Frequently Asked Questions 

What is a Charismatic Prayer Meeting?

What is the Content of a Charismatic Prayer meeting?

What Should I Keep in Mind When Attending Prayer Meetings?

How Long do Prayer Meetings Last?

Is a Prayer Group a Parish Organization?

What are the Spiritual Gifts We Pray For? 

Do I Have to Speak at a Prayer Meeting?

What is a Testimony?

Why Do Some Greet Others with a Hug?

Why Do We Sing?

  Is the "Baptism in the Spirit" a New Sacrament?

Where Can I  Read Something on the Holy Spirit in the Bible?

 

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What is a Charismatic Prayer Meeting?

Lighthouse Community comes together as a corporate Christian body of believers every Wednesday evening at 7:30 P.M.   At our meetings we place Jesus at the center of our attention to give Him praise, thanks, honor,  glory, and our love.   It is our time as a community to praise God on a one-to-one basis , as the Holy Spirit moves us.

Our prayer meetings are not a discussion club, a therapy session, a social meeting, or a time for counseling.  We come to give our full attention to Jesus -- through the help of the Holy Spirit.

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What is the Content of a Charismatic Prayer meeting?

At our meetings we usually start with songs of praise followed by a short welcome. We will go back into praise and worship; singing. A quiet time of reflection allows us to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Prophecy (the Holy Spirit inspiring someone to speak); tongues (in song, praise, or prophecy); interpretation of tongues. ministering the charisms of the Holy Spirit to the people gathered. (see 1 Cor. 12).

At times there is scripture reading; or a teaching; or a testimony; or sharing (see 1 Cor. 14 :26-33). The only set agenda is taking the time to praise and worship and listen to God. 

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How Long do Prayer Meetings Last?

Our Prayer Meeting last one and a half hours.

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  Is a Prayer Group a Parish Organization?

No -- Lighthouse Community is a charismatic prayer group made up of individuals that come together weekly as a spiritual family for the purpose of giving Jesus the praise He deserves. The first and primary purpose of all prayer is to praise and honor the God who created us and who gives us all the gifts we enjoy each day. 

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  What are the Spiritual Gifts we pray for?

 (See 1 Cor. 12, 13-14 & 1 Cor. 14 :1)

•     Words of Wisdom

•     Words of Knowledge

•     Faith

•     Prophecy

•     Discernment of Spirits

•     Tongues (Acts 2:4)

•     Interpretation of Tongues

•     Healing

•     Miracles

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  Do I have to Speak at a Prayer Meeting?

No -- Simply come to experience the life and love of Jesus. As you continue to attend meetings -- join in the listening and praising and continue to learn. You will find that the Holy Spirit will gently work in you to want to give back some of the love you are experiencing and have received. The people that do speak are learning to let the Spirit lead them in how and when and what to say in the meeting.

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What is a Testimony?

Sharing with others how the Lord is working in your life. It will always be a first-hand experience, not another person's story. If the testimony is led by the Spirit, the result will be that the center of the testimony will be the honor and glory of Jesus, not the person sharing.

(see John 16:14)

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Why Do Some Greet Others with a Hug?

This is a sign of brotherhood and an action, based on our faith, that we do love with Jesus' Love.

• All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.   1 Cor. 16:20

• Greet one another with a holy kiss.  2 Cor. 13:12

• Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.  1 Thes. 5:26

• Greet one another with the kiss of love.
  Peace to all of you that are in Christ.   1 Peter 5:14

 

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Why Do We Sing?

Singing is a way of praying,  praising,  and worshipping God.    St. Augustine said, "He who sings, prays twice." Songs can turn our hearts and thoughts toward God, and help us to understand the presence of Jesus if they are well selected.

The meeting should not turn into a songfest. We should PAUSE between songs, readings, prophecies, etc. and LISTEN. This is the time the Holy Spirit can talk to us. We need silence to Reflect and allow the Spirit to work.

• Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.    Colossians 3:16

• And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit,  addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart,  always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.  Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Ephesians 5:18-21

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Is the "Baptism in the Spirit" a New Sacrament?

No -- It is the RELEASE of the POWER of the Holy Spirit already within US that we received by faith at our Confirmation, and now in our experience, to enable us to live the Christian life we want to live but had only been partially successful in doing. We will begin to experience a new ability to appreciate Jesus, the Bible, our daily prayer life, and our faith through this living experience.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Central to the experience of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is what is known as "Baptism in the Holy Spirit." This is not viewed as some kind of "eighth sacrament" but rather as a renewal in the Holy Spirit already received in Baptism and Confirmation.

Many Catholic charismatics testify to a greater sense of the presence and love of God, a greater taste for prayer and Scripture reading, a desire to witness to others and the experience of one or more of the charismatic gifts already referred to.

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Where Can I  Read Something on the Holy Spirit in the Bible?

• And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever.     John 14 :16

• But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.   John 14 : 26

• When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16 : 13

• Acts 1: 4

• Acts 1 :8

• Acts 2 :4, 17, and 38

• Acts 4 :31

• Acts 5 :32

• Acts 8 :17

• Acts 10 : 44-48

• Acts 19 : 5-6

• Romans 5 : 3-5

• Romans 8 : 1-17, 26-27

• 1 Cor. 2 :6-16

• 1 Cor. 3 : 16

• Galatians 5 :16-26 - -  and many others

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What Should I Keep in Mind When Attending Prayer Meetings?

• Come at least four or five times before making a judgment. It takes that long to understand how the Spirit is working.

• Pray as you feel comfortable (and let others do the same).

• Praying alone we are easily distracted; we support each other at a prayer meeting.

• Pause between songs, readings, and teachings to allow the Spirit to work.

• Don't concentrate on others -- concentrate on Jesus. Close your eyes to distractions around you and let the Holy Spirit open your spiritual eyes to see with faith.

• All ages are welcome -- we are all children of God.

• Prepare for the meetings, through prayer and scripture.

• Don't be afraid. you are with friends. Don't let the devil discourage you.

• You will experience the "Fruits of the Spirit" as you progress.    (Gal. 5 :22: 1 Cor. 12)

• If you do not have an opportunity so speak or share at the meetings -- you may do so after the meeting with others.

• If you have any questions, please don't leave until you get them answered. Seek out a community member wearing an "ASK ME" button.

• Consider attending the next "Life In the Spirit Seminar"

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