Prayer is the believer's breath. As we cannot live without breathing neither can a Christian without prayer. This study describes the nature of prayer and the believer's compassion for a fellow Christian who sins.

2. Keep His commandments (2:3-27)
Abiding in Christ (2:28-3:3)
Loving the brethren (3:11-23)
Indwelling of His Spirit (3:24-4:21)
Believing Jesus is Messiah (5:1-13)
Answers to prayer (5:14-17)
Break patterns of continuous sin (3:4-10)

3. 14 Now this is the confidence that we have
in Him, that if we ask anything according to
His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that
He hears us, whatever we ask, we know
that we have the petitions that we have
asked of Him. 16 If anyone sees his brother
sinning a sin which does not lead to death,
he will ask, and He will give him life for
those who commit sin not leading to
death.

4. There is sin leading to death. I do not say
that he should pray about that. 17 All
unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not
leading to death.

5. Confidence
Latin: con (with) + fidelis (faithful)

6. 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are
Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Psalm 65:2 O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come.

7. A. The Promise: “Now this is the confidence that
we have in Him...”
1) Our Confidence is in Christ
“And” - the 1st word in verse 14 & the
basis of our confidence in God’s promise
1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you
who believe in the name of the Son of God, that
you may know that you have eternal life, and
that you may continue to believe in the name of
the Son of God.

8. A. The Promise: “Now this is the confidence that
we have in Him...”
Mark 11:22–24 So Jesus answered and said to
them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say
to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be
removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does
not doubt in his heart, but believes that those
things he says will be done, he will have
whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you,
whatever things you ask when you pray,
believe that you receive them, and you will
have them.

9. A. The Promise: “If we ask anything according to
God’s will, He hears and grants our requests.”
John 14:13–14 And whatever you ask in My
name, that I will do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My
name, I will do it.
John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose
you and appointed you that you should go and
bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that
whatever you ask the Father in My name He may
give you.

10. A. The Promise: “If we ask anything according to
God’s will, He hears and grants our requests.”
John 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in
My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy
may be full.

11. A. The Promise: “If we ask anything according
to God’s will, He hears and grants our requests.”
2) Our Access is in His presence
Hebrews 4:14–15 Seeing then that we have a great
High Priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot
sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points
tempted as we are, yet without sin.

12. A. The Promise: “If we ask anything according
to God’s will, He hears and grants our requests.”
3) Our Approach is in confidence
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need.

13. A. The Promise: “If we ask anything according
to God’s will, He hears and grants our requests.”
• God hears us
4) Our Expectation is that:
• We have the requests which we have
asked from Him

14. B. The Qualification: “according to His will”
1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that
we have in Him, that if we ask anything
according to His will, He hears us.
“Spread out your petition before God,
and then say, “Thy will, not mine, be
done.” The sweetest lesson I have
learned in God’s school is to let the Lord
choose for me.”
Dwight L. Moody

15. 1. Pray for things for which the Bible commands prayer.
(Mt. 5:44; Lk. 10:2; Col. 4:3; 1 Tim. 2:1-3; Jas 5:13,16; Psa. 122:6)
2. Follow the example of godly characters in Scripture.
(Psa. 51:1-2; Acts 4:29; Rom. 10:1)
3. Pray with the right motivation. (Jas. 4:3; Mt. 6:5-6)
4. Pray with a spirit of forgiveness toward others. (Mk.
11:25; Mt. 5:23-24)
5. Pray with thanksgiving. (Col. 4:2; Phil. 4:6-7)
6. Pray with persistence. (Lk. 18:1; 1 Thess. 5:17)
7. Rely on the Spirit of God in prayer. (Rom.8:26-27)

16. “Prayer that Brings Life…
…& Sin that Brings Death”

17. 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin
which does not lead to death, he will ask, and
He will give him life for those who commit sin
not leading to death. There is sin leading to
death. I do not say that he should pray about
that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is
sin not leading to death.

18. A. The Promise: “He will give life to a brother
committing sin”
• Life to a brother
• Committing sin
Galatians 6:1–2 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in
any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a
one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself
lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s
burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

19. A. The Promise: “He will give life to a brother
committing sin”
• Life to a brother
• Committing sin
James 5:19–20 Brethren, if anyone among you
wanders from the truth, and someone turns
him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a
sinner from the error of his way will save a soul
from death and cover a multitude of sins.

20. B. The Qualification:
• “sin leading to death”:
1. A specific heinous sin (Lev. 20; Num. 18:22)
2. Apostasy (1 Jn. 2:18-27; Heb. 12:17)
3. Blasphemy against the Spirit (Mt. 12:31-32)
4. Sin resulting in physical death (Acts 5:1-11;
I Cor. 5:5; 11:30)
POSSIBLEINTERPRETATIONS

21. B. The Qualification:
• “sin leading to death”:
• “sin not leading to death”:
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift
of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
James 1:14–15 But each one is tempted when he is
drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then,
when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin,
when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

22. I urge you, first of all, to pray for
all people. Ask God to help
them; intercede on their behalf,
and give thanks for them.
1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT)