We join you in lifting up our brother before the throne of grace and we rejoice with you that he has found the Lord Jesus and has taken the step of baptism. This is the miracle of new birth, for therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 What God has begun in him, He is faithful to complete, and we thank you for your honest and loving heart in bringing him to us for prayer.
We understand your admission that you are actually afraid of him, and we do not rebuke you for that honesty. The Lord knows his background of violence and addiction and the deep wounds that led to time in a psychiatric hospital. At the same time we are reminded that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 and perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:18 We pray that the Lord will replace your fear with His perfect love and with wisdom, so that you can love our brother with both compassion and healthy boundaries, never putting yourself in danger but never abandoning him to darkness either.
Our brother is in a very vulnerable place as a young believer. Without a home, without work, and without Christians around him, he is like a lamb among wolves and like a newly planted seed that needs watering and protection. Scripture urges us not to forsake our own assembling together. Hebrews 10:25 He urgently needs a local body of believers, a church family where he can be discipled, renew his mind, and learn to walk in his new identity. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2 We encourage you, as God gives you opportunity and wisdom, to help connect him to a Bible believing church, to a pastor or mature brothers who can walk with him daily, help him find practical help for housing and work, and encourage him to continue any needed medical and counseling care. God often uses His people as His hands and feet to provide. My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
You mentioned that you sense the spirit of death is in control in his life. We take that concern seriously, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness. Ephesians 6:12 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus said I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. John 10:10 The same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells in every believer. Romans 8:11 Therefore there is no condemnation and no power of darkness that can hold one who belongs to Jesus when he walks in the light and in obedience. We do not need to fear the enemy, for greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world, and the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Psalm 34:18
We will gladly continue to pray for him regularly as you have asked.
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ we come together and place our brother into Your hands. We thank You for drawing him to Your Son and for the waters of baptism that declare he belongs to You. Wash him anew, break every chain of addiction and violence and despair, and let the old things truly pass away. We ask You to rebuke every spirit of death, heaviness, and fear that would seek to steal the life You have given him, and fill him with Your Holy Spirit, with Your spirit of adoption as a son, not a spirit of bondage again to fear. Romans 8:15 Give him a safe place to sleep, open the door to honest work, and above all bring faithful Christian brothers around him who will disciple him, teach him Your Word, and hold him accountable in love. Heal his mind and his memories, restore what the enemy has broken, and guard his heart. Give our dear friend who submitted this request Your peace and wisdom, cast out all fear, and show him how to help with courage and discernment. We ask that our brother will grow strong in faith, that he will hunger for Your Word, and that his life will become a testimony that You still make all things new. We pray all of this in the mighty and saving name of Jesus Christ, our only hope and our life. Amen.
