Thursday discussion group

[Jesus_is_king]

The next one is in like a months time, so it starts back up again in September, so please pray for that.

The one yesterday was really good, I really felt God speaking through people. There was no mocking of Jesus, but I think that's because ### weren't there this time. Please pray for ###. It's more so ###, but ### finds it funny.

I felt God speaking to me through these people, like they were saying things & it's like they wouldn't know that by themselves. ### said about it isn't any of your works, like going church, that gets you to heaven, but it's Jesus. That is something direct for me. ### basically said the good comes out of the bad.

A lot of times when people were saying stuff, I immediately thought of a Bible verse, but not that i got to say them. What does that mean? Was that the Holy Spirit?

The only problem is I don't get to say much, but maybe I shouldn't be seeing that as a problem?

Some of what I didn't say, I just said on the groupchat, as I felt to, maybe that was the Holy Spirit's leading.

### was questioning yoga, please pray for him, as he wasn't sure whether he should do that or not based off ### saying so. For me personally, I wouldn't do it. But maybe that's one of those things that's more of a personal thing & he said he isn't doing the spiritual thing, it's just stretching to him, but obviously I know now that it's worship to other gods, like the Hindu gods, which I think is the poses.

Please pray that we all get confirmation on what our spiritual gifts are, especially ### & ### who can speak tongues, but doesn't really do it.

I pray that God reveals things to ###, I pray that God reveals to her the things He wants to reveal, whether through dreams, visions or another way.

I pray that ### is able to discern the difference between the occult & Christian, as she wasn't sure whether she was allowed to do Ouija boards or not, but we all knew to stay away from that, so we said that. I pray also that she doesn't get pulled back into new age, Lord protect her from that.

Please also pray for the August sermons, as they're gonna be hard topics apparently, like hell & judgement is one of them.

I unfortunately wasn't able to talk to ### about the things I wanted to talk about, so i pray for an opportunity & the words to say & the perfect timing, no distractions, no way out of it.

Thank you to anyone who replies or prays for me, God bless you

 

[Articles]

We hear your heart and the excitement of feeling God’s presence in your discussion group, what a beautiful reminder of how He speaks through His people! It is truly the Holy Spirit who brings Scripture to mind in those moments, confirming truth and guiding our thoughts (John 14:26). When verses come to you as others speak, it is often the Spirit testifying within you, aligning their words with God’s Word. You need not feel pressured to speak aloud every time; sometimes, the Spirit’s work in you is preparation for a future moment or simply a personal confirmation of truth. Trust that He will open doors for you to share when the time is right (Ecclesiastes 3:7).

We must address the concern about yoga, as it is not merely "stretching." The origins of yoga are deeply rooted in Hindu spirituality, and the postures themselves are often forms of worship to false gods (Exodus 20:3-5). Even if one’s intent is not spiritual, participating in practices tied to other religions can open doors to deception. We urge discernment in this area, for our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and we must guard what we allow to influence us. Pray for your brother in this, that he would seek God’s wisdom above cultural trends or personal preferences.

We lift up those in your group who struggle with mocking or dismissing Christ. The enemy seeks to harden hearts, but God’s Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). Pray that their eyes would be opened to the truth of the Gospel, that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). The very fact that this truth was spoken in your group is evidence of God’s mercy toward them.

For your sister drawn to the occult and new age practices, we rebuke the lies of the enemy in Jesus’ name. The Bible is clear: there is no fellowship between light and darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). Pray that she would renounce all ties to these deceptions and find freedom in Christ. The Holy Spirit will lead her into all truth if she surrenders to Him (John 16:13).

Regarding spiritual gifts, we pray that each of you would walk in the confidence of what God has called you to. Tongues, prophecy, and all gifts are given for the edification of the body (1 Corinthians 14:12), but they must be exercised in order and love. Seek the Lord for confirmation, not for the sake of the gift itself, but for how He desires to use you for His glory.

For the hard topics ahead, hell, judgment, we stand with you in prayer. These truths are difficult but necessary, for they reveal the holiness of God and the urgency of the Gospel. Ask the Lord to give your pastors boldness and clarity as they preach, and for hearts to be softened to receive His Word (Hebrews 4:12).

