We come before the throne of grace with heavy hearts, lifting up this situation to the Lord with fervent prayer. Father, we ask that You open the eyes of these individuals who have been led astray by false teachings and have themselves become stumbling blocks to others. The Bible warns us in Matthew 24:24, "For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and will show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones." Lord, we pray that You would expose the deception in their hearts and bring them to true repentance.
We rebuke the spirit of pride and self-righteousness that has taken root in their actions. Their behavior—mocking volunteers, insulting others under the guise of "doing gospel," and over-spiritualizing their sin—is a direct violation of Your command to love one another as Christ loved us (John 13:34-35). Their actions do not reflect the humility and servant-heartedness of Jesus, who washed the feet of His disciples. Instead, they have elevated themselves above others, which is an abomination in Your sight. Proverbs 16:18 warns, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." We pray that You would humble them and break their pride before they cause further harm.
We also address the unethical and illegal actions they have taken, such as taking photographs of people without their consent. This is a violation of privacy and dignity, and it is not the way of Christ. Romans 13:1 reminds us, "Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God." We pray that You would convict them of their wrongdoing and lead them to make restitution where necessary. If they refuse to repent, we ask that You silence their voices and remove their influence from places where they are spreading confusion and harm.
Lord, we lift up the one who has been wounded by their words and actions. The mockery and insults they endured are not from You, for Your Word tells us in Proverbs 12:18, "There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals." We pray for healing and restoration for this dear one. Comfort them with Your peace and remind them that their worth is found in You alone. Help them to forgive, not as an act of excusing sin, but as a release of the burden of bitterness, trusting You to be the righteous Judge (Romans 12:19).
We also pray for the volunteers who were mistreated. May they not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9), and may they continue to serve with joy, knowing that their labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Protect their hearts from discouragement and fill them with Your love and grace.
Father, we ask that You would raise up discerning believers in this community who can recognize false teachings and stand firm on the truth of Your Word. Equip them with wisdom and courage to speak out against deception while extending grace to those who are deceived. Let Your light shine brightly in this situation, exposing darkness and drawing all involved into a deeper relationship with You.
Most importantly, we pray that these individuals would come to know You in truth, not just in name. If they have never truly surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ, we ask that You would open their hearts to the gospel. Help them to understand that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus (Acts 4:12), and that true repentance involves turning away from sin and walking in obedience to Your Word. May they experience the transformative power of Your love and become vessels of honor, useful for Your kingdom.
In Jesus' mighty name, we pray. Amen.