542-6

E-book ISBN: 978-1-62136-543-3

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers and Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication.

In dedication to Clay and Susie Simmons,

who lost a son but found grace in the

midst of tragedy. Agreement is unity

despite what happens to you. I believe

they have discovered the power of

agreement.

CONTENTS

Prologue: In Remembrance of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Acknowledgments

Foreword by Jentezen Franklin

SECTION ONE : BEGINNING THE JOURNEY TO AGREEMENT

Chapter 1:

A Life in Disagreement by Ronnie Phillips Jr.

Chapter 2:

The Emptiness We Share by Ronnie Phillips Jr.

Chapter 3:

The Miracle of Agreement by Ron Phillips

SECTION TWO: AGREEMENT WITH GOD

Chapter 4:

The Quest for Agreement With God by Ron Phillips

Chapter 5:

Benefits to Living in Agreement With God by Ron Phillips

Chapter 6:

Hindrances to Living in Agreement With God by Ron Phillips

Chapter 7:

First Steps With God by Ron Phillips

Chapter 8:

Suffering and Waiting: Two Seasons of Life That Move You Closer to God by Ron Phillips

SECTION THREE: AGREEMENT WITH OTHERS

Chapter 9:

Agreement Starts in Your Home by Ron Phillips and Ronnie Phillips Jr.

Chapter 10:

Beyond You and Yours by Ronnie Phillips Jr.

Chapter 11:

What Keeps Us From Walking in Agreement with Others? by Ronnie Phillips Jr.

Chapter 12:

The Hidden Power of Submission by Ronnie Phillips Jr.

Chapter 13:

Dynamic Connections: The Jesus Model by Ronnie Phillips Jr.

Chapter 14:

Genuine Agreement by Ronnie Phillips Jr.

Chapter 15:

Agreement in the Family of God by Ronnie Phillips Jr.

Epilogue: Boundaries, Not Walls

Notes

PROLOGUE

In Remembrance of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

DIETRICH BONHOEFFER DIED in his late thirties at the hand of Hitler’s Nazi regime. It was just days before the liberation of Europe from Nazi tyranny. Bonhoeffer was truly a martyr for Christ and for the true church. Bonhoeffer had safe refuge in America yet in answer to his own convictions returned to his beloved Germany for the sake of the church. Bonhoeffer’s classic, The Cost of Discipleship, does not mince words or play games with the matter of the church and the church’s life. Who can forget his true definition of the call to discipleship? When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.¹

Beyond this courageous conviction there was something more that summoned this man to martyrdom. Second only to Christ was Bonhoeffer’s deep love for and desire to preserve a remnant of the true church in Germany. The state church had exchanged the cross for the swastika and politically correct accommodation to the wicked regime of Hitler.

The hope for Germany during those dark days was the true fellowship of the confessing church. Eric Metaxas tracks that struggle in his award-winning biography called Bonhoeffer.²

Bonhoeffer led an underground seminary to train ministers for a post-war, post-Hitler, post-Nazi church! A brief chronicle of this experience is found in his book, Life Together.

In this book he sets forth a model of the true unity, agreement, and fellowship of the church as lived out in that seminary setting.³

Bonhoeffer’s hope for the war-torn Germany was the true church. That is also my hope for America and our Western civilization. National Socialism is the government elite taking over everything and squashing human freedom and initiative. This includes the church. American patriots died that the church in the West might be free, unencumbered by the ruthless assaults of a secular, power-hungry political class.

The German church compromised and divided, following Hitler to ruin, with the exception of Bonhoeffer’s students. What is best in the German church today is his legacy.

The American church is in trouble, losing her distinctive place and falling into a Christless, crossless culture!

I, as Bonhoeffer did, rest my hope in Christ and His church. For true renewal there must be a rediscovery and recovery of true togetherness with Jesus Christ and one another. This unity releases the potential of supernatural transformation. St. Paul’s ideal of a return of God’s power and glory rested upon his abiding faith that the church Jesus built will survive and thrive.

I therefore dedicate this book to Dietrich Bonhoeffer and all who love the ecclesia! May we all learn the joy of living life in agreement.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

—EPHESIANS 3:20–21

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

WE WANT TO thank the splendid staff and membership of Abba’s House for all of their support. Especially we want to thank Reverend Denise Craig, Reverend Angie McGregor, and Reverend Bill Marion for their support. Also, we want to thank Andrea Ridge for all typing efforts. Finally, we would like to honor the memory of Dr. John Osteen and the model he left in his wife and children for living out the supernatural power of agreement.

FOREWORD

AS A FELLOW pastor I have seen the unfortunate devastation that division has caused countless individuals and families. This is why I am so excited to endorse The Power of Agreement by Ron Phillips and Ronnie Phillips Jr. as a book that will help you experience God’s best by living in agreement with God and with others. Get your highlighter ready as you learn these life-changing truths.

