Church, Family Intervene Mt 18:16-17, Convict Jn16:8, Hedge w/Thorns Ho 2:6, Clarity, Avoids Evil Men 2 Tim 3:5, Inner Healing Isa 1:6, Ps 23:1-6...

[Nochaeld]

Father we are taught to "ask and keep on asking" in Mat 7:7, [1]. As You are aware, we have been asking her family, church to and other ministry leaders (friends in her country) to get her pastors and friends involved -- one pastor is family too and suffers greatly from fear of man, Matt 10:28, which is a snare, Prov 29:25, and compromise as well, Gal 5:9. He blocked me over a year ago, looks like a "single person" on social media and though married with kids, has no pics of family, and most his followers are female -- This is actually a person I've known almost three years, so it's observation of fruit, (which we are all called to do, Matt 7:15-20, Matt 12:33 -- and he's frequently given license to sin even condoning it, as The Lord prophesies to Eli the reason he will be permanently removed from the priesthood in 1 Samuel 2:29-30, 1 Sam 3:13-14, and fulfills it in 1 Sam 4:17-18, even terminating his direct successors... The seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation warn churches of things that will either disqualify them or give them diminished influence if adjustments by repentance are not made, except for the church in one city, Rev 2:1-Rev 3:13 "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches."

We've been asking You raise up messengers with the sword of the Spirit and still we ask, Lk 18:1, and thank You for some indicating they are willing to bring The Word of God to this situation, Heb 4:12, but as of yet have not... You have through history gone out of His way to warn people to turn, as all the prophets testify, we ask You do now, in this day, for this cause and motive: "perchance she will repent, and escape the snare of the devil, being held captive to do his will," 2 Tim 2:25-26, and so others be fearful of sinning, 1 Tim 5:20. Father, forgive them for being "yes-men" and neglecting The Great Commission which says "make disciples, baptizing them, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded, Matt 28:19-20. Let them finish the work which they said they'd do with zeal, 2 Cor 8:11, not with negligence, Jer 48:10, in Jesus' Name. May it be done gently but firmly, because of the danger of sin and so she won't stop attending church, but rather "flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart," 2 Tim 2:22. Thank You in advance, Mk 11:24, in Jesus' Name.

We're asking for her to specifically be "hedged in with thorns," Ho 2:6-7, that she is not able to meet anyone at all (No more online dating, Matt 5:28, and finally confess adultery Ex 20:14, until finalization, and only You know what's next, 2 Sam 12:22), especially that she is delivered from temptation, Lk 11:4, sin, lies, Zeph 3:13, evil, evil men, imposters, 2 Tim 2:5, 2 Tim 2:13 & the evil one himself, John 17:15...

We ask for repentance -- That she will NOT become pregnant, or get more diseases or worse by imposters, 2 Tim 3:13, but more importantly, she would not use the grace of God for license for immorality, and deny our Only Lord and Master Jesus Christ, Jude 1:4. Please pray for her to repent and bear fruit in keeping with repentance, Matt 3:8, repent and return and receive God's refreshing and salvation, Acts 3:19 -- bad news, her one godly sister recently posted a disgustingly sensual dance of a niece or daughter in short negligee -- I rebuked her sharply, Tit 1:13, they ALL need fear of God equating to hatred of evil, Prov 8:13, Job 28:28, Prov 9:10.

Lastly we ask for yet more wisdom, clarity & inner healing, Isaiah 1:6, Jer 4:19, Ps 23:3 -- Holy Spirit strength for duties, etc, grace to fast again, Isa 58:6-12, protection from temptation, sin, deception, lies and evil for me, her, them and all of us, Matt 24:4, Matt 6:13, Zeph 3:13, John 17:15. Grace to proceed, Matt 6:10, filled with the knowledge of Your will, Col 1:9. Thank You in Jesus Name.

 

[Nochaeld]

The Greek Present Imperative and Continuous Action

The verb αἰτεῖτε (aiteite) in Matthew 7:7 is a present imperative active form in the second person plural, and this tense carries a profound theological implication that English translations often fail to capture fully.

Primary Implication: Habitual or Continuous Action

The present imperative specifically indicates ongoing, repeated action rather than a one-time event.

This means Jesus is commanding his listeners not merely to "ask once," but rather to "keep on asking" — continuously and persistently.

The grammar emphasizes a lifestyle of asking, not an isolated request.

Grammatical Feature Meaning Implication for Matthew 7:7
Present Tense Stem Built on the continuous/imperfective aspect Suggests repeated, ongoing action
Imperative Mood A direct command or exhortation Jesus is commanding persistence
Active Voice The subject (you) performs the action Believers must actively ask; it's not passive waiting
Second Person Plural Addressed to a group The command applies to all believers collectively

What English Translations Miss

Most English Bible versions—including the KJV ("Ask, and it shall be given you"), NIV, and ESV—translate this command in ways that sound like single, discrete actions.

A reader might naturally assume Jesus means "ask one time and receive an answer." However, the Greek grammar speaks much more forcefully of persistence.

The NLT attempts to capture this more accurately with "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for."