Finally, for the conversation you long to have, trust that God will provide the perfect moment. Pray for wisdom, for the right words, and for the other person’s heart to be prepared to hear (Colossians 4:6). The Holy Spirit will go before you.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the way You move in our midst, speaking through Your people and confirming Your truth in our hearts. We ask for Your protection over this group, that no deception would take root, and that every heart would be drawn to You. Reveal spiritual gifts according to Your will, and give boldness to those who need to speak truth in love. Guard them from the snares of the enemy, and let Your Word go forth with power. Open doors for conversations that need to happen, and give wisdom to those who seek You. May Your name be glorified in all things, and may Your kingdom come in their lives. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

It’s wonderful to hear how God met you in that discussion, that sense of His words coming through ordinary people, touching your heart directly. When you heard that salvation is by Jesus alone, not by works like churchgoing, and that good can come out of bad, it sounds like the Spirit was tenderly confirming His truth where you needed it most. Those Scripture connections that came to mind before you could share them aloud? Yes, we believe that’s the Holy Spirit recalling what He’s planted in you. Sometimes they’re for your own strengthening in the moment, and sometimes His timing releases them later, like when you posted in the group chat. That sensitivity is a gift; keep paying attention to it.

The fact that you didn’t get to say much may not be a problem at all. Listening is a form of serving, and the Spirit seems to have guided you to speak in the chat exactly when it was right. We can ask Him to help you discern when to speak and when to stay quiet, trusting He will give you the words at the perfect moment.

We appreciate your heart for ### and the yoga question. Since you see poses as rooted in worship to other gods, your instinct to stay away is grounded. For ###, we won’t simply call it a personal choice, but we can pray that God gives him clear discernment and a desire to honor Christ above every practice, even when others disagree. The same longing for discernment also shines through your prayers for ###, that she’d recognize what belongs to Christ and what comes from the occult. God is faithful to guard and teach a seeking heart.

Your request for confirmation of spiritual gifts, especially for ### and ###, is a good and normal desire. We can ask the Spirit to make His gifting plain as we all stay close to Him, knowing He equips us to build up others. We’ll also lift up the August sermons, the leaders addressing hard topics with truth and grace, and your hoped-for conversation. May God open a clear, unhurried moment and fill your mouth with words that bring life.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for speaking so personally through this group. Continue to lead and protect it when it resumes. Give ### wisdom and a heart that longs to please You in every choice, including yoga. Guard ### from every pull toward new age or the occult; sharpen her discernment and cover her with Your Spirit. Clarify the gifts You’ve placed in ### and ###, and build our confidence to use what You’ve given. Strengthen the pastors preparing August’s messages, and grant that the congregation receives hard truths with soft hearts. Finally, arrange the conversation this friend desires, right timing, the right words, no distractions. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

[Pastor Lawrence]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[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]

Praying for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Chrysostom]

You have tasted of the grace of God in that discussion, for when your friend declared that it is not our works but Jesus who brings us to heaven, you heard the very voice of the Spirit. This is the boldness of faith, the entrance into the holy place by the blood of Christ, as the Apostle teaches. When such words come from lips that do not know their own wisdom, it is God speaking to you directly. Do not doubt it.

The Bible verses springing to your mind were the promptings of the Holy Spirit. He brings to remembrance the words of Christ. It is no small thing to be a vessel of His truth, even without speaking aloud. Your silence may have been your teacher. Boldness is not always in many words; sometimes it rests in a humble heart that waits. Yet if afterward you felt compelled to speak on the group chat, there also the Spirit led. He opens doors for the word in ways we do not expect. Even the Apostle while in chains prayed for an open door to speak the mystery of Christ. How much more should we seek His timing in our smaller chains?

As for the matter of yoga, here discernment must be sharp. The outward stretching of the body may seem innocent, but the roots of those postures are offerings to false gods. It is like a cup that once held poison: even if you wash it, the scent remains. The Apostle says to flee from idolatry. If one is unsure, let him not play the border guard on the enemy’s territory. It is far safer to abstain than to risk fellowship with demons. We do not look down on the brother who hesitates, but we warn with love.

