Brethren, pray for us. (1 Thessalonians 5:25)
If a person is born again by the Spirit of God, then Christ has made him free from the penalty and stronghold of sin. We were once enslaved by sin; it controlled our every action. Praise God, Christ has made us free!
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. (Romans 6:17-18)
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:22)
However, this does not mean we will not face the temptation to sin. Even Christ, while in the wilderness, was tempted by Satan. The Bible also tells us that, despite being saved, we will sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8, 10)
The important matter is how we handle temptation and how we react after sinning. Scripture commands we flee temptation and pursue the things of Christ.
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (1 Peter 2:11)
It is not a matter of if we sin but when, and, as Christians, we are to repent and confess our sins to God. He promises that He will forgive us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Knowing that a great temptation to commit sin lies within each of us and that many of us often give in to such temptation, what can we do to help in this area?
In Luke 22, Jesus and His disciples gathered for the last supper. The Lord revealed many things to His disciples that night. Jesus revealed to Peter that before daybreak, he (Peter) would deny the Lord three times. This would be a great trial for Peter. He would be committing a great sin – denial of Christ.
This was also a turning point for Peter. He could repent and seek forgiveness (as he would do) or become embittered against God and live for himself. What made Peter turn to the Lord? We cannot doubt that Peter’s love for the Lord had much to do with it. As with King David, Peter was a man after God’s own heart. However, the passage gives a more likely reason why Peter repents and proceeds to serve the Lord:
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:31-32)
Jesus prayed for Peter.
He prayed that Peter’s faith would withstand the coming trial. Think about it: If we know all Christians will face temptation and will struggle with sin, what are we doing about it in the meantime?
The solution Christ presents is to pray for our fellow Christians. Pray that when sin is at the door, Christians can resist. We must pray that when fellow brothers and sisters stumble, they will be able to stand up straight and walk forward. Pray that when Christians are living in sin, they will listen to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit and repent.
How many Christians have fallen by the wayside and stayed there, in large part, because we did not pray for them? How many Christians have given up on serving God because we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, did not care enough to pray that their faith would not fail?
Yes, of course, there is such a thing as personal accountability; everyone makes his or her own choices. However, that does not mean that we just abandon fellow believers to the wickedness of this world. We ought to be doing everything we can to help them live godly lives.
The Lord prayed that, when Peter repented of his sin, he would “strengthen thy brethren.” Peter would bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to an untold number. His books of First and Second Peter encouraged Christians struggling under persecution, and they continue to help Christians to this day.
Let us resolve to pray more often for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Only God knows what could happen in the life of a person who gives his life back to Him. After all, if Christians don’t pray for each other, then who will?
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: (1 Samuel 12:23)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)
To read more of what the Bible says about prayer, please click here.