My church

[Anonymous]

my church has good sermons, but it doesn't feel like there's much about repentance & the tough topics. I wouldn't say they're ear tickling, but once in a while it would be nice to have something that genuinely makes people not only think, but actually go into action about doing so. A message that wakes people up.

My church doesn't seem to operate in spiritual gifts, & that's something I've been delving into recently. The people there are really nice, but it feels like that's all there is to it.

Is it just my church that seems to talk about anything else but Jesus, when the service is over? All I wanna do is talk about Jesus, but everyone else doesn't seem to share that same desire. But when they did talk about Jesus at a thing I went to with some of the people from church, it didn't seem to be in a good way. It felt like I was back with unbelievers who I used to be friends with, as they would mock Jesus & I would just sit there silent, as I didn't wanna partake in that, it's like I was back there, but with believers.

As an intercessor, I am praying for my church. But when I am with those in my church, & they say something out of line or whatever, I feel like God is calling me to say something, but I can't get myself to say it. That's where the boldness is not there. & as a church, we are to hold each other accountable & I struggle to do that or even see that in my church.

I got prayed over by the prayer team for the first time & the woman who was praying over me said all the right things & the prayer team comfort you in that moment, which I do love, & they're so sweet. That's something that is good. I do also learn things from some of the sermons, or hearing what I already know back to me as someone who teaches on social media is very nice, as I relearn it for myself. I just thought I should say nice things too, as to say they're not all bad. & of course a church is like a hospital, they go they're because they're sick typa thing. But a church is also supposed to be a place where you learn, you grow, you pray over others, you operate in your spiritual gifts, you follow Jesus together, you build each other up (edifying), & I hope to see these things in my church one day.

As someone who doesn't drive, I can't exactly go to another church, & I don't know if maybe God is calling me to help these people in some way, but am I being prideful in thinking that? I really appreciate to anyone who can help me & my church in this predicament. Thank you, God bless you

 

[Articles]

We hear the longing in your heart for a church that not only preaches the truth but lives it out boldly, a place where repentance is proclaimed, spiritual gifts are exercised, and Jesus is the center of every conversation. Your desire is not prideful; it is a holy hunger for more of God, and that is something the Holy Spirit Himself places within believers. The fact that you feel this tension is evidence that God is stirring you for a purpose, not that you are being critical or self-righteous.

The church is indeed meant to be a hospital for the broken, but it is also a training ground for warriors. As Ephesians 4:11-12 tells us, "He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ." If your church is lacking in the areas of repentance, accountability, and the operation of spiritual gifts, it is not fulfilling its full calling. Yet this does not mean you are powerless. You are an intercessor, and your prayers are a vital part of God’s work in your church. But prayer must also be accompanied by obedience when the Lord calls you to speak.

You mentioned feeling called to say something when believers in your church speak out of line but struggling with boldness. This is a common battle, but Scripture is clear: "For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7). The enemy wants to silence you because he knows your voice carries weight. When you remain silent in the face of compromise, you allow the culture of the church to remain unchanged. Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." Accountability is not judgment, it is love in action. If your church truly values sweetness over truth, it will never grow into maturity.

The fact that you witnessed mockery of Jesus among believers is deeply concerning. This is not just a difference of opinion; it is a spiritual issue. Jesus warned, "Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38). When believers mock Christ, they reveal a heart that is not fully surrendered. Your silence in those moments may feel like peacekeeping, but it is actually enabling sin. We are called to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). This does not mean being argumentative, but it does mean standing firm in truth with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

You also expressed a desire to see spiritual gifts operating in your church. This is not an optional extra, it is part of the normal Christian life. 1 Corinthians 12:7 says, "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all." If your church is not teaching on or encouraging the use of spiritual gifts, it is missing a vital part of what it means to be the body of Christ. You can be a catalyst for change by praying for opportunities to share what God has shown you and by stepping out in faith when the Holy Spirit prompts you. Even if others are not ready, your obedience may plant seeds that God will water.

As for the question of whether you should leave or stay, we must remember that God often calls us to bloom where we are planted. If you are unable to drive to another church, this may be God’s way of positioning you to be a light in a dark place. But this does not mean you have to settle for spiritual mediocrity. You can seek out like-minded believers within your church, even if it’s just one or two, and begin to meet with them for prayer, Bible study, and mutual edification. Where two or three are gathered in His name, Jesus is in the midst (Matthew 18:20). You may also consider reaching out to your pastor or leadership in a humble, respectful way to share your heart. If they are open, this could be the beginning of revival. If they are not, you will have at least obeyed God in speaking the truth in love.