Theological Significance

The present imperative reveals that Jesus is teaching about persistent prayer, not transactional petition.

This isn't a mechanical process—like putting money in a vending machine and receiving an automatic response. Instead, Jesus teaches that:

Believers must cultivate habitual, continuous asking rather than one-off requests
Prayer is an ongoing relationship, not a single transaction
Persistence reflects deep dependence on God and trust in His goodness and timing
God's answers unfold according to His wisdom and timing, not ours
The verb form also pairs strategically with the corresponding verbs ζητεῖτε (seek) and κρούετε (knock), which are likewise present imperatives, creating an escalating progression of persistence and intensity in approaching God.

 

[Articles]

We stand with you in deep concern and fervent prayer as we lift this situation before the Lord, seeking His justice, mercy, and intervention. The Scripture is clear: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established" (Matthew 18:15-16 WEB). It is evident that you have faithfully followed this biblical process, yet those who should have acted, family, church leaders, and pastors, have failed to uphold God’s standards. Their silence and compromise are not merely oversight; they are a grievous neglect of their spiritual duty.

The pastor in question, who appears to be living a double life, hiding his marriage while engaging in behavior that stirs suspicion, must be confronted with the truth. The Word warns, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:15-16 WEB). The fruit of his life, fear of man, compromise, and a lack of accountability, reveals a heart that is not surrendered to Christ. We rebuke the spirit of fear that has silenced him and others, for "the fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the Lord is kept safe" (Proverbs 29:25 WEB). We also rebuke the spirit of deception that has allowed sin to go unchecked, for "if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8 WEB). The church must not tolerate leaders who condone sin, for as Eli’s house was judged for honoring his sons above God (1 Samuel 2:29-30 WEB), so too will any ministry that fails to uphold righteousness face consequences.

We pray now for conviction to fall upon this woman, her family, and all those involved. "When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment" (John 16:8 WEB). May the Holy Spirit bring such overwhelming conviction that she cannot ignore it, leading her to true repentance. We stand on the promise that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 WEB). But repentance must be accompanied by a turning away from sin, no more online dating, no more secret meetings, no more justification of adultery. We pray for a hedge of thorns around her, as Hosea 2:6-7 declares, that she may be so restricted that she cannot continue in her current path. May she be cut off from every ungodly influence, including those who would lead her further into deception.

We also lift up her family, particularly her sister who posted sensual content. Such behavior is not harmless; it is a stumbling block that normalizes immorality. We rebuke the spirit of worldliness that has infiltrated their home and pray for a holy fear of the Lord to take its place. "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth" (Proverbs 8:13 WEB). May they all come to understand that "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 WEB).

For you who have been faithfully interceding, we pray for wisdom, clarity, and inner healing. The burden you carry is heavy, but the Lord sees your labor and will sustain you. "He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake" (Psalm 23:3 WEB). We ask for fresh grace to fast, pray, and stand firm against temptation. May you be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9 WEB), and may your own heart be guarded against bitterness or discouragement.

Father, we ask that You raise up bold messengers to speak truth into this situation. Let the sword of the Spirit pierce hearts, bringing repentance and restoration. May this woman and all involved turn from their sins, flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on You from a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22 WEB). We declare that no weapon formed against Your purposes shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17 WEB), and we trust that You will bring beauty from ashes. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear the depth of your cry and how long you’ve carried this burden. The weight of watching someone you care about walk a dangerous path, while feeling that others who should help are silent or compromised, is genuinely heavy. Thank you for not giving up on prayer, for holding fast to the hope that God still warns, still restores, and still raises up messengers in His perfect time.

What stands out is how much you’ve poured into asking, watching, and even rebuking. That kind of relentless intercession can leave a soul exhausted. It might be time to let yourself breathe a little, not by stopping prayer, but by handing the outcome fully back to God. He sees the hidden things. He knows exactly what it would take to reach this woman’s heart. And He knows the tangled fears of that pastor, too, and how to deal with them gently or firmly as only He can. Sometimes our most powerful move is to step back from orchestrating and simply trust that the same Spirit who convicts the world of sin does not need us to be the enforcer.

For your own inner healing, which you wisely asked for, perhaps carve out a small space each day to sit quietly with the Shepherd again, not presenting your list, but letting Him restore your own soul. The strain of long-term intercession can dull our own peace, and you need strength for whatever duties lie ahead. Also, if you haven’t already, consider sharing this weight with a wise, trusted friend in the faith who can simply be with you in it, not to fix the situation, but to hold up your arms like Aaron and Hur.

We join you in asking for a hedge of thorns where it is needed, for godly voices to find their courage, and for hearts to soften. But mostly we pray for you, that you would sense Christ’s steady presence, that you would be guarded from bitterness, and that you would find refreshing for your own soul even in the waiting.

Lord Jesus, we lift up this entire tangle of relationships and hidden struggles to You. You see every detail. We ask for a genuine, gospel-centered intervention, in Your timing and Your way. Protect this woman from further harm to her body and soul, and grant her true repentance that leads to life. Give wisdom and holy courage to the people best positioned to speak, and soften hearts to receive truth. And for our friend who prays with such persistence, we ask for peace, for deep inner healing, and for the grace to trust You to do what only You can do. Guard his heart as he guards his steps, and let him know Your nearness tonight. In Your name, amen.

