To Intercede or Not

By Andrew Williams

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.
1 John 5:16 NLT

Good morning fellow disciples.

In this verse John directs us how to intercede for a believer who we observe to be sinning:

1. If the sin does not lead to death, we should intercede for them so that God will give them life, and

2. If the sin leads to death, he says we shouldn’t intercede.

In Matthew 12:31‭-‬32 NLT‬‬, Jesus says:
“So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.

“Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” is conscious and hardened opposition to the truth, “because the Spirit is truth” (1 John 5:6).[23] Conscious and hardened resistance to the truth leads man away from humility and repentance, and without repentance, there can be no forgiveness. That is why the sin of blasphemy against the Spirit cannot be forgiven since one who does not acknowledge his sin does not seek to have it forgiven.
— Serafim Alexivich Slobodskoy, The Eighth Article of the Creed

Who are you interceding for? Is it for someone who can be redeemed or for someone who will never be forgiven?

Be led by the Holy Spirit as you pray, so that your prayers are not in vain.

Prayer: Father God, Peter reminds us in 2 Peter 3:9 NLT- The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

So, Father God, as You continue to give us chances to repent, we pray for each other who have sinned. We ask You to forgive us for the sins that do not lead to death. For those who are blaspheming the Holy Spirit, we ask You to reveal Yourself to them, let them know Your truth, and according to their choice, reward them. Amen.