We must also address the lack of focus on Jesus in your church. Colossians 1:18 tells us that "He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence." If Jesus is not the center, the church is merely a social club. Your desire to talk about Him is not fanaticism, it is the natural overflow of a heart that loves Him. Do not let the fear of man silence you. As you share your love for Christ, even if others do not respond, you are planting seeds that God can use to draw hearts back to Him.

Let us pray for you and your church:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts heavy for our brother/sister in Christ who longs to see Your church rise to its full potential. Lord, You have placed within them a holy dissatisfaction, a hunger for more of You, and we thank You for that. We ask that You would fill them with boldness where there is fear, with wisdom where there is uncertainty, and with love where there is resistance. Give them the words to speak when You call them to speak, and the grace to do so with humility and gentleness.

Father, we lift up their church to You. We ask that You would stir the hearts of the leadership to preach the full counsel of Your Word, not just the parts that are comfortable. Raise up intercessors, teachers, and servants who will operate in the gifts of the Spirit for the edification of the body. Break through the complacency and reveal any areas where the church has drifted from Your truth. Bring conviction where there is sin, repentance where there is hardness of heart, and revival where there is dryness.

Lord, we pray for protection over our brother/sister as they stand for truth in their church. Shield them from discouragement, from the fear of man, and from the schemes of the enemy. Remind them that they are not alone, You are with them, and You have equipped them for this very purpose. Help them to find fellowship with others who share their hunger for You, even if it is just a small group within the larger body.

We declare that Your name will be lifted high in their church. That Jesus will be the center of every conversation, every sermon, and every decision. That the Holy Spirit will move freely, and that the gifts of the Spirit will be welcomed and exercised for Your glory. We declare breakthrough, revival, and transformation in the name of Jesus.

Finally, Lord, we ask that You would give them clarity about their role in this season. If You are calling them to stay and be a catalyst for change, give them the strength to persevere. If You are calling them to seek fellowship elsewhere, provide the means and the opportunity. But above all, keep their eyes fixed on You, the Author and Perfecter of their faith.

In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

You are not alone in this struggle, and your desire for a church that truly follows Jesus is not misplaced. Keep praying, keep seeking, and keep stepping out in faith. God is using you more than you realize, and He will honor your obedience. If your church is to change, it will begin with someone like you, a believer who refuses to settle for less than God’s best. Do not despise the day of small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10). Your faithfulness in the little things will pave the way for greater things to come.

 

[needhelpsobad48]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We recognize that ache you're carrying, to see a church not just be friendly, but be fully alive in the things of God. Many of us have sat with that same tension, longing for deeper waters while treasuring the genuine kindness we do receive. What you shared about the prayer team was beautiful, and it's not nothing. Still, your hunger for more of Jesus in the room, and for a faith that truly sharpens one another, is a holy hunger.

The struggle to speak up when others say something out of line is so real. We've found that boldness often grows quietly over time, not in a single dramatic moment. It might help to think of accountability not as confrontation first, but as gentle, honest friendship that builds trust. Could there be one or two people in the church whom you could invite into that kind of intentional relationship, a small, safe group where you agree to ask each other the real questions? Sometimes the culture of a church doesn't change from the top down all at once; it shifts when two or three start living it out in the hallways. That kind of training in righteousness happens person to person, and you may be exactly the person to start that quiet, consistent work.

And when the conversation around you drifts and you feel that nudge to say something but the words won't come, even a simple, gentle question can become a course correction. Something like, "Help me understand what you mean by that, I truly want to honor Him in how we talk about this." You're not alone in feeling that freeze.

We're praying with you for your church, and for you.

Lord Jesus, we lift up this one who loves Your church and longs to see it walk in greater fullness. Grant them courage rooted in love, not fear. Bring them friends who share their hunger for repentance, spiritual gifts, and conversation that circles back to You. Let their church become a place where people are loved too much to stay comfortable. For every moment they've felt silenced, draw near and prepare them for the right time to speak. Shape this church into a people who build each other up with both grace and truth. In Your name we pray, amen.

 

[EnricoLange]

Lord Jesus please richly bless, protect and guide them. Please help them in accordance with your perfect will Father. Thank you and praise you. In your holy name I pray. Amen.

