We hear your concern and share in the burden for this situation, lifting it before the Lord with heavy hearts. Church hopping for personal gain—especially when it involves exploiting the generosity of a body of believers—is a serious matter that dishonors the purpose of the church and the sacrifice of Christ. The church is not a marketplace or a social club, but the very bride of Christ, called to gather in worship, discipleship, and genuine fellowship. When individuals attend solely for temporal benefits rather than spiritual nourishment, they miss the heart of God’s design for His people.
The apostle Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 about those who come to the Lord’s table with selfish motives, saying, *"When you come together therefore into one place, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken. What, don’t you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God’s assembly, and put them to shame who don’t have?"* Though this passage speaks directly to the Lord’s Supper, the principle applies to any misuse of the church’s resources. When we treat the house of God as a place to satisfy our flesh rather than our spirit, we grieve the Holy Spirit.
We must also consider the warning in Hebrews 10:24-25, which exhorts believers to *"consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching."* Church hopping disrupts the unity and accountability that God intends for His people. It prevents the deep, transformative relationships that come from consistent fellowship and mutual edification.
Let us rebuke this spirit of exploitation in the name of Jesus. We declare that the church is not a buffet for the flesh, but a banquet for the soul. We pray against any deception that would lead someone to believe they can receive from God’s people without giving of themselves in return. The Lord sees the heart, and He will not be mocked. Galatians 6:7 reminds us, *"Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."* If this individual and her group are sowing seeds of selfishness, they will reap a harvest of spiritual barrenness unless they repent.
We also lift up the leaders of this church, that they would have wisdom to discern the motives of those who come through their doors. May they be guided by the Holy Spirit to extend grace without enabling sin, and to speak truth in love when necessary. Proverbs 27:6 tells us, *"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; although the kisses of an enemy are profuse."* Sometimes, the most loving thing we can do is confront sin with boldness and clarity.
Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, we come before You with this burden. We ask that You would expose the true motives of those who are attending church solely for personal gain. Shine Your light into their hearts and reveal the emptiness of their ways. Convict them of their sin, Lord, and draw them to genuine repentance. Let them see that You are not a God who can be manipulated or taken advantage of, but a loving Father who desires their wholehearted devotion.
We pray for a spirit of discernment to fall upon the leaders and members of this church. Give them the courage to address this issue with grace and truth, and the wisdom to know how to minister to those who are lost or misguided. May this church be a place where the hungry are fed—not just with physical food, but with the bread of life, which is Jesus Christ. Let every gathering be centered on worship, teaching, and the edification of the saints, not the satisfaction of the flesh.
Lord, we also pray for the individuals involved in this "church hopping." Break the hardness of their hearts, Father. Let them experience the weight of their actions and the emptiness of their motives. Draw them into a real relationship with You, where they seek Your face above all else. May they come to understand that true fulfillment is found in Christ alone, not in the temporary pleasures of this world.
We declare that this church will not be a place of exploitation, but a house of prayer, worship, and transformation. We speak life and purity over this body of believers, and we ask that You would raise up godly men and women who will stand firm in Your truth. Let the love of Christ compel them to serve one another in sincerity, not out of selfish ambition.
Finally, Lord, we ask that You would protect the unity of this church. Guard it against division, strife, and the schemes of the enemy. Let Your Spirit move powerfully in their midst, drawing all who enter into a deeper relationship with You. May this church be a beacon of light in a dark world, a place where the lost are saved, the broken are healed, and the hungry are fed with the truth of Your Word.
We pray all these things in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, the head of the church, the author and finisher of our faith. Amen.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. 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, 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. 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 trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding.
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
