Jesus Is the Bridge Ministries

Key Verses Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Our prayers for others often take one of two major forms: prayers for physical or mental healing, and prayers for salvation. As a rule, scripture tells us to be persistent in prayer, and not to lose faith. A prime example is the parable of the widow and the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8); the point is that God, who is always just, will not fail to heed the persistent prayers of his saints. Stories abound of friends and loved ones saved after years of faithful prayer on their behalf, or of those healed miraculously after a long bout with disease. The general rule, in answer to this question, is that we should never stop praying as long as the need remains.

There are, however, at least two major exceptions. Even the vilest sinner can be saved, but if someone receives full knowledge and understanding of the Gospel, then deliberately and finally rejects it, there is no further hope for them. No amount of prayer can make any difference for them. This is a judgment we should never make for ourselves; we must have enough discernment to hear the voice of the Spirit. In such cases, we will have what some call a "stop" in our own spirits when we attempt to pray for the person. I can count on one hand the number of people I have ever had that kind of guidance about, those who are "beyond the pale". While it does no harm to continue praying for someone when God no longer heeds the prayers, it also does no good. It amounts to a waste of time and spiritual resources. This is certainly an instance when we could and should consult with other Christians, or our pastor, preferably someone else who knows the person. If there is any doubt in our minds at all, we should never cease praying for someone's salvation.

The other exception has to do with someone who is terminally ill, or otherwise at the point of death. Again, as long as any hope of healing remains, we should keep on praying. This is particularly the case if the person involved has never come to know Christ, and the possibility of their salvation remains. Sometimes, though, the friend or loved one has just reached the appointed hour of their departure. From time to time over the years I have prayed for people near death, I have felt a definite prompting in my spirit to stop praying for their healing. Invariably death follows soon after. We often want to cling to those we love, even though their lives have become little more than an endless litany of pain, or a state of existence amounting to little more than being a vegetable. We should never take steps to end a life by anything we do or don't do, but we should also be willing to let someone go when the Lord calls them away. The object of our prayer should always be what is best for the one facing death, not for ourselves.

There are other times we should cease praying for someone or some situation, but they can be summed in one idea: when God says "No". His answer may sometimes be a test of our faith, as when he "changed his mind" in telling Moses he would destroy Israel (Exodus 32:7-14), or telling Hezekiah he should prepare to die (Isaiah 38:1-8), but when he gives us a definite denial of our request, no amount of pleading will change his mind. Just as there are times we should stop praying for things we want, there are times when we should cease praying for the concerns of others.

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