 

[Jonathan_M]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[flora]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[Spurgeon]

The very ache within your soul for a message that pierces the slumbering conscience is no small thing; it is the stirring of that same Spirit who makes intercession with groanings too deep for words. You long for a word like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces, like a fire that burns up the stubble, and this is a holy hunger, for where repentance is preached not as a mere frightful turning under the lash of terror but as the gift of God's goodness, there you have the dew of heaven upon the means. Yet mark this well: a repentance that is only a shiver from the cold blast of a sermon on hell is but a carnal repentance, a repentance after the flesh; the soul goes back to its sin as a dog returns to its own vomit. True repentance is born not in the graveyard of fear alone but at the foot of the Cross, where the plenteous mercies of God in Christ melt the ice within the breast. The goodness of God leads you to repentance. When the Spirit takes of the things of Christ and shows them to the soul, then the heart mourns because it has pierced that bleeding side, and the whole life turns because it has seen the unspeakable Gift. You have been grieved that Christ is spoken of as though He were a stranger, or worse, held up to a sneer. Such talk among those who bear His name is a black token. It betrays a fearful absence of the Spirit’s sealing. Where the Spirit of God abides, He glorifies Jesus, and the tongue that has tasted that the Lord is gracious cannot easily trifle with His Majesty. Do not marvel that it has fallen upon your ears like the laughter of the heathen; such speech reveals that many who troop into the assemblies have a name to live and are dead. But let this also drive you to the throne. The same Spirit who puts within you a jealousy for the honor of the Bridegroom will supply you with boldness in the appointed hour. Boldness before men is born in boldness at the throne. Come with your trembling and your stammering, pleading the blood of the covenant, and the Spirit who helps your infirmities will, in time, unseal your lips with a word fitly spoken, a word not of your own heat but of His kindling.

You feel the poverty of a church that talks of many things but little of Jesus, and that does not seem to operate in the gifts bestowed by the ascended Lord. You are right to be troubled. When the Church forgets her Lord, her strength departs. Where there is no sound of a mighty rushing wind, no sense that the Spirit bloweth where He listeth, there will be a chilling formality, a neat and tidy politeness that cost nothing and amounts to nothing. We need a revival of downright earnestness, a fresh visitation from the Spirit of judgment and the Spirit of burning. And yet, does not the Lord often use a single burning heart to kindle many? The heavenly flame rarely falls on an altar of cold stones that are indifferent to its coming; it seeks a heart that groans and sighs and cries out, “O Lord, revive Thy work.” You ask if it is pride to think God may have you help these people. Pride would be to assume you can do it in your own strength, by your own bright words, as though the Spirit’s sword were forged in a human smithy. Humility is to tremble at the Word, to go into your chamber and mourn over the state of Zion, to plead the blood-bought promises, and then to speak as the oracle of God when the Spirit gives thee utterance. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, and He alone can teach our hands to war and our fingers to fight. Lay hold upon that weapon in the closet, and in the quiet of your soul, before you ever unsheathe it in company. There is a mystery in the Spirit’s work: He comes like the wind, sowing life in dead bones, turning desolation into a vineyard. You cannot chart His course; but you may set your sails to catch that blessed breath by a deeper repentance of your own, a lower leaning upon Christ, and a more importunate crying for His presence.

In this season where you must abide in this part of the vineyard, let your gracious meditations dwell more on Christ as the Gift of God, the Unspeakable Gift in whom are all things. The more your soul feasts upon Him, the more you will walk and talk of Him with a holy unction, and your very silence will be a rebuke to empty mirth, while your words, when they come, will drop as the rain. Do not be swift to speak, but let your life be a constant “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” A living praise to Jesus in the daily walk, a constant beholding of His face, does more, often, than a torrent of reproof. Yet stand ready: the Spirit who seals you unto the day of redemption will, in the crucial moment, fill your mouth with that salt which stings to heal. Yield to the sacred pressure of the Spirit of God. That which now inclines you to relent, to weep for the Church, to long after a fresh manifestation of the arm of the Lord, is the good work of the Comforter. Bow yourself low before it. Do not despise these tears nor think the burden a curse; it is the forerunner of blessing. The whole Church of Christ groans for this awakening, and those who groan most deeply are those nearest to the heart of the Bridegroom.

 

[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

 

[usha rani]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.