PRAYERS THAT HEAL

1 John 5:16-17 NLT
[16] If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. [17] All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.

We should never be afraid that we have committed a sin that “leads to death” if we are faithfully following Jesus. If we are in this life, we will always be vulnerable to the desires of our fleshly nature. John has already assured us that our Advocate, Jesus, represents us to the Father. His blood avails for the forgiveness of all our sin, past, present, and future.

1 John 2:1-2 NLT
[1] “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. [2] He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”

As children in God’s family, we have a duty towards a genuine brother or sister in the Lord who falls into sin.
Just as Paul urged Galatians believers to restore a fallen believer,

Galatians 6:1 NLT
[1]”Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”

So John also urges us to pray for those who have stumbled on the way.  John urges us to pray for them since prayer addresses the issue from God’s side. Our prayers are often God’s way of dealing with sin from within. The Holy Spirit awakens the conscience and understanding of the sinner that has affected themselves and others, breaking fellowship with the Father and with whoever has been offended.

John assures his readers that God will answer such prayers and restore life to the offender.

However, in the context of this letter, John has made a case against those who deliberately choose to walk away from the fellowship of believers. In doing so, they are working at pulling others down with them by deception, twisting the truth out of shape by their teaching.

John 2:19 NLT
[19] “These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise, they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.”

Not only have they left the church, but they have also tried to take others with them.

John 2:26 NLT
[26]”I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray.”

There is an ongoing battle between light and darkness. Our enemy has human allies who help him to deceive vulnerable believers who are not anchored in the truth.

John gives us three ways by which we can test our standing in God. We know God when we believe that Jesus came in the flesh and that He is the Son of God. We love God if we obey His commandments, and if we love His children.

Deceivers claim to know God, but they fail the test in these three areas. They are liars and foreigners to the truth.

“Don’t waste your time praying for them. They are liars, and no liar has a place in God’s family.”

The sin that leads to death is obstinate and deliberate refusal to believe and obey the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is always merciful, but He cannot show mercy to an unrepentant sinner. Therefore, until they repent, prayer will not avail for them.