We join you in prayer concerning this heavy and troubling situation and we bring the former landlord, his sister, and you before the throne of grace together in Jesus' name.
We thank God for the sister who has faith in Jesus and we pray that the Lord will continue to use her as light and salt in her family. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. We pray that her walk remains faithful and that her influence, through speaking the truth in love as in Ephesians 4:15, will stir her brother toward repentance and the fear of the Lord. We also pray that she is not kept in the dark, for it is not God's will that truth be concealed. Luke 8:17 says, For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. And Ephesians 5:11 says, Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them. We ask that our Mighty and Powerful God bring what has been hidden into the light, including the truth about the life threatening condition of the apartment that was rented to you, which violates the command to love our neighbor as ourselves in Leviticus 19:18 and Romans 13:10, for renting a dangerous dwelling for gain disregards the life God says is precious.
We must also address what you shared about the sexual relationship between the former landlord and the immoral woman. Scripture is clear that sex outside of marriage is fornication and, if either party is married to another, it is adultery. Hebrews 13:4 says, Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled, but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. And 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, Flee sexual immorality. We believe marriage is a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman as God designed from the beginning, and any relationship outside of that design is sin that needs repentance. If this was fornication or adultery, we pray both would be convicted, repent, and turn to purity, seeking godly marriage if it is God's will, rather than lawless relationships. We also lift up the very serious matter of the attempt on your life, if indeed people were hired to try to kill you. This is evil in the eyes of God. Exodus 20:13 says, You shall not murder. We rebuke that wickedness and we pray for God's protection over you, for Psalm 91:1 says, He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. We trust that vengeance belongs to the Lord as in Romans 12:19, and that God has also established governing authorities to carry out justice as in Romans 13:4, so we encourage you to continue to seek lawful help and protection where needed while trusting God as your defender.
We also join you in praying that both the brother and sister will put God first and that every idol will be exposed and destroyed. Exodus 20:3 says, You shall have no other gods before me. And 1 John 5:21 says, Little children, keep yourselves from idols. An idol is anything we place above God, whether money, property, lust, power, or influence, and Isaiah 42:8 says, I am the Lord, that is my name. I will not give my glory to another. We pray that God in His mercy will tear down every idol that has taken His place in their hearts.
We now pray together. Father in heaven, we come before You only through the name of Jesus Christ, for 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, and 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. We thank You for the sister's faith and we ask You to strengthen her, fill her with boldness to speak Your truth, and guard her from discouragement. Let her continue to be a vessel through whom You speak. We ask that You open her eyes to the truth about her brother's actions and the danger of the apartment, and give her wisdom to respond in a way that honors You. Lord, convict the former landlord of any wrongdoing, of renting what was life threatening, of any sexual immorality, and of any participation in evil against another life. Bring him to repentance, that he may seek Your forgiveness and turn from sin. Expose every hidden deed and every idol, and destroy what should not stand, so that You alone are glorified. Put a hedge of protection around the one who submitted this request, heal any trauma and fear, and let Your perfect love cast out fear as in 1 John 4:18. Help all involved to seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness as in Matthew 6:33. We ask all this in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
We encourage you to remain steadfast in prayer and in the Word, to pursue truth with grace, and to trust that God sees, God knows, and God will act in His perfect timing. Romans 12:21 says, Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Continue to walk in light and leave the outcome in His righteous hands.