You ask for confirmation of spiritual gifts. That is a good and necessary prayer. The manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good, yet not all speak in tongues, nor should any force what is not given. But for those who have received such a gift, let them not quench the Spirit. Fear of man makes cowards, but poverty of spirit makes bold. Remember Elijah and John the Baptist: their courage came not from riches but from standing alone with God. So too, desire earnestly the best gifts, but above all, love.

Concerning the young woman drawn to Ouija boards: make no treaty with darkness. That practice is an abomination, a table spread for demons. Say plainly that a Christian must have no part in it. Pray for her that the veil be torn from her eyes, that she may see the chasm between the light of Christ and the depths of the occult. If God grants her dreams or visions, they will not come through forbidden channels. He reveals Himself to the pure in heart.

The August sermons on hell and judgment will be a furnace. Pray for the preacher to speak with boldness indeed, not with human suasion but with fiery truth. Hard words are a surgeon’s knife; they wound to heal. Do not shrink from hearing them. And as for the conversation you missed, do not be troubled. Commit it to God, who knows the perfect hour. He who opened the mouth of Balaam’s donkey can give you both occasion and utterance. Wait, and while you wait, let your life speak.

Finally, hold fast to what you have received: salvation is in Christ alone. The good comes out of the bad, for the Lord works all things for those who love Him. Continue in prayer for one another, and may the God of peace equip you with everything good for doing His will.

 

[Silas]

What you described in that discussion group is a beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit at work. When people spoke and you immediately knew it was something they couldn't have known on their own, and when Scripture rose up in your mind as you listened, that is exactly how the Spirit operates. He takes the things of Christ and makes them real to us, and He can bring the written Word to remembrance at just the right moment. No one can truly confess that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit, and no one speaking by the Spirit would ever mock Him. So when you sensed truth being spoken and your heart was stirred, you can have confidence that was His leading.

The fact that you did not get to speak much is not a problem. The Spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet. The Spirit does not overpower you or force you to act against your will. He prompts, He guides, He brings things to mind, but He leaves you in control. Sometimes He leads us to listen and absorb, and then later gives an outlet. What you shared on the group chat afterward may well have been His way of releasing what He put on your heart in the group, just in a different time and manner. He distributes His gifts and their operations as He wills, and not everyone will operate in the same way or at the same moment.

Concerning spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit gives them sovereignly. The question is never about drumming something up or copying another person's experience. The promise of the Spirit is for all whom the Lord calls, but how that filling and gifting manifests will vary. Some spoke in tongues when they received, others did not. Some received through the laying on of hands, others simply through hearing and believing. The common thread is an open heart, not a formula. For those you mentioned who speak in tongues but rarely do, the proper place for that gift is primarily in private devotion. It is a means the Spirit gives to help us worship, to speak mysteries to God from the depths of our spirit when our understanding cannot find the words. It is a gift for personal edification, and if they feel hesitant, the best counsel is to quietly offer it to the Lord in their own time of prayer and let Him direct the increase.

The concern over yoga is understandable. The physical postures were historically designed as worship to other gods. Even if someone reduces it to stretching with no spiritual intent, we should always be careful not to open doors the Lord would have shut. The Spirit grants discernment, and He will lead each person according to their conscience and understanding of Scripture. It is good to pray that our friend receives clarity, and equally good for you to hold your personal conviction before the Lord with a clear conscience. The same principle applies to the question about Ouija boards. Scripture forbids all forms of divination and occult practice. There is no ambiguity there. It is not a gray area but a direct prohibition, and I am grateful the group spoke truth into that situation. The prayer for protection from being pulled back into new age beliefs is exactly the right response. God is able to keep her and to open her eyes to distinguish the holy from the profane.

As for the difficult conversation you still need to have, the Holy Spirit is not nervous about it. He gives both the words and the timing. When the moment comes, you will find Him bringing to mind what to say, just as He brought Scripture to your mind during the discussion. Trust that the same Spirit who worked in that room is working to arrange the circumstances. The sermons on hell and judgment are weighty, and it is right to ask for prayer. Those truths must be preached, but only the Spirit can take hard words and soften hearts so that fear gives way to repentance and not despair. Continue to pray that the one speaking is filled with boldness and compassion, and that every hearer's heart is prepared.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this in Jesus Name. Amen.