It's Time For Intervention

I John 5:16
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.

We’ve all had loved ones in our lives who’ve gotten into trouble before. We watch them as their lives become unmanageable. Particularly in the area of addiction to things like drugs, alcohol, sex, shopping, hoarding, etc. There are times when family members have to do what’s called “intervention.” It’s when the family brings the addict/offender into a room without knowing why they are there and everyone begins to tell them why they can’t live like this anymore. They tell the addict/offender how their behavior is affecting the family in a negative way. They challenge them to go to Rehab. Sometimes, this is the only time that the addict/offender is able to really look at themselves because their loved ones have intervened all at once. They do it out of love because they don’t want to see them die or ruin their lives.

At some point we all need intervention, whether we will admit it or not. Somebody intervened for you. When your life was teetering out of control somebody prayed for you. You probably avoided becoming an addict because somebody intervened early in your life. Prayer is a form of intervention through intercession.

I John 5:16 says, “If you see a brother or sister sinning and they have not already died from it you should intervene or intercede through prayer first.” All sin leads ultimately to death but there are some sins that take us out immediately. It’s only by grace some of us are still here. Then some of us are here because prayer warriors have been interceding, giving us more time to get it together and go through spiritual rehab.

There is a sin that leads to death. Sometimes, when we refuse to stop sinning God has to take us home early to protect our salvation. Then there are sins that have immediate consequences of death like robbing someone and getting shot. When we see someone sinning and they are still alive we need to intervene and pray for God to save them. When we intercede for someone God will intervene. After you intercede through prayer you should follow up with intervention.

Matthew 18:15 is a good model for intervention that can save somebody’s life:

If your brother/sister sins against you, go to them and show them their faults. But do it privately, just between yourselves. If they listen to you, you have your brother/sister back. But if they will not listen to you, take one or two persons with you so that every accusation may be upheld by the testimony of two or more witnesses as the scripture says. And if he/she will not listen to them, then tell the whole thing to the church. Finally if he/she will not listen to the church, confront him/her with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love. Matthew 18:15-17 MSG

Dear God,

We all need intervention. Thank you for giving us time to get ourselves together. I should’ve been dead but you spared my life. Thank you for Jesus intervening on Calvary’s cross so I wouldn’t have to die but have eternal life.

In Jesus Name,
Amen