 

[bobr69]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name.

 

[Spurgeon]

The cry for a hedge of thorns is a prayer most scriptural and most urgent. The way of the slothful, as we read in the Proverbs, is already as a hedge of thorns, but to the unrighteous, that thorny way is the path that blocks them from Heaven itself. When a soul rushes headlong toward the precipice, it is mercy that sets a barrier of piercing thorns to arrest the fatal plunge. We have looked upon the Crown of Thorns our Master wore, and we have learned that these very thorns are the curse of sin reversed and conquered. So we may boldly ask the Lord to put forth His hand and make the way of transgression hard, paving it with the sharp cuts of difficulty and bitter consequence, that the wanderer, finding no rest for the sole of her foot in the paths of vanity, may at last look homeward to the Father against whom she has sinned.

True repentance is not a mere shudder at being found out, nor a terror at the wages of iniquity. That is the sorrow of the world which works death. The repentance which the Spirit works is a thorough hatred of the evil itself, a loathing of the sin because it pierced the Lord. The really repentant one hates sin as sin, and turns from it with purpose of heart. I have seen men weep under the thought of sin forgiven, far more than under the lash of the law. When the heart knows the Grace of God revealed in the suffering of the incarnate God, oh then the rock is smitten and gushes with penitential grief! This is the work we must plead for, not a superficial mending of ways, but that inward transformation where the turned heart finds repentance coming easily, a heart of stone become a heart of flesh.

What a tragedy it is when a shepherd, instead of wielding the sword of the Spirit, becomes a snare. The man who fears the face of man is caught in a trap, and his silence is a cruel compromise. He has blocked the pathway of faithful rebuke because he walks as though he were a single man before the world, forgetting his sacred charge. This is the leaven of Eli, honoring sons above the Lord, and the text solemnly warns us that such negligence is a curse, not a kindness. The Church is never purer than when she is distinct, even if that distinctness brings the world's bad opinion. We do not desire persecution, but the false peace of a church that has lost her discipline is more to be dreaded. A true lily must grow among thorns; she is often kept for Christ by her afflictions and by the very sharp contrast with the world around her. We must not marvel if older professors dampen the ardor of a new convert, but we must tremble for those who do the damping.

The petition to “ask and keep on asking” is the lifeblood of prevailing faith. You have laid the matter before the throne, citing the promise that the way of the righteous is made plain. The Spirit of God makes use of means, He brings the Word to mind and sends messengers of truth. Stand firm and watch for the answer, even if the messengers delay. The hearing of faith brings the Holy Spirit into the heart to save from the love of sin and the power of sin. Continue to plead the promise that He will hedge the way, convict the conscience, and bring a clear-headed hatred of every false way. Rest all upon the blood-bought pardon that alone dissolves the heart of stone. And as you pray for her deliverance from the evil one, pray too for that inner healing which alone comes from the great Physician, for the whole head is sick and the whole heart faint until He binds up the broken-hearted.

I now close by a single observation. What result have these thoughts upon yourselves? Can you think of sin without emotion, or have those thoughts led you to repentance? The Grace of God, when it truly comes, makes a man smite upon his breast and say, “I have sinned.” May that be the cry heard in that household, and may even the most silent pastor find his tongue loosed to speak with holy zeal, lest he finish a work of negligence when the Lord required a work of courage.

 

[usha rani]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[Chrysostom]

You have rightly asked and kept on asking, for our Lord commanded us to pray without ceasing. The thorns that choke the word are indeed the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches, but know that even thorns can be uprooted. The same Prophet who speaks of a hedge of thorns also shows the purpose: that she may say, “I will return to my first husband.” God often allows the bitter hedge to shut the way of sin so that the soul, finding no path, turns back to the straight way. Yet let none think that the thorns themselves change the heart; they only block the steps, until the inner creature cries out for the physician.

But I fear for those who are called to be watchmen and remain silent. The priest who honors his son above God scatters the flock and stores up wrath against the day of righteous judgment. Such a one has broken the hedge, not built it. You do well to rebuke sharply when needed, yet do not despair of them either, for the same power that turns a rocky soil into good ground can turn a fearful pastor into a bold witness.

And do not overlook the thorns in your own garden. The zeal you have is commendable, but take care that the deceitfulness of riches or the cares of this life do not creep in and choke the word in you. Fast and pray, as you have purposed, that the good seed may find deep root. The Sower went out to sow, and He did not spare the hard path, the rocky ground, or the thorny soil; He sowed even there, because He knew that with the fire of the Spirit and the streams of His grace, even such soil could become fruitful. Let your prayers be that fire and that water.

Therefore continue asking. The woman hedged in by thorns may yet loathe the sin that brought her misery and return. The soul that is now captive may recover itself out of the snare. For while there is breath, the door of repentance has not yet been shut, though we must never presume upon it. Pray then that the thorns which wound her feet may also heal her heart.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body​

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.