—JENTEZEN FRANKLIN

SENIOR PASTOR, FREE CHAPEL

AUTHOR, NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER FASTING

SECTION ONE

BEGINNING THE JOURNEY

TO AGREEMENT

Relationship is not a project, it is a grace.

¹

—THOMAS MOORE, FROM SOUL MATES

ONLY WHEN OUR relationship with God moves beyond casual to intimate may we truly discover who we are. Only when we understand what Plato meant when he said, Know thyself, can we begin to connect with others in meaningful and fruitful ways.

In this book we will move from knowing God to knowing others, and then to making the right connections with people that bring supernatural blessing and good success into our lives. Here in this first section, Reverend Ronnie Phillips Jr. tears open his heart and unpacks his journey back to Jesus, back to his family, back to serving the true church, and back to his real identity. Prepare to be challenged and transformed. Everyone who has ever been hurt by a church, a trusted friend, or a leader will resonate with the truth God reveals in this book.

Section two unfolds the key to every relationship and intimacy. Intimacy begins with one’s connection with God. Finally, in section three we will translate all of this truth to our home and to the various places we live our lives.

Both Ronnie and I had crisis experiences with the Holy Spirit that changed us and have deepened our lifelong relationship. The unrelenting pull of the Holy Spirit has given us both a deeper love for people, and together we are becoming true shepherds who value relationships with others over our own personal means and agenda. Together we have fashioned this entire book.

I am blessed that through all Ronnie’s ups and downs we remained very close. Also, his respect and love for his mother never waned. She prayed for Ronnie, and a friend of hers saw Ronnie in a vision before we knew his gender!

Ronnie has a peculiar tremble that comes upon him when moved by the Spirit. He trembles in God’s presence. As God has shaken him and me, we believe what follows can release the miracle promises of agreement found in Scripture.

In 1989, as a Southern Baptist pastor, my life was interrupted, shattered, and put back together by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This experience changed me, challenged me, and caused me to help people get free of the enemy and powerfully connected to others in the church. This whole story is given in my book Everyone’s Guide to Demons and Spiritual Warfare.

Twenty-three years later I went in for a stress test and discovered I was within three days of death with a complete arterial blockage. Shortly before my life-saving surgery, my pastor and son, Reverend Ronnie Phillips Jr., laid hands on me and prayed for me. Only a month before he had been named my successor by our board. Now, with our church going through the recession and many pressures, I seemed to be down for the count.

Daddy, he said, what do you want me to do?

I said, I have thirty-two years of equity. Stand in that favor and lead the church.

Not only did he lead, he set the church on a new course of anointing and growth.

Ronnie’s presence at my side is a miracle of God’s restoration and the unrelenting power of authentic relationships. See, a few years before he had lost touch with God and the church, but not with me. God called him back not a moment too soon.

Journey with us into a supernatural season of restored relationships. Let’s begin with Ronnie Jr.’s comeback.

—RON PHILLIPS

Chapter 1

A LIFE IN DISAGREEMENT

By Ronnie Phillips Jr.

IT WAS A warm spring afternoon in June of 2005. I was just finishing up with my weekly duties at a local insurance company where I had worked for seven years. Once a week my friends and I would meet at a local bar, have a few drinks (some weeks more than others), and then call it a night. We would use any football, basketball, or baseball game as an excuse to drink and celebrate. This miserable existence is what most people experience from week to week. They work in jobs they aren’t passionate about and hope to find joy in some drinks, entertainment, and laughs. Many times the people we surround ourselves with aren’t encouraging us to grow and become something more than we ever imagined. These friends choose to accept our camouflaged smiles and pretend bliss, and in exchange we accept their illusion as well. This was my life for many years.

I was married at a young age, and I felt somewhat successful climbing a corporate latter. Everything on the outside seemed great, like I had surpassed all the opinions of man, but something was missing deep inside. My marriage was in disarray. My job had plateaued. My relationships with my Father and God’s people were in shambles. I had spent the last five years mad at God, mad at church people, and mad at myself. I had felt a passion to help people and to serve others since I was a little boy, but I felt extremely inadequate due to many failures and broken dreams.

As evening approached, I felt the Holy Spirit tugging at me as I drove past Abba’s House, where our people were building the church my father had dreamed of and the foundation was being poured. The Holy Spirit spoke to my spirit and said, There lies your destiny. You are needed there now.

This was very strange to me as I hadn’t been praying, studying, or attending church consistently, which I thought was the only way God would speak to man. Forgive me; I was raised Baptist. I had long given up on the dream of pastoring, and I was far too bitter at the church to represent or serve the church. This inner voice or impression grew louder and more real