by Tom Giesecke M.SD.
Of all the classical music composers, I consider J.S. Bach the master of harmony. I have set myself the goal to learn and perform or record his six sonatas and partitas for unaccompanied violin. These masterpieces stretch the violinist to maximize the counterpoint available to the instrument. They are rich in texture and require diligent practice to learn them. These compositions bring out the harmony of musical notes that make playing them a joy.
Peace as harmony comes to me personally as I play my violin for the Lord. Playing in an orchestra provides the performer and listener a living experience of harmony that is more than just a composition of notes. Each instrumentalist must submit not only to the musical notations but also to the conductor and harmonize with every other musician. This harmony brings peace to one’s soul and spirit.
Such peace as harmony should be present as we pray together as Christians. Jesus said:
Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven (Matthew 18:19).
The Greek word translated “agree” in the above verse is sumphoneo. This word is defined as follows:
“From sum, “together,” and phoneo, “to sound.” Sumphoneo is to sound together, be in accord, be in harmony. The word “symphony” comes from sumphoneo. Metaphorically, the word means to agree together in prayer that is concordant.”(Jack Hayford, Word Wealth, in Spirit Filled Life Bible New King James Version (Nashville, TN), 1991), p. 1941.)
This word sumphoneo is the one word in that verse which has major emphasis in the Greek text. It is in the aorist tense which means “an anticipated fact; actually; indeed; to effectively or successfully bring about; action conceived of as a single whole; a single action.”36 So to experience harmony in prayer is to reach our Father’s ears and obtain His answer to our prayer.
I have experienced this peace of Christ in prayer groups both small and large. As Jesus said in the succeeding verse:
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20).
Our church has Jesus Communities or small home groups wherein we share and pray with one another. We also have large prayer meetings and weekly Man Prayer meetings where dozens of men, occasionally more than 100, pray together. Our Man Prayer meetings may be loud or quiet. Sometimes we sing or someone declares God’s Word with authority as a springboard for agreeing in prayer. The key ingredient to effective prayer is agreement with one another. We need to strive to symphonize with the others in our prayers.
Sonrise member Tom Giesecke grew up in Olympia, WA, where he received Christ at age 15. He graduated from Davidson College, NC, and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. After his medical internship at the National Naval Medical Center Bethesda, MD, he trained and served as a U.S. Navy Flight Surgeon for four years. Following residency training, he served thousands of people as a Board-certified Family Physician for more than thirty-five years. Learning of God’s love motivates Tom to daily search the Scriptures for more. Tom has led Bible studies for many years and enjoys sharing “the word of God, recently publishing a book on the grace of God: Gracious Goodness.
Leave a Reply