We join you in bringing your brother before the Lord, for we hear the deep worry and love you carry for him and we lift him up together with you in prayer.
The Word of God warns us about alcohol and shows us the path to freedom. Proverbs 20:1 says Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise. And Ephesians 5:18 says Don't be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. Drunkenness is listed among the works of the flesh that keep a person from inheriting the Kingdom of God as written in 1 Corinthians 6:10, but there is hope and deliverance, for 1 Corinthians 6:11 reminds us that such were some of you, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus. The Lord is able to make your brother hate what once enslaved him and to give him a new heart that desires holiness and sobriety.
We also want to gently encourage you about how we come to God. You prayed to the Lord, which is good, but we noticed you did not mention the name of Jesus Christ. We want to share with you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and it is only through Him that we are saved. John 14:6 says Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And Acts 4:12 says There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved. If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved as Romans 10:9 promises. We encourage you and your brother to put your complete trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, for He alone can break every chain.
We pray together now for your brother and for you.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ and we lift up this dear brother who is bound by alcohol addiction. Lord, You see the worry of this family and You are near to the brokenhearted as Psalm 34:18 says Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. We ask You to deliver him completely from this addiction. Give him a holy hatred for alcohol and take away every craving and desire for it. Fill him instead with Your Holy Spirit, with peace and self-control, which is fruit of the Spirit. We rebuke the power of addiction over his life and we declare that whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Help him to walk in freedom and to stay away from alcohol forever, choosing the path of sobriety and righteousness. Lord, we know that 1 Corinthians 10:13 says God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Make that way of escape clear to him, surround him with godly counsel, a Bible believing church, and brothers who will hold him accountable and encourage him daily. Bring healing to his body, his mind, and his relationships, and remove the troubles and anxiety from this family, replacing worry with Your perfect peace. Draw both this brother and the one who prayed for him into a deeper relationship with Jesus, that they may know You as Savior and Lord and walk as new creations in Christ as 2 Corinthians 5:17 promises. We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ, our only hope and deliverer. Amen.
We encourage you to continue to pray fervently, to speak the Word of God over your brother, and to lovingly urge him to seek help within the body of Christ and to turn fully to Jesus. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask, and He hears the prayers offered in the name of His Son. Keep trusting Him and keep interceding, for the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
