• Many Excuses for Not Praying • God will not Hear the Prayers of the Wicked (John 9:31; Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 28:9) • Can a Person Pray with Confidence to the Most High and Holy God? (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:9-18; James 5:16; Psalm 34:17; Proverbs 15:29)
I. God hears the prayers of those who pray according to His will (vs. 14-15; John 9:31; 15:7; James 1:5-6)
II. Praying for our brother or sister who is sinning, distinguishing between the brother sinning a sin leading to death, and sinning a sin NOT leading to death – Three Truths Revealed (vs. 16-17)
A. “All Unrighteousness is Sin, and There is Sin Not Leading to Death” (v. 17) – How Does this fit with Roman 6:23? Still Hope for Eternal Life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Isaiah 1:8)
B. It is God’s Will to Pray for the Brother Who has committed Sin Not Leading to Death (v. 16a; Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:19-20)
C. It is NOT God’s Will to Pray for the Brother Who has committed Sin Leading to Death (v. 16b) – What is “Sin Leading to Death”? – Two Types: 1. Blaspheme Against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32) 2. Apostasy (Hebrews 6:4-6; 1 John 2:19; 3:10-15; Hebrew 12:16-17; 2 Timothy 2:24-26)
Conclusion and Application
• “. . . We ought not rashly to conclude that any one has brought on himself the judgment of eternal death; on the contrary, love should dispose us to hope well . . .” (Calvin) • Pray with Confidence as You Pray according to God’s Will
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