Loving With Prayer – 1 John 5:14-17

Every Christian must be a man or woman of prayer. Whenever we pray according to the will of God, He hears us. We must know God’s will to pray accordingly, and the only way to know God’s will is to have an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. (Jn 15:7) As we believe and trust in the Lord with complete dependence, He guides us as we read the Word with faith. Moreover, our prayers must extend into intercessory prayers, as we pray for the brethren in love. We love as Jesus loved us when we pray for one another. (Rom 8:34) Christians must recognize their priesthood unto God and give themselves to prayer by interceding for one another. (1Pet 2:9) In this portion of John’s letter, we see why love and intercessory prayer are always bound together.

Without love, there is no motivation to do anything. Intercessory prayer is motivated by love alone. We must understand how deep our relationships are with fellow believers. It is deeper than earthly familial ties, because we have the same heavenly Father, and the same divine nature. The early church knew this, and in love were willing to risk their own lives for one another. (Matt 12:50; Rom 16:3-4) In verse 16 where John refers to sin not leading to death, he is referring to praying for brothers and sisters in Christ who are growing distant from the Lord because of different circumstances, such as sufferings or sin. Genuine believers are preserved by God’s power- no matter what sin they commit, their salvation is forever secured by the objective work of Christ. (1Jn 1:9; 2:1-2) Believers may, however, experience periods in their life when they wander away from the Lord. It is by the prayers of the brethren, motivated by love, that can restore them back to fellowship with the Lord and His church.

Intercessory prayer is done by love. It is natural to pray for the brother you truly love. We see Jesus’ divine love on the cross when He prayed for those who crucified Him. (Lk 23:34) We are to love like Jesus, and pray for one another without ceasing. (Acts 7:60; 20:31) We pray by asking– we consider our brother’s situation as our own, and with fervency and love, we pour out our hearts to God for our brother. (Matt 15:22; Lk 18:6-7) Our intercessory prayers result in life and restoration for the brethren. (Lk 22:32; James 5:16) In verse 16, Apostle John speaks of a sin leading to death. This is the sin of apostasy. (1Jn 2:18-19) He speaks of those who know the truth, but willfully deny the truth for their own self-gain. Those who reject, deny, and rebuke the conviction of the Holy Spirit can not be restored. (Matt 12:31-32; Heb 6:4-6)

All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death. (v.17) Only Christians can pray for those who can be restored from their struggles and sins. God has given us the gift of intercessory prayer to love one another, and we are built up and matured only as we pray for one another. Our prayers must be motivated by love, and done in love, because God looks at the heart of those who call on Him. Let us therefore see our brother with a heart of compassion, and pray for him in love. God Himself will restore and for him give life.