Intercede

1 John 5:16a

If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death.

 

Prayer is important to the point that it will give life to a person who has committed sin – sin that does not lead to death.

“…but how should another man know that a brother's sin is not unto death, when it is of the same nature and kind with another man's? it is known by this, that he does not continue in it; he does not live in the constant commission of it; his life is not a course of iniquity; that sin he sins is not a governing one in him; though he falls into it, he rises up out of it through divine grace, and abides not in it; and he has a sense of it, and is sorry for it, after a godly sort, loaths it, and himself for it; is ashamed of it, ingenuously confesses it, and mourns over it and forsakes it: now when any strong believer or spiritual man sees or knows that a brother has sinned, and this is his case…” [Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible]

This is a call to just continually pray for our brothers and sisters, including ourselves that we may receive the pardon of God’s forgiveness even with the sin that we commit on a day-to-day basis.  Praise God for the provision of forgiveness.  With that thought, we must also remember to give thanks to the Lord knowing that He has given us the cleansing we need daily. 

 

// I do need to pray – to pray MORE; especially for myself, my family, my brothers and sisters in the Lord who may need intercession.  I must spend time in extended prayer – if possible, also with a friend who will be willing to do the same!

 

// Lord, I’ve been having a lot of directives towards prayer.  I pray that You will give me the opportunity to spend time with You in deep prayer; not just the short and quick prayers but the long, waiting, and hearing what You say during times of communion with you.  I pray that you will remove form of obstacles that will distract my mind and my heart from providing this intercession for Your people – including myself.  I pray that You will help me to have the ability to do so… perhaps, to wake up early enough to do so daily.  Thank You Jesus, I believe that You will give me strength.  In Jesus’ name, amen.